The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-09-30

pulling away the stone, Allcla Daue
me to enter, but not knowing where 1t
led to, and fearing to leave her to the
anger of Orloff, | would not unless she
went with me; so replacing the stone
we ran quickly as we might to the
mouth of it, and then through the
woods until we came to the river,
where ear a clump Of bushes she
pulled from under the leave the boat
Of her brothers, then telling me that
she must leave ME there II run to
the hut, she stood over on the bank,
out I besought her TO go with me to
my kinsmen down the river, where
they would surely care for her. Shak.
ing her head, she said nay; that II she
went her brothers would surely fol.
low and there would be more blood
she'd, besides they would surely kno"
then that she had helped me. Coming
down to the BOAT she gave me her
hand to bid me farewell, which, seiz.
Ing, I covered with kisses and thank.
ed her for saving my life and also
from the sin of bloodshed. Pulling
her hand away she stood at the bank
Of the river, and l pulled out with a
strong stroke down the current, not
knowing which way to go, but think
Ing at last of the kinsman OF my
mother for whom | was named and OF
his goodness to me in my childhood, ]
pulled my boat around, and bending
to the oars oon swept out beyond the
bend of the river, and thus left far
behind me forever the home where ]
had known of happiness since
the day when Ursula, my mother, had
died.
Now, when l had reached my kins
mans house and had told them of the
way in which ! had to flee, they be-
CAME angered, for they said surely
punishment would come to those who
so wronged their wv flesh and blood;
nor, though had at first not thought
it manly to tell. were they less an
gered at my wife's betrayal of me; for
though l did not love my wife, still
[ would not have exposed her to the
wild anger until they told me of her
visit to Artuff, the father of Orion,
and of Orloff's love for her. Then in
q rage l had told them OF her crying
out He has gone to the cave"
But when they had heard of Alicia,
the maiden who had helped me, they
swore no harm should ever come tc
her for her kindness that day to one
who was so cruelty pursued by those
Of his own blood, who, knowing of my
oath not to kill again, even though il
| should be to save my life, had no fear
of me. So now / worked and waited
with my kinsmen, for surely did we
know that my brothers would seek
to slay me If they thought me still
alive; and waiting, l still thought Of
Alicia, and when sowing time came
round l could wait no longer, fol
though I had not so much fear OF hel
brothers, still l knew If my wife should
know that | had been helped by Ali
cha, her bitterness would cause her te
tell Orloff and his anger would be
great against her.
So taking up my staff and SWORD
one day, which l had no thought OF
using save to stun any n who should
strive to slay ME, l went up the river
to where / had started out that day
last harvest. When l got to the bend
Of the river 1 saw through the bushes
q moving figure, but SO bent was l on
my errand l cared not if it was Orion
himself, and pushed on with all my
strength until coming to the shore ]
leaped upon it, and carrying the boat
farther up the bank than it had been
kept before, / covered it with bushes
and went into the woods.
1t was now lear sunset, and though
{ had the fear of the wild beasts for
the night, l cared not, for only against
| the Staying of men had my VOW been
taken. 1 felt no fear of anything, only
the fear that some day anger would
cause me to break my vow. So | ran,
until by the time the rose l had
reached the hut in the woods, and
within it sat Alicia and her brother
| Edmund, whom l had saved from the
wild boar. Opening the door l enter
ed, and seeing me Alicia gave a great
cry. But Edmund never moved from
the spot where he stood, until going
| up to him I laid my hand on his shout.
der and bade him remember my love
for him when he was a child. Then
breaking into sobs he asked my for
giveness for the harm he had sought
to do me. Forgiving him. l asked him
Of my brothers, and then with bowed
heard he told me how. telling my ia.
Their on his sick bed that l had been
slain in the woods, he had died of q
broken heart. and that my wife had
claimed for her own the fields and
house. to which my brothers had pre-
tended to agree. Now Orloff. when
he had heard of my wife owning the
fields, had asked her to marry him
and my brothers, fearing Orlof would
also claim the fields, they had caused
her death and OrlOf's.
And then, looking at Alicia with my
heart in my eyes, ! took her in my
arms and pressed her tight against
NJ, b~ooc% frr E>dnvnd know u,ao