, he spoke out manfully.

"Halfdan," he said, "let us forget the years that have gone by. Let
all past evil and injury be buried in the grave. Henceforth let us
be as brothers, and once more I ask thee, give me Ingebjorg to be my
wife."

And Halfdan made answer, "Thou shalt be my brother."

And as he spoke, an inner door flew open, and a sweet chorus of
youthful voices was heard. A band of maidens issued forth, and at
their head walked Ingebjorg, fairer than ever.

Then Halfdan, leading her to Frithiof, placed her hand within that of
the viking.

"Behold thy wife," said Halfdan. "Well hast thou won her. May the gods
attend upon your bridal."

So Ingebjorg became the wife of Frithiof at last.

Thus steps of sorrow had but led them to a height of happiness that
poets love to sing. Paths thick with thorns had blossomed into roses,
and wreaths of everlasting flowers had crowned the winter snows. And
midst the lights and shadows of the old Northland, their lives flowed
on like to two united streams that roll through quiet pastures to the
ocean of eternity.

HAVELOK

ADAPTED BY GEORGE W. COX AND E.H. JONES

There was once a King of England named Athelwold. Earl, baron, thane,
knight, and bondsman, all loved him; for he set on high the wise and
the just man, and put down the spoiler and the robber. At that time a
man might carry gold about with him, as much as fifty pounds, and not
fear loss. Traders and merchants bought and sold at their ease without
danger of plunder. But it was bad for the evil person and for such
as wrought shame, for they had to lurk and hide away from the King's
wrath; yet was it unavailing, for he searched out the evil-doer and
punished him, wherever he might be. The fatherless and the widow found
a sure friend in the King; he turned not away from the complaint of
the helpless, but avenged them against the oppressor, were he never
so strong. Kind was he to the poor, neither at any time thought he the
fine bread upon his own table too good to give to the hungry.

But a death-sickness fell on King Athelwold, and when he knew that his
end was near he was greatly troubled, for he had one little daughter
of tender age, named Goldborough, and he grieved to leave her.

"O my little daughter, heir to all the land, yet so young thou canst
not walk upon it; so helpless that thou canst not tell thy wants and
yet hast need to give commandment like a queen! For myself I would not
care, being