El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-03-29
The Black Virgin
A short story.

TEAR the coast of Finland, oppo-
! M posite the little fishing hamlet
- of Liedsmarken, a big black
/ rock rises many feet above the surface
! of the sea 1t is very steep and in
l foggy weather it has been the cause
I of many shipwrecks.
When you get quite close to the rock
you discover on its northern side a
chapeI-like cave, with a rough figure
of a woman hewn into the dark granite.
Probably this figure was cut out of
the rock in pagan times but later gen
erations declared it to be the statue OF
a saint 1t is called the black virgin"
and is thought to hold the fate Of
Liedsmarken in its power.
The virgin. however, is no charitable
divinity. For years she was cOnsid-
ered TO possess evil powers When she
no longer eSerts these it is because she
has been conquered by the love and
seli-sacrifice Of two young people.
Every year she claimed a victim
among the poor inhabitants Of Lieds-
marken, young or old did not matter,
but every year somebody must die.
In the year Of 1850 the black virgin
was waiting for the annual sacrifice.
The year was drawing near its end
1t was already the second half of De-
cemDer, but still none OF the inhabit-
ants was missing. One of them was
SICK. and It seemed certain that the
black virgin was waiting for him II
she had really chosen him, his days
were numbered. for today was the 23rd
day Of December. Everybody felt sure
that little Axel must dies before the
end Of the year
AXel was an orphan and lived with
MS sister trlda, a handsome and brave
young girl Frlda nursed him day ana
night, doing everything she could to
make him well.
trlda was very poor, however. and
when her sweetheart, Robert, assisted
her as much as his scant means per-
mltted she accepted his help as
matter Of course. for they loved each
other dearly and their marriage was
not very far off
Every evening when Robert returned
from his fishing he visited Frida- That
1iSnt when he came, the neighbor.
christian, an old fisherman, was there.
ROBERT sat down at Frida's side and
listened TO Christian as he talked.
1 am quite sure AXel will get well
again he said. The black virgin is
not so bad as people say and if you
row over to the rock on Christmas
Eve and kneel down before her, she
viii grant anything you ask Nv
father did so once when 1 was sick and
dying, and she spared my life.
Frida'S eyes beamed.
4 am so glad you told me that Chris
JIan, she. said. Tomorrow 1 will row
over and beg her TO spare AxeI's life"
i m afraid il can't be DONE" said
christian, the bay is full of ice and
the 1loe would be sure to crush any
boat venturing out"
i viii do anything to save Axel"
Christian and Robert tried to Der
suade her 10 give ii up, and at last il
impossible
Robert remained behind when CHS
tian left, and when he went he kissed
her tenderly and said:
I do love you so, Frida. Promise me
you will never forget me no matter
what happens"
Frida sat alone at the bedside in
deep thought What did Robert mean? I
What did he intend to do2
After a while she understood Robert 4
was going to the rock to pray to the I
black virgin to spare AXeFs life But /
mat would De sure death. 1t must not 4
happen.
Tor Robert.
Il know what you intend to do nv
larllng, she said, but you must not
10 it. Remember you have your old l
.ather TO look after and do you think 1
could ever be happy if YOU died be-
;ause of a foolish superstition? Listen /
o the wind! We have not had a storm
Ike this for years. You cannot save
AXel anyway"
Q
vent home relieved
Darkness comes early in Finland, and !
lot long after Frida left Robert ran !
Town to the shore Sheltered by the |
ana he found the waves less danger
JUS than he expected, and quickly made |
ip his mind to sail to the rock
i can be back in less than an hour"
e thought and set course for the rock.
and trida will forgive me for break
ng my promise if AxeI RECEIVERS"
But the wind grew gfrOn h. /
allied away from the shore, and it
ecame more and more difficult TO
void being crushed by the drifting ice
lOes. One hour passed after the other /
ut at last he reached the rock in
afety- After making vain attempts
e succeeded in getting ashore. He
lea the boat securely and walked to
he cave. where he prayed fervently to
he black virgin to save AxePs life.
When he got back to the boat he
tarcd across the sea and shuddered. !
ar away his sharp eyes discovered I
mother boat. a mere nutshell, making !
or the rock, and something told him it
lUst be Frida-
The boat came nearer and nearer I
orne by the winds Of the storm. There |
as no doubt any more. he recognized
er figure plainly now
Luck was with her and she sJ5iIfuIlv | ,
Volded the flOes A few moments later
e held her in his arms, too happy to .
sold her for the dreadful risk she had .
iken. Both felt convinced now that
Xel would recover.
They did not dare return that night 7
ut remained in the shelter Of the cave. 5
Next morning they set out, but before ( 5
ley were half way across both boats / {
ere crushed by the ice.
From the shore the fisherman saw s
he wrecks drifting away. but of their
there was no sign. Robert
ld Frida never returned 7
But THE black virgin heard their {
-aycr ATel recovered and since that c
lN she ha- ceased to exact her an /
lal sacrifice. 7