The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1928-11-03

People said that Red Olaf had turned crazy:
And some thought he was vile hypocrite. and
Others religious maniac.
Astrid Inserbredsen, clad in black, took The
stand. And, when she had been sworn. she
begged that Red Olaf Be moved from the pris-
oner's dock. so that she could not see him a she
testified. And the court officers removed the. man
roughly. with heavy thrusts, and poke in the
ribs for good measure.
Then Astrid told how the three women waited
up for her husband and Ulla's. and finally. de-
Gliding that the men had been delayed at Wind
ham, prepared for bed. And Anethe. strangely
had asked to sleep in the kitchen. 80 that Astrid
wondered. but said nothing For that was surely
chambers md nothing in the kitchen but couch
in the corner. where Red Olaf had slept when
he visited the old gray house.
Astrid and Ulla went upstairs. having heated
bricks FIRST to warm their lonely beds. And they
left Anethe in the Kitchen brushing her golden
hair. and hummins Norwegian lullaby.
1t was two hours later-the house was very
s6ll-when Astrid heard sounds in the kitchen.
And AZ she reused herself. she heard lila cry:
"Peder. is that you7" And Anethe called:
"Peder frightened me-" And Jar barked-a
smothered bark. as though someone had tried to
mu6le the sound.
Then Astrid put her bare feet on the floor,
and shivering in her cotton nightsown, crept down
the stairs.
And there were screams. j. And blood. !.
And Red Olaf standing there. And pale
Anethe begging mercy.
Asuid tainted on the stand.
IN THE second day Of the trial the jury
~ went out They deliberated for IS min
utes. And they found Red Olaf guilty Of
murder in the FIRST degree.
The evidence had been overwhelmingly against
him. There were the great. fresh blisters on his
hands. For Red Olaf had pulled for 20 miles
on the oars that night. And the bruises on hi.
knuckles. And the blood on his clothes. And in
his wallet they had found little silver medal
the blue ribbon Of daughter of Mary And
the scapular Anethe wore on her nishtsown, en-
broidered with bleeding heart Anethe's blood
had stained the crimson silken threads
When they asked Olaf where he got the
things, he hung his head. and said Anethe had
given them to him. But men knew he lied. for
why should pale girl like Anethe give such
things to great red man like Olaf. with no pety
in his heart. But only lust for slim, white girls.
Olaf professed to believe that miracle would
take place.
IF people put me on the gallows. with the rope
around my neck. Anethe will save me" he said
And that. Of course. was foolish. for when
they strung him up, there was no miracle. And
Red Olaf hung by his neck for eight hours. lest
strange thing happen in the old limerick quarry
where they hung him.
WITH the death Of the villain all stories
w properly end. But tarry awhile with
Astrid and with Jorge.
After the trial, Jorge moved their belongings
from the island to the mainland. for Astnd swore
she would never again set foot on Bloody Guilty.
And they lived in Windham, where they quar-
relied. And Jorge put his wife away. and mar
that Astrid was daft-and that you could scarce
blame Jorge for the thing he did. Then Astrid
returned to the old country.
And this autumn. when Aaron's rods in the
forest clearings began to bloom. Astrid wan
dered to a steep hillside. where the flowers grow
in masses all over the round. gray tree stumps.
And gathering great punches Of them. she sat in
the-moss. and held them in her lap. looking out
at the sea. And the place where she sat was
folded in great green and purple shadows from
the forest and mountain So that a pleasant
peace lay over the bay. and Astrid caressed the
yellow flowers with her fingers, and talked to
Erica. young girl from whom have the tale.
"Anethes hair. she said. was the color Of
Aaron's rods.
And Erica. who had heard the story Of Bloody
Guilty across the sea. nodded somberly, and
psodded the daft old woman.
Olaf -
Then Astrid shook the flowers from her lap.
and watched cloud Of sea birds whir above the
6ord.> And when she spoke her voice was soft
and low.
Twenty years ago." she said. ''Red Olaf
wa. my lover And one night when Jorge and
Peder were away. he came to Bloody Guilty.
And. though had no word from him. my heart
told me he was coming Growing from Windham.
10 miles away. So that / lay in my bed. and
held my breath til he should take me in his
And | heard his step on the crusty snow.
and waited. And my heart beat like Au,terina
bird in my breast. And my hands grew cold,
and my body sick with longing. And still he
did not come. And waited and waited.
And then heard him breathing. And
heard him whisper. And got out Of my bed,
and Gptoed to the stairs And as | stood
there. Anethe laughed IN the way woman
laughs. And then went quite crazy. as women
do sometimes when i i question Of love. And
Olaf. hearing me coming. ran away
And then ! killed Anethe. and ran away
myself. And afteward went back again ana
saw Olaf. with her dead head in his arms, kiss
ing the place. where ! struck her. By aud BY
they hanged Olaf. and i served him right"
Astrid stroked the little starlets that bloomed
by her side.
He said she remarked idly. that Anethe
was virgin. But that wasn't true. | .touldn't
have killed her if she were.