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diff --git a/old/299-h.htm.2021-01-27 b/old/299-h.htm.2021-01-27 new file mode 100644 index 0000000..33a75f6 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/299-h.htm.2021-01-27 @@ -0,0 +1,7375 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> + +<!DOCTYPE html + PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd" > + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en"> + <head> + <title> + Tales from Two Hemispheres, by Hjalmar Hjorth Boysen + </title> + <style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + + body { margin:5%; background:#faebd0; text-align:justify} + P { text-indent: 1em; margin-top: .25em; margin-bottom: .25em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; margin-left: 15%; margin-right: 15%; } + hr { width: 50%; text-align: center;} + .foot { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; text-indent: -3em; font-size: 90%; } + blockquote {font-size: 97%; font-style: italic; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%;} + .mynote {background-color: #DDE; color: #000; padding: .5em; margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 95%;} + .toc { margin-left: 10%; margin-bottom: .75em;} + .toc2 { margin-left: 20%;} + div.fig { display:block; margin:0 auto; text-align:center; } + div.middle { margin-left: 20%; margin-right: 20%; text-align: justify; } + .figleft {float: left; margin-left: 0%; margin-right: 1%;} + .figright {float: right; margin-right: 0%; margin-left: 1%;} + .pagenum {display:inline; font-size: 70%; font-style:normal; + margin: 0; padding: 0; position: absolute; right: 1%; + text-align: right;} + pre { font-style: italic; font-size: 90%; margin-left: 10%;} + +</style> + </head> + <body> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + +Project Gutenberg's Tales From Two Hemispheres, by Hjalmar Hjorth Boysen + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Tales From Two Hemispheres + +Author: Hjalmar Hjorth Boysen + +Release Date: July 12, 2008 [EBook #299] +Last Updated: October 18, 2016 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Keller, and David Widger + + + + + +</pre> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> + <h1> + TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES + </h1> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <h2> + By Hjalmar Hjorth Boysen + </h2> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <h3> + 1877 + </h3> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <blockquote> + <p class="toc"> + <big><b>CONTENTS</b></big> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0001"> <b>TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES.</b> </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0002"> THE MAN WHO LOST HIS NAME. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0003"> II. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0004"> III. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0005"> IV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0006"> V. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0007"> VI. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0008"> VII. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0009"> THE STORY OF AN OUTCAST. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0010"> II. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0011"> III. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0012"> IV. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0013"> A GOOD-FOR-NOTHING. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0014"> II. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0015"> III. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0016"> IV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0017"> V. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0018"> A SCIENTIFIC VAGABOND. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0019"> I. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0020"> II. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0021"> III. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0022"> IV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0023"> V. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0024"> VI. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0025"> TRULS, THE NAMELESS. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0026"> ASATHOR’S VENGEANCE. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0027"> I. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0028"> II. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0029"> III. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0030"> IV. </a> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_4_0031"> V. </a> + </p> + <p> + <br /> + </p> + <p class="toc"> + <a href="#link2H_FOOT"> Footnotes: </a> + </p> + </blockquote> + <p> + <br /> <br /> + </p> + <hr /> + <p> + <br /> <br /> <a name="link2H_4_0001" id="link2H_4_0001"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <h1> + TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES. + </h1> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0002" id="link2H_4_0002"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE MAN WHO LOST HIS NAME. + </h2> + <p> + ON the second day of June, 186—, a young Norseman, Halfdan Bjerk by + name, landed on the pier at Castle Garden. He passed through the straight + and narrow gate where he was asked his name, birthplace, and how much + money he had,—at which he grew very much frightened. + </p> + <p> + “And your destination?”—demanded the gruff-looking functionary at + the desk. + </p> + <p> + “America,” said the youth, and touched his hat politely. + </p> + <p> + “Do you think I have time for joking?” roared the official, with an oath. + </p> + <p> + The Norseman ran his hand through his hair, smiled his timidly + conciliatory smile, and tried his best to look brave; but his hand + trembled and his heart thumped away at an alarmingly quickened tempo. + </p> + <p> + “Put him down for Nebraska!” cried a stout red-cheeked individual + (inwrapped in the mingled fumes of tobacco and whisky) whose function it + was to open and shut the gate. + </p> + <p> + “There ain’t many as go to Nebraska.” + </p> + <p> + “All right, Nebraska.” + </p> + <p> + The gate swung open and the pressure from behind urged the timid traveler + on, while an extra push from the gate-keeper sent him flying in the + direction of a board fence, where he sat down and tried to realize that he + was now in the land of liberty. + </p> + <p> + Halfdan Bjerk was a tall, slender-limbed youth of very delicate frame; he + had a pair of wonderfully candid, unreflecting blue eyes, a smooth, clear, + beardless face, and soft, wavy light hair, which was pushed back from his + forehead without parting. His mouth and chin were well cut, but their + lines were, perhaps, rather weak for a man. When in repose, the ensemble + of his features was exceedingly pleasing and somehow reminded one of + Correggio’s St. John. He had left his native land because he was an ardent + republican and was abstractly convinced that man, generically and + individually, lives more happily in a republic than in a monarchy. He had + anticipated with keen pleasure the large, freely breathing life he was to + lead in a land where every man was his neighbor’s brother, where no + senseless traditions kept a jealous watch over obsolete systems and + shrines, and no chilling prejudice blighted the spontaneous blossoming of + the soul. + </p> + <p> + Halfdan was an only child. His father, a poor government official, had + died during his infancy, and his mother had given music lessons, and kept + boarders, in order to gain the means to give her son what is called a + learned education. In the Latin school Halfdan had enjoyed the reputation + of being a bright youth, and at the age of eighteen, he had entered the + university under the most promising auspices. He could make very fair + verses, and play all imaginable instruments with equal ease, which made + him a favorite in society. Moreover, he possessed that very old-fashioned + accomplishment of cutting silhouettes; and what was more, he could draw + the most charmingly fantastic arabesques for embroidery patterns, and he + even dabbled in portrait and landscape painting. Whatever he turned his + hand to, he did well, in fact, astonishingly well for a dilettante, and + yet not well enough to claim the title of an artist. Nor did it ever occur + to him to make such a claim. As one of his fellow-students remarked in a + fit of jealousy, “Once when Nature had made three geniuses, a poet, a + musician, and a painter, she took all the remaining odds and ends and + shook them together at random and the result was Halfdan Bjerk.” This + agreeable melange of accomplishments, however, proved very attractive to + the ladies, who invited the possessor to innumerable afternoon + tea-parties, where they drew heavy drafts on his unflagging patience, and + kept him steadily engaged with patterns and designs for embroidery, + leather flowers, and other dainty knickknacks. And in return for all his + exertions they called him “sweet” and “beautiful,” and applied to him many + other enthusiastic adjectives seldom heard in connection with masculine + names. In the university, talents of this order gained but slight + recognition, and when Halfdan had for three years been preparing himself + in vain for the examen philosophicum, he found himself slowly and + imperceptibly drifting into the ranks of the so-called studiosi perpetui, + who preserve a solemn silence at the examination tables, fraternize with + every new generation of freshmen, and at last become part of the fixed + furniture of their Alma Mater. In the larger American colleges, such men + are mercilessly dropped or sent to a Divinity School; but the European + universities, whose tempers the centuries have mellowed, harbor in their + spacious Gothic bosoms a tenderer heart for their unfortunate sons. There + the professors greet them at the green tables with a good-humored smile of + recognition; they are treated with gentle forbearance, and are allowed to + linger on, until they die or become tutors in the families of remote + clergymen, where they invariably fall in love with the handsomest + daughter, and thus lounge into a modest prosperity. + </p> + <p> + If this had been the fate of our friend Bjerk, we should have dismissed + him here with a confident “vale” on his life’s pilgrimage. But, + unfortunately, Bjerk was inclined to hold the government in some way + responsible for his own poor success as a student, and this, in connection + with an aesthetic enthusiasm for ancient Greece, gradually convinced him + that the republic was the only form of government under which men of his + tastes and temperament were apt to flourish. It was, like everything that + pertained to him, a cheerful, genial conviction, without the slightest + tinge of bitterness. The old institutions were obsolete, rotten to the + core, he said, and needed a radical renovation. He could sit for hours of + an evening in the Students’ Union, and discourse over a glass of mild + toddy, on the benefits of universal suffrage and trial by jury, while the + picturesqueness of his language, his genial sarcasms, or occasional witty + allusions would call forth uproarious applause from throngs of admiring + freshmen. These were the sunny days in Halfdan’s career, days long to be + remembered. They came to an abrupt end when old Mrs. Bjerk died, leaving + nothing behind her but her furniture and some trifling debts. The son, who + was not an eminently practical man, underwent long hours of misery in + trying to settle up her affairs, and finally in a moment of extreme + dejection sold his entire inheritance in a lump to a pawnbroker (reserving + for himself a few rings and trinkets) for the modest sum of 250 dollars + specie. He then took formal leave of the Students’ Union in a brilliant + speech, in which he traced the parallelisms between the lives of Pericles + and Washington,—in his opinion the two greatest men the world had + ever seen,—expounded his theory of democratic government, and + explained the causes of the rapid rise of the American Republic. The next + morning he exchanged half of his worldly possessions for a ticket to New + York, and within a few days set sail for the land of promise, in the far + West. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0003" id="link2H_4_0003"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. + </h2> + <p> + From Castle Garden, Halfdan made his way up through Greenwich street, + pursued by a clamorous troop of confidence men and hotel runners. + </p> + <p> + “Kommen Sie mit mir. Ich bin auch Deutsch,” cried one. “Voila, voila, je + parle Francais,” shouted another, seizing hold of his valise. “Jeg er + Dansk. Tale Dansk,” <a href="#linknote-1" name="linknoteref-1" + id="linknoteref-1"><small>1</small></a> roared a third, with an accent + which seriously impeached his truthfulness. In order to escape from these + importunate rascals, who were every moment getting bolder, he threw + himself into the first street-car which happened to pass; he sat down, + gazed out of the windows and soon became so thoroughly absorbed in the + animated scenes which moved as in a panorama before his eyes, that he + quite forgot where he was going. The conductor called for fares, and + received an English shilling, which, after some ineffectual expostulation, + he pocketed, but gave no change. At last after about an hour’s journey, + the car stopped, the conductor called out “Central Park,” and Halfdan woke + up with a start. He dismounted with a timid, deliberate step, stared in + dim bewilderment at the long rows of palatial residences, and a chill + sense of loneliness crept over him. The hopeless strangeness of everything + he saw, instead of filling him with rapture as he had once anticipated, + Sent a cold shiver to his heart. It is a very large affair, this world of + ours—a good deal larger than it appeared to him gazing out upon it + from his snug little corner up under the Pole; and it was as unsympathetic + as it was large; he suddenly felt what he had never been aware of before—that + he was a very small part of it and of very little account after all. He + staggered over to a bench at the entrance to the park, and sat long + watching the fine carriages as they dashed past him; he saw the handsome + women in brilliant costumes laughing and chatting gayly; the apathetic + policemen promenading in stoic dignity up and down upon the smooth + pavements; the jauntily attired nurses, whom in his Norse innocence he + took for mothers or aunts of the children, wheeling baby-carriages which + to Norse eyes seemed miracles of dainty ingenuity, under the shady crowns + of the elm-trees. He did not know how long he had been sitting there, when + a little bright-eyed girl with light kid gloves, a small blue parasol and + a blue polonaise, quite a lady of fashion en miniature, stopped in front + of him and stared at him in shy wonder. He had always been fond of + children, and often rejoiced in their affectionate ways and confidential + prattle, and now it suddenly touched him with a warm sense of human + fellowship to have this little daintily befrilled and crisply starched + beauty single him out for notice among the hundreds who reclined in the + arbors, or sauntered to and fro under the great trees. + </p> + <p> + “What is your name, my little girl?” he asked, in a tone of friendly + interest. + </p> + <p> + “Clara,” answered the child, hesitatingly; then, having by another look + assured herself of his harmlessness, she added: “How very funny you + speak!” + </p> + <p> + “Yes,” he said, stooping down to take he tiny begloved hand. “I do not + speak as well as you do, yet; but I shall soon learn.” + </p> + <p> + Clara looked puzzled. + </p> + <p> + “How old are you?” she asked, raising her parasol, and throwing back her + head with an air of superiority. + </p> + <p> + “I am twenty-four years old.” + </p> + <p> + She began to count half aloud on her fingers: “One, two, three, four,” + but, before she reached twenty, she lost her patience. + </p> + <p> + “Twenty-four,” she exclaimed, “that is a great deal. I am only seven, and + papa gave me a pony on my birthday. Have you got a pony?” + </p> + <p> + “No; I have nothing but what is in this valise, and you know I could not + very well get a pony into it.” + </p> + <p> + Clara glanced curiously at the valise and laughed; then suddenly she grew + serious again, put her hand into her pocket and seemed to be searching + eagerly for something. Presently she hauled out a small porcelain doll’s + head, then a red-painted block with letters on it, and at last a penny. + </p> + <p> + “Do you want them?” she said, reaching him her treasures in both hands. + “You may have them all.” + </p> + <p> + Before he had time to answer, a shrill, penetrating voice cried out: + </p> + <p> + “Why, gracious! child, what are you doing?” + </p> + <p> + And the nurse, who had been deeply absorbed in “The New York Ledger,” came + rushing up, snatched the child away, and retreated as hastily as she had + come. + </p> + <p> + Halfdan rose and wandered for hours aimlessly along the intertwining roads + and footpaths. He visited the menageries, admired the statues, took a very + light dinner, consisting of coffee, sandwiches, and ice, at the Chinese + Pavilion, and, toward evening, discovered an inviting leafy arbor, where + he could withdraw into the privacy of his own thoughts, and ponder upon + the still unsolved problem of his destiny. The little incident with the + child had taken the edge off his unhappiness and turned him into a more + conciliatory mood toward himself and the great pitiless world, which + seemed to take so little notice of him. And he, who had come here with so + warm a heart and so ardent a will to join in the great work of human + advancement—to find himself thus harshly ignored and buffeted about, + as if he were a hostile intruder! Before him lay the huge unknown city + where human life pulsated with large, full heart-throbs, where a + breathless, weird intensity, a cold, fierce passion seemed to be hurrying + everything onward in a maddening whirl, where a gentle, warm-blooded + enthusiast like himself had no place and could expect naught but a speedy + destruction. A strange, unconquerable dread took possession of him, as if + he had been caught in a swift, strong whirlpool, from which he vainly + struggled to escape. He crouched down among the foliage and shuddered. He + could not return to the city. No, no: he never would return. He would + remain here hidden and unseen until morning, and then he would seek a + vessel bound for his dear native land, where the great mountains loomed up + in serene majesty toward the blue sky, where the pine-forests whispered + their dreamily sympathetic legends, in the long summer twilights, where + human existence flowed on in calm beauty with the modest aims, small + virtues, and small vices which were the happiness of modest, idyllic + souls. He even saw himself in spirit recounting to his astonished + countrymen the wonderful things he had heard and seen during his foreign + pilgrimage, and smiled to himself as he imagined their wonder when he + should tell them about the beautiful little girl who had been the first + and only one to offer him a friendly greeting in the strange land. During + these reflections he fell asleep, and slept soundly for two or three + hours. Once, he seemed to hear footsteps and whispers among the trees, and + made an effort to rouse himself, but weariness again overmastered him and + he slept on. At last, he felt himself seized violently by the shoulders, + and a gruff voice shouted in his ear: + </p> + <p> + “Get up, you sleepy dog.” + </p> + <p> + He rubbed his eyes, and, by the dim light of the moon, saw a Herculean + policeman lifting a stout stick over his head. His former terror came upon + him with increased violence, and his heart stood for a moment still, then, + again, hammered away as if it would burst his sides. + </p> + <p> + “Come along!” roared the policeman, shaking him vehemently by the collar + of his coat. + </p> + <p> + In his bewilderment he quite forgot where he was, and, in hurried Norse + sentences, assured his persecutor that he was a harmless, honest traveler, + and implored him to release him. But the official Hercules was inexorable. + </p> + <p> + “My valise, my valise;” cried Halfdan. “Pray let me get my valise.” + </p> + <p> + They returned to the place where he had slept, but the valise was nowhere + to be found. Then, with dumb despair he resigned himself to his fate, and + after a brief ride on a street-car, found himself standing in a large, + low-ceiled room; he covered his face with his hands and burst into tears. + </p> + <p> + “The grand-the happy republic,” he murmured, “spontaneous blossoming of + the soul. Alas! I have rooted up my life; I fear it will never blossom.” + </p> + <p> + All the high-flown adjectives he had employed in his parting speech in the + Students’ Union, when he paid his enthusiastic tribute to the Grand + Republic, now kept recurring to him, and in this moment the paradox seemed + cruel. The Grand Republic, what did it care for such as he? A pair of + brawny arms fit to wield the pick-axe and to steer the plow it received + with an eager welcome; for a child-like, loving heart and a generously + fantastic brain, it had but the stern greeting of the law. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0004" id="link2H_4_0004"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III. + </h2> + <p> + The next morning, Halfdan was released from the Police Station, having + first been fined five dollars for vagrancy. All his money, with the + exception of a few pounds which he had exchanged in Liverpool, he had lost + with his valise, and he had to his knowledge not a single acquaintance in + the city or on the whole continent. In order to increase his capital he + bought some fifty “Tribunes,” but, as it was already late in the day, he + hardly succeeded in selling a single copy. The next morning, he once more + stationed himself on the corner of Murray street and Broadway, hoping in + his innocence to dispose of the papers he had still on hand from the + previous day, and actually did find a few customers among the people who + were jumping in and out of the omnibuses that passed up and down the great + thoroughfare. To his surprise, however, one of these gentlemen returned to + him with a very wrathful countenance, shook his fist at him, and + vociferated with excited gestures something which to Halfdan’s ears had a + very unintelligible sound. He made a vain effort to defend himself; the + situation appeared so utterly incomprehensible to him, and in his dumb + helplessness he looked pitiful enough to move the heart of a stone. No + English phrase suggested itself to him, only a few Norse interjections + rose to his lips. The man’s anger suddenly abated; he picked up the paper + which he had thrown on the sidewalk, and stood for a while regarding + Halfdan curiously. + </p> + <p> + “Are you a Norwegian?” he asked. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I came from Norway yesterday.” + </p> + <p> + “What’s your name?” + </p> + <p> + “Halfdan Bjerk.” + </p> + <p> + “Halfdan Bjerk! My stars! Who would have thought of meeting you here! You + do not recognize me, I suppose.” + </p> + <p> + Halfdan declared with a timid tremor in his voice that he could not at the + moment recall his features. + </p> + <p> + “No, I imagine I must have changed a good deal since you saw me,” said the + man, suddenly dropping into Norwegian. “I am Gustav Olson, I used to live + in the same house with you once, but that is long ago now.” + </p> + <p> + Gustav Olson—to be sure, he was the porter’s son in the house, where + his mother had once during his childhood, taken a flat. He well remembered + having clandestinely traded jack-knives and buttons with him, in spite of + the frequent warnings he had received to have nothing to do with him; for + Gustav, with his broad freckled face and red hair, was looked upon by the + genteel inhabitants of the upper flats as rather a disreputable character. + He had once whipped the son of a colonel who had been impudent to him, and + thrown a snow-ball at the head of a new-fledged lieutenant, which offenses + he had duly expiated at a house of correction. Since that time he had + vanished from Halfdan’s horizon. He had still the same broad freckled + face, now covered with a lusty growth of coarse red beard, the same + rebellious head of hair, which refused to yield to the subduing influences + of the comb, the same plebeian hands and feet, and uncouth clumsiness of + form. But his linen was irreproachable, and a certain dash in his manner, + and the loud fashionableness of his attire, gave unmistakable evidences of + prosperity. + </p> + <p> + “Come, Bjerk,” said he in a tone of good-fellowship, which was not without + its sting to the idealistic republican, “you must take up a better + business than selling yesterday’s `Tribune.’ That won’t pay here, you + know. Come along to our office and I will see if something can’t be done + for you.” + </p> + <p> + “But I should be sorry to give you trouble,” stammered Halfdan, whose + native pride, even in his present wretchedness, protested against + accepting a favor from one whom he had been wont to regard as his + inferior. + </p> + <p> + “Nonsense, my boy. Hurry up, I haven’t much time to spare. The office is + only two blocks from here. You don’t look as if you could afford to throw + away a friendly offer.” + </p> + <p> + The last words suddenly roused Halfdan from his apathy; for he felt that + they were true. A drowning man cannot afford to make nice distinctions—cannot + afford to ask whether the helping hand that is extended to him be that of + an equal or an inferior. So he swallowed his humiliation and threaded his + way through the bewildering turmoil of Broadway, by the side of his + officious friend. + </p> + <p> + They entered a large, elegantly furnished office, where clerks with sleek + and severely apathetic countenances stood scribbling at their desks. + </p> + <p> + “You will have to amuse yourself as best you can,” said Olson. “Mr. Van + Kirk will be here in twenty minutes. I haven’t time to entertain you.” + </p> + <p> + A dreary half hour passed. Then the door opened and a tall, handsome man, + with a full grayish beard, and a commanding presence, entered and took his + seat at a desk in a smaller adjoining office. He opened, with great + dispatch, a pile of letters which lay on the desk before him, called out + in a sharp, ringing tone for a clerk, who promptly appeared, handed him + half-a-dozen letters, accompanying each with a brief direction, took some + clean paper from a drawer and fell to writing. There was something brisk, + determined, and business-like in his manner, which made it seem very + hopeless to Halfdan to appear before him as a petitioner. Presently Olson + entered the private office, closing the door behind him, and a few minutes + later re-appeared and summoned Halfdan into the chief’s presence. + </p> + <p> + “You are a Norwegian, I hear,” said the merchant, looking around over his + shoulder at the supplicant, with a preoccupied air. “You want work. What + can you do?” + </p> + <p> + What can you do? A fatal question. But here was clearly no opportunity for + mental debate. So, summoning all his courage, but feeling nevertheless + very faint, he answered: + </p> + <p> + “I have passed both examen artium and philosophicum, <a href="#linknote-2" + name="linknoteref-2" id="linknoteref-2"><small>2</small></a> and got my + laud clear in the former, but in the latter haud on the first point.” + </p> + <p> + Mr. Van Kirk wheeled round on his chair and faced the speaker: + </p> + <p> + “That is all Greek to me,” he said, in a severe tone. “Can you keep + accounts?” + </p> + <p> + “No. I am afraid not.” + </p> + <p> + Keeping accounts was not deemed a classical accomplishment in Norway. It + was only “trade-rats” who troubled themselves about such gross things, and + if our Norseman had not been too absorbed with the problem of his destiny, + he would have been justly indignant at having such a question put to him. + </p> + <p> + “Then you don’t know book-keeping?” + </p> + <p> + “I think not. I never tried it.” + </p> + <p> + “Then you may be sure you don’t know it. But you must certainly have tried + your hand at something. Is there nothing you can think of which might help + you to get a living?” + </p> + <p> + “I can play the piano—and—and the violin.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, then. You may come this afternoon to my house. Mr. Olson will + tell you the address. I will give you a note to Mrs. Van Kirk. Perhaps she + will engage you as a music teacher for the children. Good morning.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0005" id="link2H_4_0005"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IV. + </h2> + <p> + At half-past four o’clock in the afternoon, Halfdan found himself standing + in a large, dimly lighted drawing-room, whose brilliant upholstery, + luxurious carpets, and fantastically twisted furniture dazzled and + bewildered his senses. All was so strange, so strange; nowhere a familiar + object to give rest to the wearied eye. Wherever he looked he saw his + shabbily attired figure repeated in the long crystal mirrors, and he + became uncomfortably conscious of his threadbare coat, his uncouth boots, + and the general incongruity of his appearance. With every moment his + uneasiness grew; and he was vaguely considering the propriety of a + precipitate flight, when the rustle of a dress at the farther end of the + room startled him, and a small, plump lady, of a daintily exquisite form, + swept up toward him, gave a slight inclination of her head, and sank down + into an easy-chair: + </p> + <p> + “You are Mr. ——, the Norwegian, who wishes to give music + lessons?” she said, holding a pair of gold-framed eyeglasses up to her + eyes, and running over the note which she held in her hand. It read as + follows: + </p> + <p> + DEAR MARTHA,—The bearer of this note is a young Norwegian, I forgot + to ascertain his name, a friend of Olson’s. He wishes to teach music. If + you can help the poor devil and give him something to do, you will oblige, + Yours, H. V. K. + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Van Kirk was evidently, by at least twelve years, her husband’s + junior, and apparently not very far advanced in the forties. Her blonde + hair, which was freshly crimped, fell lightly over her smooth, narrow + forehead; her nose, mouth and chin had a neat distinctness of outline; her + complexion was either naturally or artificially perfect, and her eyes, + which were of the purest blue, had, owing to their near-sightedness, a + certain pinched and scrutinizing look. This look, which was without the + slightest touch of severity, indicating merely a lively degree of + interest, was further emphasized by three small perpendicular wrinkles, + which deepened and again relaxed according to the varying intensity of + observation she bestowed upon the object which for the time engaged her + attention. + </p> + <p> + “Your name, if you please?” said Mrs. Van Kirk, having for awhile measured + her visitor with a glance of mild scrutiny. + </p> + <p> + “Halfdan Bjerk.” + </p> + <p> + “Half-dan B——, how do you spell that?” + </p> + <p> + “B-j-e-r-k.” + </p> + <p> + “B-jerk. Well, but I mean, what is your name in English?” + </p> + <p> + Halfdan looked blank, and blushed to his ears. + </p> + <p> + “I wish to know,” continued the lady energetically, evidently anxious to + help him out, “what your name would mean in plain English. Bjerk, it + certainly must mean something.” + </p> + <p> + “Bjerk is a tree—a birch-tree.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Birch,—that is a very respectable name. And your first + name? What did you say that was? + </p> + <p> + “H-a-l-f-d-a-n.” + </p> + <p> + “Half Dan. Why not a whole Dan and be done with it? Dan Birch, or rather + Daniel Birch. Indeed, that sounds quite Christian.” + </p> + <p> + “As you please, madam,” faltered the victim, looking very unhappy. + </p> + <p> + “You will pardon my straightforwardness, won’t you? B-jerk. I could never + pronounce that, you know.” + </p> + <p> + “Whatever may be agreeable to you, madam, will be sure to please me.” + </p> + <p> + “That is very well said. And you will find that it always pays to try to + please me. And you wish to teach music? If you have no objection I will + call my oldest daughter. She is an excellent judge of music, and if your + playing meets with her approval, I will engage you, as my husband + suggests, not to teach Edith, you understand, but my youngest child, + Clara.” + </p> + <p> + Halfdan bowed assent, and Mrs. Van Kirk rustled out into the hall where + she rang a bell, and re-entered. A servant in dress-coat appeared, and + again vanished as noiselessly as he had come. To our Norseman there was + some thing weird and uncanny about these silent entrances and exits; he + could hardly suppress a shudder. He had been accustomed to hear the + clatter of people’s heels upon the bare floors, as they approached, and + the audible crescendo of their footsteps gave one warning, and prevented + one from being taken by surprise. While absorbed in these reflections, his + senses must have been dormant; for just then Miss Edith Van Kirk entered, + unheralded by anything but a hovering perfume, the effect of which was to + lull him still deeper into his wondering abstraction. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Birch,” said Mrs. Van Kirk, “this is my daughter Miss Edith,” and as + Halfdan sprang to his feet and bowed with visible embarrassment, she + continued: + </p> + <p> + “Edith, this is Mr. Daniel Birch, whom your father has sent here to know + if he would be serviceable as a music teacher for Clara. And now, dear, + you will have to decide about the merits of Mr. Birch. I don’t know enough + about music to be anything of a judge.” + </p> + <p> + “If Mr. Birch will be kind enough to play,” said Miss Edith with a + languidly musical intonation,” I shall be happy to listen to him.” + </p> + <p> + Halfdan silently signified his willingness and followed the ladies to a + smaller apartment which was separated from the drawing-room by folding + doors. The apparition of the beautiful young girl who was walking at his + side had suddenly filled him with a strange burning and shuddering + happiness; he could not tear his eyes away from her; she held him as by a + powerful spell. And still, all the while he had a painful + sub-consciousness of his own unfortunate appearance, which was thrown into + cruel relief by her splendor. The tall, lithe magnificence of her form, + the airy elegance of her toilet, which seemed the perfection of + self-concealing art, the elastic deliberateness of her step—all + wrought like a gentle, deliciously soothing opiate upon the Norseman’s + fancy and lifted him into hitherto unknown regions of mingled misery and + bliss. She seemed a combination of the most divine contradictions, one + moment supremely conscious, and in the next adorably child-like and + simple, now full of arts and coquettish innuendoes, then again naïve, + unthinking and almost boyishly blunt and direct; in a word, one of those + miraculous New York girls whom abstractly one may disapprove of, but in + the concrete must abjectly adore. This easy predominance of the masculine + heart over the masculine reason in the presence of an impressive woman, + has been the motif of a thousand tragedies in times past, and will inspire + a thousand more in times to come. + </p> + <p> + Halfdan sat down at the grand piano and played Chopin’s Nocturne in G + major, flinging out that elaborate filigree of sound with an impetuosity + and superb ABANDON which caused the ladies to exchange astonished glances + behind his back. The transitions from the light and ethereal texture of + melody to the simple, more concrete theme, which he rendered with delicate + shadings of articulation, were sufficiently startling to impress even a + less cultivated ear than that of Edith Van Kirk, who had, indeed, + exhausted whatever musical resources New York has to offer. And she was + most profoundly impressed. As he glided over the last pianissimo notes + toward the two concluding chords (an ending so characteristic of Chopin) + she rose and hurried to his side with a heedless eagerness, which was more + eloquent than emphatic words of praise. + </p> + <p> + “Won’t you please repeat this passage?” she said, humming the air with + soft modulations; “I have always regarded the monotonous repetition of + this strain” (and she indicated it lightly by a few touches of the keys) + “as rather a blemish of an otherwise perfect composition. But as you play + it, it is anything but monotonous. You put into this single phrase a more + intense meaning and a greater variety of thought than I ever suspected it + was capable of expressing.” + </p> + <p> + “It is my favorite composition,” answered he, modestly. “I have bestowed + more thought upon it than upon anything I have ever played, unless perhaps + it be the one in G minor, which, with all its difference of mood and + phraseology, expresses an essentially kindred thought.” + </p> + <p> + “My dear Mr. Birch,” exclaimed Mrs. Van Kirk, whom his skillful employment + of technical terms (in spite of his indifferent accent) had impressed even + more than his rendering of the music,—“you are a comsummate{sic} + artist, and we shall deem it a great privilege if you will undertake to + instruct our child. I have listened to you with profound satisfaction.” + </p> + <p> + Halfdan acknowledged the compliment by a bow and a blush, and repeated the + latter part of the nocturne according to Edith’s request. + </p> + <p> + “And now,” resumed Edith, “may I trouble you to play the G minor, which + has even puzzled me more than the one you have just played.” + </p> + <p> + “It ought really to have been played first,” replied Halfdan. “It is far + intenser in its coloring and has a more passionate ring, but its + conclusion does not seem to be final. There is no rest in it, and it seems + oddly enough to be a mere transition into the major, which is its proper + supplement and completes the fragmentary thought.” + </p> + <p> + Mother and daughter once more telegraphed wondering looks at each other, + while Halfdan plunged into the impetuous movements of the minor nocturne, + which he played to the end with ever-increasing fervor and animation. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Birch,” said Edith, as he arose from the piano with a flushed face, + and the agitation of the music still tingling through his nerves. “You are + a far greater musician than you seem to be aware of. I have not been + taking lessons for some time, but you have aroused all my musical + ambition, and if you will accept me too, as a pupil, I shall deem it a + favor.” + </p> + <p> + “I hardly know if I can teach you anything,” answered he, while his eyes + dwelt with keen delight on her beautiful form. “But in my present position + I can hardly afford to decline so flattering an offer.” + </p> + <p> + “You mean to say that you would decline it if you were in a position to do + so,” said she, smiling. + </p> + <p> + “No, only that I should question my convenience more closely.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, never mind. I take all the responsibility. I shall cheerfully consent + to being imposed upon by you.” + </p> + <p> + Mrs. Van Kirk in the mean while had been examining the contents of a + fragrant Russia-leather pocket-book, and she now drew out two crisp + ten-dollar notes, and held them out toward him. + </p> + <p> + “I prefer to make sure of you by paying you in advance,” said she, with a + cheerfully familiar nod, and a critical glance at his attire, the meaning + of which he did not fail to detect. “Somebody else might make the same + discovery that we have made to-day, and outbid us. And we do not want to + be cheated out of our good fortune in having been the first to secure so + valuable a prize.” + </p> + <p> + “You need have no fear on that score, madam,” retorted Halfdan, with a + vivid blush, and purposely misinterpreting the polite subterfuge. “You may + rely upon my promise. I shall be here again, as soon as you wish me to + return.” + </p> + <p> + “Then, if you please, we shall look for you to-morrow morning at ten + o’clock.” + </p> + <p> + And Mrs. Van Kirk hesitatingly folded up her notes and replaced them in + her pocket-book. + </p> + <p> + To our idealist there was something extremely odious in this sudden offer + of money. It was the first time any one had offered to pay him, and it + seemed to put him on a level with a common day-laborer. His first impulse + was to resent it as a gratuitous humiliation, but a glance at Mrs. Van + Kirk’s countenance, which was all aglow with officious benevolence, + re-assured him, and his indignation died away. + </p> + <p> + That same afternoon Olson, having been informed of his friend’s good + fortune, volunteered a loan of a hundred dollars, and accompanied him to a + fashionable tailor, where he underwent a pleasing metamorphosis. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0006" id="link2H_4_0006"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + V. + </h2> + <p> + In Norway the ladies dress with the innocent purpose of protecting + themselves against the weather; if this purpose is still remotely present + in the toilets of American women of to-day, it is, at all events, + sufficiently disguised to challenge detection, very much like a primitive + Sanscrit root in its French and English derivatives. This was the + reflection which was uppermost in Halfdan’s mind as Edith, ravishing to + behold in the airy grace of her fragrant morning toilet, at the appointed + time took her seat at his side before the piano. Her presence seemed so + intense, so all-absorbing, that it left no thought for the music. A woman, + with all the spiritual mysteries which that name implies, had always + appeared to him rather a composite phenomenon, even apart from those + varied accessories of dress, in which as by an inevitable analogy, she + sees fit to express the inner multiformity of her being. Nevertheless, + this former conception of his, when compared to that wonderful complexity + of ethereal lines, colors, tints and half-tints which go to make up the + modern New York girl, seemed inexpressibly simple, almost what plain + arithmetic must appear to a man who has mastered calculus. + </p> + <p> + Edith had opened one of those small red-covered volumes of Chopin where + the rich, wondrous melodies lie peacefully folded up like strange exotic + flowers in an herbarium. She began to play the fantasia impromtu, which + ought to be dashed off at a single “heat,” whose passionate impulse + hurries it on breathlessly toward its abrupt finale. But Edith toiled + considerably with her fingering, and blurred the keen edges of each swift + phrase by her indistinct articulation. And still there was a sufficiently + ardent intention in her play to save it from being a failure. She made a + gesture of disgust when she had finished, shut the book, and let her hands + drop crosswise in her lap. + </p> + <p> + “I only wanted to give you a proof of my incapacity,” she said, turning + her large luminous gaze upon her instructor, “in order to make you duly + appreciate what you have undertaken. Now, tell me truly and honestly, are + you not discouraged?” + </p> + <p> + “Not by any means,” replied he, while the rapture of her presence rippled + through his nerves, “you have fire enough in you to make an admirable + musician. But your fingers, as yet, refuse to carry out your fine + intentions. They only need discipline.” + </p> + <p> + “And do you suppose you can discipline them? They are a fearfully + obstinate set, and cause me infinite mortification.” + </p> + <p> + “Would you allow me to look at your hand?” + </p> + <p> + She raised her right hand, and with a sort of impulsive heedlessness let + it drop into his. An exclamation of surprise escaped him. + </p> + <p> + “If you will pardon me,” he said, “it is a superb hand—a hand + capable of performing miracles—musical miracles I mean. Only look + here”—(and he drew the fore and second fingers apart)—“so + firmly set in the joint and still so flexible. I doubt if Liszt himself + can boast a finer row of fingers. Your hands will surely not prevent you + from becoming a second Von Bulow, which to my mind means a good deal more + than a second Liszt.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, that is quite enough,” she exclaimed, with an incredulous + laugh; “you have done bravely. That at all events throws the whole burden + of responsibility upon myself, if I do not become a second somebody. I + shall be perfectly satisfied, however, if you can only make me as good a + musician as you are yourself, so that I can render a not too difficult + piece without feeling all the while that I am committing sacrilege in + mutilating the fine thoughts of some great composer.” + </p> + <p> + “You are too modest; you do not—” + </p> + <p> + “No, no, I am not modest,” she interrupted him with an impetuosity which + startled him. “I beg of you not to persist in paying me compliments. I get + too much of that cheap article elsewhere. I hate to be told that I am + better than I know I am. If you are to do me any good by your instruction, + you must be perfectly sincere toward me, and tell me plainly of my + short-comings. I promise you beforehand that I shall never be offended. + There is my hand. Now, is it a bargain?” + </p> + <p> + His fingers closed involuntarily over the soft beautiful hand, and once + more the luxury of her touch sent a thrill of delight through him. + </p> + <p> + “I have not been insincere,” he murmured, “but I shall be on my guard in + future, even against the appearance of insincerity.” + </p> + <p> + “And when I play detestably, you will say so, and not smooth it over with + unmeaning flatteries?” + </p> + <p> + “I will try.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, then we shall get on well together. Do not imagine that this + is a mere feminine whim of mine. I never was more in earnest. Men, and I + believe foreigners, to a greater degree than Americans, have the idea that + women must be treated with gentle forbearance; that their follies, if they + are foolish, must be glossed over with some polite name. They exert + themselves to the utmost to make us mere playthings, and, as such, + contemptible both in our own eyes and in theirs. No sincere respect can + exist where the truth has to be avoided. But the majority of American + women are made of too stern a stuff to be dealt with in that way. They + feel the lurking insincerity even where politeness forbids them to show + it, and it makes them disgusted both with themselves, and with the + flatterer. And now you must pardon me for having spoken so plainly to you + on so short an acquaintance; but you are a foreigner, and it may be an act + of friendship to initiate you as soon as possible into our ways and + customs.” + </p> + <p> + He hardly knew what to answer. Her vehemence was so sudden, and the + sentiments she had uttered so different from those which he had habitually + ascribed to women, that he could only sit and gaze at her in mute + astonishment. He could not but admit that in the main she had judged him + rightly, and that his own attitude and that of other men toward her sex, + were based upon an implied assumption of superiority. + </p> + <p> + “I am afraid I have shocked you,” she resumed, noticing the startled + expression of his countenance. “But really it was quite inevitable, if we + were at all to understand each other. You will forgive me, won’t you?” + </p> + <p> + “Forgive!” stammered he, “I have nothing to forgive. It was only your + merciless truthfulness which startled me. I rather owe you thanks, if you + will allow me to be grateful to you. It seems an enviable privilege.” + </p> + <p> + “Now,” interrupted Edith, raising her forefinger in playful threat, + “remember your promise.” + </p> + <p> + The lesson was now continued without further interruption. When it was + finished, a little girl, with her hair done up in curl-papers, and a very + stiffly starched dress, which stood out on all sides almost horizontally, + entered, accompanied by Mrs. Van Kirk. Halfdan immediately recognized his + acquaintance from the park, and it appeared to him a good omen that this + child, whose friendly interest in him had warmed his heart in a moment + when his fortunes seemed so desperate, should continue to be associated + with his life on this new continent. Clara was evidently greatly impressed + by the change in his appearance, and could with difficulty be restrained + from commenting upon it. + </p> + <p> + She proved a very apt scholar in music, and enjoyed the lessons the more + for her cordial liking of her teacher. + </p> + <p> + It will be necessary henceforth to omit the less significant details in + the career of our friend “Mr. Birch.” Before a month was past, he had + firmly established himself in the favor of the different members of the + Van Kirk family. Mrs. Van Kirk spoke of him to her lady visitors as “a + perfect jewel,” frequently leaving them in doubt as to whether he was a + cook or a coachman. Edith apostrophized him to her fashionable friends as + “a real genius,” leaving a dim impression upon their minds of flowing + locks, a shiny velvet jacket, slouched hat, defiant neck-tie and a general + air of disreputable pretentiousness. Geniuses of the foreign type were + never, in the estimation of fashionable New York society, what you would + call “exactly nice,” and against prejudices of this order no amount of + argument will ever prevail. Clara, who had by this time discovered that + her teacher possessed an inexhaustible fund of fairy stories, assured her + playmates across the street that he was “just splendid,” and frequently + invited them over to listen to his wonderful tales. Mr. Van Kirk himself, + of course, was non-committal, but paid the bills unmurmuringly. + </p> + <p> + Halfdan in the meanwhile was vainly struggling against his growing passion + for Edith; but the more he rebelled the more hopelessly he found himself + entangled in its inextricable net. The fly, as long as it keeps quiet in + the spider’s web, may for a moment forget its situation; but the least + effort to escape is apt to frustrate itself and again reveal the imminent + peril. Thus he too “kicked against the pricks,” hoped, feared, rebelled + against his destiny, and again, from sheer weariness, relapsed into a + dull, benumbed apathy. In spite of her friendly sympathy, he never felt so + keenly his alienism as in her presence. She accepted the spontaneous + homage he paid her, sometimes with impatience, as something that was + really beneath her notice; at other times she frankly recognized it, + bantered him with his “Old World chivalry,” which would soon evaporate in + the practical American atmosphere, and called him her Viking, her knight + and her faithful squire. But it never occurred to her to regard his + devotion in a serious light, and to look upon him as a possible lover had + evidently never entered her head. As their intercourse grew more intimate, + he had volunteered to read his favorite poets with her, and had gradually + succeeded in imparting to her something of his own passionate liking for + Heine and Björnson. She had in return called his attention to the works of + American authors who had hitherto been little more than names to him, and + they had thus managed to be of mutual benefit to each other, and to spend + many a pleasant hour during the long winter afternoons in each other’s + company. But Edith had a very keen sense of humor, and could hardly + restrain her secret amusement when she heard him reading Longfellow’s + “Psalm of Life” and Poe’s “Raven” (which had been familiar to her from her + babyhood), often with false accent, but always with intense enthusiasm. + The reflection that he had had no part of his life in common with her,—that + he did not love the things which she loved,—could not share her + prejudices (and women have a feeling akin to contempt for a man who does + not respond to their prejudices)—removed him at times almost beyond + the reach of her sympathy. It was interesting enough as long as the + experience was novel, to be thus unconsciously exploring another person’s + mind and finding so many strange objects there; but after a while the + thing began to assume an uncomfortably serious aspect, and then there + seemed to be something almost terrible about it. At such times a call from + a gentleman of her own nation, even though he were one of the placidly + stupid type, would be a positive relief; she could abandon herself to the + secure sense of being at home; she need fear no surprises, and in the + smooth shallows of their talk there were no unsuspected depths to excite + and to baffle her ingenuity. And, again, reverting in her thought to + Halfdan, his conversational brilliancy would almost repel her, as + something odious and un-American, the cheap result of outlandish birth and + unrepublican education. Not that she had ever valued republicanism very + highly; she was one of those who associated politics with noisy vulgarity + in speech and dress, and therefore thanked fortune that women were + permitted to keep aloof from it. But in the presence of this alien she + found herself growing patriotic; that much-discussed abstraction, which we + call our country (and which is nothing but the aggregate of all the slow + and invisible influences which go toward making up our own being), became + by degrees a very palpable and intelligible fact to her. + </p> + <p> + Frequently while her American self was thus loudly asserting itself, Edith + inflicted many a cruel wound upon her foreign adorer. Once,—it was + the Fourth of July, more than a year after Halfdan’s arrival, a number of + young ladies and gentlemen, after having listened to a patriotic oration, + were invited in to an informal luncheon. While waiting, they naturally + enough spent their time in singing national songs, and Halfdan’s clear + tenor did good service in keeping the straggling voices together. When + they had finished, Edith went up to him and was quite effusive in her + expressions of gratitude. + </p> + <p> + “I am sure we ought all to be very grateful to you, Mr. Birch,” she said, + “and I, for my part, can assure you that I am.” + </p> + <p> + “Grateful? Why?” demanded Halfdan, looking quite unhappy. + </p> + <p> + “For singing OUR national songs, of course. Now, won’t you sing one of + your own, please? We should all be so delighted to hear how a Swedish—or + Norwegian, is it?—national song sounds.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, Mr. Birch, DO sing a Swedish song,” echoed several voices. + </p> + <p> + They, of course, did not even remotely suspect their own cruelty. He had, + in his enthusiasm for the day allowed himself to forget that he was not + made of the same clay as they were, that he was an exile and a stranger, + and must ever remain so, that he had no right to share their joy in the + blessing of liberty. Edith had taken pains to dispel the happy illusion, + and had sent him once more whirling toward his cold native Pole. His + passion came near choking him, and, to conceal his impetuous emotion, he + flung himself down on the piano-stool, and struck some introductory chords + with perhaps a little superfluous emphasis. Suddenly his voice burst out + into the Swedish national anthem, “Our Land, our Land, our Fatherland,” + and the air shook and palpitated with strong martial melody. His + indignation, his love and his misery, imparted strength to his voice, and + its occasional tremble in the PIANO passages was something more than an + artistic intention. He was loudly applauded as he arose, and the young + ladies thronged about him to ask if he “wouldn’t please write out the + music for them.” + </p> + <p> + Thus month after month passed by, and every day brought its own misery. + Mrs. Van Kirk’s patronizing manners, and ostentatious kindness, often + tested his patience to the utmost. If he was guilty of an innocent + witticism or a little quaintness of expression, she always assumed it to + be a mistake of terms and corrected him with an air of benign superiority. + At times, of course, her corrections were legitimate, as for instance, + when he spoke of WEARING a cane, instead of CARRYING one, but in nine + cases out of ten the fault lay in her own lack of imagination and not in + his ignorance of English. On such occasions Edith often took pity on him, + defended him against her mother’s criticism, and insisted that if this or + that expression was not in common vogue, that was no reason why it should + not be used, as it was perfectly grammatical, and, moreover, in keeping + with the spirit of the language. And he, listening passively in admiring + silence to her argument, thanked her even for the momentary pain because + it was followed by so great a happiness. For it was so sweet to be + defended by Edith, to feel that he and she were standing together side by + side against the outer world. Could he only show her in the old heroic + manner how much he loved her! Would only some one that was dear to her + die, so that he, in that breaking down of social barriers which follows a + great calamity, might comfort her in her sorrow. Would she then, perhaps, + weeping, lean her wonderful head upon his breast, feeling but that he was + a fellow-mortal, who had a heart that was loyal and true, and forgetting, + for one brief instant, that he was a foreigner. Then, to touch that + delicate Elizabethan frill which wound itself so daintily about Edith’s + neck—what inconceivable rapture! But it was quite impossible. It + could never be. These were selfish thoughts, no doubt, but they were a + lover’s selfishness, and, as such, bore a close kinship to all that is + purest and best in human nature. + </p> + <p> + It is one of the tragic facts of this life, that a relation so unequal as + that which existed between Halfdan and Edith, is at all possible. As for + Edith, I must admit that she was well aware that her teacher was in love + with her. Women have wonderfully keen senses for phenomena of that kind, + and it is an illusion if any one imagines, as our Norseman did, that he + has locked his secret securely in the hidden chamber of his heart. In + fleeting intonations, unconscious glances and attitudes, and through a + hundred other channels it will make its way out, and the bereaved jailer + may still clasp his key in fierce triumph, never knowing that he has been + robbed. It was of course no fault of Edith’s that she had become possessed + of Halfdan’s heart-secret. She regarded it as on the whole rather an + absurd affair, and prized it very lightly. That a love so strong and yet + so humble, so destitute of hope and still so unchanging, reverent and + faithful, had something grand and touching in it, had never occurred to + her. It is a truism to say that in our social code the value of a man’s + character is determined by his position; and fine traits in a foreigner + (unless he should happen to be something very great) strike us rather as + part of a supposed mental alienism, and as such, naturally suspicious. It + is rather disgraceful than otherwise to have your music teacher in love + with you, and critical friends will never quite banish the suspicion that + you have encouraged him. + </p> + <p> + Edith had, in her first delight at the discovery of Halfdan’s talent, + frankly admitted him to a relation of apparent equality. He was a man of + culture, had the manners and bearing of a gentleman, and had none of those + theatrical airs which so often raise a sort of invisible wall between + foreigners and Americans. Her mother, who loved to play the patron, + especially to young men, had invited him to dinner-parties and introduced + him to their friends, until almost every one looked upon him as a protege + of the family. He appeared so well in a parlor, and had really such a + distinguished presence, that it was a pleasure to look at him. He was + remarkably free from those obnoxious traits which generalizing American + travelers have led us to believe were inseparable from foreign birth; his + finger-nails were in no way conspicuous; he did not, as a French count, a + former adorer of Edith’s, had done, indulge an unmasculine taste for + diamond rings (possibly because he had none); his politeness was + unobtrusive and subdued, and of his accent there was just enough left to + give an agreeable color of individuality to his speech. But, for all that, + Edith could never quite rid herself of the impression that he was + intensely un-American. There was a certain idyllic quiescence about him, a + child-like directness and simplicity, and a total absence of “push,” which + were startlingly at variance with the spirit of American life. An American + could never have been content to remain in an inferior position without + trying, in some way, to better his fortunes. But Halfdan could stand still + and see, without the faintest stirring of envy, his plebeian friend Olson, + whose education and talents could bear no comparison with his own, rise + rapidly above him, and apparently have no desire to emulate him. He could + sit on a cricket in a corner, with Clara on his lap, and two or three + little girls nestling about him, and tell them fairy stories by the hour, + while his kindly face beamed with innocent happiness. And if Clara, to + coax him into continuing the entertainment, offered to kiss him, his + measure of joy was full. This fair child, with her affectionate ways, and + her confiding prattle, wound herself ever more closely about his homeless + heart, and he clung to her with a touching devotion. For she was the only + one who seemed to be unconscious of the difference of blood, who had not + yet learned that she was an American and he—a foreigner. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0007" id="link2H_4_0007"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VI. + </h2> + <p> + Three years had passed by and still the situation was unchanged. Halfdan + still taught music and told fairy stories to the children. He had a good + many more pupils now than three years ago, although he had made no effort + to solicit patronage, and had never tried to advertise his talent by what + he regarded as vulgar and inartistic display. But Mrs. Van Kirk, who had + by this time discovered his disinclination to assert himself, had been + only the more active; had “talked him up” among her aristocratic friends; + had given musical soirees, at which she had coaxed him to play the + principal role, and had in various other ways exerted herself in his + behalf. It was getting to be quite fashionable to admire his quiet, + unostentatious style of playing, which was so far removed from the noisy + bravado and clap-trap then commonly in vogue. Even professional musicians + began to indorse him, and some, who had discovered that “there was money + in him,” made him tempting offers for a public engagement. But, with + characteristic modesty, he distrusted their verdict; his sensitive nature + shrank from anything which had the appearance of self-assertion or + display. + </p> + <p> + But Edith—ah, if it had not been for Edith he might have found + courage to enter at the door of fortune, which was now opened ajar. That + fame, if he should gain it, would bring him any nearer to her, was a + thought that was alien to so unworldly a temperament as his. And any + action that had no bearing upon his relation to her, left him cold—seemed + unworthy of the effort. If she had asked him to play in public; if she had + required of him to go to the North Pole, or to cut his own throat, I + verily believe he would have done it. And at last Edith did ask him to + play. She and Olson had plotted together, and from the very friendliest + motives agreed to play into each other’s hands. + </p> + <p> + “If you only WOULD consent to play,” said she, in her own persuasive way, + one day as they had finished their lesson, “we should all be so happy. + Only think how proud we should be of your success, for you know there is + nothing you can’t do in the way of music if you really want to.” + </p> + <p> + “Do you really think so?” exclaimed he, while his eyes suddenly grew large + and luminous. + </p> + <p> + “Indeed I do,” said Edith, emphatically. + </p> + <p> + “And if—if I played well,” faltered he, “would it really please + you?” + </p> + <p> + “Of course it would,” cried Edith, laughing; “how can you ask such a + foolish question?” + </p> + <p> + “Because I hardly dared to believe it.” + </p> + <p> + “Now listen to me,” continued the girl, leaning forward in her chair, and + beaming all over with kindly officiousness; “now for once you must be + rational and do just what I tell you. I shall never like you again if you + oppose me in this, for I have set my heart upon it; you must promise + beforehand that you will be good and not make any objection. Do you hear?” + </p> + <p> + When Edith assumed this tone toward him, she might well have made him + promise to perform miracles. She was too intent upon her benevolent scheme + to heed the possible inferences which he might draw from her sudden + display of interest. + </p> + <p> + “Then you promise?” repeated she, eagerly, as he hesitated to answer. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I promise.” + </p> + <p> + “Now, you must not be surprised; but mamma and I have made arrangements + with Mr. S—— that you are to appear under his auspices at a + concert which is to be given a week from to-night. All our friends are + going, and we shall take up all the front seats, and I have already told + my gentlemen friends to scatter through the audience, and if they care + anything for my favor, they will have to applaud vigorously.” + </p> + <p> + Halfdan reddened up to his temples, and began to twist his watch-chain + nervously. + </p> + <p> + “You must have small confidence in my ability,” he murmured, “since you + resort to precautions like these.” + </p> + <p> + “But my dear Mr. Birch,” cried Edith, who was quick to discover that she + had made a mistake, “it is not kind in you to mistrust me in that way. If + a New York audience were as highly cultivated in music as you are, I admit + that my precautions would be superfluous. But the papers, you know, will + take their tone from the audience, and therefore we must make use of a + little innocent artifice to make sure of it. Everything depends upon the + success of your first public appearance, and if your friends can in this + way help you to establish the reputation which is nothing but your right, + I am sure you ought not to bind their hands by your foolish sensitiveness. + You don’t know the American way of doing things as well as I do, therefore + you must stand by your promise, and leave everything to me.” + </p> + <p> + It was impossible not to believe that anything Edith chose to do was above + reproach. She looked so bewitching in her excited eagerness for his + welfare that it would have been inhuman to oppose her. So he meekly + succumbed, and began to discuss with her the programme for the concert. + </p> + <p> + During the next week there was hardly a day that he did not read some + startling paragraph in the newspapers about “the celebrated Scandinavian + pianist,” whose appearance at S—— Hall was looked forward to + as the principal event of the coming season. He inwardly rebelled against + the well-meant exaggerations; but as he suspected that it was Edith’s + influence which was in this way asserting itself in his behalf, he set his + conscience at rest and remained silent. + </p> + <p> + The evening of the concert came at last, and, as the papers stated the + next morning, “the large hall was crowded to its utmost capacity with a + select and highly appreciative audience.” Edith must have played her part + of the performance skillfully, for as he walked out upon the stage, he was + welcomed with an enthusiastic burst of applause, as if he had been a + world-renowned artist. At Edith’s suggestion, her two favorite nocturnes + had been placed first upon the programme; then followed one of those + ballads of Chopin, whose rhythmic din and rush sweep onward, beleaguering + the ear like eager, melodious hosts, charging in thickening ranks and + columns, beating impetuous retreats, and again uniting with one grand + emotion the wide-spreading army of sound for the final victory. Besides + these, there was one of Liszt’s “Rhapsodies Hongroises,” an impromptu by + Schubert, and several orchestral pieces; but the greater part of the + programme was devoted to Chopin, because Halfdan, with his great, hopeless + passion laboring in his breast, felt that he could interpret Chopin better + than he could any other composer. He carried his audience by storm. As he + retired to the dressing-room, after having finished the last piece, his + friends, among whom Edith and Mrs. Van Kirk were the most conspicuous, + thronged about him, showering their praises and congratulations upon him. + They insisted with much friendly urging upon taking him home in their + carriage; Clara kissed him, Mrs. Van Kirk introduced him to her lady + acquaintances as “our friend, Mr. Birch,” and Edith held his hand so long + in hers that he came near losing his presence of mind and telling her then + and there that he loved her. As his eyes rested on her, they became + suddenly suffused with tears, and a vast bewildering happiness vibrated + through his frame. At last he tore himself away and wandered aimlessly + through the long, lonely streets. Why could he not tell Edith that he + loved her? Was there any disgrace in loving? This heavenly passion which + so suddenly had transfused his being, and year by year deadened the + substance of his old self, creating in its stead something new and wild + and strange which he never could know, but still held infinitely dear—had + it been sent to him merely as a scourge to test his capacity for + suffering? + </p> + <p> + Once, while he was a child, his mother had told him that somewhere in this + wide world there lived a maiden whom God had created for him, and for him + alone, and when he should see her, he should love her, and his life should + thenceforth be all for her. It had hardly occurred to him, then, to + question whether she would love him in return, it had appeared so very + natural that she should. Now he had found this maiden, and she had been + very kind to him; but her kindness had been little better than cruelty, + because he had demanded something more than kindness. And still he had + never told her of his love. He must tell her even this very night while + the moon rode high in the heavens and all the small differences between + human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit stillness. He knew well that + by the relentless glare of the daylight his own insignificance would be + cruelly conspicuous in the presence of her splendor; his scruples would + revive, and his courage fade. + </p> + <p> + The night was clear and still. A clock struck eleven in some church tower + near by. The Van Kirk mansion rose tall and stately in the moonlight, + flinging a dense mass of shadow across the street. Up in the third story + he saw two windows lighted; the curtains were drawn, but the blinds were + not closed. All the rest of the house was dark. He raised his voice and + sang a Swedish serenade which seemed in perfect concord with his own mood. + His clear tenor rose through the silence of the night, and a feeble echo + flung it back from the mansion opposite: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + <a href="#linknote-3" name="linknoteref-3" id="linknoteref-3">3</a> “Star, sweet star, that brightly beamest, + Glittering on the skies nocturnal, + Hide thine eye no more from me, + Hide thine eye no more from me!” + </pre> + <p> + The curtain was drawn aside, the window cautiously raised, and the outline + of Edith’s beautiful head appeared dark and distinct against the light + within. She instantly recognized him. + </p> + <p> + “You must go away, Mr. Birch,” came her voice in an anxious whisper out of + the shadow. “Pray go away. You will wake up the people.” + </p> + <p> + Her words were audible enough, but they failed to convey any meaning to + his excited mind. Once more his voice floated upward to her opened window: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “And I yearn to reach thy dwelling, + Yearn to rise from earth’s fierce turmoil; + Sweetest star upward to thee, + Yearn to rise, bright star to thee.” + </pre> + <p> + “Dear Mr. Birch,” she whispered once more in tones of distress. “Pray DO + go away. Or perhaps,” she interrupted herself “—wait one moment and + I will come down.” + </p> + <p> + Presently the front door was noiselessly opened, and Edith’s tall, lithe + form, dressed in a white flowing dress, and with her blonde hair rolling + loosely over her shoulders, appeared for an instant, and then again + vanished. With one leap Halfdan sprang up the stairs and pushed through + the half-opened door. Edith closed the door behind him, then with rapid + steps led the way to the back parlor where the moon broke feebly through + the bars of the closed shutters. + </p> + <p> + “Now Mr. Birch,” she said, seating herself upon a lounge, “you may explain + to me what this unaccountable behavior of yours means. I should hardly + think I had deserved to be treated in this way by you.” + </p> + <p> + Halfdan was utterly bewildered; a nervous fit of trembling ran through + him, and he endeavored in vain to speak. He had been prepared for + passionate reproaches, but this calm severity chilled him through, and he + could only gasp and tremble, but could utter no word in his defense. + </p> + <p> + “I suppose you are aware,” continued Edith, in the same imperturbable + manner, “that if I had not interrupted you, the policeman would have heard + you, and you would have been arrested for street disturbance. Then + to-morrow we should have seen it in all the newspapers, and I should have + been the laughing-stock of the whole town.” + </p> + <p> + No, surely he had never thought of it in that light; the idea struck him + as entirely new. There was a long pause. A cock crowed with a drowsy + remoteness in some neighboring yard, and the little clock on the + mantel-piece ticked on patiently in the moonlit dusk. + </p> + <p> + “If you have nothing to say,” resumed Edith, while the stern indifference + in her voice perceptibly relaxed, “then I will bid you good-night.” + </p> + <p> + She arose, and with a grand sweep of her drapery, moved toward the door. + </p> + <p> + “Miss Edith,” cried he, stretching his hands despairingly after her, “you + must not leave me.” + </p> + <p> + She paused, tossed her hair back with her hands, and gazed at him over her + shoulder. He threw himself on his knees, seized the hem of her dress, and + pressed it to his lips. It was a gesture of such inexpressible humility + that even a stone would have relented. + </p> + <p> + “Do not be foolish, Mr. Birch,” she said, trying to pull her dress away + from him. “Get up, and if you have anything rational to say to me, I will + stay and listen.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, yes,” he whispered, hoarsely, “I shall be rational. Only do not + leave me.” + </p> + <p> + She again sank down wearily upon the lounge, and looked at him in + expectant silence. + </p> + <p> + “Miss Edith,” pleaded he in the same hoarse, passionate undertone, “have + pity on me, and do not despise me. I love you—oh—if you would + but allow me to die for you, I should be the happiest of men.” + </p> + <p> + Again he shuddered, and stood long gazing at her with a mute, pitiful + appeal. A tear stole into Edith’s eye and trickled down over her cheek. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Mr. Birch,” she murmured, while a sigh shook her bosom, “I am sorry—very + sorry that this misfortune has happened to you. You have deserved a better + fate than to love me—to love a woman who can never give you anything + in return for what you give her.” + </p> + <p> + “Never?” he repeated mournfully, “never?” + </p> + <p> + “No, never! You have been a good friend to me, and as such I value you + highly, and I had hoped that you would always remain so. But I see that it + cannot be. It will perhaps be best for you henceforth not to see me, at + least not until—pardon the expression—you have outlived this + generous folly. And now, you know, you will need me no more. You have made + a splendid reputation, and if you choose to avail yourself of it, your + fortune is already made. I shall always rejoice to hear of your success, + and—and if you should ever need a FRIEND, you must come to no one + but me. I know that these are feeble words, Mr. Birch, and if they seem + cold to you, you must pardon me. I can say nothing more.” + </p> + <p> + They were indeed feeble words, although most cordially spoken. He tried to + weigh them, to measure their meaning, but his mind was as if benumbed, and + utterly incapable of thought. He walked across the floor, perhaps only to + do something, not feeling where he trod, but still with an absurd + sensation that he was taking immoderately long steps. Then he stopped + abruptly, wrung his hands, and gazed at Edith. And suddenly, like a flash + in a vacuum, the thought shot through his brain that he had seen this very + scene somewhere—in a dream, in a remote childhood, in a previous + existence, he did not know when or where. It seemed strangely familiar, + and in the next instant strangely meaningless and unreal. The walls, the + floor—everything began to move, to whirl about him; he struck his + hands against his forehead, and sank down into a damask-covered + easy-chair. With a faint cry of alarm, Edith sprang up, seized a bottle of + cologne which happened to be within reach, and knelt down at his side. She + put her arm around his neck, and raised his head. + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Birch, dear Mr. Birch,” she cried, in a frightened whisper, “for + God’s sake come to yourself! O God, what have I done?” + </p> + <p> + She blew the eau-de-cologne into his face, and, as he languidly opened his + eyes, he felt the touch of her warm hand upon his cheeks and his forehead. + </p> + <p> + “Thank heaven! he is better,” she murmured, still continuing to bathe his + temples. “How do you feel now, Mr. Birch?” she added, in a tone of anxious + inquiry. + </p> + <p> + “Thank you, it was an unpardonable weakness,” he muttered, without + changing his attitude. “Do not trouble yourself about me. I shall soon be + well.” + </p> + <p> + It was so sweet to be conscious of her gentle ministry, that it required a + great effort, an effort of conscience, to rouse him once more, as his + strength returned. + </p> + <p> + “Had you not better stay?” she asked, as he rose to put on his overcoat. + “I will call one of the servants and have him show you a room. We will say + to-morrow morning that you were taken ill, and nobody will wonder.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” he responded, energetically. “I am perfectly strong now.” But he + still had to lean on a chair, and his face was deathly pale. + </p> + <p> + “Farewell, Miss Edith,” he said; and a tender sadness trembled in his + voice. “Farewell. We shall—probably—never meet again.” + </p> + <p> + “Do not speak so,” she answered, seizing his hand. “You will try to forget + this, and you will still be great and happy. And when fortune shall again + smile upon you, and—and—you will be content to be my friend, + then we shall see each other as before.” + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” he broke forth, with a sudden hoarseness. “It will never be.” + </p> + <p> + He walked toward the door with the motions of one who feels death in his + limbs; then stopped once more and his eyes lingered with inexpressible + sadness on the wonderful, beloved form which stood dimly outlined before + him in the twilight. Then Edith’s measure of misery, too, seemed full. + With the divine heedlessness which belongs to her sex, she rushed up + toward him, and remembering only that he was weak and unhappy, and that he + suffered for her sake, she took his face between her hands and kissed him. + He was too generous a man to misinterpret the act; so he whispered but + once more: “Farewell,” and hastened away. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0008" id="link2H_4_0008"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VII. + </h2> + <p> + After that eventful December night, America was no more what it had been + to Halfdan Bjerk. A strange torpidity had come over him; every rising day + gazed into his eyes with a fierce unmeaning glare. The noise of the street + annoyed him and made him childishly fretful, and the solitude of his own + room seemed still more dreary and depressing. He went mechanically through + the daily routine of his duties as if the soul had been taken out of his + work, and left his life all barrenness and desolation. He moved restlessly + from place to place, roamed at all times of the day and night through the + city and its suburbs, trying vainly to exhaust his physical strength; + gradually, as his lethargy deepened into a numb, helpless despair, it + seemed somehow to impart a certain toughness to his otherwise delicate + frame. Olson, who was now a junior partner in the firm of Remsen, Van Kirk + and Co., stood by him faithfully in these days of sorrow. He was never + effusive in his sympathy, but was patiently forbearing with his friend’s + whims and moods, and humored him as if he had been a sick child intrusted + to his custody. That Edith might be the moving cause of Olson’s kindness + was a thought which, strangely enough, had never occurred to Halfdan. + </p> + <p> + At last, when spring came, the vacancy of his mind was suddenly invaded + with a strong desire to revisit his native land. He disclosed his plan to + Olson, who, after due deliberation and several visits to the Van Kirk + mansion, decided that the pleasure of seeing his old friends and the + scenes of his childhood might push the painful memories out of sight, and + renew his interest in life. So, one morning, while the May sun shone with + a soft radiance upon the beautiful harbor, our Norseman found himself + standing on the deck of a huge black-hulled Cunarder, shivering in spite + of the warmth, and feeling a chill loneliness creeping over him at the + sight of the kissing and affectionate leave-takings which were going on + all around him. Olson was running back and forth, attending to his + baggage; but he himself took no thought, and felt no more responsibility + than if he had been a helpless child. He half regretted that his own wish + had prevailed, and was inclined to hold his friend responsible for it; and + still he had not energy enough to protest now when the journey seemed + inevitable. His heart still clung to the place which held the corpse of + his ruined life, as a man may cling to the spot which hides his beloved + dead. + </p> + <p> + About two weeks later Halfdan landed in Norway. He was half reluctant to + leave the steamer, and the land of his birth excited no emotion in his + breast. He was but conscious of a dim regret that he was so far away from + Edith. At last, however, he betook himself to a hotel, where he spent the + afternoon sitting with half-closed eyes at a window, watching listlessly + the drowsy slow-pulsed life which dribbled languidly through the narrow + thoroughfare. The noisy uproar of Broadway chimed remotely in his ears, + like the distant roar of a tempest-tossed sea, and what had once been a + perpetual annoyance was now a sweet memory. How often with Edith at his + side had he threaded his way through the surging crowds that pour, on a + fine afternoon, in an unceasing current up and down the street between + Union and Madison Squares. How friendly, and sweet, and gracious, Edith + had been at such times; how fresh her voice, how witty and animated her + chance remarks when they stopped to greet a passing acquaintance; and, + above all, how inspiring the sight of her heavenly beauty. Now that was + all past. Perhaps he should never see Edith again. + </p> + <p> + The next day he sauntered through the city, meeting some old friends, who + all seemed changed and singularly uninteresting. They were all engaged or + married, and could talk of nothing but matrimony, and their prospects of + advancement in the Government service. One had an influential uncle who + had been a chum of the present minister of finance; another based his + hopes of future prosperity upon the family connections of his betrothed, + and a third was waiting with a patient perseverance, worthy of a better + cause, for the death or resignation of an antiquated chef-de-bureau, + which, according to the promise of some mighty man, would open a position + for him in the Department of Justice. All had the most absurd theories + about American democracy, and indulged freely in prophecies of coming + disasters; but about their own government they had no opinion whatever. If + Halfdan attempted to set them right, they at once grew excited and + declamatory; their opinions were based upon conviction and a charming + ignorance of facts, and they were not to be moved. They knew all about + Tweed and the Tammany Ring, and believed them to be representative + citizens of New York, if not of the United States; but of Charles Sumner + and Carl Schurz they had never heard. Halfdan, who, in spite of his + misfortunes in the land of his adoption, cherished a very tender feeling + for it, was often so thoroughly aroused at the foolish prejudices which + everywhere met him, that his torpidity gradually thawed away, and he began + to look more like his former self. + </p> + <p> + Toward autumn he received an invitation to visit a country clergyman in + the North, a distant relative of his father’s, and there whiled away his + time, fishing and shooting, until winter came. But as Christmas drew near, + and the day wrestled feebly with the all-conquering night, the old sorrow + revived. In the darkness which now brooded over land and sea, the thoughts + needed no longer be on guard against themselves; they could roam far and + wide as they listed. Where was Edith now, the sweet, the wonderful Edith? + Was there yet the same dancing light in her beautiful eyes, the same + golden sheen in her hair, the same merry ring in her voice? And had she + not said that when he was content to be only her friend, he might return + to her, and she would receive him in the old joyous and confiding way? + Surely there was no life to him apart from her: why should he not be her + friend? Only a glimpse of her lovely face—ah, it was worth a + lifetime; it would consecrate an age of misery, a glimpse of Edith’s face. + Thus ran his fancies day by day, and the night only lent a deeper + intensity to the yearnings of the day. He walked about as in a dream, + seeing nothing, heeding nothing, while this one strong desire—to see + Edith once more—throbbed and throbbed with a slow, feverish + perseverance within him. Edith—Edith, the very name had a strange, + potent fascination. Every thought whispered “Edith,”—his pulse beat + “Edith,”—and his heart repeated the beloved name. It was his + pulse-beat,—his heartbeat,—his life-beat. + </p> + <p> + And one morning as he stood absently looking at his fingers against the + light—and they seemed strangely wan and transparent—the + thought at last took shape. It rushed upon him with such vehemence, that + he could no more resist it. So he bade the clergyman good-bye, gathered + his few worldly goods together and set out for Bergen. There he found an + English steamer which carried him to Hull, and a few weeks later, he was + once more in New York. + </p> + <p> + It was late one evening in January that a tug-boat arrived and took the + cabin passengers ashore. The moon sailed tranquilly over the deep blue + dome of the sky, the stars traced their glittering paths of light from the + zenith downward, and it was sharp, bitter cold. Northward over the river + lay a great bank of cloud, dense, gray and massive, the spectre of the + coming snow-storm. There it lay so huge and fantastically human, ruffling + itself up, as fowls do, in defense against the cold. Halfdan walked on at + a brisk rate—strange to say, all the street-cars he met went the + wrong way—startling every now and then some precious memory, some + word or look or gesture of Edith’s which had hovered long over those + scenes, waiting for his recognition. There was the great jewel-store where + Edith had taken him so often to consult his taste whenever a friend of + hers was to be married. It was there that they had had an amicable quarrel + over that bronze statue of Faust which she had found beautiful, while he, + with a rudeness which seemed now quite incomprehensible, had insisted that + it was not. And when he had failed to convince her, she had given him her + hand in token of reconciliation—and Edith had a wonderful way of + giving her hand, which made any one feel that it was a peculiar privilege + to press it—and they had walked out arm in arm into the animated, + gas-lighted streets, with a delicious sense of snugness and security, + being all the more closely united for their quarrel. Here, farther up the + avenue, they had once been to a party, and he had danced for the first + time in his life with Edith. Here was Delmonico’s, where they had had such + fascinating luncheons together; where she had got a stain on her dress, + and he had been forced to observe that her dress was then not really a + part of herself, since it was a thing that could not be stained. Her dress + had always seemed to him as something absolute and final, exalted above + criticism, incapable of improvement. + </p> + <p> + As I have said, Halfdan walked briskly up the avenue, and it was something + after eleven when he reached the house which he sought. The great + cloud-bank in the north had then begun to expand and stretched its long + misty arms eastward and westward over the heavens. The windows on the + ground-floor were dark, but the sleeping apartments in the upper stories + were lighted. In Edith’s room the inside shutters were closed, but one of + the windows was a little down at the top. And as he stood gazing with + tremulous happiness up to that window, a stanza from Heine which he and + Edith had often read together, came into his head. It was the story of the + youth who goes to the Madonna at Kevlar and brings her as a votive + offering a heart of wax, that she may heal him of his love and his sorrow. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “I bring this waxen image, + The image of my heart, + Heal thou my bitter sorrow, + And cure my deadly smart!” <a href="#linknote-4" name="linknoteref-4" + id="linknoteref-4">4</a> +</pre> + <p> + Then came the thought that for him, too, as for the poor youth of Cologne, + there was healing only in death. And still in this moment he was so near + Edith, should see her perhaps, and the joy at this was stronger than all + else, stronger even than death. So he sat down beside the steps of the + mansion opposite, where there was some shelter from the wind, and waited + patiently till Edith should close her window. He was cold, perhaps, but, + if so, he hardly knew it, for the near joy of seeing her throbbed warmly + in his veins. Ah, there—the blinds were thrown open; Edith, in all + the lithe magnificence of her wonderful form, stood out clear and + beautiful against the light within; she pushed up the lower window in + order to reach the upper one, and for a moment leaned out over the sill. + Once more her wondrous profile traced itself in strong relief against the + outer gloom. There came a cry from the street below, a feeble involuntary + one, but still distinctly audible. Edith peered anxiously out into the + darkness, but the darkness had grown denser and she could see nothing. The + window was fastened, the shutters closed, and the broad pathway of light + which she had flung out upon the night had vanished. + </p> + <p> + Halfdan closed his eyes trying to retain the happy vision. Yes, there she + stood still, and there was a heavenly smile upon her lips—ugh, he + shivered—the snow swept in a wild whirl up the street. He wrapped + his plaid more closely about him, and strained his eyes to catch one more + glimpse of the beloved Edith. Ah, yes; there she was again; she came + nearer and nearer, and she touched his cheek, gently, warily smiling all + the while with a strange wistful smile which was surely not Edith’s. + There, she bent over him,—touched him again,—how cold her + hands were; the touch chilled him to the heart. The snow had now begun to + fall in large scattered flakes, whirling fitfully through the air, + following every chance gust of wind, but still falling, falling, and + covering the earth with its white, death-like shroud. + </p> + <p> + But surely—there was Edith again,—how wonderful!—in a + long snow-white robe, grave and gracious, still with the wistful smile on + her lips. See, she beckons to him with her hand, and he rises to follow, + but something heavy clings to his feet and he cannot stir from the spot. + He tries to cry for help, but he cannot,—can only stretch out his + hands to her, and feel very unhappy that he cannot follow her. But now she + pauses in her flight, turns about, and he sees that she wears a myrtle + garland in her hair like a bride. She comes toward him, her countenance + all radiant with love and happiness, and she stoops down over him and + speaks: + </p> + <p> + “Come; they are waiting for us. I will follow thee in life and in death, + wherever thou goest. Come,” repeats Edith, “they have long been waiting. + They are all here.” + </p> + <p> + And he imagines he knows who they all are, although he has never heard of + them, nor can he recall their names. + </p> + <p> + “But—but,” he stammers, “I—I—am a foreigner ” + </p> + <p> + It appeared then that for some reason this was an insurmountable + objection. And Edith’s happiness dies out of her beautiful face, and she + turns away weeping. + </p> + <p> + “Edith, beloved!” + </p> + <p> + Then she is once more at his side. + </p> + <p> + “Thou art no more a foreigner to me, beloved. Whatever thou art, I am.” + </p> + <p> + And she presses her lips to his—it was the sweetest kiss of his life—the + kiss of death. + </p> + <p> + The next morning, as Edith, after having put the last touch to her toilet, + threw the shutters open, a great glare of sun-smitten snow burst upon her + and for a moment blinded her eyes. On the sidewalk opposite, half a dozen + men with snow-shovels in their hands and a couple of policeman had + congregated, and, judging by their manner, were discussing some object of + interest. Presently they were joined by her father, who had just finished + his breakfast and was on his way to the office. Now he stooped down and + gazed at something half concealed in the snow, then suddenly started back, + and as she caught a glimpse of his face, she saw that it was ghastly + white. A terrible foreboding seized her. She threw a shawl about her + shoulders and rushed down-stairs. In the hall she was met by her father, + who was just entering, followed by four men, carrying something between + them. She well knew what it was. She would fain have turned away, but she + could not: grasping her father’s arm and pressing it hard, she gazed with + blank, frightened eyes at the white face, the lines of which Death had so + strangely emphasized. The snow-flakes which hung in his hair had touched + him with their sudden age, as if to bridge the gulf between youth and + death. And still he was beautiful—the clear brow, the peaceful, + happy indolence, the frozen smile which death had perpetuated. Smiling, he + had departed from the earth which had no place for him, and smiling + entered the realm where, among the many mansions, there is, perhaps, also + one for a gentle, simple-hearted enthusiast. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0009" id="link2H_4_0009"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + THE STORY OF AN OUTCAST. + </h2> + <p> + THERE was an ancient feud between the families; and Bjarne Blakstad was + not the man to make it up, neither was Hedin Ullern. So they looked + askance at each other whenever they met on the highway, and the one took + care not to cross the other’s path. But on Sundays, when the church-bells + called the parishioners together, they could not very well avoid seeing + each other on the church-yard; and then, one day, many years ago, when the + sermon had happened to touch Bjarne’s heart, he had nodded to Hedin and + said: “Fine weather to-day;” and Hedin had returned the nod and answered: + “True is that.” “Now I have done my duty before God and men,” thought + Bjarne, “and it is his turn to take the next step.” “The fellow is proud,” + said Hedin to himself, “and he wants to show off his generosity. But I + know the wolf by his skin, even if he has learned to bleat like a + ewe-lamb.” + </p> + <p> + What the feud really was about, they had both nearly forgotten. All they + knew was that some thirty years ago there had been a quarrel between the + pastor and the parish about the right of carrying arms to the church. And + then Bjarne’s father had been the spokesman of the parish, while Hedin’s + grandsire had been a staunch defender of the pastor. There was a rumor, + too, that they had had a fierce encounter somewhere in the woods, and that + the one had stabbed the other with a knife; but whether that was really + true, no one could tell. + </p> + <p> + Bjarne was tall and grave, like the weather-beaten fir-trees in his + mast-forest. He had a large clean-shaven face, narrow lips, and small + fierce eyes. He seldom laughed, and when he did, his laugh seemed even + fiercer than his frown. He wore his hair long, as his fathers had done, + and dressed in the styles of two centuries ago; his breeches were clasped + with large silver buckles at the knees, and his red jerkin was gathered + about his waist with a leathern girdle. He loved everything that was old, + in dress as well as in manners, took no newspapers, and regarded railroads + and steamboats as inventions of the devil. Bjarne had married late in + life, and his marriage had brought him two daughters, Brita and Grimhild. + </p> + <p> + Hedin Ullern was looked upon as an upstart. He could only count three + generations back, and he hardly knew himself how his grandfather had + earned the money that had enabled him to buy a farm and settle down in the + valley. He had read a great deal, and was well informed on the politics of + the day; his name had even been mentioned for storthingsmand, or member of + parliament from the district, and it was the common opinion, that if + Bjarne Blakstad had not so vigorously opposed him, he would have been + elected, being the only “cultivated” peasant in the valley. Hedin was no + unwelcome guest in the houses of gentlefolks, and he was often seen at the + judge’s and the pastor’s omber parties. And for all this Bjarne Blakstad + only hated him the more. Hedin’s wife, Thorgerda, was fair-haired, tall + and stout, and it was she who managed the farm, while her husband read his + books, and studied politics in the newspapers; but she had a sharp tongue + and her neighbors were afraid of her. They had one son, whose name was + Halvard. + </p> + <p> + Brita Blakstad, Bjarne’s eldest daughter, was a maid whom it was a joy to + look upon. They called her “Glitter-Brita,” because she was fond of rings + and brooches, and everything that was bright; while she was still a child, + she once took the old family bridal-crown out from the storehouse and + carried it about on her head. “Beware of that crown, child,” her father + had said to her, “and wear it not before the time. There is not always + blessing in the bridal silver.” And she looked wonderingly up into his + eyes and answered: “But it glitters, father;” and from that time forth + they had named her Glitter-Brita. + </p> + <p> + And Glitter-Brita grew up to be a fair and winsome maiden, and wherever + she went the wooers flocked on her path. Bjarne shook his head at her, and + often had harsh words upon his lips, when he saw her braiding + field-flowers into her yellow tresses or clasping the shining brooches to + her bodice; but a look of hers or a smile would completely disarm him. She + had a merry way of doing things which made it all seem like play; but work + went rapidly from her hands, while her ringing laughter echoed through the + house, and her sunny presence made it bright in the dusky ancestral halls. + In her kitchen the long rows of copper pots and polished kettles shone + upon the walls, and the neatly scoured milk-pails stood like soldiers on + parade about the shelves under the ceiling. Bjarne would often sit for + hours watching her, and a strange spring-feeling would steal into his + heart. He felt a father’s pride in her stately growth and her rich womanly + beauty. “Ah!” he would say to himself, “she has the pure blood in her + veins and, as true as I live, the farm shall be hers.” And then, quite + contrary to his habits, he would indulge in a little reverie, imagining + the time when he, as an aged man, should have given the estate over into + her hands, and seeing her as a worthy matron preside at the table, and + himself rocking his grandchildren on his knee. No wonder, then, that he + eyed closely the young lads who were beginning to hover about the house, + and that he looked with suspicion upon those who selected Saturday nights + for their visits. <a href="#linknote-5" name="linknoteref-5" + id="linknoteref-5"><small>5</small></a> When Brita was twenty years old, + however, her father thought that it was time for her to make her choice. + There were many fine, brave lads in the valley, and, as Bjarne thought, + Brita would have the good sense to choose the finest and the bravest. So, + when the winter came, he suddenly flung his doors open to the youth of the + parish, and began to give parties with ale and mead in the grand old + style. He even talked with the young men, at times, encouraged them to + manly sports, and urged them to taste of his home-brewed drinks and to + tread the spring-dance briskly. And Brita danced and laughed so that her + hair flew around her and the silver brooches tinkled and rang on her + bosom. But when the merriment was at an end, and any one of the lads + remained behind to offer her his hand, she suddenly grew grave, told him + she was too young, that she did not know herself, and that she had had no + time as yet to decide so serious a question. Thus the winter passed and + the summer drew near. + </p> + <p> + In the middle of June, Brita went to the saeter <a href="#linknote-6" + name="linknoteref-6" id="linknoteref-6"><small>6</small></a> with the + cattle; and her sister, Grimhild, remained at home to keep house on the + farm. She loved the life in the mountains; the great solitude sometimes + made her feel sad, but it was not an unpleasant sadness, it was rather a + gentle toning down of all the shrill and noisy feelings of the soul. Up + there, in the heart of the primeval forest, her whole being seemed to + herself a symphony of melodious whispers with a vague delicious sense of + remoteness and mystery in them, which she only felt and did not attempt to + explain. There, those weird legends which, in former days, still held + their sway in the fancy of every Norsewoman, breathed their secrets into + her ear, and she felt her nearness and kinship to nature, as at no other + time. + </p> + <p> + One night, as the sun was low, and a purple bluish smoke hung like a thin + veil over the tops of the forest, Brita had taken out her knitting and + seated herself on a large moss-grown stone, on the croft. Her eyes + wandered over the broad valley which was stretched out below, and she + could see the red roofs of the Blakstad mansion peeping forth between the + fir-trees. And she wondered what they were doing down there, whether + Grimhild had done milking, and whether her father had returned from the + ford, where it was his habit at this hour to ride with the footmen to + water the horses. As she sat thus wondering, she was startled by a + creaking in the dry branches hard by, and lifting her eye, she saw a tall, + rather clumsily built, young man emerging from the thicket. He had a broad + but low forehead, flaxen hair which hung down over a pair of dull ox-like + eyes; his mouth was rather large and, as it was half open, displayed two + massive rows of shining white teeth. His red peaked cap hung on the back + of his head and, although it was summer, his thick wadmal vest was + buttoned close up to his throat; over his right arm he had flung his + jacket, and in his hand he held a bridle. + </p> + <p> + “Good evening,” said Brita, “and thanks for last meeting;” although she + was not sure that she had ever seen him before. + </p> + <p> + “It was that bay mare, you know,” stammered the man in a half apologetic + tone, and shook the bridle, as if in further explanation. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, you have lost your mare,” said the girl, and she could not help + smiling at his helplessness and his awkward manner. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, it was the bay mare,” answered he, in the same diffident tone; then, + encouraged by her smile, he straightened himself a little and continued + rather more fluently: “She never was quite right since the time the wolves + were after her. And then since they took the colt away from her the milk + has been troubling her, and she hasn’t been quite like herself.” + </p> + <p> + “I haven’t seen her anywhere hereabouts,” said Brita; “you may have to + wander far, before you get on the track of her.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, that is very likely. And I am tired already.” + </p> + <p> + “Won’t you sit down and rest yourself?” + </p> + <p> + He deliberately seated himself in the grass, and gradually gained courage + to look her straight in the face; and his dull eye remained steadfastly + fixed on her in a way which bespoke unfeigned surprise and admiration. + Slowly his mouth broadened into a smile; but his smile had more of sadness + than of joy in it. She had, from the moment she saw him, been possessed of + a strangely patronizing feeling toward him. She could not but treat him as + if he had been a girl or some person inferior to her in station. In spite + of his large body, the impression he made upon her was that of weakness; + but she liked the sincerity and kindness which expressed themselves in his + sad smile and large, honest blue eyes. His gaze reminded her of that of an + ox, but it had not only the ox’s dullness, but also its simplicity and + good-nature. + </p> + <p> + They sat talking on for a while about the weather, the cattle, and the + prospects of the crops. + </p> + <p> + “What is your name?” she asked, at last. + </p> + <p> + “Halvard Hedinson Ullern.” + </p> + <p> + A sudden shock ran through her at the sound of that name; in the next + moment a deep blush stole over her countenance. + </p> + <p> + “And my name,” she said, slowly, “is Brita Bjarne’s daughter Blakstad.” + </p> + <p> + She fixed her eyes upon him, as if to see what effect her words produced. + But his features wore the same sad and placid expression; and no line in + his face seemed to betray either surprise or ill-will. Then her sense of + patronage grew into one of sympathy and pity. “He must either be + weak-minded or very unhappy,” thought she, “and what right have I then to + treat him harshly.” And she continued her simple, straightforward talk + with the young man, until he, too, grew almost talkative, and the sadness + of his smile began to give way to something which almost resembled + happiness. She noticed the change and rejoiced. At last, when the sun had + sunk behind the western mountain tops, she rose and bade him good-night; + in another moment the door of the saeter-cottage closed behind her, and he + heard her bolting it on the inside. But for a long time he remained + sitting on the grass, and strange thoughts passed through his head. He had + quite forgotten his bay mare. + </p> + <p> + The next evening when the milking was done, and the cattle were gathered + within the saeter enclosure, Brita was again sitting on the large stone, + looking out over the valley. She felt a kind of companionship with the + people when she saw the smoke whirling up from their chimneys, and she + could guess what they were going to have for supper. As she sat there, she + again heard a creaking in the branches, and Halvard Ullern stood again + before her, with his jacket on his arm, and the same bridle in his hand. + </p> + <p> + “You have not found your bay mare yet?” she exclaimed, laughingly. “And + you think she is likely to be in this neighborhood?” + </p> + <p> + “I don’t know,” he answered; “and I don’t care if she isn’t.” + </p> + <p> + He spread his jacket on the grass, and sat down on the spot where he had + sat the night before. Brita looked at him in surprise and remained silent; + she didn’t know how to interpret this second visit. + </p> + <p> + “You are very handsome,” he said, suddenly, with a gravity which left no + doubt as to his sincerity. + </p> + <p> + “Do you think so?” she answered, with a merry laugh. He appeared to her + almost a child, and it never entered her mind to feel offended. On the + contrary, she was not sure but that she felt pleased. + </p> + <p> + “I have thought of you ever since yesterday,” he continued, with the same + imperturbable manner. “And if you were not angry with me, I thought I + would like to look at you once more. You are so different from other + folks.” + </p> + <p> + “God bless your foolish talk,” cried Brita, with a fresh burst of + merriment. “No, indeed I am not angry with you; I should just as soon + think of being angry with—with that calf,” she added for want of + another comparison. + </p> + <p> + “You think I don’t know much,” he stammered. “And I don’t.” The sad smile + again settled on his countenance. + </p> + <p> + A feeling of guilt sent the blood throbbing through her veins. She saw + that she had done him injustice. He evidently possessed more sense, or at + least a finer instinct, than she had given him credit for. + </p> + <p> + “Halvard,” she faltered, “if I have offended you, I assure you I didn’t + mean to do it; and a thousand times I beg your pardon.” + </p> + <p> + “You haven’t offended me, Brita,” answered he, blushing like a girl. “You + are the first one who doesn’t make me feel that I am not so wise as other + folks.” + </p> + <p> + She felt it her duty to be open and confiding with him in return; and in + order not to seem ungenerous, or rather to put them on an equal footing by + giving him also a peep into her heart, she told him about her daily work, + about the merry parties at her father’s house, and about the lusty lads + who gathered in their halls to dance the Halling and the spring-dance. He + listened attentively while she spoke, gazing earnestly into her face, but + never interrupting her. In his turn he described to her in his slow + deliberate way, how his father constantly scolded him because he was not + bright, and did not care for politics and newspapers, and how his mother + wounded him with her sharp tongue by making merry with him, even in the + presence of the servants and strangers. He did not seem to imagine that + there was anything wrong in what he said, or that he placed himself in a + ludicrous light; nor did he seem to speak from any unmanly craving for + sympathy. His manner was so simple and straightforward that what Brita + probably would have found strange in another, she found perfectly natural + in him. + </p> + <p> + It was nearly midnight when they parted{.} She hardly slept at all that + night, and she was half vexed with herself for the interest she took in + this simple youth. The next morning her father came up to pay her a visit + and to see how the flocks were thriving. She understood that it would be + dangerous to say anything to him about Halvard, for she knew his temper + and feared the result, if he should ever discover her secret. Therefore, + she shunned an opportunity to talk with him, and only busied herself the + more with the cattle and the cooking. Bjarne soon noticed her distraction, + but, of course, never suspected the cause. Before he left her, he asked + her if she did not find it too lonely on the saeter, and if it would not + be well if he sent her one of the maids for a companion. She hastened to + assure him that that was quite unnecessary; the cattle-boy who was there + to help her was all the company she wanted. Toward evening, Bjarne + Blakstad loaded his horses with buckets, filled with cheese and butter, + and started for the valley. Brita stood long looking after him as he + descended the rocky slope, and she could hardly conceal from herself that + she felt relieved, when, at last, the forest hid him from her sight. All + day she had been walking about with a heavy heart; there seemed to be + something weighing on her breast, and she could not throw it off. Who was + this who had come between her and her father? Had she ever been afraid of + him before, had she been glad to have him leave her? A sudden bitterness + took possession of her, for in her distress, she gave Halvard the blame + for all that had happened. She threw herself down on the grass and burst + into a passionate fit of weeping; she was guilty, wretchedly miserable, + and all for the sake of one whom she had hardly known for two days. If he + should come in this moment, she would tell him what he had done toward + her; and her wish must have been heard, for as she raised her eyes, he + stood there at her side, the sad feature about his mouth and his great + honest eyes gazing wonderingly at her. She felt her purpose melt within + her; he looked so good and so unhappy. Then again came the thought of her + father and of her own wrong, and the bitterness again revived. + </p> + <p> + “Go away,” cried she, in a voice half reluctantly tender and half defiant. + “Go away, I say; I don’t want to see you any more.” + </p> + <p> + “I will go to the end of the world if you wish it,” he answered, with a + strange firmness. + </p> + <p> + He picked up his jacket which he had dropped on the ground, then turned + slowly, gave her mother long look, an infinitely sad and hopeless one, and + went. Her bosom heaved violently—remorse, affection and filial duty + wrestled desperately in her heart. + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” she cried, “why do you go? I did not mean it so. I only wanted—” + </p> + <p> + He paused and returned as deliberately as he had gone. + </p> + <p> + Why should I dwell upon the days that followed—how her heart grew + ever more restless, how she would suddenly wake up at nights and see those + large blue eyes sadly gazing at her, how by turns she would condemn + herself and him, and how she felt with bitter pain that she was growing + away from those who had hitherto been nearest and dearest to her. And + strange to say, this very isolation from her father made her cling only + the more desperately to him. It seemed to her as if Bjarne had + deliberately thrown her off; that she herself had been the one who took + the first step had hardly occurred to her. Alas, her grief was as + irrational as her love. By what strange devious process of reasoning these + convictions became settled in her mind, it is difficult to tell. It is + sufficient to know that she was a woman and that she loved. She even knew + herself that she was irrational, and this very sense drew her more + hopelessly into the maze of the labyrinth from which she saw no escape. + </p> + <p> + His visits were as regular as those of the sun. She knew that there was + only a word of hers needed to banish him from her presence forever. And + how many times did she not resolve to speak that word? But the word was + never spoken. At times a company of the lads from the valley would come to + spend a merry evening at the saeter; but she heeded them not, and they + soon disappeared. Thus the summer went amid passing moods of joy and + sorrow. She had long known that he loved her, and when at last his slow + confession came, it added nothing to her happiness; it only increased her + fears for the future. They laid many plans together in those days; but + winter came as a surprise to both, the cattle were removed from the + mountains, and they were again separated. + </p> + <p> + Bjarne Blakstad looked long and wistfully at his daughter that morning, + when he came to bring her home. She wore no more rings and brooches, and + it was this which excited Bjarne’s suspicion that everything was not right + with her. Formerly he was displeased because she wore too many; now he + grumbled because she wore none. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0010" id="link2H_4_0010"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. + </h2> + <p> + The winter was half gone; and in all this time Brita had hardly once seen + Halvard. Yes, once,—it was Christmas-day,—she had ventured to + peep over to his pew in the church, and had seen him, sitting at his + father’s side, and gazing vacantly out into the empty space; but as he had + caught her glance, he had blushed, and began eagerly to turn the leaves of + his hymn-book. It troubled her that he made no effort to see her; many an + evening she had walked alone down at the river-side, hoping that he might + come; but it was all in vain. She could not but believe that his father + must have made some discovery, and that he was watched. In the mean time + the black cloud thickened over her head; for a secret gnawed at the very + roots of her heart. It was a time of terrible suspense and suffering—such + as a man never knows, such as only a woman can endure. It was almost a + relief when the cloud burst, and the storm broke loose, as presently it + did. + </p> + <p> + One Sunday, early in April, Bjarne did not return at the usual hour from + church. His daughters waited in vain for him with the dinner, and at last + began to grow uneasy. It was not his habit to keep irregular hours. There + was a great excitement in the valley just then; the America-fever had + broken out. A large vessel was lying out in the fjord, ready to take the + emigrants away; and there was hardly a family that did not mourn the loss + of some brave-hearted son, or of some fair and cherished daughter. The old + folks, of course, had to remain behind; and when the children were gone, + what was there left for them but to lie down and die? America was to them + as distant as if it were on another planet. The family feeling, too, has + ever been strong in the Norseman’s breast; he lives for his children, and + seems to live his life over again in them. It is his greatest pride to be + able to trace his blood back into the days of Sverre and St. Olaf, and + with the same confidence he expects to see his race spread into the future + in the same soil where once it has struck root. Then comes the storm from + the Western seas, wrestles with the sturdy trunk, and breaks it; and the + shattered branches fly to all the four corners of the heavens. No wonder, + then, like a tree that has lost its crown, his strength is broken and he + expects but to smoulder into the earth and die. + </p> + <p> + Bjarne Blakstad, like the sturdy old patriot that he was, had always + fiercely denounced the America rage; and it was now the hope of his + daughters that, perhaps, he had stayed behind to remind the restless ones + among the youth of their duty toward their land, or to frighten some bold + emigration agent who might have been too loud in his declamations. But it + was already eight o’clock and Bjarne was not yet to be seen. The night was + dark and stormy; a cold sleet fiercely lashed the window-panes, and the + wind roared in the chimney. Grimhild, the younger sister, ran restlessly + out and in and slammed the doors after her. Brita sat tightly pressed up + against the wall in the darkest corner of the room. Every time the wind + shook the house she started up; then again seated herself and shuddered. + Dark forebodings filled her soul. + </p> + <p> + At last,—the clock had just struck ten,—there was a noise + heard in the outer hall. Grimhild sprang to the door and tore it open. A + tall, stooping figure entered, and by the dress she at once recognized her + father. + </p> + <p> + “Good God,” cried she, and ran up to him. + </p> + <p> + “Go away, child,” muttered he, in a voice that sounded strangely + unfamiliar, and he pushed her roughly away. For a moment he stood still, + then stalked up to the table, and, with a heavy thump, dropped down into a + chair. There he remained with his elbows resting on his knees, and + absently staring on the floor. His long hair hung in wet tangles down over + his face, and the wrinkles about his mouth seemed deeper and fiercer than + usual. Now and then he sighed, or gave vent to a deep groan. In a while + his eyes began to wander uneasily about the room; and as they reached the + corner where Brita was sitting, he suddenly darted up, as if stung by + something poisonous, seized a brand from the hearth, and rushed toward + her. + </p> + <p> + “Tell me I did not see it,” he broke forth, in a hoarse whisper, seizing + her by the arm and thrusting the burning brand close up to her face. “Tell + me it is a lie—a black, poisonous lie.” + </p> + <p> + She raised her eyes slowly to his and gazed steadfastly into his face. + “Ah,” he continued in the same terrible voice, “it was what I told them + down there at the church—a lie—an infernal lie. And I drew + blood—blood, I say—I did—from the slanderer. Ha, ha, ha! + What a lusty sprawl that was!” + </p> + <p> + The color came and departed from Brita’s cheeks. And still she was + strangely self possessed. She even wondered at her own calmness. Alas, she + did not know that it was a calmness that is more terrible than pain, the + corpse of a forlorn and hopeless heart. + </p> + <p> + “Child,” continued Bjarne, and his voice assumed a more natural tone, “why + dost thou not speak? They have lied about thee, child, because thou art + fair, they have envied thee.” Then, almost imploringly, “Open thy mouth, + Brita, and tell thy father that thou art pure—pure as the snow, + child—my own—my beautiful child.” + </p> + <p> + There was a long and painful pause, in which the crackling of the brand, + and the heavy breathing of the old man were the only sounds to break the + silence. Pale like a marble image stood she before him; no word of excuse, + no prayer for forgiveness escaped her; only a convulsive quivering of the + lips betrayed the life that struggled within her. With every moment the + hope died in Bjarne’s bosom. His visage was fearful to behold. Terror and + fierce indomitable hatred had grimly distorted his features, and his eyes + burned like fire-coals beneath his bushy brows. + </p> + <p> + “Harlot,” he shrieked, “harlot!” + </p> + <p> + A cold gust of wind swept through the room. The windows shook, the doors + flew open, as if touched by a strong invisible hand—and the old man + stood alone, holding the flickering brand above his head. + </p> + <p> + It was after midnight, the wind had abated, but the snow still fell, thick + and silent, burying paths and fences under its cold white mantle. Onward + she fled—onward and ever onward. And whither, she knew not. A cold + numbness had chilled her senses, but still her feet drove her irresistibly + onward. A dark current seemed to have seized her, she only felt that she + was adrift, and she cared not whither it bore her. In spite of the + stifling dullness which oppressed her, her body seemed as light as air. At + last,—she knew not where,—she heard the roar of the sea + resounding in her ears, a genial warmth thawed the numbness of her senses, + and she floated joyfully among the clouds—among golden, sun-bathed + clouds. When she opened her eyes, she found herself lying in a comfortable + bed, and a young woman with a kind motherly face was sitting at her side. + It was all like a dream, and she made no effort to account for what + appeared so strange and unaccountable. + </p> + <p> + What she afterward heard was that a fisherman had found her in a + snow-drift on the strand, and that he had carried her home to his cottage + and had given her over to the charge of his wife. This was the second day + since her arrival. They knew who she was, but had kept the doors locked + and had told no one that she was there. She heard the story of the good + woman without emotion; it seemed an intolerable effort to think. But on + the third day, when her child was born, her mind was suddenly aroused from + its lethargy, and she calmly matured her plans; and for the child’s sake + she resolved to live and to act. That same evening there came a little boy + with a bundle for her. She opened it and found therein the clothes she had + left behind, and—her brooches. She knew that it was her sister who + had sent them; then there was one who still thought of her with affection. + And yet her first impulse was to send it all back, or to throw it into the + ocean; but she looked at her child and forbore. + </p> + <p> + A week passed, and Brita recovered. Of Halvard she had heard nothing. One + night, as she lay in a half doze, she thought she had Seen a pale, + frightened face pressed up against the window-pane, and staring fixedly at + her and her child; but, after all, it might have been merely a dream. For + her fevered fancy had in these last days frequently beguiled her into + similar visions. She often thought of him, but, strangely enough, no more + with bitterness, but with pity. Had he been strong enough to be wicked, + she could have hated him, but he was weak, and she pitied him. Then it was + that; one evening, as she heard that the American vessel was to sail at + daybreak, she took her little boy and wrapped him carefully in her own + clothes, bade farewell to the good fisherman and his wife, and walked + alone down to the strand. Huge clouds of fantastic shapes chased each + other desperately along the horizon, and now and then the slender new moon + glanced forth from the deep blue gulfs between. She chose a boat at random + and was about to unmoor it, when she saw the figure of a man tread + carefully over the stones and hesitatingly approach her. + </p> + <p> + “Brita,” came in a whisper from the strand. + </p> + <p> + “Who’s there?” + </p> + <p> + “It is I. Father knows it all, and he has nearly killed me; and mother, + too.” + </p> + <p> + “Is that what you have come to tell me?” + </p> + <p> + “No, I would like to help you some. I have been trying to see you these + many days.” And he stepped close up to the boat. + </p> + <p> + “Thank you; I need no help.” + </p> + <p> + “But, Brita,” implored he, “I have sold my gun and my dog, and everything + I had, and this is what I have got for it.” He stretched out his hand and + reached her a red handkerchief with something heavy bound up in a corner. + She took it mechanically, held it in her hand for a moment, then flung it + far out into the water. A smile of profound contempt and pity passed over + her countenance. + </p> + <p> + “Farewell, Halvard,” said she, calmly, and pushed the boat into the water. + </p> + <p> + “But, Brita,” cried he, in despair, “what would you have me do?” + </p> + <p> + She lifted the child in her arms, then pointed to the vacant seat at her + side. He understood what she meant, and stood for a moment wavering. + Suddenly, he covered his face with his hands and burst into tears. Within + half an hour, Brita boarded the vessel, and as the first red stripe of the + dawn illumined the horizon, the wind filled the sails, and the ship glided + westward toward that land where there is a home for them whom love and + misfortune have exiled. + </p> + <p> + It was a long and wearisome voyage. There was an old English clergyman on + board, who collected curiosities; to him she sold her rings and brooches, + and thereby obtained more than sufficient money to pay her passage. She + hardly spoke to any one except her child. Those of her fellow-parishioners + who knew her, and perhaps guessed her history, kept aloof from her, and + she was grateful to them that they did. From morning till night, she sat + in a corner between a pile of deck freight and the kitchen skylight, and + gazed at her little boy who was lying in her lap. All her hopes, her + future, and her life were in him. For herself, she had ceased to hope. + </p> + <p> + “I can give thee no fatherland, my child,” she said to him. “Thou shalt + never know the name of him who gave thee life. Thou and I, we shall + struggle together, and, as true as there is a God above, who sees us, He + will not leave either of us to perish. But let us ask no questions, child, + about that which is past. Thou shalt grow and be strong, and thy mother + must grow with thee.” + </p> + <p> + During the third week of the voyage, the English clergyman baptized the + boy, and she called him Thomas, after the day in the almanac on which he + was born. He should never know that Norway had been his mother’s home; + therefore she would give him no name which might betray his race. One + morning, early in the month of June, they hailed land, and the great New + World lay before them. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0011" id="link2H_4_0011"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III. + </h2> + <p> + Why should I speak of the ceaseless care, the suffering, and the hard + toil, which made the first few months of Brita’s life on this continent a + mere continued struggle for existence? They are familiar to every emigrant + who has come here with a brave heart and an empty purse. Suffice it to say + that at the end of the second month, she succeeded in obtaining service as + milkmaid with a family in the neighborhood of New York. With the + linguistic talent peculiar to her people, she soon learned the English + language and even spoke it well. From her countrymen, she kept as far away + as possible, not for her own sake, but for that of her boy; for he was to + grow great and strong, and the knowledge of his birth might shatter his + strength and break his courage. For the same reason she also exchanged her + picturesque Norse costume for that of the people among whom she was + living. She went commonly by the name of Mrs. Brita, which pronounced in + the English way, sounded very much like Mrs. Bright, and this at last + became the name by which she was known in the neighborhood. + </p> + <p> + Thus five years passed; then there was a great rage for emigrating to the + far West, and Brita, with many others, started for Chicago. There she + arrived in the year 1852, and took up her lodgings with an Irish widow, + who was living in a little cottage in what was then termed the outskirts + of the city. Those who saw her in those days, going about the lumber-yards + and doing a man’s work, would hardly have recognized in her the merry + Glitter-Brita, who in times of old trod the spring-dance so gayly in the + well-lighted halls of the Blakstad mansion. And, indeed, she was sadly + changed! Her features had become sharper, and the firm lines about her + mouth expressed severity, almost sternness. Her clear blue eyes seemed to + have grown larger, and their glance betrayed secret, ever-watchful care. + Only her yellow hair had resisted the force of time and sorrow; for it + still fell in rich and wavy folds over a smooth white forehead. She was, + indeed, half ashamed of it, and often took pains to force it into a sober, + matronly hood. Only at nights, when she sat alone talking with her boy, + she would allow it to escape from its prison; and he would laugh and play + with it, and in his child’s way even wonder at the contrast between her + stern face and her youthful maidenly tresses. + </p> + <p> + This Thomas, her son, was a strange child. He had a Norseman’s taste for + the fabulous and fantastic, and although he never heard a tale of Necken + or the Hulder, he would often startle his mother by the most fanciful + combinations of imagined events, and by bolder personifications than ever + sprung from the legendary soil of the Norseland. She always took care to + check him whenever he indulged in these imaginary flights, and he at last + came to look upon them as something wrong and sinful. The boy, as he grew + up, often strikingly reminded her of her father, as, indeed, he seemed to + have inherited more from her own than from Halvard’s race. Only the bright + flaxen hair and his square, somewhat clumsy stature might have told him to + be the latter’s child. He had a hot temper, and often distressed his + mother by his stubbornness; and then there would come a great burst of + repentance afterwards, which distressed her still more. For she was afraid + it might be a sign of weakness. “And strong he must be,” said she to + herself, “strong enough to overcome all resistance, and to conquer a great + name for himself, strong enough to bless a mother who brought him into the + world nameless.” + </p> + <p> + Strange to say, much as she loved this child, she seldom caressed him. It + was a penance she had imposed upon herself to atone for her guilt. Only at + times, when she had been sitting up late, and her eyes would fall, as it + were, by accident upon the little face on the pillow, with the sweet + unconsciousness of sleep resting upon it like a soft, invisible veil, + would she suddenly throw herself down over him, kiss him, and whisper + tender names in his ear, while her tears fell hot and fast on his yellow + hair and his rosy countenance. Then the child would dream that he was + sailing aloft over shining forests, and that his mother, beaming with all + the beauty of her lost youth, flew before him, showering golden flowers on + his path. These were the happiest moments of Brita’s joyless life, and + even these were not unmixed with bitterness; for into the midst of her joy + would steal a shy anxious thought which was the more terrible because it + came so stealthily, so soft-footed and unbidden. Had not this child been + given her as a punishment for her guilt? Had she then a right to turn + God’s scourge into a blessing? Did she give to God “that which belongeth + unto God,” as long as all her hopes, her thoughts, and her whole being + revolved about this one earthly thing, her son, the child of her sorrow? + She was not a nature to shrink from grave questions; no, she met them + boldly, when once they were there, wrestled fiercely with them, was + defeated, and again with a martyr’s zeal rose to renew the combat. God had + Himself sent her this perplexing doubt and it was her duty to bear His + burden. Thus ran Brita’s reasoning. In the mean while the years slipped + by, and great changes were wrought in the world about her. + </p> + <p> + The few hundred dollars which Brita had been able to save, during the + first three years of her stay in Chicago, she had invested in a piece of + land. In the mean while the city had grown, and in the year 1859 she was + offered five thousand dollars for her lot; this offer she accepted and + again bought a small piece of property at a short distance from the city. + The boy had since his eighth year attended the public school, and had made + astonishing progress. Every day when school was out, she would meet him at + the gate, take him by the hand and lead him home. If any of the other boys + dared to make sport of her, or to tease him for his dependence upon her, + it was sure to cost that boy a black eye{.} He soon succeeded in + establishing himself in the respect of his school-mates, for he was the + strongest boy of his own age, and ever ready to protect and defend the + weak and defenseless. When Thomas Bright (for that was the name by which + he was known) was fifteen years old he was offered a position as clerk in + the office of a lumber-merchant, and with his mother’s consent he accepted + it. He was a fine young lad now, large and well-knit, and with a clear + earnest countenance. In the evening he would bring home books to read, and + as it had always been Brita’s habit to interest herself in whatever + interested him, she soon found herself studying and discussing with him + things which had in former years been far beyond the horizon of her mind. + She had at his request reluctantly given up her work in the lumber-yards, + and now spent her days at home, busying herself with sewing and reading + and such other things as women find to fill up a vacant hour. + </p> + <p> + One evening, when Thomas was in his nineteenth year, he returned from his + office with a graver face than usual. His mother’s quick eye immediately + saw that something had agitated him, but she forbore to ask. + </p> + <p> + “Mother,” said he at last, “who is my father? Is he dead or alive?” + </p> + <p> + “God is your father, my son,” answered she, tremblingly. “If you love me, + ask me no more.” + </p> + <p> + “I do love you, mother,” he said, and gave her a grave look, in which she + thought she detected a mingling of tenderness and reproach. “And it shall + be as you have said.” + </p> + <p> + It was the first time she had had reason to blush before him, and her + emotion came near overwhelming her; but with a violent effort she stifled + it, and remained outwardly calm. He began pacing up and down the floor + with his head bent and his hands on his back. It suddenly occurred to her + that he was a grown man, and that she could no longer hold the same + relation to him as his supporter and protector. “Alas,” thought she, “if + God will but let me remain his mother, I shall bless and thank Him.” + </p> + <p> + It was the first time this subject had been broached, and it gave rise to + many a doubt and many a question in the anxious mother’s mind. Had she + been right in concealing from him that which he might justly claim to + know? What had been her motive in keeping him ignorant of his origin and + of the land of his birth? She had wished him to grow to the strength of + manhood, unconscious of guilt, so that he might bear his head upright, and + look the world fearlessly in the face. And still, had there not in all + this been a lurking thought of herself, a fear of losing his love, a + desire to stand pure and perfect in his eye? She hardly dared to answer + these questions, for, alas, she knew not that even our purest motives are + but poorly able to bear a searching scrutiny. She began to suspect that + her whole course with her son had been wrong from the very beginning. Why + had she not told him the stern truth, even if he should despise her for + it, even if she should have to stand a blushing culprit in his presence? + Often, when she heard his footsteps in the hall, as he returned from the + work of the day, she would man herself up and the words hovered upon her + lips: “Son, thou art a bastard born, a child of guilt, and thy mother is + an outcast upon the earth.” But when she met those calm blue eyes of his, + saw the unsuspecting frankness of his manner and the hopefulness with + which he looked to the future, her womanly heart shrank from its duty, and + she hastened out of the room, threw herself on her bed, and wept. Fiercely + she wrestled with God in prayer, until she thought that even God had + deserted her. Thus months passed and years, and the constant care and + anxiety began to affect her health. She grew pale and nervous, and the + slightest noise would annoy her. In the mean while, her manner toward the + young man had become strangely altered, and he soon noticed it, although + he forbore to speak. She was scrupulously mindful of his comfort, + anxiously anticipated his wants, and observed toward him an ever vigilant + consideration, as if he had been her master instead of her son. + </p> + <p> + When Thomas was twenty-two years of age, he was offered a partnership in + his employer’s business, and with every year his prospects brightened. The + sale of his mother’s property brought him a very handsome little fortune, + which enabled him to build a fine and comfortable house in one of the best + portions of the city. Thus their outward circumstances were greatly + improved, and of comfort and luxury Brita had all and more than she had + ever desired; but her health was broken down, and the physicians declared + that a year of foreign travel and a continued residence in Italy might + possibly restore her. At last, Thomas, too, began to urge her, until she + finally yielded. It was on a bright morning in May that they both started + for New York, and three days later they took the boat for Europe. What + countries they were to visit they had hardly decided, but after a brief + stay in England we find them again on a steamer bound for Norway. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0012" id="link2H_4_0012"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IV. + </h2> + <p> + Warm and gentle as it is, June often comes to the fjord-valleys of Norway + with the voice and the strength of a giant. The glaciers totter and groan, + as if in anger at their own weakness, and send huge avalanches of stones + and ice down into the valleys. The rivers swell and rush with vociferous + brawl out over the mountainsides, and a thousand tiny brooks join in the + general clamor, and dance with noisy chatter over the moss-grown + birch-roots. But later, when the struggle is at an end, and June has + victoriously seated herself upon her throne, her voice becomes more richly + subdued and brings rest and comfort to the ear and to the troubled heart. + It was while the month was in this latter mood that Brita and her son + entered once more the valley whence, twenty-five years ago, they had fled. + Many strange, turbulent emotions stirred the mother’s bosom, as she saw + again the great snow-capped mountains, and the calm, green valley, her + childhood’s home, lying so snugly sheltered in their mighty embrace. Even + Thomas’s breast was moved with vaguely sympathetic throbs, as this + wondrous scene spread itself before him. They soon succeeded in hiring a + farm-house, about half an hour’s walk from Blakstad, and, according to + Brita’s wish, established themselves there for the summer. She had known + the people well, when she was young, but they never thought of identifying + her with the merry maid, who had once startled the parish by her sudden + flight; and she, although she longed to open her heart to them, let no + word fall to betray her real character. Her conscience accused her of + playing a false part, but for her son’s sake she kept silent. + </p> + <p> + Then, one day,—it was the second Sunday after their arrival,—she + rose early in the morning, and asked Thomas to accompany her on a walk up + through the valley. There was Sabbath in the air; the soft breath of + summer, laden with the perfume of fresh leaves and field-flowers, gently + wafted into their faces. The sun glittered in the dewy grass, the crickets + sung with a remote voice of wonder, and the air seemed to be half visible, + and moved in trembling wavelets on the path before them. Resting on her + son’s arm, Brita walked slowly up through the flowering meadows; she + hardly knew whither her feet bore her, but her heart beat violently, and + she often was obliged to pause and press her hands against her bosom, as + if to stay the turbulent emotions. + </p> + <p> + “You are not well, mother,” said the son. “It was imprudent in me to allow + you to exert yourself in this way.” + </p> + <p> + “Let us sit down on this stone,” answered she. “I shall soon be better. Do + not look so anxiously at me. Indeed, I am not sick.” + </p> + <p> + He spread his light summer coat on the stone and carefully seated her. She + lifted her veil and raised her eyes to the large red-roofed mansion, whose + dark outlines drew themselves dimly on the dusky background of the pine + forest. Was he still alive, he whose life-hope she had wrecked, he who had + once driven her out into the night with all but a curse upon his lips? How + would he receive her, if she were to return? Ah, she knew him, and she + trembled at the very thought of meeting him. But was not the guilt hers? + Could she depart from this valley, could she die in peace, without having + thrown herself at his feet and implored his forgiveness? And there, on the + opposite side of the valley, lay the home of him who had been the cause of + all her misery. What had been his fate, and did he still remember those + long happy summer days, ah! so long, long ago? She had dared to ask no + questions of the people with whom she lived, but now a sudden weakness had + overtaken her, and she felt that to-day must decide her fate; she could no + longer bear this torture of uncertainty. Thomas remained standing at her + side and looked at her with anxiety and wonder. He knew that she had + concealed many things from him, but whatever her reasons might be, he was + confident that they were just and weighty. It was not for him to question + her about what he might have no right to know. He felt as if he had never + loved her as in this moment, when she seemed to be most in need of him, + and an overwhelming tenderness took possession of his heart. He suddenly + stooped down, took her pale, thin face between his hands and kissed her. + The long pent-up emotion burst forth in a flood of tears; she buried her + face in her lap and wept long and silently. Then the church-bells began to + peal down in the valley, and the slow mighty sound floated calmly and + solemnly up to them. How many long-forgotten memories of childhood and + youth did they not wake in her bosom—memories of the time when the + merry Glitter-Brita, decked with her shining brooches, wended her way to + the church among the gayly-dressed lads and maidens of the parish? + </p> + <p> + A cluster of white-stemmed birches threw its shadow over the stone where + the penitent mother was sitting, and the tall grass on both sides of the + path nearly hid her from sight. Presently the church-folk began to appear, + and Brita raised her head and drew her veil down over her face. No one + passed without greeting the strangers, and the women and maidens, + according to old fashion, stopped and courtesied. At last, there came an + old white-haired man, leaning on the arm of a middle-aged woman. His whole + figure was bent forward, and he often stopped and drew his breath heavily. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, yes, yes,” he said, ill a hoarse, broken voice, as he passed before + them, “age is gaining on me fast. I can’t move about any more as of old. + But to church I must this day. God help me! I have done much wrong and + need to pray for forgiveness.” + </p> + <p> + “You had better sit down and rest, father,” said the woman. “Here is a + stone, and the fine lady, I am sure, will allow a weak old man to sit down + beside her.” + </p> + <p> + Thomas rose and made a sign to the old man to take his seat. + </p> + <p> + “O yes, yes,” he went on murmuring, as if talking to himself. “Much wrong—much + forgiveness. God help us all—miserable sinners. He who hateth not + father and mother—and daughter is not worthy of me. O, yes—yes—God + comfort us all. Help me up, Grimhild. I think I can move on again, now.” + </p> + <p> + Thomas, of course, did not understand a word of what he said, but seeing + that he wished to rise, he willingly offered his assistance, supported his + arm and raised him. + </p> + <p> + “Thanks to you, young man,” said the peasant. “And may God reward your + kindness.” + </p> + <p> + And the two, father and daughter, moved on, slowly and laboriously, as + they had come. Thomas stood following them with his eyes, until a low, + half-stifled moan suddenly called him to his mother’s side. Her frame + trembled violently. + </p> + <p> + “Mother, mother,” implored he, stooping over her, “what has happened? Why + are you no more yourself?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, my son, I can bear it no longer,” sobbed she. “God forgive me—thou + must know it all.” + </p> + <p> + He sat down at her side and drew her closely up to him and she hid her + face on his bosom. There was a long silence, only broken by the loud + chirruping of the crickets. + </p> + <p> + “My son,” she began at last, still hiding her face, “thou art a child of + guilt.” + </p> + <p> + “That has been no secret to me, mother,” answered he, gravely and + tenderly, “since I was old enough to know what guilt was.” + </p> + <p> + She quickly raised her head, and a look of amazement, of joyous surprise, + shone through the tears that veiled her eyes. She could read nothing but + filial love and confidence in those grave, manly features, and she saw in + that moment that all her doubts had been groundless, that her long + prayerful struggle had been for naught. + </p> + <p> + “I brought thee into the world nameless,” she whispered, “and thou hast no + word of reproach for me?” + </p> + <p> + “With God’s help, I am strong enough to conquer a name for myself, + mother,” was his answer. + </p> + <p> + It was the very words of her own secret wish, and upon his lips they + sounded like a blessed assurance, like a miraculous fulfillment of her + motherly prayer. + </p> + <p> + “Still, another thing, my child,” she went on in a more confident voice. + “This is thy native land,—and the old man who was just sitting here + at my side was—my father.” + </p> + <p> + And there, in the shadow of the birch-trees, in the summer stillness of + that hour, she told him the story of her love, of her flight, and of the + misery of these long, toilsome five and twenty years. + </p> + <p> + Late in the afternoon, Brita and her son were seen returning to the + farm-house. A calm, subdued happiness beamed from the mother’s + countenance; she was again at peace with the world and herself, and her + heart was as light as in the days of her early youth. But her bodily + strength had given out, and her limbs almost refused to support her. The + strain upon her nerves and the constant effort had hitherto enabled her to + keep up, but now, when that strain was removed, exhausted nature claimed + its right. The next day—she could not leave her bed, and with every + hour her strength failed. A physician was sent for. He gave medicine, but + no hope. He shook his head gravely, as he went, and both mother and son + knew what that meant. + </p> + <p> + Toward evening, Bjarne Blakstad was summoned, and came at once. Thomas + left the room, as the old man entered, and what passed in that hour + between father and daughter, only God knows. When the door was again + opened, Brita’s eyes shone with a strange brilliancy, and Bjarne lay on + his knees before the bed, pressing her hand convulsively between both of + his. + </p> + <p> + “This is my son, father,” said she, in a language which her son did not + understand; and a faint smile of motherly pride and happiness flitted over + her pale features. “I would give him to thee in return for what thou hast + lost; but God has laid his future in another land.” + </p> + <p> + Bjarne rose, grasped his grandson’s hand, and pressed it; and two heavy + tears ran down his furrowed cheeks. “Alas,” murmured he, “my son, that we + should meet thus.” + </p> + <p> + There they stood, bound together by the bonds of blood, but, alas, there + lay a world between them. + </p> + <p> + All night they sat together at the dying woman’s bedside. Not a word was + spoken. Toward morning, as the sun stole into the darkened chamber, Brita + murmured their names, and they laid their hands in hers. + </p> + <p> + “God be praised,” whispered she, scarcely audibly, “I have found you both—my + father and my son.” A deep pallor spread over her countenance. She was + dead. + </p> + <p> + Two days later, when the body was laid out, Thomas stood alone in the + room. The windows were covered with white sheets, and a subdued light fell + upon the pale, lifeless countenance. Death had dealt gently with her, she + seemed younger than before, and her light wavy hair fell softly over the + white forehead. Then there came a middle-aged man, with a dull eye, and a + broad forehead, and timidly approached the lonely mourner. He walked on + tip-toe and his figure stooped heavily. For a long while he stood gazing + at the dead body, then he knelt down at the foot of the coffin, and began + to sob violently. At last he arose, took two steps toward the young man, + paused again, and departed silently as he had come. It was Halvard. + </p> + <p> + Close under the wall of the little red-painted church, they dug the grave; + and a week later her father was laid to rest at his daughter’s side. + </p> + <p> + But the fresh winds blew over the Atlantic and beckoned the son to new + fields of labor in the great land of the future. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0013" id="link2H_4_0013"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + A GOOD-FOR-NOTHING. + </h2> + <p> + RALPH GRIM was born a gentleman. He had the misfortune of coming into the + world some ten years later than might reasonably have been expected. + Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve anniversaries of their + wedding-day, and had given up all hopes of ever having a son and heir, + when this late-comer startled them by his unexpected appearance. The only + previous addition to the family had been a daughter, and she was then ten + summers old. + </p> + <p> + Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only with great difficulty be + persuaded to retain his hold of the slender thread which bound him to + existence. He was rubbed with whisky, and wrapped in cotton, and given + mare’s milk to drink, and God knows what not, and the Colonel swore a + round oath of paternal delight when at last the infant stopped gasping in + that distressing way and began to breathe like other human beings. The + mother, who, in spite of her anxiety for the child’s life, had found time + to plot for him a career of future magnificence, now suddenly set him + apart for literature, because that was the easiest road to fame, and + disposed of him in marriage to one of the most distinguished families of + the land. She cautiously suggested this to her husband when he came to + take his seat at her bedside; but to her utter astonishment she found that + he had been indulging a similar train of thought, and had already destined + the infant prodigy for the army. She, however, could not give up her + predilection for literature, and the Colonel, who could not bear to be + contradicted in his own house, as he used to say, was getting every minute + louder and more flushed, when, happily, the doctor’s arrival interrupted + the dispute. + </p> + <p> + As Ralph grew up from infancy to childhood, he began to give decided + promise of future distinction. He was fond of sitting down in a corner and + sucking his thumb, which his mother interpreted as the sign of that + brooding disposition peculiar to poets and men of lofty genius. At the age + of five, he had become sole master in the house. He slapped his sister + Hilda in the face, or pulled her hair, when she hesitated to obey him, + tyrannized over his nurse, and sternly refused to go to bed in spite of + his mother’s entreaties. On such occasions, the Colonel would hide his + face behind his newspaper, and chuckle with delight; it was evident that + nature had intended his son for a great military commander. As soon as + Ralph himself was old enough to have any thoughts about his future + destiny, he made up his mind that he would like to be a pirate. A few + months later, having contracted an immoderate taste for candy, he + contented himself with the comparatively humble position of a baker; but + when he had read “Robinson Crusoe,” he manifested a strong desire to go to + sea in the hope of being wrecked on some desolate island. The parents + spent long evenings gravely discussing these indications of uncommon + genius, and each interpreted them in his or her own way. + </p> + <p> + “He is not like any other child I ever knew,” said the mother. + </p> + <p> + “To be sure,” responded the father, earnestly. “He is a most extraordinary + child. I was a very remarkable child too, even if I do say it myself; but, + as far as I remember, I never aspired to being wrecked on an uninhabited + is land.” + </p> + <p> + The Colonel probably spoke the truth; but he forgot to take into account + that he had never read “Robinson Crusoe.” + </p> + <p> + Of Ralph’s school-days there is but little to report, for, to tell the + truth, he did not fancy going to school, as the discipline annoyed him. + The day after his having entered the gymnasium, which was to prepare him + for the Military Academy, the principal saw him waiting at the gate after + his class had been dismissed. He approached him, and asked why he did not + go home with the rest. + </p> + <p> + “I am waiting for the servant to carry my books,” was the boy’s answer. + </p> + <p> + “Give me your books,” said the teacher. + </p> + <p> + Ralph reluctantly obeyed. That day the Colonel was not a little surprised + to see his son marching up the street, and every now and then glancing + behind him with a look of discomfort at the principal, who was following + quietly in his train, carrying a parcel of school-books. Colonel Grim and + his wife, divining the teacher’s intention, agreed that it was a great + outrage, but they did not mention the matter to Ralph. Henceforth, + however, the boy refused to be accompanied by his servant. A week later he + was impudent to the teacher of gymnastics, who whipped him in return. The + Colonel’s rage knew no bounds; he rode in great haste to the gymnasium, + reviled the teacher for presuming to chastise HIS son, and committed the + boy to the care of a private tutor. + </p> + <p> + At the age of sixteen, Ralph went to the capital with the intention of + entering the Military Academy. He was a tall, handsome youth, slender of + stature, and carried himself as erect as a candle. He had a light, clear + complexion of almost feminine delicacy; blonde, curly hair, which he + always kept carefully brushed; a low forehead, and a straight, finely + modeled nose. There was an expression of extreme sensitiveness about the + nostrils, and a look of indolence in the dark-blue eyes. But the ensemble + of his features was pleasing, his dress irreproachable, and his manners + bore no trace of the awkward self-consciousness peculiar to his age. + Immediately on his arrival in the capital he hired a suite of rooms in the + aristocratic part of the city, and furnished them rather expensively, but + in excellent taste. From a bosom friend, whom he met by accident in the + restaurant’s pavilion in the park, he learned that a pair of antlers, a + stuffed eagle, or falcon, and a couple of swords, were indispensable to a + well-appointed apartment. He accordingly bought these articles at a + curiosity-shop. During the first weeks of his residence in the city he + made some feeble efforts to perfect himself in mathematics, in which he + suspected he was somewhat deficient. But when the same officious friend + laughed at him, and called him “green,” he determined to trust to fortune, + and henceforth devoted himself the more assiduously to the French ballet, + where he had already made some interesting acquaintances. + </p> + <p> + The time for the examination came; the French ballet did not prove a good + preparation; Ralph failed. It quite shook him for the time, and he felt + humiliated. He had not the courage to tell his father; so he lingered on + from day to day, sat vacantly gazing out of his window, and tried vainly + to interest himself in the busy bustle down on the street. It provoked him + that everybody else should be so light-hearted, when he was, or at least + fancied himself, in trouble. The parlor grew intolerable; he sought refuge + in his bedroom. There he sat one evening (it was the third day after the + examination), and stared out upon the gray stone walls which on all sides + enclosed the narrow court-yard. The round stupid face of the moon stood + tranquilly dozing like a great Limburger cheese suspended under the sky. + </p> + <p> + Ralph, at least, could think of a no more fitting simile. But the + bright-eyed young girl in the window hard by sent a longing look up to the + same moon, and thought of her distant home on the fjords, where the + glaciers stood like hoary giants, and caught the yellow moonbeams on their + glittering shields of snow. She had been reading “Ivanhoe” all the + afternoon, until the twilight had overtaken her quite unaware, and now she + suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to write her German exercise. + She lifted her face and saw a pair of sad, vacant eyes, gazing at her from + the next window in the angle of the court. She was a little startled at + first, but in the next moment she thought of her German exercise and took + heart. + </p> + <p> + “Do you know German?” she said; then immediately repented that she had + said it. + </p> + <p> + “I do,” was the answer. + </p> + <p> + She took up her apron and began to twist it with an air of embarrassment. + </p> + <p> + “I didn’t mean anything,” she whispered, at last. “I only wanted to know.” + </p> + <p> + “You are very kind.” + </p> + <p> + That answer roused her; he was evidently making sport of her. + </p> + <p> + “Well, then, if you do, you may write my exercise for me. I have marked + the place in the book.” + </p> + <p> + And she flung her book over to his window, and he caught it on the edge of + the sill, just as it was falling. + </p> + <p> + “You are a very strange girl,” he remarked, turning over the leaves of the + book, although it was too dark to read. “How old are you?” + </p> + <p> + “I shall be fourteen six weeks before Christmas,” answered she, frankly. + </p> + <p> + “Then I excuse you.” + </p> + <p> + “No, indeed,” cried she, vehemently. “You needn’t excuse me at all. If you + don’t want to write my exercise, you may send the book back again. I am + very sorry I spoke to you, and I shall never do it again.” + </p> + <p> + “But you will not get the book back again without the exercise,” replied + he, quietly. “Good-night.” + </p> + <p> + The girl stood long looking after him, hoping that he would return. Then, + with a great burst of repentance, she hid her face in her lap, and began + to cry. + </p> + <p> + “Oh, dear, I didn’t mean to be rude,” she sobbed. “But it was Ivanhoe and + Rebecca who upset me.” + </p> + <p> + The next morning she was up before daylight, and waited for two long hours + in great suspense before the curtain of his window was raised. He greeted + her politely; threw a hasty glance around the court to see if he was + observed, and then tossed her book dexterously over into her hands. + </p> + <p> + “I have pinned the written exercise to the fly-leaf,” he said. “You will + probably have time to copy it before breakfast.” + </p> + <p> + “I am ever so much obliged to you,” she managed to stammer. + </p> + <p> + He looked so tall and handsome, and grown-up, and her remorse stuck in her + throat, and threatened to choke her. She had taken him for a boy as he sat + there in his window the evening before. + </p> + <p> + “By the way, what is your name?” he asked, carelessly, as he turned to go. + </p> + <p> + “Bertha.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, my dear Bertha, I am happy to have made your acquaintance.” + </p> + <p> + And he again made her a polite bow, and entered his parlor. + </p> + <p> + “How provokingly familiar he is,” thought she; “but no one can deny that + he is handsome.” + </p> + <p> + The bright roguish face of the young girl haunted Ralph during the whole + next week. He had been in love at least ten times before, of course; but, + like most boys, with young ladies far older than himself. He found himself + frequently glancing over to her window in the hope of catching another + glimpse of her face; but the curtain was always drawn down, and Bertha + remained invisible. During the second week, however, she relented, and + they had many a pleasant chat together. He now volunteered to write all + her exercises, and she made no objections. He learned that she was the + daughter of a well-to-do peasant in the sea-districts of Norway (and it + gave him quite a shock to hear it), and that she was going to school in + the city, and boarded with an old lady who kept a pension in the house + adjoining the one in which he lived. + </p> + <p> + One day in the autumn Ralph was surprised by the sudden arrival of his + father, and the fact of his failure in the examination could no longer be + kept a secret. The old Colonel flared up at once when Ralph made his + confession; the large veins upon his forehead swelled; he grew coppery-red + in his face, and stormed up and down the floor, until his son became + seriously alarmed; but, to his great relief, he was soon made aware that + his father’s wrath was not turned against him personally, but against the + officials of the Military Academy who had rejected him. The Colonel took + it as an insult to his own good name and irreproachable standing as an + officer; he promptly refused any other explanation, and vainly racked his + brain to remember if any youthful folly of his could possibly have made + him enemies among the teachers of the Academy. He at last felt satisfied + that it was envy of his own greatness and rapid advancement which had + induced the rascals to take vengeance on his son. Ralph reluctantly + followed his father back to the country town where the latter was + stationed, and the fair-haired Bertha vanished from his horizon. His + mother’s wish now prevailed, and he began, in his own easy way, to prepare + himself for the University. He had little taste for Cicero, and still less + for Virgil, but with the use of a “pony” he soon gained sufficient + knowledge of these authors to be able to talk in a sort of patronizing way + about them, to the great delight of his fond parents. He took quite a + fancy, however, to the ode in Horace ending with the lines: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Dulce ridentem, + Dulce loquentem, + Lalagen amabo. +</pre> + <p> + And in his thought he substituted for Lalage the fair-haired Bertha, quite + regardless of the requirements of the metre. + </p> + <p> + To make a long story short, three years later Ralph returned to the + capital, and, after having worn out several tutors, actually succeeded in + entering the University. + </p> + <p> + The first year of college life is a happy time to every young man, and + Ralph enjoyed its processions, its parliamentary gatherings, and its + leisure, as well as the rest. He was certainly not the man to be + sentimental over the loss of a young girl whom, moreover, he had only + known for a few weeks. Nevertheless, he thought of her at odd times, but + not enough to disturb his pleasure. The standing of his family, his own + handsome appearance, and his immaculate linen opened to him the best + houses of the city, and he became a great favorite in society. At lectures + he was seldom seen, but more frequently in the theatres, where he used to + come in during the middle of the first act, take his station in front of + the orchestra box, and eye, through his lorgnettes, by turns, the + actresses and the ladies of the parquet. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0014" id="link2H_4_0014"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. + </h2> + <p> + Two months passed, and then came the great annual ball which the students + give at the opening of the second semester. Ralph was a man of importance + that evening; first, because he belonged to a great family; secondly, + because he was the handsomest man of his year. He wore a large golden star + on his breast (for his fellow-students had made him a Knight of the Golden + Boar), and a badge of colored ribbons in his button-hole. + </p> + <p> + The ball was a brilliant affair, and everybody was in excellent spirits, + especially the ladies. Ralph danced incessantly, twirled his soft + mustache, and uttered amiable platitudes. It was toward midnight, just as + the company was moving out to supper, that he caught the glance of a pair + of dark-blue eyes, which suddenly drove the blood to his cheeks and + hastened the beating of his heart. But when he looked once more the + dark-blue eyes were gone, and his unruly heart went on hammering against + his side. He laid his hand on his breast and glanced furtively at his fair + neighbor, but she looked happy and unconcerned, for the flavor of the + ice-cream was delicious. It seemed an endless meal, but, when it was done, + Ralph rose, led his partner back to the ball-room, and hastily excused + himself. His glance wandered round the wide hall, seeking the + well-remembered eyes once more, and, at length, finding them in a remote + corner, half hid behind a moving wall of promenaders. In another moment he + was at Bertha’s side. + </p> + <p> + “You must have been purposely hiding yourself, Miss Bertha,” said he, when + the usual greetings were exchanged. “I have not caught a glimpse of you + all this evening, until a few moments ago.” + </p> + <p> + “But I have seen you all the while,” answered the girl, frankly. “I knew + you at once as I entered the hall.” + </p> + <p> + “If I had but known that you were here,” resumed Ralph, as it were, + invisibly expanding with an agreeable sense of dignity, “I assure you, you + would have been the very first one I should have sought.” + </p> + <p> + She raised her large grave eyes to his, as if questioning his sincerity; + but she made no answer. + </p> + <p> + “Good gracious!” thought Ralph. “She takes things terribly in earnest.” + </p> + <p> + “You look so serious, Miss Bertha,” said he, after a moment’s pause. “I + remember you as a bright-eyed, flaxen-haired little girl, who threw her + German exercise-book to me across the yard, and whose merry laughter still + rings pleasantly in my memory. I confess I don’t find it quite easy to + identify this grave young lady with my merry friend of three years ago.” + </p> + <p> + “In other words, you are disappointed at not finding me the same as I used + to be.” + </p> + <p> + “No, not exactly that; but—” + </p> + <p> + Ralph paused and looked puzzled. There was something in the earnestness of + her manner which made a facetious compliment seem grossly inappropriate, + and in the moment no other escape suggested itself. + </p> + <p> + “But what?” demanded Bertha, mercilessly. + </p> + <p> + “Have you ever lost an old friend?” asked he, abruptly. + </p> + <p> + “Yes; how so?” + </p> + <p> + “Then,” answered he, while his features lighted up with a happy + inspiration—“then you will appreciate my situation. I fondly + cherished my old picture of you in my memory. Now I have lost it, and I + cannot help regretting the loss. I do not mean, however, to imply that + this new acquaintance—this second edition of yourself, so to speak—will + prove less interesting.” + </p> + <p> + She again sent him a grave, questioning look, and began to gaze intently + upon the stone in her bracelet. + </p> + <p> + “I suppose you will laugh at me,” began she, while a sudden blush flitted + over her countenance. “But this is my first ball, and I feel as if I had + rushed into a whirlpool, from which I have, since the first rash plunge + was made, been vainly trying to escape. I feel so dreadfully forlorn. I + hardly know anybody here except my cousin, who invited me, and I hardly + think I know him either.” + </p> + <p> + “Well, since you are irredeemably committed,” replied Ralph, as the music, + after some prefatory flourishes, broke into the delicious rhythm of a + Strauss waltz, “then it is no use struggling against fate. Come, let us + make the plunge together. Misery loves company.” + </p> + <p> + He offered her his arm, and she arose, somewhat hesitatingly, and + followed. + </p> + <p> + “I am afraid,” she whispered, as they fell into line with the procession + that was moving down the long hall, “that you have asked me to dance + merely because I said I felt forlorn. If that is the case, I should prefer + to be led back to my seat.” + </p> + <p> + “What a base imputation!” cried Ralph. + </p> + <p> + There was something so charmingly naïve in this self-depreciation— + something so altogether novel in his experience, and, he could not help + adding, just a little bit countrified. His spirits rose; he began to + relish keenly his position as an experienced man of the world, and, in the + agreeable glow of patronage and conscious superiority, chatted with hearty + ABANDON with his little rustic beauty. + </p> + <p> + “If your dancing is as perfect as your German exercises were,” said she, + laughing, as they swung out upon the floor, “then I promise myself a good + deal of pleasure from our meeting.” + </p> + <p> + “Never fear,” answered he, quickly reversing his step, and whirling with + many a capricious turn away among the thronging couples. + </p> + <p> + When Ralph drove home in his carriage toward morning he briefly summed up + his impressions of Bertha in the following adjectives: intelligent, + delightfully unsophisticated, a little bit verdant, but devilish pretty. + </p> + <p> + Some weeks later Colonel Grim received an appointment at the fortress of + Aggershuus, and immediately took up his residence in the capital. He saw + that his son cut a fine figure in the highest circles of society, and + expressed his gratification in the most emphatic terms. If he had known, + however, that Ralph was in the habit of visiting, with alarming + regularity, at the house of a plebeian merchant in a somewhat obscure + street, he would, no doubt, have been more chary of his praise. But the + Colonel suspected nothing, and it was well for the peace of the family + that he did not. It may have been cowardice in Ralph that he never + mentioned Bertha’s name to his family or to his aristocratic + acquaintances; for, to be candid, he himself felt ashamed of the power she + exerted over him, and by turns pitied and ridiculed himself for pursuing + so inglorious a conquest. Nevertheless it wounded his egotism that she + never showed any surprise at seeing him, that she received him with a + certain frank unceremoniousness, which, however, was very becoming to her; + that she invariably went on with her work heedless of his presence, and in + everything treated him as if she had been his equal. She persisted in + talking with him in a half sisterly fashion about his studies and his + future career, warned him with great solicitude against some of his + reprobate friends, of whose merry adventures he had told her; and if he + ventured to compliment her on her beauty or her accomplishments, she would + look up gravely from her sewing, or answer him in a way which seemed to + banish the idea of love-making into the land of the impossible. He was + constantly tormented by the suspicion that she secretly disapproved of + him, and that from a mere moral interest in his welfare she was + conscientiously laboring to make him a better man. Day after day he parted + from her feeling humiliated, faint-hearted, and secretly indignant both at + himself and her, and day after day he returned only to renew the same + experience. At last it became too intolerable, he could endure it no + longer. Let it make or break, certainty, at all risks, was at least + preferable to this sickening suspense. That he loved her, he could no + longer doubt; let his parents foam and fret as much as they pleased; for + once he was going to stand on his own legs. And in the end, he thought, + they would have to yield, for they had no son but him. + </p> + <p> + Bertha was going to return to her home on the sea-coast in a week. Ralph + stood in the little low-ceiled parlor, as she imagined, to bid her + good-bye. They had been speaking of her father, her brothers, and the + farm, and she had expressed the wish that if he ever should come to that + part of the country he might pay them a visit. Her words had kindled a + vague hope in his breast, but in their very frankness and friendly regard + there was something which slew the hope they had begotten. He held her + hand in his, and her large confiding eyes shone with an emotion which was + beautiful, but was yet not love. + </p> + <p> + “If you were but a peasant born like myself,” said she, in a voice which + sounded almost tender, “then I should like to talk to you as I would to my + own brother; but—” + </p> + <p> + “No, not brother, Bertha,” cried he, with sudden vehemence; “I love you + better than I ever loved any earthly being, and if you knew how firmly + this love has clutched at the roots of my heart, you would perhaps—you + would at least not look so reproachfully at me.” + </p> + <p> + She dropped his hand, and stood for a moment silent. + </p> + <p> + “I am sorry that it should have come to this, Mr. Grim,” said she, visibly + struggling for calmness. “And I am perhaps more to blame than you.” + </p> + <p> + “Blame,” muttered he, “why are you to blame?” + </p> + <p> + “Because I do not love you; although I sometimes feared that this might + come. But then again I persuaded myself that it could not be so.” + </p> + <p> + He took a step toward the door, laid his hand on the knob, and gazed down + before him. + </p> + <p> + “Bertha,” began he, slowly, raising his head, “you have always disapproved + of me, you have despised me in your heart, but you thought you would be + doing a good work if you succeeded in making a man of me.” + </p> + <p> + “You use strong language,” answered she, hesitatingly; “but there is truth + in what you say.” + </p> + <p> + Again there was a long pause, in which the ticking of the old parlor clock + grew louder and louder. + </p> + <p> + “Then,” he broke out at last, “tell me before we part if I can do nothing + to gain—I will not say your love—but only your regard? What + would you do if you were in my place?” + </p> + <p> + “My advice you will hardly heed, and I do not even know that it would be + well if you did. But if I were a man in your position, I should break with + my whole past, start out into the world where nobody knew me, and where I + should be dependent only upon my own strength, and there I would conquer a + place for myself, if it were only for the satisfaction of knowing that I + was really a man. Here cushions are sewed under your arms, a hundred + invisible threads bind you to a life of idleness and vanity, everybody is + ready to carry you on his hands, the road is smoothed for you, every stone + carefully moved out of your path, and you will probably go to your grave + without having ever harbored one earnest thought, without having done one + manly deed.” + </p> + <p> + Ralph stood transfixed, gazing at her with open mouth; he felt a kind of + stupid fright, as if some one had suddenly seized him by the shoulders and + shaken him violently. He tried vainly to remove his eyes from Bertha. She + held him as by a powerful spell. He saw that her face was lighted with an + altogether new beauty; he noticed the deep glow upon her cheek, the + brilliancy of her eye, the slight quiver of her lip. But he saw all this + as one sees things in a half-trance, without attempting to account for + them; the door between his soul and his senses was closed. + </p> + <p> + “I know that I have been bold in speaking to you in this way,” she said at + last, seating herself in a chair at the window. “But it was yourself who + asked me. And I have felt all the time that I should have to tell you this + before we parted.” + </p> + <p> + “And,” answered he, making a strong effort to appear calm, “if I follow + your advice, will you allow me to see you once more before you go?” + </p> + <p> + “I shall remain here another week, and shall, during that time, always be + ready to receive you.” + </p> + <p> + “Thank you. Good-bye.” + </p> + <p> + “Good-bye.” + </p> + <p> + Ralph carefully avoided all the fashionable thoroughfares; he felt + degraded before himself, and he had an idea that every man could read his + humiliation in his countenance. Now he walked on quickly, striking the + sidewalk with his heels; now, again, he fell into an uneasy, reckless + saunter, according as the changing moods inspired defiance of his + sentence, or a qualified surrender. And, as he walked on, the bitterness + grew within him, and he pitilessly reviled himself for having allowed + himself to be made a fool of by “that little country goose,” when he was + well aware that there were hundreds of women of the best families of the + land who would feel honored at receiving his attentions. But this sort of + reasoning he knew to be both weak and contemptible, and his better self + soon rose in loud rebellion. + </p> + <p> + “After all,” he muttered, “in the main thing she was right. I am a + miserable good-for-nothing, a hot-house plant, a poor stick, and if I were + a woman myself, I don’t think I should waste my affections on a man of + that calibre.” + </p> + <p> + Then he unconsciously fell to analyzing Bertha’s character, wondering + vaguely that a person who moved so timidly in social life, appearing so + diffident, from an ever-present fear of blundering against the established + forms of etiquette, could judge so quickly, and with such a merciless + certainty, whenever a moral question, a question of right and wrong, was + at issue. And, pursuing the same train of thought, he contrasted her with + himself, who moved in the highest spheres of society as in his native + element, heedless of moral scruples, and conscious of no loftier motive + for his actions than the immediate pleasure of the moment. + </p> + <p> + As Ralph turned the corner of a street, he heard himself hailed from the + other sidewalk by a chorus of merry voices. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, my dear Baroness,” cried a young man, springing across the street and + grasping Ralph’s hand (all his student friends called him the Baroness), + “in the name of this illustrious company, allow me to salute you. But why + the deuce—what is the matter with you? If you have the Katzenjammer, + <a href="#linknote-7" name="linknoteref-7" id="linknoteref-7"><small>7</small></a> + soda-water is the thing. Come along,—it’s my treat!” + </p> + <p> + The students instantly thronged around Ralph, who stood distractedly + swinging his cane and smiling idiotically. + </p> + <p> + “I am not quite well,” said he; “leave me alone.” + </p> + <p> + “No, to be sure, you don’t look well,” cried a jolly youth, against whom + Bertha had frequently warned him; “but a glass of sherry will soon restore + you. It would be highly immoral to leave you in this condition without + taking care of you.” + </p> + <p> + Ralph again vainly tried to remonstrate; but the end was, that he + reluctantly followed. + </p> + <p> + He had always been a conspicuous figure in the student world; but that + night he astonished his friends by his eloquence, his reckless humor, and + his capacity for drinking. He made a speech for “Woman,” which bristled + with wit, cynicism, and sarcastic epigrams. One young man, named Vinter, + who was engaged, undertook to protest against his sweeping condemnation, + and declared that Ralph, who was a Universal favorite among the ladies, + ought to be the last to revile them. + </p> + <p> + “If,” he went on, “the Baroness should propose to six well-known ladies + here in this city whom I could mention, I would wager six Johannisbergers, + and an equal amount of champagne, that every one of them would accept + him.” + </p> + <p> + The others loudly applauded this proposal, and Ralph accepted the wager. + The letters were written on the spot, and immediately dispatched. Toward + morning, the merry carousal broke up, and Ralph was conducted in triumph + to his home. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0015" id="link2H_4_0015"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III. + </h2> + <p> + Two days later, Ralph again knocked on Bertha’s door. He looked paler than + usual, almost haggard; his immaculate linen was a little crumpled, and he + carried no cane; his lips were tightly compressed, and his face wore an + air of desperate resolution. + </p> + <p> + “It is done,” he said, as he seated himself opposite her. “I am going.” + </p> + <p> + “Going!” cried she, startled at his unusual appearance. “How, where?” + </p> + <p> + “To America. I sail to-night. I have followed your advice, you see. I have + cut off the last bridge behind me.” + </p> + <p> + “But, Ralph,” she exclaimed, in a voice of alarm. “Something dreadful must + have happened. Tell me quick; I must know it.” + </p> + <p> + “No; nothing dreadful,” muttered he, smiling bitterly. “I have made a + little scandal, that is all. My father told me to-day to go to the devil, + if I chose, and my mother gave me five hundred dollars to help me along on + the way. If you wish to know, here is the explanation.” + </p> + <p> + And he pulled from his pocket six perfumed and carefully folded notes, and + threw them into her lap. + </p> + <p> + “Do you wish me to read them?” she asked, with growing surprise. + </p> + <p> + “Certainly. Why not?” + </p> + <p> + She hastily opened one note after the other, and read. + </p> + <p> + “But, Ralph,” she cried, springing up from her seat, while her eyes flamed + with indignation, “what does this mean? What have you done?” + </p> + <p> + “I didn’t think it needed any explanation,” replied he, with feigned + indifference. “I proposed to them all, and, you see, they all accepted me. + I received all these letters to-day. I only wished to know whether the + whole world regarded me as such a worthless scamp as you told me I was.” + </p> + <p> + She did not answer, but sat mutely staring at him, fiercely crumpling a + rose-colored note in her hand. He began to feel uncomfortable under her + gaze, and threw himself about uneasily in his chair. + </p> + <p> + “Well,” said he, at length, rising, “I suppose there is nothing more. + Good-bye.” + </p> + <p> + “One moment, Mr. Grim,” demanded she, sternly. “Since I have already said + so much, and you have obligingly revealed to me a new side of your + character, I claim the right to correct the opinion I expressed of you at + our last meeting.” + </p> + <p> + “I am all attention.” + </p> + <p> + “I did think, Mr. Grim,” began she, breathing hard, and steadying herself + against the table at which she stood, “that you were a very selfish man—an + embodiment of selfishness, absolute and supreme, but I did not believe + that you were wicked.” + </p> + <p> + “And what convinced you that I was selfish, if I may ask?” + </p> + <p> + “What convinced me?” repeated she, in a tone of inexpressible contempt. + “When did you ever act from any generous regard for others? What good did + you ever do to anybody?” + </p> + <p> + “You might ask, with equal justice, what good I ever did to myself.” + </p> + <p> + “In a certain sense, yes; because to gratify a mere momentary wish is + hardly doing one’s self good.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I have, at all events, followed the Biblical precept, and treated my + neighbor very much as I treat myself.” + </p> + <p> + “I did think,” continued Bertha, without heeding the remark, “that you + were at bottom kind-hearted, but too hopelessly well-bred ever to commit + an act of any decided complexion, either good or bad. Now I see that I + have misjudged you, and that you are capable of outraging the most sacred + feelings of a woman’s heart in mere wantonness, or for the sake of + satisfying a base curiosity, which never could have entered the mind of an + upright and generous man.” + </p> + <p> + The hard, benumbed look in Ralph’s face thawed in the warmth of her + presence, and her words, though stern, touched a secret spring in his + heart. He made two or three vain attempts to speak, then suddenly broke + down, and cried: + </p> + <p> + “Bertha, Bertha, even if you scorn me, have patience with me, and listen.” + </p> + <p> + And he told her, in rapid, broken sentences, how his love for her had + grown from day to day, until he could no longer master it; and how, in an + unguarded moment, when his pride rose in fierce conflict against his love, + he had done this reckless deed of which he was now heartily ashamed. The + fervor of his words touched her, for she felt that they were sincere. + Large mute tears trembled in her eyelashes as she sat gazing tenderly at + him, and in the depth of her soul the wish awoke that she might have been + able to return this great and strong love of his; for she felt that in + this love lay the germ of a new, of a stronger and better man. She + noticed, with a half-regretful pleasure, his handsome figure, his + delicately shaped hands, and the noble cast of his features; an + overwhelming pity for him rose within her, and she began to reproach + herself for having spoken so harshly, and, as she now thought, so + unjustly. Perhaps he read in her eyes the unspoken wish. He seized her + hand, and his words fell with a warm and alluring cadence upon her ear. + </p> + <p> + “I shall not see you for a long time to come, Bertha,” said he, “but if, + at the end of five or six years your hand is still free, and I return + another man—a man to whom you could safely intrust your happiness—would + you then listen to what I may have to say to you? For I promise, by all + that we both hold sacred—” + </p> + <p> + “No, no,” interrupted she, hastily. “Promise nothing. It would be unjust + to—yourself, and perhaps also to me; for a sacred promise is a + terrible thing, Ralph. Let us both remain free; and, if you return and + still love me, then come, and I shall receive you and listen to you. And + even if you have outgrown your love, which is, indeed, more probable, come + still to visit me wherever I may be, and we shall meet as friends and + rejoice in the meeting.” + </p> + <p> + “You know best,” he murmured. “Let it be as you have said.” + </p> + <p> + He arose, took her face between his hands, gazed long and tenderly into + her eyes, pressed a kiss upon her forehead, and hastened away. + </p> + <p> + That night Ralph boarded the steamer for Hull, and three weeks later + landed in New York. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0016" id="link2H_4_0016"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IV. + </h2> + <p> + The first three months of Ralph’s sojourn in America were spent in vain + attempts to obtain a situation. Day after day he walked down Broadway, + calling at various places of business and night after night he returned to + his cheerless room with a faint heart and declining spirits. It was, after + all, a more serious thing than he had imagined, to cut the cable which + binds one to the land of one’s birth. There a hundred subtile influences, + the existence of which no one suspects until the moment they are + withdrawn, unite to keep one in the straight path of rectitude, or at + least of external respectability; and Ralph’s life had been all in + society; the opinion of his fellow-men had been the one force to which he + implicitly deferred, and the conscience by which he had been wont to test + his actions had been nothing but the aggregate judgment of his friends. To + such a man the isolation and the utter irresponsibility of a life among + strangers was tenfold more dangerous; and Ralph found, to his horror, that + his character contained innumerable latent possibilities which the + easygoing life in his home probably never would have revealed to him. It + often cut him to the quick, when, on entering an office in his daily + search for employment, he was met by hostile or suspicious glances, or + when, as it occasionally happened, the door was slammed in his face, as if + he were a vagabond or an impostor. Then the wolf was often roused within + him, and he felt a momentary wild desire to become what the people here + evidently believed him to be. Many a night he sauntered irresolutely about + the gambling places in obscure streets, and the glare of light, the rude + shouts and clamors in the same moment repelled and attracted him. If he + went to the devil, who would care? His father had himself pointed out the + way to him; and nobody could blame him if he followed the advice. But then + again a memory emerged from that chamber of his soul which still he held + sacred; and Bertha’s deep-blue eyes gazed upon him with their earnest look + of tender warning and regret. + </p> + <p> + When the summer was half gone, Ralph had gained many a hard victory over + himself, and learned many a useful lesson; and at length he swallowed his + pride, divested himself of his fine clothes, and accepted a position as + assistant gardener at a villa on the Hudson. And as he stood perspiring + with a spade in his hand, and a cheap broad-brimmed straw hat on his head, + he often took a grim pleasure in picturing to himself how his aristocratic + friends at home would receive him, if he should introduce himself to them + in this new costume. + </p> + <p> + “After all, it was only my position they cared for,” he reflected, + bitterly; “without my father’s name what would I be to them?” + </p> + <p> + Then, again, there was a certain satisfaction in knowing that, for his + present situation, humble as it was, he was indebted to nobody but + himself; and the thought that Bertha’s eyes, if they could have seen him + now would have dwelt upon him with pleasure and approbation, went far to + console him for his aching back, his sunburned face, and his swollen and + blistered hands. + </p> + <p> + One day, as Ralph was raking the gravel-walks in the garden, his + employer’s daughter, a young lady of seventeen, came out and spoke to him. + His culture and refinement of manner struck her with wonder, and she asked + him to tell her his history; but then he suddenly grew very grave, and she + forbore pressing him. From that time she attached a kind of romantic + interest to him, and finally induced her father to obtain him a situation + that would be more to his taste. And, before winter came, Ralph saw the + dawn of a new future glimmering before him. He had wrestled bravely with + fate, and had once more gained a victory. He began the career in which + success and distinction awaited him, as proof-reader on a newspaper in the + city. He had fortunately been familiar with the English language before he + left home, and by the strength of his will he conquered all difficulties. + At the end of two years he became attached to the editorial staff; new + ambitious hopes, hitherto foreign to his mind, awoke within him; and with + joyous tumult of heart he saw life opening its wide vistas before him, and + he labored on manfully to repair the losses of the past, and to prepare + himself for greater usefulness in times to come. He felt in himself a + stronger and fuller manhood, as if the great arteries of the vast + universal world-life pulsed in his own being. The drowsy, indolent + existence at home appeared like a dull remote dream from which he had + awaked, and he blessed the destiny which, by its very sternness, had + mercifully saved him; he blessed her, too, who, from the very want of love + for him, had, perhaps, made him worthier of love. + </p> + <p> + The years flew rapidly. Society had flung its doors open to him, and what + was more, he had found some warm friends, in whose houses he could come + and go at pleasure. He enjoyed keenly the privilege of daily association + with high-minded and refined women; their eager activity of intellect + stimulated him, their exquisite ethereal grace and their delicately + chiseled beauty satisfied his aesthetic cravings, and the responsive + vivacity of their nature prepared him ever new surprises. He felt a + strange fascination in the presence of these women, and the conviction + grew upon him that their type of womanhood was superior to any he had + hitherto known. And by way of refuting his own argument, he would draw + from his pocket-book the photograph of Bertha, which had a secret + compartment there all to itself, and, gazing tenderly at it, would eagerly + defend her against the disparaging reflections which the involuntary + comparison had provoked. And still, how could he help seeing that her + features, though well molded, lacked animation; that her eye, with its + deep, trustful glance, was not brilliant, and that the calm earnestness of + her face, when compared with the bright, intellectual beauty of his + present friends, appeared pale and simple, like a violet in a bouquet of + vividly colored roses? It gave him a quick pang, when, at times, he was + forced to admit this; nevertheless, it was the truth. + </p> + <p> + After six years of residence in America, Ralph had gained a very high + reputation as a journalist of rare culture and ability, and, in 1867 he + was sent to the World’s Exhibition in Paris, as correspondent of the paper + on which he had during all these years been employed. What wonder, then, + that he started for Europe a few weeks before his presence was needed in + the imperial city, and that he steered his course directly toward the + fjord valley where Bertha had her home? It was she who had bidden him + Godspeed when he fled from the land of his birth, and she, too, should + receive his first greeting on his return. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + V. + </h2> + <p> + The sun had fortified itself behind a citadel of flaming clouds, and the + upper forest region shone with a strange ethereal glow, while the lower + plains were wrapped in shadow; but the shadow itself had a strong + suffusion of color. The mountain peaks rose cold and blue in the distance. + </p> + <p> + Ralph, having inquired his way of the boatman who had landed him at the + pier, walked rapidly along the beach, with a small valise in his hand, and + a light summer overcoat flung over his shoulder. Many half-thoughts grazed + his mind, and ere the first had taken shape, the second, and the third + came and chased it away. And still they all in some fashion had reference + to Bertha; for in a misty, abstract way, she filled his whole mind; but + for some indefinable reason, he was afraid to give free rein to the + sentiment which lurked in the remoter corners of his soul. + </p> + <p> + Onward he hastened, while his heart throbbed with the quickening tempo of + mingled expectation and fear. Now and then one of those chill gusts of air + which seem to be careering about aimlessly in the atmosphere during early + summer, would strike into his face, and recall him to a keener + self-consciousness. + </p> + <p> + Ralph concluded, from his increasing agitation, that he must be very near + Bertha’s home. He stopped and looked around him. He saw a large maple at + the roadside, some thirty steps from where he was standing, and the girl + who was sitting under it, resting her head in her hand and gazing out over + the sea, he recognized in an instant to be Bertha. He sprang up on the + road, not crossing, however, her line of vision, and approached her + noiselessly from behind. + </p> + <p> + “Bertha,” he whispered. + </p> + <p> + She gave a little joyous cry, sprang up, and made a gesture as if to throw + herself in his arms; then suddenly checked herself, blushed crimson, and + moved a step backward. + </p> + <p> + “You came so suddenly,” she murmured. + </p> + <p> + “But, Bertha,” cried he (and the full bass of his voice rang through her + very soul), “have I gone into exile and waited these many years for so + cold a welcome?” + </p> + <p> + “You have changed so much, Ralph,” she answered, with that old grave smile + which he knew so well, and stretched out both her hands toward him. “And I + have thought of you so much since you went away, and blamed myself because + I had judged you so harshly, and wondered that you could listen to me so + patiently, and never bear me any malice for what I said.” + </p> + <p> + “If you had said a word less,” declared Ralph, seating himself at her side + on the greensward, “or if you had varnished it over with politeness, then + you would probably have failed to produce any effect and I should not have + been burdened with that heavy debt of gratitude which I now owe you. I was + a pretty thick-skinned animal in those days, Bertha. You said the right + word at the right moment; you gave me a hold and a good piece of advice, + which my own ingenuity would never have suggested to me. I will not thank + you, because, in so grave a case as this, spoken thanks sound like a mere + mockery. Whatever I am, Bertha, and whatever I may hope to be, I owe it + all to that hour.” + </p> + <p> + She listened with rapture to the manly assurance of his voice; her eyes + dwelt with unspeakable joy upon his strong, bronzed features, his full + thick blonde beard, and the vigorous proportions of his frame. Many and + many a time during his absence had she wondered how he would look if he + ever came back, and with that minute conscientiousness which, as it were, + pervaded her whole character, she had held herself responsible before God + for his fate, prayed for him, and trembled lest evil powers should gain + the ascendency over his soul. + </p> + <p> + On their way to the house they talked together of many things, but in a + guarded, cautious fashion, and without the cheerful abandonment of former + years. They both, as it were, groped their way carefully in each other’s + minds, and each vaguely felt that there was something in the other’s + thought which it was not well to touch unbidden. Bertha saw that all her + fears for him had been groundless, and his very appearance lifted the + whole weight of responsibility from her breast; and still, did she rejoice + at her deliverance from her burden? Ah, no, in this moment she knew that + that which she had foolishly cherished as the best and noblest part of + herself, had been but a selfish need of her own heart. She feared that she + had only taken that interest in him which one feels in a thing of one’s + own making; and now, when she saw that he had risen quite above her; that + he was free and strong, and could have no more need of her, she had, + instead of generous pleasure at his success, but a painful sense of + emptiness, as if something very dear had been taken from her. + </p> + <p> + Ralph, too, was loath to analyze the impression his old love made upon + him. His feelings were of so complex a nature, he was anxious to keep his + more magnanimous impulses active, and he strove hard to convince himself + that she was still the same to him as she had been before they had ever + parted. But, alas! though the heart be warm and generous, the eye is a + merciless critic. And the man who had moved on the wide arena of the + world, whose mind had housed the large thoughts of this century, and + expanded with its invigorating breath,—was he to blame because he + had unconsciously outgrown his old provincial self, and could no more + judge by its standards? + </p> + <p> + Bertha’s father was a peasant, but he had, by his lumber trade, acquired + what in Norway was called a very handsome fortune. He received his guest + with dignified reserve, and Ralph thought he detected in his eyes a + lurking look of distrust. “I know your errand,” that look seemed to say, + “but you had better give it up at once. It will be of no use for you to + try.” + </p> + <p> + And after supper, as Ralph and Bertha sat talking confidingly with each + other at the window, he sent his daughter a quick, sharp glance, and then, + without ceremony, commanded her to go to bed. Ralph’s heart gave a great + thump within him; not because he feared the old man, but because his + words, as well as his glances, revealed to him the sad history of these + long, patient years. He doubted no longer that the love which he had once + so ardently desired was his at last; and he made a silent vow that, come + what might, he would remain faithful. + </p> + <p> + As he came down to breakfast the next morning, he found Bertha sitting at + the window, engaged in hemming what appeared to be a rough kitchen towel. + She bent eagerly over her work, and only a vivid flush upon her cheek told + him that she had noticed his coming. He took a chair, seated himself + opposite her, and bade her “good-morning.” She raised her head, and showed + him a sweet, troubled countenance, which the early sunlight illumined with + a high spiritual beauty. It reminded him forcibly of those pale, + sweet-faced saints of Fra Angelico, with whom the frail flesh seems ever + on the point of yielding to the ardent aspirations of the spirit. And + still, even in this moment he could not prevent his eyes from observing + that one side of her forefinger was rough from sewing, and that the + whiteness of her arm, which the loose sleeves displayed, contrasted + strongly with the browned and sun-burned complexion of her hands. + </p> + <p> + After breakfast they again walked together on the beach, and Ralph, having + once formed his resolution, now talked freely of the New World—of + his sphere of activity there; of his friends and of his plans for the + future; and she listened to him with a mild, perplexed look in her eyes, + as if trying vainly to follow the flight of his thoughts. And he wondered, + with secret dismay, whether she was still the same strong, brave-hearted + girl whom he had once accounted almost bold; whether the life in this + narrow valley, amid a hundred petty and depressing cares, had not cramped + her spiritual growth, and narrowed the sphere of her thought. Or was she + still the same, and was it only he who had changed? At last he gave + utterance to his wonder, and she answered him in those grave, earnest + tones which seemed in themselves to be half a refutation of his doubts. + </p> + <p> + “It was easy for me to give you daring advice, then, Ralph,” she said. + “Like most school-girls, I thought that life was a great and glorious + thing, and that happiness was a fruit which hung within reach of every + hand. Now I have lived for six years trying single-handed to relieve the + want and suffering of the needy people with whom I come in contact, and + their squalor and wretchedness have sickened me, and, what is still worse, + I feel that all I can do is as a drop in the ocean, and after all, amounts + to nothing. I know I am no longer the same reckless girl, who, with the + very best intention, sent you wandering through the wide world; and I + thank God that it proved to be for your good, although the whole now + appears quite incredible to me. My thoughts have moved so long within the + narrow circle of these mountains that they have lost their youthful + elasticity, and can no more rise above them.” + </p> + <p> + Ralph detected, in the midst of her despondency, a spark of her former + fire, and grew eloquent in his endeavors to persuade her that she was + unjust to herself, and that there was but a wider sphere of life needed to + develop all the latent powers of her rich nature. + </p> + <p> + At the dinner-table, her father again sat eyeing his guest with that same + cold look of distrust and suspicion. And when the meal was at an end, he + rose abruptly and called his daughter into another room. Presently Ralph + heard his angry voice resounding through the house, interrupted now and + then by a woman’s sobs, and a subdued, passionate pleading. When Bertha + again entered the room, her eyes were very red, and he saw that she had + been weeping. She threw a shawl over her shoulders, beckoned to him with + her hand, and he arose and followed her. She led the way silently until + they reached a thick copse of birch and alder near the strand. She dropped + down upon a bench between two trees, and he took his seat at her side. + </p> + <p> + “Ralph,” began she, with a visible effort, “I hardly know what to say to + you; but there is something which I must tell you—my father wishes + you to leave us at once.” + </p> + <p> + “And YOU, Bertha?” + </p> + <p> + “Well—yes—I wish it too.” + </p> + <p> + She saw the painful shock which her words gave him, and she strove hard to + speak. Her lips trembled, her eyes became suffused with tears, which grew + and grew, but never fell; she could not utter a word. + </p> + <p> + “Well, Bertha,” answered he, with a little quiver in his voice, “if you, + too, wish me to go, I shall not tarry. Good-bye.” + </p> + <p> + He rose quickly, and, with averted face, held out his hand to her; but as + she made no motion to grasp the hand, he began distractedly to button his + coat, and moved slowly away. + </p> + <p> + “Ralph.” + </p> + <p> + He turned sharply, and, before he knew it, she lay sobbing upon his + breast. + </p> + <p> + “Ralph,” she murmured, while the tears almost choked her words, “I could + not have you leave me thus. It is hard enough—it is hard enough—” + </p> + <p> + “What is hard, beloved?” + </p> + <p> + She raised her head abruptly, and turned upon him a gaze full of hope and + doubt, and sweet perplexity. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, no, you do not love me,” she whispered, sadly. + </p> + <p> + “Why should I come to seek you, after these many years, dearest, if I did + not wish to make you my wife before God and men? Why should I—” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, yes, I know,” she interrupted him with a fresh fit of weeping, “you + are too good and honest to wish to throw me away, now when you have seen + how my soul has hungered for the sight of you these many years, how even + now I cling to you with a despairing clutch. But you cannot disguise + yourself, Ralph, and I saw from the first moment that you loved me no + more.” + </p> + <p> + “Do not be such an unreasonable child,” he remonstrated, feebly. “I do not + love you with the wild, irrational passion of former years; but I have the + tenderest regard for you, and my heart warms at the sight of your sweet + face, and I shall do all in my power to make you as happy as any man can + make you who—” + </p> + <p> + “Who does not love me,” she finished. + </p> + <p> + A sudden shudder seemed to shake her whole frame, and she drew herself + more tightly up to him. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, no,” she continued, after a while, sinking back upon her seat. “It is + a hopeless thing to compel a reluctant heart. I will accept no sacrifice + from you. You owe me nothing, for you have acted toward me honestly and + uprightly, and I shall be a stronger, or—at least—a better + woman for what you gave me—and—for what you could not give me, + even though you would.” + </p> + <p> + “But, Bertha,” exclaimed he, looking mournfully at her, “it is not true + when you say that I owe you nothing. Six years ago, when first I wooed + you, you could not return my love, and you sent me out into the world, and + even refused to accept any pledge or promise for the future.” + </p> + <p> + “And you returned,” she responded, “a man, such as my hope had pictured + you; but, while I had almost been standing still, you had outgrown me, and + outgrown your old self, and, with your old self, outgrown its love for me, + for your love was not of your new self, but of the old. Alas! it is a sad + tale, but it is true.” + </p> + <p> + She spoke gravely now, and with a steadier voice, but her eyes hung upon + his face with an eager look of expectation, as if yearning to detect there + some gleam of hope, some contradiction of the dismal truth. He read that + look aright, and it pierced him like a sharp sword. He made a brave effort + to respond to its appeal, but his features seemed hard as stone, and he + could only cry out against his destiny, and bewail his misfortune and + hers. + </p> + <p> + Toward evening, Ralph was sitting in an open boat, listening to the + measured oar-strokes of the boatmen who were rowing him out to the nearest + stopping-place of the steamer. The mountains lifted their great placid + heads up among the sun-bathed clouds, and the fjord opened its cool depths + as if to make room for their vast reflections. Ralph felt as if he were + floating in the midst of the blue infinite space, and, with the strength + which this feeling inspired, he tried to face boldly the thought from + which he had but a moment ago shrunk as from something hopelessly sad and + perplexing. + </p> + <p> + And in that hour he looked fearlessly into the gulf which separates the + New World from the Old. He had hoped to bridge it; but, alas! it cannot be + bridged. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0018" id="link2H_4_0018"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + A SCIENTIFIC VAGABOND. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0019" id="link2H_4_0019"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I. + </h2> + <p> + THE steamer which as far back as 1860 passed every week on its northward + way up along the coast of Norway, was of a very sociable turn of mind. It + ran with much shrieking and needless bluster in and out the calm, winding + fjords, paid unceremonious little visits in every out-of-the-way nook and + bay, dropped now and then a black heap of coal into the shining water, and + sent thick volleys of smoke and shrill little echoes careering aimlessly + among the mountains. It seemed, on the whole, from an aesthetic point of + view, an objectionable phenomenon—a blot upon the perfect summer + day. By the inhabitants, however, of these remote regions (with the + exception of a few obstinate individuals, who had at first looked upon it + as the sure herald of dooms-day, and still were vaguely wondering what the + world was coming to,) it was regarded in a very different light. This + choleric little monster was to them a friendly and welcome visitor, which + established their connection with the outside world, and gave them a proud + consciousness of living in the very heart of civilization. Therefore, on + steamboat days they flocked en masse down on the piers, and, with an + ever-fresh sense of novelty, greeted the approaching boat with lively + cheers, with firing of muskets and waving of handkerchiefs. The men of + condition, as the judge, the sheriff, and the parson, whose dignity + forbade them to receive the steamer in person, contented themselves with + watching it through an opera-glass from their balconies; and if a high + official was known to be on board, they perhaps displayed the national + banner from their flag-poles, as a delicate compliment to their superior. + </p> + <p> + But the Rev. Mr. Oddson, the parson of whom I have to speak, had this day + yielded to the gentle urgings of his daughters (as, indeed, he always + did), and had with them boarded the steamer to receive his nephew, Arnfinn + Vording, who was returning from the university for his summer vacation. + And now they had him between them in their pretty white-painted parsonage + boat, with the blue line along the gunwale, beleaguering him with eager + questions about friends and relatives in the capital, chums, university + sports, and a medley of other things interesting to young ladies who have + a collegian for a cousin. His uncle was charitable enough to check his own + curiosity about the nephew’s progress in the arts and sciences, and the + result of his recent examinations, till he should have become fairly + settled under his roof; and Arnfinn, who, in spite of his natural + brightness and ready humor, was anything but a “dig,” was grateful for the + respite. + </p> + <p> + The parsonage lay snugly nestled at the end of the bay, shining + contentedly through the green foliage from a multitude of small + sun-smitten windows. Its pinkish whitewash, which was peeling off from + long exposure to the weather, was in cheerful contrast to the broad black + surface of the roof, with its glazed tiles, and the starlings’ nests under + the chimney-tops. The thick-leaved maples and walnut-trees which grew in + random clusters about the walls seemed loftily conscious of standing there + for purposes of protection; for, wherever their long-fingered branches + happened to graze the roof, it was always with a touch, light, graceful, + and airily caressing. The irregularly paved yard was inclosed on two sides + by the main building, and on the third by a species of log cabin, which, + in Norway, is called a brew-house; but toward the west the view was but + slightly obscured by an elevated pigeon cot and a clump of birches, + through whose sparse leaves the fjord beneath sent its rapid jets and + gleams of light, and its strange suggestions of distance, peace and + unaccountable gladness. + </p> + <p> + Arnfinn Vording’s career had presented that subtle combination of farce + and tragedy which most human lives are apt to be; and if the tragic + element had during his early years been preponderating, he was hardly + himself aware of it; for he had been too young at the death of his parents + to feel that keenness of grief which the same privation would have given + him at a later period of his life. It might have been humiliating to + confess it, but it was nevertheless true that the terror he had once + sustained on being pursued by a furious bull was much more vivid in his + memory than the vague wonder and depression which had filled his mind at + seeing his mother so suddenly stricken with age, as she lay motionless in + her white robes in the front parlor. Since then his uncle, who was his + guardian and nearest relative, had taken him into his family, had + instructed him with his own daughters, and finally sent him to the + University, leaving the little fortune which he had inherited to + accumulate for future use. Arnfinn had a painfully distinct recollection + of his early hardships in trying to acquire that soft pronunciation of the + r which is peculiar to the western fjord districts of Norway, and which he + admired so much in his cousins; for the merry-eyed Inga, who was less + scrupulous by a good deal than her older sister, Augusta, had from the + beginning persisted in interpreting their relation of cousinship as an + unbounded privilege on her part to ridicule him for his personal + peculiarities, and especially for his harsh r and his broad eastern + accent. Her ridicule was always very good-natured, to be sure, but + therefore no less annoying. + </p> + <p> + But—such is the perverseness of human nature—in spite of a + series of apparent rebuffs, interrupted now and then by fits of violent + attachment, Arnfinn had early selected this dimpled and yellow-haired + young girl, with her piquant little nose, for his favorite cousin. It was + the prospect of seeing her which, above all else, had lent, in + anticipation, an altogether new radiance to the day when he should present + himself in his home with the long-tasseled student cap on his head, the + unnecessary “pinchers” on his nose, and with the other traditional + paraphernalia of the Norwegian student. That great day had now come; + Arnfinn sat at Inga’s side playing with her white fingers, which lay + resting on his knee, and covering the depth of his feeling with harmless + banter about her “amusingly unclassical little nose.” He had once detected + her, when a child, standing before a mirror, and pinching this unhappy + feature in the middle, in the hope of making it “like Augusta’s;” and + since then he had no longer felt so utterly defenseless whenever his own + foibles were attacked. + </p> + <p> + “But what of your friend, Arnfinn?” exclaimed Inga, as she ran up the + stairs of the pier. “He of whom you have written so much. I have been busy + all the morning making the blue guest-chamber ready for him.” + </p> + <p> + “Please, cousin,” answered the student, in a tone of mock entreaty, “only + an hour’s respite! If we are to talk about Strand we must make a day of + it, you know. And just now it seems so grand to be at home, and with you, + that I would rather not admit even so genial a subject as Strand to share + my selfish happiness.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah, yes, you are right. Happiness is too often selfish. But tell me only + why he didn’t come and I’ll release you.” + </p> + <p> + “He IS coming.” + </p> + <p> + “Ah! And when?” + </p> + <p> + “That I don’t know. He preferred to take the journey on foot, and he may + be here at almost any time. But, as I have told you, he is very uncertain. + If he should happen to make the acquaintance of some interesting snipe, or + crane, or plover, he may prefer its company to ours, and then there is no + counting on him any longer. He may be as likely to turn up at the North + Pole as at the Gran Parsonage.” + </p> + <p> + “How very singular. You don’t know how curious I am to see him.” + </p> + <p> + And Inga walked on in silence under the sunny birches which grew along the + road, trying vainly to picture to herself this strange phenomenon of a + man. + </p> + <p> + “I brought his book,” remarked Arnfinn, making a gigantic effort to be + generous, for he felt dim stirrings of jealousy within him. “If you care + to read it, I think it will explain him to you better than anything I + could say.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0020" id="link2H_4_0020"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. + </h2> + <p> + The Oddsons were certainly a happy family though not by any means a + harmonious one. The excellent pastor, who was himself neutrally good, + orthodox, and kind-hearted, had often, in the privacy of his own thought, + wondered what hidden ancestral influences there might have been at work in + giving a man so peaceable and inoffensive as himself two daughters of such + strongly defined individuality. There was Augusta, the elder, who was what + Arnfinn called “indiscriminately reformatory,” and had a universal desire + to improve everything, from the Government down to agricultural implements + and preserve jars. As long as she was content to expend the surplus + energy, which seemed to accumulate within her through the long eventless + winters, upon the Zulu Mission, and other legitimate objects, the pastor + thought it all harmless enough; although, to be sure, her enthusiasm for + those naked and howling savages did at times strike him as being somewhat + extravagant. But when occasionally, in her own innocent way, she put both + his patience and his orthodoxy to the test by her exceedingly puzzling + questions, then he could not, in the depth of his heart, restrain the wish + that she might have been more like other young girls, and less ardently + solicitous about the fate of her kind. Affectionate and indulgent, + however, as the pastor was, he would often, in the next moment, do penance + for his unregenerate thought, and thank God for having made her so fair to + behold, so pure, and so noble-hearted. + </p> + <p> + Toward Arnfinn, Augusta had, although of his own age, early assumed a kind + of elder-sisterly relation; she had been his comforter during all the + trials of his boyhood; had yielded him her sympathy with that eager + impulse which lay so deep in her nature, and had felt forlorn when life + had called him away to where her words of comfort could not reach him. But + when once she had hinted this to her father, he had pedantically convinced + her that her feeling was unchristian, and Inga had playfully remarked that + the hope that some one might soon find the open Polar Sea would go far + toward consoling her for her loss; for Augusta had glorious visions at + that time of the open Polar Sea. Now, the Polar Sea, and many other + things, far nearer and dearer, had been forced into uneasy forgetfulness; + and Arnfinn was once more with her, no longer a child, and no longer + appealing to her for aid and sympathy; man enough, apparently, to have + outgrown his boyish needs and still boy enough to be ashamed of having + ever had them. + </p> + <p> + It was the third Sunday after Arnfinn’s return. He and Augusta were + climbing the hillside to the “Giant’s Hood,” from whence they had a wide + view of the fjord, and could see the sun trailing its long bridge of flame + upon the water. It was Inga’s week in the kitchen, therefore her sister + was Arnfinn’s companion. As they reached the crest of the “Hood,” Augusta + seated herself on a flat bowlder, and the young student flung himself on a + patch of greensward at her feet. The intense light of the late sun fell + upon the girl’s unconscious face, and Arnfinn lay, gazing up into it, and + wondering at its rare beauty; but he saw only the clean cut of its + features and the purity of its form, being too shallow to recognize the + strong and heroic soul which had struggled so long for utterance in the + life of which he had been a blind and unmindful witness. + </p> + <p> + “Gracious, how beautiful you are, cousin!” he broke forth, heedlessly, + striking his leg with his slender cane; “pity you were not born a queen; + you would be equal to almost anything, even if it were to discover the + Polar Sea.” + </p> + <p> + “I thought you were looking at the sun, Arnfinn,” answered she, smiling + reluctantly. + </p> + <p> + “And so I am, cousin,” laughed he, with an other-emphatic slap of his + boot. + </p> + <p> + “That compliment is rather stale.” + </p> + <p> + “But the opportunity was too tempting.” + </p> + <p> + “Never mind, I will excuse you from further efforts. Turn around and + notice that wonderful purple halo which is hovering over the forests + below. Isn’t it glorious?” + </p> + <p> + “No, don’t let us be solemn, pray. The sun I have seen a thousand times + before, but you I have seen very seldom of late. Somehow, since I returned + this time, you seem to keep me at a distance. You no longer confide to me + your great plans for the abolishment of war, and the improvement of + mankind generally. Why don’t you tell me whether you have as yet succeeded + in convincing the peasants that cleanliness is a cardinal virtue, that + hawthorn hedges are more picturesque than rail fences, and that salt meat + is a very indigestible article?” + </p> + <p> + “You know the fate of my reforms, from long experience,” she answered, + with the same sad, sweet smile. “I am afraid there must be some thing + radically wrong about my methods; and, moreover, I know that your + aspirations and mine are no longer the same, if they ever have been, and I + am not ungenerous enough to force you to feign an interest which you do + not feel.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I know you think me flippant and boyish,” retorted he, with sudden + energy, and tossing a stone down into the gulf below. “But, by the way, my + friend Strand, if he ever comes, would be just the man for you. He has + quite as many hobbies as you have, and, what is more, he has a profound + respect for hobbies in general, and is universally charitable toward those + of others.” + </p> + <p> + “Your friend is a great man,” said the girl, earnestly. “I have read his + book on `The Wading Birds of the Norwegian Highlands,’ and none but a + great man could have written it.” + </p> + <p> + “He is an odd stick, but, for all that, a capital fellow; and I have no + doubt you would get on admirably with him.” + </p> + <p> + At this moment the conversation was interrupted by the appearance of the + pastor’s man, Hans, who came to tell the “young miss” that there was a big + tramp hovering about the barns in the “out-fields,” where he had been + sleeping during the last three nights. He was a dangerous character, Hans + thought, at least judging from his looks, and it was hardly safe for the + young miss to be roaming about the fields at night as long as he was in + the neighborhood. + </p> + <p> + “Why don’t you speak to the pastor, and have him arrested?” said Arnfinn, + impatient of Hans’s long-winded recital. + </p> + <p> + “No, no, say nothing to father,” demanded Augusta, eagerly. “Why should + you arrest a poor man as long as he does nothing worse than sleep in the + barns in the out-fields?” + </p> + <p> + “As you say, miss,” retorted Hans, and departed. + </p> + <p> + The moon came up pale and mist-like over the eastern mountain ridges, + struggled for a few brief moments feebly with the sunlight, and then + vanished. + </p> + <p> + “It is strange,” said Arnfinn, “how everything reminds me of Strand + to-night. What gloriously absurd apostrophes to the moon he could make! I + have not told you, cousin, of a very singular gift which he possesses. He + can attract all kinds of birds and wild animals to himself; he can imitate + their voices, and they flock around him, as if he were one of them, + without fear of harm.” + </p> + <p> + “How delightful,” cried Augusta, with sudden animation. “What a glorious + man your friend must be!” + </p> + <p> + “Because the snipes and the wild ducks like him? You seem to have greater + confidence in their judgment than in mine.” + </p> + <p> + “Of course I have—at least as long as you persist in joking. But, + jesting aside, what a wondrously beautiful life he must lead whom Nature + takes thus into her confidence; who has, as it were, an inner and subtler + sense, corresponding to each grosser and external one; who is keen-sighted + enough to read the character of every individual beast, and has ears + sensitive to the full pathos of joy or sorrow in the song of the birds + that inhabit our woodlands.” + </p> + <p> + “Whether he has any such second set of senses as you speak of, I don’t + know; but there can be no doubt that his familiarity, not to say intimacy, + with birds and beasts gives him a great advantage as a naturalist. I + suppose you know that his little book has been translated into French, and + rewarded with the gold medal of the Academy.” + </p> + <p> + “Hush! What is that?” Augusta sprang up, and held her hand to her ear. + </p> + <p> + “Some love-lorn mountain-cock playing yonder in the pine copse,” suggested + Arnfinn, amused at his cousin’s eagerness. + </p> + <p> + “You silly boy! Don’t you know the mountain-cock never plays except at + sunrise?” + </p> + <p> + “He would have a sorry time of it now, then, when there IS no sunrise.” + </p> + <p> + “And so he has; he does not play except in early spring.” + </p> + <p> + The noise, at first faint, now grew louder. It began with a series of + mellow, plaintive clucks that followed thickly one upon another, like + smooth pearls of sound that rolled through the throat in a continuous + current; then came a few sharp notes as of a large bird that snaps his + bill; then a long, half-melodious rumbling, intermingled with cacklings + and snaps, and at last, a sort of diminuendo movement of the same round, + pearly clucks. There was a whizzing of wing-beats in the air; two large + birds swept over their heads and struck down into the copse whence the + sound had issued. + </p> + <p> + “This is indeed a most singular thing,” said Augusta, under her breath, + and with wide-eyed wonder. “Let us go nearer, and see what it can be.” + </p> + <p> + “I am sure I can go if you can,” responded Arnfinn, not any too eagerly. + “Give me your hand, and we can climb the better.” + </p> + <p> + As they approached the pine copse, which projected like a promontory from + the line of the denser forest, the noise ceased, and only the plaintive + whistling of a mountain-hen, calling her scattered young together, and now + and then the shrill response of a snipe to the cry of its lonely mate, + fell upon the summer night, not as an interruption, but as an outgrowth of + the very silence. Augusta stole with soundless tread through the + transparent gloom which lingered under those huge black crowns, and + Arnfinn followed impatiently after. Suddenly she motioned to him to stand + still, and herself bent forward in an attitude of surprise and eager + observation. On the ground, some fifty steps from where she was stationed, + she saw a man stretched out full length, with a knapsack under his head, + and surrounded by a flock of downy, half-grown birds, which responded with + a low, anxious piping to his alluring cluck, then scattered with sudden + alarm, only to return again in the same curious, cautious fashion as + before. Now and then there was a great flapping of wings in the trees + overhead, and a heavy brown and black speckled mountain-hen alighted close + to the man’s head, stretched out her neck toward him, cocked her head, + called her scattered brood together, and departed with slow and deliberate + wing-beats. + </p> + <p> + Again there was a frightened flutter overhead, a shrill anxious whistle + rose in the air, and all was silence. Augusta had stepped on a dry branch—it + had broken under her weight—hence the sudden confusion and flight. + The unknown man had sprung up, and his eye, after a moment’s search, had + found the dark, beautiful face peering forth behind the red fir-trunk. He + did not speak or salute her; he greeted her with silent joy, as one greets + a wondrous vision which is too frail and bright for consciousness to + grasp, which is lost the very instant one is conscious of seeing. But, + while to the girl the sight, as it were, hung trembling in the range of + mere physical perception, while its suddenness held it aloof from moral + reflection, there came a great shout from behind, and Arnfinn, whom in her + surprise she had quite forgotten, came bounding forward, grasping the + stranger by the hand with much vigor, laughing heartily, and pouring forth + a confused stream of delighted interjections, borrowed from all manner of + classical and unclassical tongues. + </p> + <p> + “Strand! Strand!” he cried, when the first tumult of excitement had + subsided; “you most marvelous and incomprehensible Strand! From what + region of heaven or earth did you jump down into our prosaic neighborhood? + And what in the world possessed you to choose our barns as the centre of + your operations, and nearly put me to the necessity of having you arrested + for vagrancy? How I do regret that Cousin Augusta’s entreaties mollified + my heart toward you. Pardon me, I have not introduced you. This is my + cousin, Miss Oddson, and this is my miraculous friend, the world-renowned + author, vagrant, and naturalist, Mr. Marcus Strand.” + </p> + <p> + Strand stepped forward, made a deep but somewhat awkward bow, and was + dimly aware that a small soft hand was extended to him, and, in the next + moment, was enclosed in his own broad and voluminous palm. He grasped it + firmly, and, in one of those profound abstractions into which he was apt + to fall when under the sway of a strong impression, pressed it with + increasing cordiality, while he endeavored to find fitting answers to + Arnfinn’s multifarious questions. + </p> + <p> + “To tell the truth, Vording,” he said, in a deep, full-ringing bass, “I + didn’t know that these were your cousin’s barns—I mean that your + uncle”—giving the unhappy hand an emphatic shake—“inhabited + these barns.” + </p> + <p> + “No, thank heaven, we are not quite reduced to that,” cried Arnfinn, + gayly; “we still boast a parsonage, as you will presently discover, and a + very bright and cozy one, to boot. But, whatever you do, have the goodness + to release Augusta’s hand. Don’t you see how desperately she is + struggling, poor thing?” + </p> + <p> + Strand dropped the hand as if it had been a hot coal, blushed to the edge + of his hair, and made another profound reverence. He was a tall, + huge-limbed youth, with a frame of gigantic mold, and a large, blonde, + shaggy head, like that of some good-natured antediluvian animal, which + might feel the disadvantages of its size amid the puny beings of this + later stage of creation. There was a frank directness in his gaze, and an + unconsciousness of self, which made him very winning, and which could not + fail of its effect upon a girl who, like Augusta, was fond of the + uncommon, and hated smooth, facile and well-tailored young men, with the + labels of society and fashion upon their coats, their mustaches, and their + speech. And Strand, with his large sun-burned face, his wild-growing + beard, blue woolen shirt, top boots, and unkempt appearance generally, was + a sufficiently startling phenomenon to satisfy even so exacting a fancy as + hers; for, after reading his book about the Wading Birds, she had made up + her mind that he must have few points of resemblance to the men who had + hitherto formed part of her own small world, although she had not until + now decided just in what way he was to differ. + </p> + <p> + “Suppose I help you carry your knapsack,” said Arnfinn, who was flitting + about like a small nimble spaniel trying to make friends with some large, + good-natured Newfoundland. “You must be very tired, having roamed about in + this Quixotic fashion!” + </p> + <p> + “No, I thank you,” responded Strand, with an incredulous laugh, glancing + alternately from Arnfinn to the knapsack, as if estimating their + proportionate weight. “I am afraid you would rue your bargain if I + accepted it.” + </p> + <p> + “I suppose you have a great many stuffed birds at home,” remarked the + girl, looking with self-forgetful admiration at the large brawny figure. + </p> + <p> + “No, I have hardly any,” answered he, seating himself on the ground, and + pulling a thick note-book from his pocket. “I prefer live creatures. Their + anatomical and physiological peculiarities have been studied by others, + and volumes have been written about them. It is their psychological + traits, ii you will allow the expression, which interest me, and those I + can only get at while they are alive.” + </p> + <p> + “How delightful!” + </p> + <p> + Some minutes later they were all on their way to the Parsonage. The sun, + in spite of its mid-summer wakefulness, was getting red-eyed and drowsy, + and the purple mists which hung in scattered fragments upon the forest + below had lost something of their deep-tinged brilliancy. But Augusta, + quite blind to the weakened light effects, looked out upon the broad + landscape in ecstasy, and, appealing to her more apathetic companions, + invited them to share her joy at the beauty of the faint-flushed summer + night. + </p> + <p> + “You are getting quite dithyrambic, my dear,” remarked Arnfinn, with an + air of cousinly superiority, which he felt was eminently becoming to him; + and Augusta looked up with quick surprise, then smiled in an absent way, + and forgot what she had been saying. She had no suspicion but that her + enthusiasm had been all for the sunset. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0021" id="link2H_4_0021"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III. + </h2> + <p> + In a life so outwardly barren and monotonous as Augusta’s—a life in + which the small external events were so firmly interwoven with the subtler + threads of yearnings, wants, and desires—the introduction of so + large and novel a fact as Marcus Strand would naturally produce some + perceptible result. It was that deplorable inward restlessness of hers, + she reasoned, which had hitherto made her existence seem so empty and + unsatisfactory; but now his presence filled the hours, and the newness of + his words, his manner, and his whole person afforded inexhaustible + material for thought. It was now a week since his arrival, and while + Arnfinn and Inga chatted at leisure, drew caricatures, or read aloud to + each other in some shady nook of the garden, she and Strand would roam + along the beach, filling the vast unclouded horizon with large glowing + images of the future of the human race. He always listened in sympathetic + silence while she unfolded to him her often childishly daring schemes for + the amelioration of suffering and the righting of social wrongs; and when + she had finished, and he met the earnest appeal of her dark eye, there + would often be a pause, during which each, with a half unconscious lapse + from the impersonal, would feel more keenly the joy of this new and + delicious mental companionship. And when at length he answered, sometimes + gently refuting and sometimes assenting to her proposition, it was always + with a slow, deliberate earnestness, as if he felt but her deep sincerity, + and forgot for the moment her sex, her youth, and her inexperience. It was + just this kind of fellowship for which she had hungered so long, and her + heart went out with a great gratitude toward this strong and generous man, + who was willing to recognize her humanity, and to respond with an + ever-ready frankness, unmixed with petty suspicions and second thoughts, + to the eager needs of her half-starved nature. It is quite characteristic, + too, of the type of womanhood which Augusta represents (and with which + this broad continent of ours abounds), that, with her habitual disregard + of appearances, she would have scorned the notion that their intercourse + had any ultimate end beyond that of mutual pleasure and instruction. + </p> + <p> + It was early in the morning in the third week of Strand’s stay at the + Parsonage. A heavy dew had fallen during the night, and each tiny + grass-blade glistened in the sun, bending under the weight of its liquid + diamond. The birds were improvising a miniature symphony in the birches at + the end of the garden; the song-thrush warbled with a sweet melancholy his + long-drawn contralto notes; the lark, like a prima donna, hovering + conspicuously in mid air, poured forth her joyous soprano solo; and the + robin, quite unmindful of the tempo, filled out the pauses with his + thoughtless staccato chirp. Augusta, who was herself the early bird of the + pastor’s family, had paid a visit to the little bath-house down at the + brook, and was now hurrying homeward, her heavy black hair confined in a + delicate muslin hood, and her lithe form hastily wrapped in a loose + morning gown. She had paused for a moment under the birches to listen to + the song of the lark, when suddenly a low, half articulate sound, very + unlike the voice of a bird, arrested her attention; she raised her eyes, + and saw Strand sitting in the top of a tree, apparently conversing with + himself, or with some tiny thing which he held in his hands. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, yes, you poor little sickly thing!” she heard him mutter. “Don’t you + make such an ado now. You shall soon be quite well, if you will only mind + what I tell you. Stop, stop! Take it easy. It is all for your own good, + you know. If you had only been prudent, and not stepped on your lame leg, + you might have been spared this affliction. But, after all, it was not + your fault—it was that foolish little mother of yours. She will + remember now that a skein of hemp thread is not the thing to line her nest + with. If she doesn’t, you may tell her that it was I who said so.” + </p> + <p> + Augusta stood gazing on in mute astonishment; then, suddenly remembering + her hasty toilet, she started to run; but, as chance would have it, a dry + branch, which hung rather low, caught at her hood, and her hair fell in a + black wavy stream down over her shoulders. She gave a little cry, the tree + shook violently, and Strand was at her side. She blushed crimson over neck + and face, and, in her utter bewilderment, stood like a culprit before him, + unable to move, unable to speak, and only returning with a silent bow his + cordial greeting. It seemed to her that she had ungenerously intruded upon + his privacy, watching him, while he thought himself unobserved. And + Augusta was quite unskilled in those social accomplishments which enable + young ladies to hide their inward emotions under a show of polite + indifference, for, however hard she strove, she could not suppress a + slight quivering of her lips, and her intense self-reproach made Strand’s + words fall dimly on her ears, and prevented her from gathering the meaning + of what he was saying. He held in his hands a young bird with a yellow + line along the edge of its bill (and there was something beautifully soft + and tender in the way those large palms of his handled any living thing), + and he looked pityingly at it while he spoke. + </p> + <p> + “The mother of this little linnet,” he said, smiling, “did what many + foolish young mothers are apt to do. She took upon her the responsibility + of raising offspring without having acquired the necessary knowledge of + housekeeping. So she lined her nest with hemp, and the consequence was, + that her first-born got his legs entangled, and was obliged to remain in + the nest long after his wings had reached their full development. I saw + her feeding him about a week ago, and, as my curiosity prompted me to look + into the case, I released the little cripple, cleansed the deep wound + which the threads had cut in his flesh, and have since been watching him + during his convalescence. Now he is quite in a fair way, but I had to + apply some salve, and to cut off the feathers about the wound, and the + little fool squirmed under the pain, and grew rebellious. Only notice this + scar, if you please, Miss Oddson, and you may imagine what the poor thing + must have suffered.” + </p> + <p> + Augusta gave a start; she timidly raised her eyes, and saw Strand’s grave + gaze fixed upon her. She felt as if some intolerable spell had come over + her, and, as her agitation increased, her power of speech seemed utterly + to desert her. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, you have not been listening to me?” said Strand, in a tone of + wondering inquiry. “Pardon me for presuming to believe that my little + invalid could be as interesting to you as he is to me.” + </p> + <p> + “Mr. Strand,” stammered the girl, while the invisible tears came near + choking her voice. “Mr. Strand—I didn’t mean—really—” + </p> + <p> + She knew that if she said another word she should burst into tears. With a + violent effort, she gathered up her wrapper, which somehow had got + unbuttoned at the neck, and, with heedlessly hurrying steps, darted away + toward the house. + </p> + <p> + Strand stood looking after her, quite unmindful of his feathered patient, + which flew chirping about him in the grass. Two hours later Arnfinn found + him sitting under the birches with his hands clasped over the top of his + head, and his surgical instruments scattered on the ground around him. + </p> + <p> + “Corpo di Baccho,” exclaimed the student, stooping to pick up the precious + tools; “have you been amputating your own head, or is it I who am + dreaming?” + </p> + <p> + “Ah,” murmured Strand, lifting a large, strange gaze upon his friend, “is + it you?” + </p> + <p> + “Who else should it be? I come to call you to breakfast.” + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0022" id="link2H_4_0022"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IV. + </h2> + <p> + “I wonder what is up between Strand and Augusta?” said Arnfinn to his + cousin Inga. The questioner was lying in the grass at her feet, resting + his chin on his palms, and gazing with roguishly tender eyes up into her + fresh, blooming face; but Inga, who was reading aloud from “David + Copperfield,” and was deep in the matrimonial tribulations of that noble + hero, only said “hush,” and continued reading. Arnfinn, after a minute’s + silence, repeated his remark, whereupon his fair cousin wrenched his cane + out of his hand, and held it threateningly over his head. + </p> + <p> + “Will you be a good boy and listen?” she exclaimed, playfully emphasizing + each word with a light rap on his curly pate. + </p> + <p> + “Ouch! that hurts,” cried Arnfinn, and dodged. + </p> + <p> + “It was meant to hurt,” replied Inga, with mock severity, and returned to + “Copperfield.” + </p> + <p> + Presently the seed of a corn-flower struck the tip of her nose, and again + the cane was lifted; but Dora’s housekeeping experiences were too + absorbingly interesting, and the blue eyes could not resist their + fascination. + </p> + <p> + “Cousin Inga,” said Arnfinn, and this time with as near an approach to + earnestness as he was capable of at that moment, “I do believe that Strand + is in love with Augusta.” + </p> + <p> + Inga dropped the book, and sent him what was meant to be a glance of + severe rebuke, and then said, in her own amusingly emphatic way: + </p> + <p> + “I do wish you wouldn’t joke with such things, Arnfinn.” + </p> + <p> + “Joke! Indeed I am not joking. I wish to heaven that I were. What a pity + it is that she has taken such a dislike to him!” + </p> + <p> + “Dislike! Oh, you are a profound philosopher, you are! You think that + because she avoids—” + </p> + <p> + Here Inga abruptly clapped her hand over her mouth, and, with sudden + change of voice and expression, said: + </p> + <p> + “I am as silent as the grave.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, you are wonderfully discreet,” cried Arnfinn, laughing, while the + girl bit her under lip with an air of penitence and mortification which, + in any other bosom than a cousin’s would have aroused compassion. + </p> + <p> + “Aha! So steht’s!” he broke forth, with another burst of merriment; then, + softened by the sight of a tear that was slowly gathering beneath her + eyelashes, he checked his laughter, crept up to her side, and in a half + childishly coaxing, half caressing tone, he whispered: + </p> + <p> + “Dear little cousin, indeed I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. You are + not angry with me, are you? And if you will only promise me not to tell, I + have something here which I should like to show you.” + </p> + <p> + He well knew that there was nothing which would sooner soothe Inga’s wrath + than confiding a secret to her; and while he was a boy, he had, in cases + of sore need, invented secrets lest his life should be made miserable by + the sense that she was displeased with him. In this instance her anger was + not strong enough to resist the anticipation of a secret, probably + relating to that little drama which had, during the last weeks, been in + progress under her very eyes. With a resolute movement, she brushed her + tears away, bent eagerly forward, and, in the next moment, her face was + all expectancy and animation. + </p> + <p> + Arnfinn pulled a thick black note-book from his breast pocket, opened it + in his lap, and read: + </p> + <p> + “August 3, 5 A. M.—My little invalid is doing finely; he seemed to + relish much a few dozen flies which I brought him in my hand. His pulse is + to-day, for the first time, normal. He is beginning to step on the injured + leg without apparent pain. + </p> + <p> + “10 A. M.—Miss Augusta’s eyes have a strange, lustrous brilliancy + whenever she speaks of subjects which seem to agitate the depths of her + being. How and why is it that an excessive amount of feeling always finds + its first expression in the eye? One kind of emotion seems to widen the + pupil, another kind to contract it. TO be noticed in future, how + particular emotions affect the eye. + </p> + <p> + “6 P. M.—I met a plover on the beach this afternoon. By imitating + his cry, I induced him to come within a few feet of me. The plover, as his + cry indicates, is a very melancholy bird. In fact I believe the melancholy + temperament to be prevailing among the wading birds, as the phlegmatic + among birds of prey. The singing birds are choleric or sanguine. Tease a + thrush, or even a lark, and you will soon be convinced. A snipe, or + plover, as far as my experience goes, seldom shows anger; you cannot tease + them. To be considered, how far the voice of a bird may be indicative of + its temperament. + </p> + <p> + “August 5, 9 P. M.—Since the unfortunate meeting yesterday morning, + when my intense pre-occupation with my linnet, which had torn its wound + open again, probably made me commit some breach of etiquette, Miss Augusta + avoids me. + </p> + <p> + “August 7—I am in a most singular state. My pulse beats 85, which is + a most unheard-of thing for me, as my pulse is naturally full and slow. + And, strangely enough, I do not feel at all unwell. On the contrary, my + physical well-being is rather heightened than otherwise. The life of a + whole week is crowded into a day, and that of a day into an hour.” + </p> + <p> + Inga, who, at several points of this narrative, had been struggling hard + to preserve her gravity, here burst into a ringing laugh. + </p> + <p> + “That is what I call scientific love-making,” said Arnfinn, looking up + from the book with an expression of subdued amusement. + </p> + <p> + “But Arnfinn,” cried the girl, while the laughter quickly died out of her + face, “does Mr. Strand know that you are reading this?” + </p> + <p> + “To be sure he does. And that is just what to my mind makes the situation + so excessively comical. He has himself no suspicion that this book + contains anything but scientific notes. He appears to prefer the empiric + method in love as in philosophy. I verily believe that he is innocently + experimenting with himself, with a view to making some great physiological + discovery.” + </p> + <p> + “And so he will, perhaps,” rejoined the girl, the mixture of gayety and + grave solicitude making her face, as her cousin thought, particularly + charming. + </p> + <p> + “Only not a physiological, but possibly a psychological one,” remarked + Arnfinn. “But listen to this. Here is something rich: + </p> + <p> + “August 9—Miss Augusta once said something about the possibility of + animals being immortal. Her eyes shone with a beautiful animation as she + spoke. I am longing to continue the subject with her. It haunts me the + whole day long. There may be more in the idea than appears to a + superficial observer.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, how charmingly he understands how to deceive himself,” cried Inga. + </p> + <p> + “Merely a quid pro quo,” said Arnfinn. + </p> + <p> + “I know what I shall do!” + </p> + <p> + “And so do I.” + </p> + <p> + “Won’t you tell me, please?” + </p> + <p> + “No.” + </p> + <p> + “Then I sha’n’t tell you either.” + </p> + <p> + And they flew apart like two thoughtless little birds (“sanguine,” as + Strand would have called them), each to ponder on some formidable plot for + the reconciliation of the estranged lovers. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0023" id="link2H_4_0023"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + V. + </h2> + <p> + During the week that ensued, the multifarious sub-currents of Strand’s + passion seemed slowly to gather themselves into one clearly defined + stream, and, after much scientific speculation, he came to the conclusion + that he loved Augusta. In a moment of extreme discouragement, he made a + clean breast of it to Arnfinn, at the same time informing him that he had + packed his knapsack, and would start on his wanderings again the next + morning. All his friend’s entreaties were in vain; he would and must go. + Strand was an exasperatingly headstrong fellow, and persuasions never + prevailed with him. He had confirmed himself in the belief that he was + very unattractive to women, and that Augusta, of all women, for some + reason which was not quite clear to him, hated and abhorred him. + Inexperienced as he was, he could see no reason why she should avoid him, + if she did not hate him. They sat talking until midnight, each entangling + himself in those passionate paradoxes and contradictions peculiar to + passionate and impulsive youth. Strand paced the floor with large steps, + pouring out his long pent-up emotion in violent tirades of self-accusation + and regret; while Arnfinn sat on the bed, trying to soothe his excitement + by assuring him that he was not such a monster as, for the moment, he had + believed himself to be, but only succeeding, in spite of all his efforts, + in pouring oil on the flames. Strand was scientifically convinced that + Nature, in accordance with some inscrutable law of equilibrium, had found + it necessary to make him physically unattractive, perhaps to indemnify + mankind for that excess of intellectual gifts which, at the expense of the + race at large, she had bestowed upon him. + </p> + <p> + Early the next morning, as a kind of etherealized sunshine broke through + the white muslin curtains of Arnfinn’s room, and long streaks of + sun-illumined dust stole through the air toward the sleeper’s pillow, + there was a sharp rap at the door, and Strand entered. His knapsack was + strapped over his shoulders, his long staff was in his hand, and there was + an expression of conscious martyrdom in his features. Arnfinn raised + himself on his elbows, and rubbed his eyes with a desperate determination + to get awake, but only succeeded in gaining a very dim impression of a + beard, a blue woolen shirt, and a disproportionately large shoe buckle. + The figure advanced to the bed, extended a broad, sun-burned hand, and a + deep bass voice was heard to say: + </p> + <p> + “Good-bye, brother.” + </p> + <p> + Arnfinn, who was a hard sleeper, gave another rub, and, in a querulously + sleepy tone, managed to mutter: + </p> + <p> + “Why,—is it as late as that—already?” + </p> + <p> + The words of parting were more remotely repeated, the hand closed about + Arnfinn’s half-unfeeling fingers, the lock on the door gave a little sharp + click, and all was still. But the sunshine drove the dust in a dumb, + confused dance through the room. + </p> + <p> + Some four hours later, Arnfinn woke up with a vague feeling as if some + great calamity had happened; he was not sure but that he had slept a + fortnight or more. He dressed with a sleepy, reckless haste, being but + dimly conscious of the logic of the various processes of ablution which he + underwent. He hurried up to Strand’s room, but, as he had expected, found + it empty. + </p> + <p> + During all the afternoon, the reading of “David Copperfield” was + interrupted by frequent mutual condolences, and at times Inga’s hand would + steal up to her eye to brush away a treacherous tear. But then she only + read the faster, and David and Agnes were already safe in the haven of + matrimony before either she or Arnfinn was aware that they had struggled + successfully through the perilous reefs and quicksands of courtship. + </p> + <p> + Augusta excused herself from supper, Inga’s forced devices at merriment + were too transparent, Arnfinn’s table-talk was of a rambling, incoherent + sort, and he answered dreadfully malapropos, if a chance word was + addressed to him, and even the good-natured pastor began, at last, to + grumble; for the inmates of the Gran Parsonage seemed to have but one life + and one soul in common, and any individual disturbance immediately + disturbed the peace and happiness of the whole household. Now gloom had, + in some unaccountable fashion, obscured the common atmosphere. Inga shook + her small wise head, and tried to extract some little consolation from the + consciousness that she knew at least some things which Arnfinn did not + know, and which it would be very unsafe to confide to him. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0024" id="link2H_4_0024"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + VI. + </h2> + <p> + Four weeks after Strand’s departure, as the summer had already assumed + that tinge of sadness which impresses one as a foreboding of coming death, + Augusta was walking along the beach, watching the flight of the sea-birds. + Her latest “aberration,” as Arnfinn called it, was an extraordinary + interest in the habits of the eider-ducks, auks, and sea-gulls, the noisy + monotony of whose existence had, but a few months ago, appeared to her the + symbol of all that was vulgar and coarse in human and animal life. Now she + had even provided herself with a note-book, and (to use once more the + language of her unbelieving cousin) affected a half-scientific interest in + their clamorous pursuits. She had made many vain attempts to imitate their + voices and to beguile them into closer intimacy, and had found it hard at + times to suppress her indignation when they persisted in viewing her in + the light of an intruder, and in returning her amiable approaches with shy + suspicion, as if they doubted the sincerity of her intentions. + </p> + <p> + She was a little paler now, perhaps, than before, but her eyes had still + the same lustrous depth, and the same sweet serenity was still diffused + over her features, and softened, like a pervading tinge of warm color, the + grand simplicity of her presence. She sat down on a large rock, picked up + a curiously twisted shell, and seeing a plover wading in the surf, gave a + soft, low whistle, which made the bird turn round and gaze at her with + startled distrust. She repeated the call, but perhaps a little too + eagerly, and the bird spread its wings with a frightened cry, and skimmed, + half flying, half running, out over the glittering surface of the fjord. + But from the rocks close by came a long melancholy whistle like that of a + bird in distress, and the girl rose and hastened with eager steps toward + the spot. She climbed up on a stone, fringed all around with green slimy + seaweeds, in order to gain a wider view of the beach. Then suddenly some + huge figure started up between the rocks at her feet; she gave a little + scream, her foot slipped, and in the next moment she lay—in Strand’s + arms. He offered no apology, but silently carried her over the slippery + stones, and deposited her tenderly upon the smooth white sand. There it + occurred to her that his attention was quite needless, but at the moment + she was too startled to make any remonstrance. + </p> + <p> + “But how in the world, Mr. Strand, did you come here?” she managed at last + to stammer. “We all thought that you had gone away.” + </p> + <p> + “I hardly know myself,” said Strand, in a beseeching undertone, quite + different from his usual confident bass. “I only know that—that I + was very wretched, and that I had to come back.” + </p> + <p> + Then there was a pause, which to both seemed quite interminable, and, in + order to fill it out in some way, Strand began to move his head and arms + uneasily, and at length seated himself at Augusta’s side. The blood was + beating with feverish vehemence in her temples, and for the first time in + her life she felt something akin to pity for this large, strong man, whose + strength and cheerful self-reliance had hitherto seemed to raise him above + the need of a woman’s aid and sympathy. Now the very shabbiness of his + appearance, and the look of appealing misery in his features, opened in + her bosom the gate through which compassion could enter, and, with that + generous self-forgetfulness which was the chief factor of her character, + she leaned over toward him, and said: + </p> + <p> + “You must have been very sick, Mr. Strand. Why did you not come to us and + allow us to take care of you, instead of roaming about here in this stony + wilderness?” + </p> + <p> + “Yes; I have been sick,” cried Strand, with sudden vehemence, seizing her + hand; “but it is a sickness of which I shall never, never be healed.” + </p> + <p> + And with that world-old eloquence which is yet ever new, he poured forth + his passionate confession in her ear, and she listened, hungrily at first, + then with serene, wide-eyed happiness. He told her how, driven by his + inward restlessness, he had wandered about in the mountains, until one + evening at a saeter, he had heard a peasant lad singing a song, in which + this stanza occurred: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “A woman’s frown, a woman’s smile, + Nor hate nor fondness prove; + For maidens smile on him they hate, + And fly from him they love.” + </pre> + <p> + Then it had occurred to him for the first time in his life that a woman’s + behavior need not be the logical indicator of her deepest feelings, and, + enriched with this joyful discovery, inspired with new hope, he had + returned, but had not dared at once to seek the Parsonage, until he could + invent some plausible reason for his return; but his imagination was very + poor, and he had found none, except that he loved the pastor’s beautiful + daughter. + </p> + <p> + The evening wore on. The broad mountain-guarded valley, flooded now to the + brim with a soft misty light, spread out about them, and filled them with + a delicious sense of security. The fjord lifted its grave gaze toward the + sky, and deepened responsively with a bright, ever-receding immensity. The + young girl felt this blessed peace gently stealing over her; doubt and + struggle were all past, and the sun shone ever serene and unobscured upon + the widening expanses of the future. And in his breast, too, that mood + reigned in which life looks boundless and radiant, human woes small or + impossible, and one’s own self large and all-conquering. In that hour they + remodeled this old and obstinate world of ours, never doubting that, if + each united his faith and strength with the other’s, they could together + lift its burden. + </p> + <p> + That night was the happiest and most memorable night in the history of the + Gran Parsonage. The pastor walked up and down on the floor, rubbing his + hands in quiet contentment. Inga, to whom an engagement was essentially a + solemn affair, sat in a corner and gazed at her sister and Strand with + tearful radiance. Arnfinn gave vent to his joy by bestowing embraces + promiscuously upon whomsoever chanced to come in his way. + </p> + <p> + This story, however, has a brief but not unimportant sequel. It was not + many weeks after this happy evening that Arnfinn and the maiden with the + “amusingly unclassical nose” presented themselves in the pastor’s study + and asked for his paternal and unofficial blessing. But the pastor, I am + told, grew very wroth, and demanded that his nephew should first take his + second and third degrees, attaching, besides, some very odious + stipulations regarding average in study and college standing, before there + could be any talk about engagement or matrimony. So, at present, Arnfinn + is still studying, and the fair-haired Inga is still waiting. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0025" id="link2H_4_0025"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + TRULS, THE NAMELESS. + </h2> + <p> + HE was born in the houseman’s lodge; she in the great mansion. He did not + know who his father was; she was the daughter of Grim of Skogli, and she + was the only daughter he had. They were carried to baptism on the same + day, and he was called Truls, because they had to call him something; she + received the name of Borghild, because that had been the name of every + eldest born daughter in the family for thirty generations. They both cried + when the pastor poured the water on their heads; his mother hushed him, + blushed, and looked timidly around her; but the woman who carried Borghild + lifted her high up in her arms so that everybody could see her, and the + pastor smiled benignly, and the parishioners said that they had never seen + so beautiful a child. That was the way in which they began life—he + as a child of sin, she as the daughter of a mighty race. + </p> + <p> + They grew up together. She had round cheeks and merry eyes, and her lips + were redder than the red rose. He was of slender growth, his face was thin + and pale, and his eyes had a strange, benumbed gaze, as if they were + puzzling themselves with some sad, life-long riddle which they never hoped + to solve. On the strand where they played the billows came and went, and + they murmured faintly with a sound of infinite remoteness. Borghild + laughed aloud, clapped her hands and threw stones out into the water, + while he sat pale and silent, and saw the great white-winged sea-birds + sailing through the blue ocean of the sky. + </p> + <p> + “How would you like to live down there in the deep green water?” she asked + him one day, as they sat watching the eider-ducks which swam and dived, + and stood on their heads among the sea-weeds. + </p> + <p> + “I should like it very well,” he answered, “if you would follow me.” + </p> + <p> + “No, I won’t follow you,” she cried. “It is cold and wet down in the + water. And I should spoil the ribbons on my new bodice. But when I grow up + and get big and can braid my hair, then I shall row with the young lads to + the church yonder on the headland, and there the old pastor will marry me, + and I shall wear the big silver crown which my mother wore when she was + married.” + </p> + <p> + “And may I go with you?” asked he, timidly. + </p> + <p> + “Yes, you may steer my boat and be my helmsman, or—you may be my + bridegroom, if you would like that better.” + </p> + <p> + “Yes, I think I should rather be your bridegroom,” and he gave her a long, + strange look which almost frightened her. + </p> + <p> + The years slipped by, and before Borghild knew it, she had grown into + womanhood. The down on Truls’s cheeks became rougher, and he, too, began + to suspect that he was no longer a boy. When the sun was late and the + breeze murmured in the great, dark-crowned pines, they often met by + chance, at the well, on the strand, or on the saeter-green. And the + oftener they met the more they found to talk about; to be sure, it was she + who did the talking, and he looked at her with his large wondering eyes + and listened. She told him of the lamb which had tumbled down over a steep + precipice and still was unhurt, of the baby who pulled the pastor’s hair + last Sunday during the baptismal ceremony, or of the lumberman, Lars, who + drank the kerosene his wife gave him for brandy, and never knew the + difference. But, when the milkmaids passed by, she would suddenly forget + what she had been saying, and then they sat gazing at each other in + silence. Once she told him of the lads who danced with her at the party at + Houg; and she thought she noticed a deeper color on his face, and that he + clinched both his fists and—thrust them into his pockets. That set + her thinking, and the more she thought, the more curious she grew. He + played the violin well; suppose she should ask him to come and fiddle at + the party her father was to give at the end of the harvest. She resolved + to do it, and he, not knowing what moved her, gave his promise eagerly. It + struck her, afterward, that she had done a wicked thing, but, like most + girls, she had not the heart to wrestle with an uncomfortable thought; she + shook it off and began to hum a snatch of an old song. + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “O’er the billows the fleet-footed storm-wind rode, + The billows blue are the merman’s abode, + So strangely that harp was sounding.” + </pre> + <p> + The memory of old times came back to her, the memory of the morning long + years ago, when they sat together on the strand, and he said; “I think I + would rather be your bridegroom, Borghild.” The memory was sweet but it + was bitter too; and the bitterness rose and filled her heart. She threw + her head back proudly, and laughed a strange, hollow laugh. “A bastard’s + bride, ha, ha! A fine tale were that for the parish gossips.” A yellow + butterfly lighted on her arm, and with a fierce frown on her face she + caught it between her fingers. Then she looked pityingly on the dead + wings, as they lay in her hand, and murmured between her teeth: “Poor + thing! Why did you come in my way, unbidden?” + </p> + <p> + The harvest was rich, and the harvest party was to keep pace with the + harvest. The broad Skogli mansion was festively lighted (for it was + already late in September); the tall, straight tallow candles, stuck in + many-armed candlesticks, shone dimly through a sort of misty halo, and + only suffused the dusk with a faint glimmering of light. And every time a + guest entered, the flames of the candles flickered and twisted themselves + with the wind, struggling to keep erect. And Borghild’s courage, too, rose + and fell with the flickering motion of a flame which wrestles with the + wind. Whenever the latch clicked she lifted her eyes and looked for Truls, + and one moment she wished that she might never see his face again, and in + the next she sent an eager glance toward the door. Presently he came, + threw his fiddle on a bench, and with a reckless air walked up to her and + held out his hand. She hesitated to return his greeting, but when she saw + the deep lines of suffering in his face, her heart went forward with a + great tenderness toward him, a tenderness such as one feels for a child + who is sick, and suffers without hope of healing. She laid her hand in + his, and there it lay for a while listlessly; for neither dared trust the + joy which the sight of the other enkindled. But when she tried to draw her + hand away, he caught it quickly, and with a sudden fervor of voice he + said: + </p> + <p> + “The sight of you, Borghild, stills the hunger which is raging in my soul. + Beware that you do not play with a life, Borghild, even though it be a + worthless one.” + </p> + <p> + There was something so hopelessly sad in his words, that they stung her to + the quick. They laid bare a hidden deep in her heart, and she shrank back + st the sight of her own vileness. How could she repair the injury she had + done him? How could she heal the wound she had inflicted? A number of + guests came up to greet her and among them Syvert Stein, a bold-looking + young man, who, during that summer, had led her frequently in the dance. + He had a square face, strong features, and a huge crop of towy hair. His + race was far-famed for wit and daring. + </p> + <p> + “Tardy is your welcome, Borghild of Skogli,” quoth he. “But what a faint + heart does not give a bold hand can grasp, and what I am not offered I + take unbidden.” + </p> + <p> + So saying, he flung his arm about her waist, lifted her from the floor and + put her down in the middle of the room. Truls stood and gazed at them with + large, bewildered eyes. He tried hard to despise the braggart, but ended + with envying him. + </p> + <p> + “Ha, fiddler, strike up a tune that shall ring through marrow and bone,” + shouted Syvert Stein, who struck the floor with his heels and moved his + body to the measure of a spring-dance. + </p> + <p> + Truls still followed them with his eyes; suddenly he leaped up, and a wild + thought burned in his breast. But with an effort he checked himself, + grasped his violin, and struck a wailing chord of lament. Then he laid his + ear close to the instrument, as if he were listening to some living voice + hidden there within, ran warily with the bow over the strings, and + warbled, and caroled, and sang with maddening glee, and still with a + shivering undercurrent of woe. And the dusk which slept upon the black + rafters was quickened and shook with the weird sound; every pulse in the + wide hall beat more rapidly, and every eye kindled with a bolder fire. + Pressently{sic} a Strong male voice sang out to the measure of the violin: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Come, fairest maid, tread the dance with me; + O heigh ho!” + + And a clear, tremulous treble answered: + + “So gladly tread I the dance with thee; + O heigh ho!” + </pre> + <p> + Truls knew the voices only too well; it was Syvert Stein and Borghild who + were singing a stave. <a href="#linknote-8" name="linknoteref-8" + id="linknoteref-8"><small>8</small></a> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + Syvert—Like brier-roses thy red cheeks blush, + Borghild—And thine are rough like the thorny bush; + Both—An’ a heigho! + + Syvert—So fresh and green is the sunny lea; + O heigh ho! + Borghild—The fiddle twangeth so merrily; + O heigh ho! + Syvert—So lightly goeth the lusty reel, + Borghild—And round we whirl like a spinning-wheel; + Both—An’ a heigho! + + Syvert—Thine eyes are bright like the sunny fjord; + O heigh ho! + Borghild—And thine do flash like a Viking’s sword; + O heigh ho! + Syvert—So lightly trippeth thy foot along, + Borghild—The air is teeming with joyful song; + Both—An’ a heigh ho! + + Syvert—Then fairest maid, while the woods are green, + O heigh ho! + Borghild—And thrushes sing the fresh leaves between; + O heigh ho! + Syvert—Come, let us dance in the gladsome day, + Borghild—Dance hate, and sorrow, and care away; + Both—An’ a heigh ho! +</pre> + <p> + The stave was at an end. The hot and flushed dancers straggled over the + floor by twos and threes, and the big beer-horns were passed from hand to + hand. Truls sat in his corner hugging his violin tightly to his bosom, + only to do something, for he was vaguely afraid of himself—afraid of + the thoughts that might rise—afraid of the deed they might prompt. + He ran his fingers over his forehead, but he hardly felt the touch of his + own hand. It was as if something was dead within him—as if a string + had snapped in his breast, and left it benumbed and voiceless. + </p> + <p> + Presently he looked up and saw Borghild standing before him; she held her + arms akimbo, her eyes shone with a strange light, and her features wore an + air of recklessness mingled with pity. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, Borghild, is it you?” said he, in a hoarse voice. “What do you want + with me? I thought you had done with me now.” + </p> + <p> + “You are a very unwitty fellow,” answered she, with a forced laugh. “The + branch that does not bend must break.” + </p> + <p> + She turned quickly on her heel and was lost in the crowd. He sat long + pondering on her words, but their meaning remained hidden to him. The + branch that does not bend must break. Was he the branch, and must he bend + or break? By-and-by he put his hands on his knees, rose with a slow, + uncertain motion, and stalked heavily toward the door. The fresh night air + would do him good. The thought breathes more briskly in God’s free nature, + under the broad canopy of heaven. The white mist rose from the fields, and + made the valley below appear like a white sea whose nearness you feel, + even though you do not see it. And out of the mist the dark pines + stretched their warning hands against the sky, and the moon was swimming, + large and placid, between silvery islands of cloud. Truls began to beat + his arms against his sides, and felt the warm blood spreading from his + heart and thawing the numbness of his limbs. Not caring whither he went, + he struck the path leading upward to the mountains. He took to humming an + old air which happened to come into his head, only to try if there was + life enough left in him to sing. It was the ballad of Young Kirsten and + the Merman: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “The billows fall and the billows swell, + In the night so lone, + In the billows blue doth the merman dwell, + And strangely that harp was sounding.” + </pre> + <p> + He walked on briskly for a while, and, looking back upon the pain he had + endured but a moment ago, he found it quite foolish and irrational. An + absurd merriment took possession of him; but all the while he did not know + where his foot stepped; his head swam, and his pulse beat feverishly. + About midway between the forest and the mansion, where the field sloped + more steeply, grew a clump of birch-trees, whose slender stems glimmered + ghostly white in the moonlight. Something drove Truls to leave the beaten + road, and, obeying the impulse, he steered toward the birches. A strange + sound fell upon his ear, like the moan of one in distress. It did not + startle him; indeed, he was in a mood when nothing could have caused him + wonder. If the sky had suddenly tumbled down upon him, with moon and all, + he would have taken it as a matter of course. Peering for a moment through + the mist, he discerned the outline of a human figure. With three great + strides he reached the birch-tree; at his feet sat Borghild rocking + herself to and fro and weeping piteously. Without a word he seated himself + at her side and tried to catch a glimpse of her face; but she hid it from + him and went on sobbing. Still there could be no doubt that it was + Borghild—one hour ago so merry, reckless, and defiant, now cowering + at his feet and weeping like a broken-hearted child. + </p> + <p> + “Borghild,” he said, at last, putting his arm gently about her waist, “you + and I, I think, played together when we were children.” + </p> + <p> + “So we did, Truls,” answered she, struggling with her tears. + </p> + <p> + “And as we grew up, we spent many a pleasant hour with each other.” + </p> + <p> + “Many a pleasant hour.” + </p> + <p> + She raised her head, and he drew her more closely to him. + </p> + <p> + “But since then I have done you a great wrong,” began she, after a while. + </p> + <p> + “Nothing done that cannot yet be undone,” he took heart to answer. + </p> + <p> + It was long before her thoughts took shape, and, when at length they did, + she dared not give them utterance. Nevertheless, she was all the time + conscious of one strong desire, from which her conscience shrank as from a + crime; and she wrestled ineffectually with her weakness until her weakness + prevailed. + </p> + <p> + “I am glad you came,” she faltered. “I knew you would come. There was + something I wished to say to you.” + </p> + <p> + “And what was it, Borghild?” + </p> + <p> + “I wanted to ask you to forgive me—” + </p> + <p> + “Forgive you—” + </p> + <p> + He sprang up as if something had stung him. + </p> + <p> + “And why not?” she pleaded, piteously. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, girl, you know not what you ask,” cried he, with a sternness which + startled her. “If I had more than one life to waste—but you caress + with one hand and stab with the other. Fare thee well, Borghild, for here + our paths separate.” + </p> + <p> + He turned his back upon her and began to descend the slope. + </p> + <p> + “For God’s sake, stay, Truls,” implored she, and stretched her arms + appealingly toward him; “tell me, oh, tell me all.” + </p> + <p> + With a leap he was again at her side, stooped down over her, and, in a + hoarse, passionate whisper, spoke the secret of his life in her ear. She + gazed for a moment steadily into his face, then, in a few hurried words, + she pledged him her love, her faith, her all. And in the stillness of that + summer night they planned together their flight to a greater and freer + land, where no world-old prejudice frowned upon the union of two kindred + souls. They would wait in patience and silence until spring; then come the + fresh winds from the ocean, and, with them, the birds of passage which + awake the longings in the Norsemen’s breasts, and the American vessels + which give courage to many a sinking spirit, strength to the wearied arm, + hope to the hopeless heart. + </p> + <p> + During that winter Truls and Borghild seldom saw each other. The parish + was filled with rumors, and after the Christmas holiday it was told for + certain that the proud maiden of Skogli had been promised in marriage to + Syvert Stein. It was the general belief that the families had made the + match, and that Borghild, at least, had hardly had any voice in the + matter. Another report was that she had flatly refused to listen to any + proposal from that quarter, and that, when she found that resistance was + vain, she had cried three days and three nights, and refused to take any + food. When this rumor reached the pastor’s ear, he pronounced it an idle + tale; “for,” said he, “Borghild has always been a proper and well-behaved + maiden, and she knows that she must honor father and mother, that it may + be well with her, and she live long upon the land.” + </p> + <p> + But Borghild sat alone in her gable window and looked longingly toward the + ocean. The glaciers glittered, the rivers swelled, the buds of the forest + burst, and great white sails began to glimmer on the far western horizon. + </p> + <p> + If Truls, the Nameless, as scoffers were wont to call him, had been a + greater personage in the valley, it would, no doubt, have shocked the + gossips to know that one fine morning he sold his cow, his gun and his + dog, and wrapped sixty silver dollars in a leathern bag, which he sewed + fast to the girdle he wore about his waist. That same night some one was + heard playing wildly up in the birch copse above the Skogli mansion; now + it sounded like a wail of distress, then like a fierce, defiant laugh, and + now again the music seemed to hush itself into a heart-broken, sorrowful + moan, and the people crossed themselves, and whispered: “Our Father;” but + Borghild sat at her gable window and listened long to the weird strain. + The midnight came, but she stirred not. With the hour of midnight the + music ceased. From the windows of hall and kitchen the light streamed out + into the damp air, and the darkness stood like a wall on either side; + within, maids and lads were busy brewing, baking, and washing, for in a + week there was to be a wedding on the farm. + </p> + <p> + The week went and the wedding came. Truls had not closed his eyes all that + night, and before daybreak he sauntered down along the beach and gazed out + upon the calm fjord, where the white-winged sea-birds whirled in great + airy surges around the bare crags. Far up above the noisy throng an ospray + sailed on the blue expanse of the sky, and quick as thought swooped down + upon a halibut which had ventured to take a peep at the rising sun. The + huge fish struggled for a moment at the water’s edge, then, with a + powerful stroke of its tail, which sent the spray hissing through the air, + dived below the surface. The bird of prey gave a loud scream, flapped + fiercely with its broad wings, and for several minutes a thickening cloud + of applauding ducks and seagulls and showers of spray hid the combat from + the observer’s eye. When the birds scattered, the ospray had vanished, and + the waters again glittered calmly in the morning sun. Truls stood long, + vacantly staring out upon the scene of the conflict, and many strange + thoughts whirled through his head. + </p> + <p> + “Halloo, fiddler!” cried a couple of lads who had come to clear the + wedding boats, “you are early on foot to-day. Here is a scoop. Come on and + help us bail the boats.” + </p> + <p> + Truls took the scoop, and looked at it as if he had never seen such a + thing before; he moved about heavily, hardly knowing what he did, but + conscious all the while of his own great misery. His limbs seemed half + frozen, and a dull pain gathered about his head and in his breast—in + fact, everywhere and nowhere. + </p> + <p> + About ten o’clock the bridal procession descended the slope to the fjord. + Syvert Stein, the bridegroom, trod the earth with a firm, springy step, + and spoke many a cheery word to the bride, who walked, silent and with + downcast eyes, at his side. She wore the ancestral bridal crown on her + head, and the little silver disks around its edge tinkled and shook as she + walked. They hailed her with firing of guns and loud hurrahs as she + stepped into the boat; still she did not raise her eyes, but remained + silent. A small cannon, also an heir-loom in the family, was placed + amidships, and Truls, with his violin, took his seat in the prow. A large + solitary cloud, gold-rimmed but with thunder in its breast, sailed across + the sky and threw its shadow over the bridal boat as it was pushed out + from the shore, and the shadow fell upon the bride’s countenance too; and + when she lifted it, the mother of the bridegroom, who sat opposite her, + shrank back, for the countenance looked hard, as if carved in stone—in + the eyes a mute, hopeless appeal; on the lips a frozen prayer. The shadow + of thunder upon a life that was opening—it was an ill omen, and its + gloom sank into the hearts of the wedding guests. They spoke in undertones + and threw pitying glances at the bride. Then at length Syvert Stein lost + his patience. + </p> + <p> + “In sooth,” cried he, springing up from his seat, “where is to-day the + cheer that is wont to abide in the Norseman’s breast? Methinks I see but + sullen airs and ill-boding glances. Ha, fiddler, now move your strings + lustily! None of your funeral airs, my lad, but a merry tune that shall + sing through marrow and bone, and make the heart leap in the bosom.” + </p> + <p> + Truls heard the words, and in a slow, mechanical way he took the violin + out of its case and raised it to his chin. Syvert in the mean while put a + huge silver beer-jug to his mouth, and, pledging his guests, emptied it + even to the dregs. But the bride’s cheek was pale; and it was so still in + the boat that every man could hear his own breathing. + </p> + <p> + “Ha, to-day is Syvert Stein’s wedding-day!” shouted the bridegroom, + growing hot with wrath. “Let us try if the iron voice of the cannon can + wake my guests from their slumber.” + </p> + <p> + He struck a match and put it to the touch-hole of the cannon; a long boom + rolled away over the surface of the waters and startled the echoes of the + distant glaciers. A faint hurrah sounded from the nearest craft, but there + came no response from the bridal boat. Syvert pulled the powder-horn from + his pocket, laughed a wild laugh, and poured the whole contents of the + horn into the mouth of the cannon. + </p> + <p> + “Now may the devil care for his own,” roared he, and sprang up upon the + row-bench. Then there came a low murmuring strain as of wavelets that + ripple against a sandy shore. Borghild lifted her eyes, and they met those + of the fiddler. + </p> + <p> + “Ah, I think I should rather be your bridegroom,” whispered she, and a ray + of life stole into her stony visage. + </p> + <p> + And she saw herself as a little rosy-cheeked girl sitting at his side on + the beach fifteen years ago. But the music gathered strength from her + glance, and onward it rushed through the noisy years of boyhood, shouting + with wanton voice in the lonely glen, lowing with the cattle on the + mountain pastures, and leaping like the trout at eventide in the brawling + rapids; but through it all there ran a warm strain of boyish loyalty and + strong devotion, and it thawed her frozen heart; for she knew that it was + all for her and for her only. And it seemed such a beautiful thing, this + long faithful life, which through sorrow and joy, through sunshine and + gloom, for better for worse, had clung so fast to her. The wedding guests + raised their heads, and a murmur of applause ran over the waters. + </p> + <p> + “Bravo!” cried the bridegroom. “Now at last the tongues are loosed.” + </p> + <p> + Truls’s gaze dwelt with tender sadness on the bride. Then came from the + strings some airy quivering chords, faintly flushed like the petals of the + rose, and fragrant like lilies of the valley; and they swelled with a + strong, awakening life, and rose with a stormy fullness until they seemed + on the point of bursting, when again they hushed themselves and sank into + a low, disconsolate whisper. Once more the tones stretched out their arms + imploringly, and again they wrestled despairingly with themselves, fled + with a stern voice of warning, returned once more, wept, shuddered, and + were silent. + </p> + <p> + “Beware that thou dost not play with a life!” sighed the bride, “even + though it be a worthless one.” + </p> + <p> + The wedding guests clapped their hands and shouted wildly against the sky. + The bride’s countenance burned with a strange feverish glow. The fiddler + arose in the prow of the boat, his eyes flamed, he struck the strings + madly, and the air trembled with melodious rapture. The voice of that + music no living tongue can interpret. But the bride fathomed its meaning; + her bosom labored vehemently, her lips quivered for an instant + convulsively, and she burst into tears. A dark suspicion shot through the + bridegroom’s mind. He stared intently upon the weeping Borghild then + turned his gaze to the fiddler, who, still regarding her, stood playing, + with a half-frenzied look and motion. + </p> + <p> + “You cursed wretch!” shrieked Syvert, and made a leap over two benches to + where Truls was standing. It came so unexpectedly that Truls had no time + to prepare for defense; so he merely stretched out the hand in which he + held the violin to ward off the blow which he saw was coming; but Syvert + tore the instrument from his grasp and dashed it against the cannon, and, + as it happened, just against the touch-hole. With a tremendous crash + something black darted through the air and a white smoke brooded over the + bridal boat. The bridegroom stood pale and stunned. At his feet lay + Borghild—lay for a moment still, as if lifeless, then rose on her + elbows, and a dark red current broke from her breast. The smoke scattered. + No one saw how it was done; but a moment later Truls, the Nameless, lay + kneeling at Borghild’s side. + </p> + <p> + “It WAS a worthless life, beloved,” whispered he, tenderly. “Now it is at + an end.” + </p> + <p> + And he lifted her up in his arms as one lifts a beloved child, pressed a + kiss on her pale lips, and leaped into the water. Like lead they fell into + the sea. A throng of white bubbles whirled up to the surface. A loud wail + rose from the bridal fleet, and before the day was at an end it filled the + valley; but the wail did not recall Truls, the Nameless, or Borghild his + bride. + </p> + <p> + What life denied them, would to God that death may yield them! + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0026" id="link2H_4_0026"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + ASATHOR’S VENGEANCE. + </h2> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0027" id="link2H_4_0027"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + I. + </h2> + <p> + IT was right up under the steel mountain wall where the farm of Kvaerk + lay. How any man of common sense could have hit upon the idea of building + a house there, where none but the goat and the hawk had easy access, had + been, and I am afraid would ever be, a matter of wonder to the parish + people. However, it was not Lage Kvaerk who had built the house, so he + could hardly be made responsible for its situation. Moreover, to move from + a place where one’s life has once struck deep root, even if it be in the + chinks and crevices of stones and rocks, is about the same as to destroy + it. An old tree grows but poorly in a new soil. So Lage Kvaerk thought, + and so he said, too, whenever his wife Elsie spoke of her sunny home at + the river. + </p> + <p> + Gloomy as Lage usually was, he had his brighter moments, and people + noticed that these were most likely to occur when Aasa, his daughter, was + near. Lage was probably also the only being whom Aasa’s presence could + cheer; on other people it seemed to have the very opposite effect; for + Aasa was—according to the testimony of those who knew her—the + most peculiar creature that ever was born. But perhaps no one did know + her; if her father was right, no one really did—at least no one but + himself. + </p> + <p> + Aasa was all to her father; she was his past and she was his future, his + hope and his life; and withal it must be admitted that those who judged + her without knowing her had at least in one respect as just an opinion of + her as he; for there was no denying that she was strange, very strange. + She spoke when she ought to be silent, and was silent when it was proper + to speak; wept when she ought to laugh, and laughed when it was proper to + weep; but her laughter as well as her tears, her speech like her silence, + seemed to have their source from within her own soul, to be occasioned, as + it were, by something which no one else could see or hear. It made little + difference where she was; if the tears came, she yielded to them as if + they were something she had long desired in vain. Few could weep like her, + and “weep like Aasa Kvaerk,” was soon also added to the stock of parish + proverbs. And then her laugh! Tears may be inopportune enough, when they + come out of time, but laughter is far worse; and when poor Aasa once burst + out into a ringing laughter in church, and that while the minister was + pronouncing the benediction, it was only with the greatest difficulty that + her father could prevent the indignant congregation from seizing her and + carrying her before the sheriff for violation of the church-peace. Had she + been poor and homely, then of course nothing could have saved her; but she + happened to be both rich and beautiful, and to wealth and beauty much is + pardoned. Aasa’s beauty, however, was also of a very unusual kind; not the + tame sweetness so common in her sex, but something of the beauty of the + falcon, when it swoops down upon the unwatchful sparrow or soars round the + lonely crags; something of the mystic depth of the dark tarn, when with + bodeful trembling you gaze down into it, and see its weird traditions rise + from its depth and hover over the pine-tops in the morning fog. Yet, Aasa + was not dark; her hair was as fair and yellow as a wheat-field in August, + her forehead high and clear, and her mouth and chin as if cut with a + chisel; only her eyes were perhaps somewhat deeper than is common in the + North, and the longer you looked at them the deeper they grew, just like + the tarn, which, if you stare long enough into it, you will find is as + deep as the heavens above, that is, whose depth only faith and fancy can + fathom. But however long you looked at Aasa, you could never be quite sure + that she looked at you; she seemed but to half notice whatever went on + around her; the look of her eye was always more than half inward, and when + it shone the brightest, it might well happen that she could not have told + you how many years she had lived, or the name her father gave her in + baptism. + </p> + <p> + Now Aasa was eighteen years old, and could knit, weave, and spin, and it + was full time that wooers should come. “But that is the consequence of + living in such an out-of-the-way place,” said her mother; “who will risk + his limbs to climb that neck-breaking rock? and the round-about way over + the forest is rather too long for a wooer.” Besides handling the loom and + the spinning-wheel, Aasa had also learned to churn and make cheese to + perfection, and whenever Elsie grieved at her strange behavior she always + in the end consoled herself with the reflection that after all Aasa would + make the man who should get her an excellent housewife. + </p> + <p> + The farm of Kvaerk was indeed most singularly situated. About a hundred + feet from the house the rough wall of the mountain rose steep and + threatening; and the most remarkable part of it was that the rock itself + caved inward and formed a lofty arch overhead, which looked like a huge + door leading into the mountain. Some short distance below, the slope of + the fields ended in an abrupt precipice; far underneath lay the other + farm-houses of the valley, scattered like small red or gray dots, and the + river wound onward like a white silver stripe in the shelter of the dusky + forest. There was a path down along the rock, which a goat or a brisk lad + might be induced to climb, if the prize of the experiment were great + enough to justify the hazard. The common road to Kvaerk made a large + circuit around the forest, and reached the valley far up at its northern + end. + </p> + <p> + It was difficult to get anything to grow at Kvaerk. In the spring all the + valley lay bare and green, before the snow had begun to think of melting + up there; and the night-frost would be sure to make a visit there, while + the fields along the river lay silently drinking the summer dew. On such + occasions the whole family at Kvaerk would have to stay up during all the + night and walk back and forth on either side of the wheat-fields, carrying + a long rope between them and dragging it slowly over the heads of the rye, + to prevent the frost from settling; for as long as the ears could be kept + in motion, they could not freeze. But what did thrive at Kvaerk in spite + of both snow and night-frost was legends, and they throve perhaps the + better for the very sterility of its material soil. Aasa of course had + heard them all and knew them by heart; they had been her friends from + childhood, and her only companions. All the servants, however, also knew + them and many others besides, and if they were asked how the mansion of + Kvaerk happened to be built like an eagle’s nest on the brink of a + precipice, they would tell you the following: + </p> + <p> + Saint Olaf, Norway’s holy king, in the time of his youth had sailed as a + Viking over the wide ocean, and in foreign lands had learned the doctrine + of Christ the White. When he came home to claim the throne of his + hereditary kingdom, he brought with him tapers and black priests, and + commanded the people to overthrow the altars of Odin and Thor and to + believe alone in Christ the White. If any still dared to slaughter a horse + to the old gods, he cut off their ears, burned their farms, and drove them + houseless from the smoking ruins. Here in the valley old Thor, or, as they + called him, Asathor, had always helped us to vengeance and victory, and + gentle Frey for many years had given us fair and fertile summers. + Therefore the peasants paid little heed to King Olaf’s god, and continued + to bring their offerings to Odin and Asathor. This reached the king’s ear, + and he summoned his bishop and five black priests, and set out to visit + our valley. Having arrived here, he called the peasants together, stood up + on the Ting-stone, told them of the great things that the White Christ had + done, and bade them choose between him and the old gods. Some were scared, + and received baptism from the king’s priests; others bit their lips and + were silent; others again stood forth and told Saint Olaf that Odin and + Asathor had always served them well, and that they were not going to give + them up for Christ the White, whom they had never seen and of whom they + knew nothing. The next night the red cock crew <a href="#linknote-9" + name="linknoteref-9" id="linknoteref-9"><small>9</small></a> over ten + farms in the valley, and it happened to be theirs who had spoken against + King Olaf’s god. Then the peasants flocked to the Ting-stone and received + the baptism of Christ the White. Some few, who had mighty kinsmen in the + North, fled and spread the evil tidings. Only one neither fled nor was + baptized, and that one was Lage Ulfson Kvaerk, the ancestor of the present + Lage. He slew his best steed before Asathor’s altar, and promised to give + him whatever he should ask, even to his own life, if he would save him + from the vengeance of the king. Asathor heard his prayer. As the sun set, + a storm sprung up with thick darkness and gloom, the earth shook, Asathor + drove his chariot over the heavens with deafening thunder and swung his + hammer right and left, and the crackling lightning flew through the air + like a hail-storm of fire. Then the peasants trembled, for they knew that + Asathor was wroth. Only the king sat calm and fearless with his bishop and + priests, quaffing the nut-brown mead. The tempest raged until morn. When + the sun rose, Saint Olaf called his hundred swains, sprang into the saddle + and rode down toward the river. Few men who saw the angry fire in his eye, + and the frown on his royal brow, doubted whither he was bound. But having + reached the ford, a wondrous sight met his eye. Where on the day before + the highway had wound itself up the slope toward Lage Kvaerk’s mansion, + lay now a wild ravine; the rock was shattered into a thousand pieces, and + a deep gorge, as if made by a single stroke of a huge hammer, separated + the king from his enemy. Then Saint Olaf made the sign of the cross, and + mumbled the name of Christ the White; but his hundred swains made the sign + of the hammer under their cloaks, and thought, Still is Asathor alive. + </p> + <p> + That same night Lage Ulfson Kvaerk slew a black ram, and thanked Asathor + for his deliverance; and the Saga tells that while he was sprinkling the + blood on the altar, the thundering god himself appeared to him, and wilder + he looked than the fiercest wild Turk. Rams, said he, were every-day fare; + they could redeem no promise. Brynhild, his daughter, was the reward + Asathor demanded. Lage prayed and besought him to ask for something else. + He would gladly give him one of his sons; for he had three sons, but only + one daughter. Asathor was immovable; but so long Lage continued to beg, + that at last he consented to come back in a year, when Lage perchance + would be better reconciled to the thought of Brynhild’s loss. + </p> + <p> + In the mean time King Olaf built a church to Christ the White on the + headland at the river, where it stands until this day. Every evening, when + the huge bell rumbled between the mountains, the parishioners thought they + heard heavy, half-choked sighs over in the rocks at Kvaerk; and on Sunday + mornings, when the clear-voiced chimes called them to high-mass, a + suppressed moan would mingle with the sound of the bells, and die away + with the last echo. Lage Ulfson was not the man to be afraid; yet the + church-bells many a time drove the blood from his cheeks; for he also + heard the moan from the mountain. + </p> + <p> + The year went, and Asathor returned. If he had not told his name, however, + Lage would not have recognized him. That a year could work so great a + change in a god, he would hardly have believed, if his own eyes had not + testified to it. Asathor’s cheeks were pale and bloodless, the lustre of + his eye more than half quenched, and his gray hair hung in disorder down + over his forehead. + </p> + <p> + “Methinks thou lookest rather poorly to-day,” said Lage. + </p> + <p> + “It is only those cursed church-bells,” answered the god; “they leave me + no rest day or night.” + </p> + <p> + “Aha,” thought Lage, “if the king’s bells are mightier than thou, then + there is still hope of safety for my daughter.” + </p> + <p> + “Where is Brynhild, thy daughter?” asked Asathor. + </p> + <p> + “I know not where she is,” answered the father; and straightway he turned + his eyes toward the golden cross that shone over the valley from Saint + Olaf’s steeple, and he called aloud on the White Christ’s name. Then the + god gave a fearful roar, fell on the ground, writhed and foamed and + vanished into the mountain. In the next moment Lage heard a hoarse voice + crying from within, “I shall return, Lage Ulfson, when thou shalt least + expect me!” + </p> + <p> + Lage Ulfson then set to work clearing a way through the forest; and when + that was done, he called all his household together, and told them of the + power of Christ the White. Not long after he took his sons and his + daughter, and hastened with them southward, until he found King Olaf. And, + so the Saga relates, they all fell down on their knees before him, prayed + for his forgiveness, and received baptism from the king’s own bishop. + </p> + <p> + So ends the Saga of Lage Ulfson Kvaerk. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0028" id="link2H_4_0028"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + II. + </h2> + <p> + Aasa Kvaerk loved her father well, but especially in the winter. Then, + while she sat turning her spinning-wheel in the light of the crackling + logs, his silent presence always had a wonderfully soothing and calming + effect upon her. She never laughed then, and seldom wept; when she felt + his eyes resting on her, her thoughts, her senses, and her whole being + seemed by degrees to be lured from their hiding-place and concentrate on + him; and from him they ventured again, first timidly, then more boldly, to + grasp the objects around him. At such times Aasa could talk and jest + almost like other girls, and her mother, to whom “other girls” represented + the ideal of womanly perfection, would send significant glances, full of + hope and encouragement, over to Lage, and he would quietly nod in return, + as if to say that he entirely agreed with her. Then Elsie had bright + visions of wooers and thrifty housewives, and even Lage dreamed of seeing + the ancient honor of the family re-established. All depended on Aasa. She + was the last of the mighty race. But when summer came, the bright visions + fled; and the spring winds, which to others bring life and joy, to Kvaerk + brought nothing but sorrow. No sooner had the mountain brooks begun to + swell, than Aasa began to laugh and to weep; and when the first birches + budded up in the glens, she could no longer be kept at home. Prayers and + threats were equally useless. From early dawn until evening she would roam + about in forests and fields, and when late at night she stole into the + room and slipped away into some corner, Lage drew a deep sigh and thought + of the old tradition. + </p> + <p> + Aasa was nineteen years old before she had a single wooer. But when she + was least expecting it, the wooer came to her. + </p> + <p> + It was late one summer night; the young maiden was sitting on the brink of + the ravine, pondering on the old legend and peering down into the deep + below. It was not the first time she had found her way hither, where but + seldom a human foot had dared to tread. To her every alder and + bramble-bush, that clothed the naked wall of the rock, were as familiar as + were the knots and veins in the ceiling of the chamber where from her + childhood she had slept; and as she sat there on the brink of the + precipice, the late summer sun threw its red lustre upon her and upon the + fogs that came drifting up from the deep. With her eyes she followed the + drifting masses of fog, and wondered, as they rose higher and higher, when + they would reach her; in her fancy she saw herself dancing over the wide + expanse of heaven, clad in the sun-gilded evening fogs; and Saint Olaf, + the great and holy king, came riding to meet her, mounted on a flaming + steed made of the glory of a thousand sunsets; then Saint Olaf took her + hand and lifted her up, and she sat with him on the flaming steed: but the + fog lingered in the deep below, and as it rose it spread like a thin, + half-invisible gauze over the forests and the fields, and at last vanished + into the infinite space. But hark! a huge stone rolls down over the + mountain-side, then another, and another; the noise grows, the birches + down there in the gorge tremble and shake. Aasa leaned out over the brink + of the ravine, and, as far as she could distinguish anything from her + dizzying height, thought she saw something gray creeping slowly up the + neck-breaking mountain path; she watched it for a while, but as it seemed + to advance no farther she again took refuge in her reveries. An hour might + have passed, or perhaps more, when suddenly she heard a noise only a few + feet distant, and, again stooping out over the brink, saw the figure of a + man struggling desperately to climb the last great ledge of the rock. With + both his hands he clung to a little birch-tree which stretched its slender + arms down over the black wall, but with every moment that passed seemed + less likely to accomplish the feat. The girl for a while stood watching + him with unfeigned curiosity, then, suddenly reminding herself that the + situation to him must be a dangerous one, seized hold of a tree that grew + near the brink, and leaned out over the rock to give him her assistance. + He eagerly grasped her extended hand, and with a vigorous pull she flung + him up on the grassy level, where he remained lying for a minute or two, + apparently utterly unable to account for his sudden ascent, and gazing + around him with a half-frightened, half-bewildered look. Aasa, to whom his + appearance was no less strange than his demeanor, unluckily hit upon the + idea that perhaps her rather violent treatment had momentarily stunned + him, and when, as answer to her sympathizing question if he was hurt, the + stranger abruptly rose to his feet and towered up before her to the + formidable height of six feet four or five, she could no longer master her + mirth, but burst out into a most vehement fit of laughter. He stood calm + and silent, and looked at her with a timid but strangely bitter smile. He + was so very different from any man she had ever seen before; therefore she + laughed, not necessarily because he amused her, but because his whole + person was a surprise to her; and there he stood, tall and gaunt and + timid, and said not a word, only gazed and gazed. His dress was not the + national costume of the valley, neither was it like anything that Aasa had + ever known. On his head he wore a cap that hung all on one side, and was + decorated with a long, heavy silk tassel. A threadbare coat, which seemed + to be made expressly not to fit him, hung loosely on his sloping + shoulders, and a pair of gray pantaloons, which were narrow where they + ought to have been wide, and wide where it was their duty to be narrow, + extended their service to a little more than the upper half of the limb, + and, by a kind of compromise with the tops of the boots, managed to + protect also the lower half. His features were delicate, and would have + been called handsome had they belonged to a proportionately delicate body; + in his eyes hovered a dreamy vagueness which seemed to come and vanish, + and to flit from one feature to another, suggesting the idea of + remoteness, and a feeling of hopeless strangeness to the world and all its + concerns. + </p> + <p> + “Do I inconvenience you, madam?” were the first words he uttered, as Aasa + in her usual abrupt manner stayed her laughter, turned her back on him, + and hastily started for the house. + </p> + <p> + “Inconvenience?” said she, surprised, and again slowly turned on her heel; + “no, not that I know.” + </p> + <p> + “Then tell me if there are people living here in the neighborhood, or if + the light deceived me, which I saw from the other side of the river.” + </p> + <p> + “Follow me,” answered Aasa, and she naïvely reached him her hand; “my + father’s name is Lage Ulfson Kvaerk; he lives in the large house you see + straight before you, there on the hill; and my mother lives there too.” + </p> + <p> + And hand in hand they walked together, where a path had been made between + two adjoining rye-fields; his serious smile seemed to grow milder and + happier, the longer he lingered at her side, and her eye caught a ray of + more human intelligence, as it rested on him. + </p> + <p> + “What do you do up here in the long winter?” asked he, after a pause. + </p> + <p> + “We sing,” answered she, as it were at random, because the word came into + her mind; “and what do you do, where you come from?” + </p> + <p> + “I gather song.” + </p> + <p> + “Have you ever heard the forest sing?” asked she, curiously. + </p> + <p> + “That is why I came here.” + </p> + <p> + And again they walked on in silence. + </p> + <p> + It was near midnight when they entered the large hall at Kvaerk. Aasa went + before, still leading the young man by the hand. In the twilight which + filled the house, the space between the black, smoky rafters opened a + vague vista into the region of the fabulous, and every object in the room + loomed forth from the dusk with exaggerated form and dimensions. The room + appeared at first to be but the haunt of the spirits of the past; no human + voice, no human footstep, was heard; and the stranger instinctively + pressed the hand he held more tightly; for he was not sure but that he was + standing on the boundary of dream-land, and some elfin maiden had reached + him her hand to lure him into her mountain, where he should live with her + forever. But the illusion was of brief duration; for Aasa’s thoughts had + taken a widely different course; it was but seldom she had found herself + under the necessity of making a decision; and now it evidently devolved + upon her to find the stranger a place of rest for the night; so instead of + an elf-maid’s kiss and a silver palace, he soon found himself huddled into + a dark little alcove in the wall, where he was told to go to sleep, while + Aasa wandered over to the empty cow-stables, and threw herself down in the + hay by the side of two sleeping milkmaids. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0029" id="link2H_4_0029"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + III. + </h2> + <p> + There was not a little astonishment manifested among the servant-maids at + Kvaerk the next morning, when the huge, gaunt figure of a man was seen to + launch forth from Aasa’s alcove, and the strangest of all was, that Aasa + herself appeared to be as much astonished as the rest. And there they + stood, all gazing at the bewildered traveler, who indeed was no less + startled than they, and as utterly unable to account for his own sudden + apparition. After a long pause, he summoned all his courage, fixed his + eyes intently on the group of the girls, and with a few rapid steps + advanced toward Aasa, whom he seized by the hand and asked, “Are you not + my maiden of yester-eve?” + </p> + <p> + She met his gaze firmly, and laid her hand on her forehead as if to clear + her thoughts; as the memory of the night flashed through her mind, a + bright smile lit up her features, and she answered, “You are the man who + gathers song. Forgive me, I was not sure but it was all a dream; for I + dream so much.” + </p> + <p> + Then one of the maids ran out to call Lage Ulfson, who had gone to the + stables to harness the horses; and he came and greeted the unknown man, + and thanked him for last meeting, as is the wont of Norse peasants, + although they had never seen each other until that morning. But when the + stranger had eaten two meals in Lage’s house, Lage asked him his name and + his father’s occupation; for old Norwegian hospitality forbids the host to + learn the guest’s name before he has slept and eaten under his roof. It + was that same afternoon, when they sat together smoking their pipes under + the huge old pine in the yard,—it was then Lage inquired about the + young man’s name and family; and the young man said that his name was + Trond Vigfusson, that he had graduated at the University of Christiania, + and that his father had been a lieutenant in the army; but both he and + Trond’s mother had died, when Trond was only a few years old. Lage then + told his guest Vigfusson something about his family, but of the legend of + Asathor and Saint Olaf he spoke not a word. And while they were sitting + there talking together, Aasa came and sat down at Vigfusson’s feet; her + long golden hair flowed in a waving stream down over her back and + shoulders, there was a fresh, healthful glow on her cheeks, and her blue, + fathomless eyes had a strangely joyous, almost triumphant expression. The + father’s gaze dwelt fondly upon her, and the collegian was but conscious + of one thought: that she was wondrously beautiful. And still so great was + his natural timidity and awkwardness in the presence of women, that it was + only with the greatest difficulty he could master his first impulse to + find some excuse for leaving her. She, however, was aware of no such + restraint. + </p> + <p> + “You said you came to gather song,” she said; “where do you find it? for I + too should like to find some new melody for my old thoughts; I have + searched so long.” + </p> + <p> + “I find my songs on the lips of the people,” answered he, “and I write + them down as the maidens or the old men sing them.” + </p> + <p> + She did not seem quite to comprehend that. “Do you hear maidens sing + them?” asked she, astonished. “Do you mean the troll-virgins and the + elf-maidens?” + </p> + <p> + “By troll-virgins and elf-maidens, or what the legends call so, I + understand the hidden and still audible voices of nature, of the dark pine + forests, the legend-haunted glades, and the silent tarns; and this was + what I referred to when I answered your question if I had ever heard the + forest sing.” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, oh!” cried she, delighted, and clapped her hands like a child; but in + another moment she as suddenly grew serious again, and sat steadfastly + gazing into his eye, as if she were trying to look into his very soul and + there to find something kindred to her own lonely heart. A minute ago her + presence had embarrassed him; now, strange to say, he met her eye, and + smiled happily as he met it. + </p> + <p> + “Do you mean to say that you make your living by writing songs?” asked + Lage. + </p> + <p> + “The trouble is,” answered Vigfusson, “that I make no living at all; but I + have invested a large capital, which is to yield its interest in the + future. There is a treasure of song hidden in every nook and corner of our + mountains and forests, and in our nation’s heart. I am one of the miners + who have come to dig it out before time and oblivion shall have buried + every trace of it, and there shall not be even the will-o’-the-wisp of a + legend to hover over the spot, and keep alive the sad fact of our loss and + our blamable negligence.” + </p> + <p> + Here the young man paused; his eyes gleamed, his pale cheeks flushed, and + there was a warmth and an enthusiasm in his words which alarmed Lage, + while on Aasa it worked like the most potent charm of the ancient mystic + runes; she hardly comprehended more than half of the speaker’s meaning, + but his fire and eloquence were on this account none the less powerful. + </p> + <p> + “If that is your object,” remarked Lage, “I think you have hit upon the + right place in coming here. You will be able to pick up many an odd bit of + a story from the servants and others hereabouts, and you are welcome to + stay here with us as long as you choose.” + </p> + <p> + Lage could not but attribute to Vigfusson the merit of having kept Aasa at + home a whole day, and that in the month of midsummer. And while he sat + there listening to their conversation, while he contemplated the delight + that beamed from his daughter’s countenance and, as he thought, the really + intelligent expression of her eyes, could he conceal from himself the + paternal hopes that swelled his heart? She was all that was left him, the + life or the death of his mighty race. And here was one who was likely to + understand her, and to whom she seemed willing to yield all the affection + of her warm but wayward heart. Thus ran Lage Ulfson’s reflections; and at + night he had a little consultation with Elsie, his wife, who, it is + needless to add, was no less sanguine than he. + </p> + <p> + “And then Aasa will make an excellent housewife, you know,” observed + Elsie. “I will speak to the girl about it to-morrow.” + </p> + <p> + “No, for Heaven’s sake, Elsie!” exclaimed Lage, “don’t you know your + daughter better than that? Promise me, Elsie, that you will not say a + single word; it would be a cruel thing, Elsie, to mention anything to her. + She is not like other girls, you know.” + </p> + <p> + “Very well, Lage, I shall not say a single word. Alas, you are right, she + is not like other girls.” And Elsie again sighed at her husband’s sad + ignorance of a woman’s nature, and at the still sadder fact of her + daughter’s inferiority to the accepted standard of womanhood. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0030" id="link2H_4_0030"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + IV. + </h2> + <p> + Trond Vigfusson must have made a rich harvest of legends at Kvaerk, at + least judging by the time he stayed there; for days and weeks passed, and + he had yet said nothing of going. Not that anybody wished him to go; no, + on the contrary, the longer he stayed the more indispensable he seemed to + all; and Lage Ulfson could hardly think without a shudder of the + possibility of his ever having to leave them. For Aasa, his only child, + was like another being in the presence of this stranger; all that weird, + forest-like intensity, that wild, half supernatural tinge in her character + which in a measure excluded her from the blissful feeling of fellowship + with other men, and made her the strange, lonely creature she was,—all + this seemed to vanish as dew in the morning sun when Vigfusson’s eyes + rested upon her; and with every day that passed, her human and womanly + nature gained a stronger hold upon her. She followed him like his shadow + on all his wanderings, and when they sat down together by the wayside, she + would sing, in a clear, soft voice, an ancient lay or ballad, and he would + catch her words on his paper, and smile at the happy prospect of + perpetuating what otherwise would have been lost. Aasa’s love, whether + conscious or not, was to him an everlasting source of strength, was a + revelation of himself to himself, and a clearing and widening power which + brought ever more and more of the universe within the scope of his vision. + So they lived on from day to day and from week to week, and, as old Lage + remarked, never had Kvaerk been the scene of so much happiness. Not a + single time during Vigfusson’s stay had Aasa fled to the forest, not a + meal had she missed, and at the hours for family devotion she had taken + her seat at the big table with the rest and apparently listened with as + much attention and interest. Indeed, all this time Aasa seemed purposely + to avoid the dark haunts of the woods, and, whenever she could, chose the + open highway; not even Vigfusson’s entreaties could induce her to tread + the tempting paths that led into the forest’s gloom. + </p> + <p> + “And why not, Aasa?” he would say; “summer is ten times summer there when + the drowsy noonday spreads its trembling maze of shadows between those + huge, venerable trunks. You can feel the summer creeping into your very + heart and soul, there!” + </p> + <p> + “Oh, Vigfusson,” she would answer, shaking her head mournfully, “for a + hundred paths that lead in, there is only one that leads out again, and + sometimes even that one is nowhere to be found.” + </p> + <p> + He understood her not, but fearing to ask, he remained silent. + </p> + <p> + His words and his eyes always drew her nearer and nearer to him; and the + forest and its strange voices seemed a dark, opposing influence, which + strove to take possession of her heart and to wrest her away from him + forever; she helplessly clung to him; every thought and emotion of her + soul clustered about him, and every hope of life and happiness was staked + on him. + </p> + <p> + One evening Vigfusson and old Lage Ulfson had been walking about the + fields to look at the crop, both smoking their evening pipes. But as they + came down toward the brink whence the path leads between the two adjoining + rye-fields, they heard a sweet, sad voice crooning some old ditty down + between the birch-trees at the precipice; they stopped to listen, and soon + recognized Aasa’s yellow hair over the tops the rye; the shadow as of a + painful emotion flitted over the father’s countenance, and he turned his + back on his guest and started to go; then again paused, and said, + imploringly, “Try to get her home if you can, friend Vigfusson.” + </p> + <p> + Vigfusson nodded, and Lage went; the song had ceased for a moment, now it + began again: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Ye twittering birdlings, in forest and glen + I have heard you so gladly before; + But a bold knight hath come to woo me, + I dare listen to you no more. + For it is so dark, so dark in the forest. + + “And the knight who hath come a-wooing to me, + He calls me his love and his own; + Why then should I stray through the darksome woods, + Or dream in the glades alone? + For it is so dark, so dark in the forest.” + </pre> + <p> + Her voice fell to a low unintelligible murmur; then it rose, and the last + verses came, clear, soft, and low, drifting on the evening breeze: + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + “Yon beckoning world, that shimmering lay + O’er the woods where the old pines grow, + That gleamed through the moods of the summer day + When the breezes were murmuring low + (And it is so dark, so dark in the forest); + + “Oh let me no more in the sunshine hear + Its quivering noonday call; + The bold knight’s love is the sun of my heart— + Is my life, and my all in all. + But it is so dark, so dark in the forest.” + </pre> + <p> + The young man felt the blood rushing to his face—his heart beat + violently. There was a keen sense of guilt in the blush on his cheek, a + loud accusation in the throbbing pulse and the swelling heart-beat. Had he + not stood there behind the maiden’s back and cunningly peered into her + soul’s holy of holies? True, he loved Aasa; at least he thought he did, + and the conviction was growing stronger with every day that passed. And + now he had no doubt that he had gained her heart. It was not so much the + words of the ballad which had betrayed the secret; he hardly knew what it + was, but somehow the truth had flashed upon him, and he could no longer + doubt. + </p> + <p> + Vigfusson sat down on the moss-grown rock and pondered. How long he sat + there he did not know, but when he rose and looked around, Aasa was gone. + Then remembering her father’s request to bring her home, he hastened up + the hill-side toward the mansion, and searched for her in all directions. + It was near midnight when he returned to Kvaerk, where Aasa sat in her + high gable window, still humming the weird melody of the old ballad. + </p> + <p> + By what reasoning Vigfusson arrived at his final conclusion is difficult + to tell. If he had acted according to his first and perhaps most generous + impulse, the matter would soon have been decided; but he was all the time + possessed of a vague fear of acting dishonorably, and it was probably this + very fear which made him do what, to the minds of those whose friendship + and hospitality he had accepted, had something of the appearance he wished + so carefully to avoid. Aasa was rich; he had nothing; it was a reason for + delay, but hardly a conclusive one. They did not know him; he must go out + in the world and prove himself worthy of her. He would come back when he + should have compelled the world to respect him; for as yet he had done + nothing. In fact, his arguments were good and honorable enough, and there + would have been no fault to find with him, had the object of his love been + as capable of reasoning as he was himself. But Aasa, poor thing, could do + nothing by halves; a nature like hers brooks no delay; to her love was + life or it was death. + </p> + <p> + The next morning he appeared at breakfast with his knapsack on his back, + and otherwise equipped for his journey. It was of no use that Elsie cried + and begged him to stay, that Lage joined his prayers to hers, and that + Aasa stood staring at him with a bewildered gaze. Vigfusson shook hands + with them all, thanked them for their kindness to him, and promised to + return; he held Aasa’s hand long in his, but when he released it, it + dropped helplessly at her side. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_4_0031" id="link2H_4_0031"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + V. + </h2> + <p> + Far up in the glen, about a mile from Kvaerk, ran a little brook; that is, + it was little in summer and winter, but in the spring, while the snow was + melting up in the mountains, it overflowed the nearest land and turned the + whole glen into a broad and shallow river. It was easy to cross, however; + a light foot might jump from stone to stone, and be over in a minute. Not + the hind herself could be lighter on her foot than Aasa was; and even in + the spring-flood it was her wont to cross and recross the brook, and to + sit dreaming on a large stone against which the water broke incessantly, + rushing in white torrents over its edges. + </p> + <p> + Here she sat one fair summer day—the day after Vigfusson’s + departure. It was noon, and the sun stood high over the forest. The water + murmured and murmured, babbled and whispered, until at length there came a + sudden unceasing tone into its murmur, then another, and it sounded like a + faint whispering song of small airy beings. And as she tried to listen, to + fix the air in her mind, it all ceased again, and she heard but the + monotonous murmuring of the brook. Everything seemed so empty and + worthless, as if that faint melody had been the world of the moment. But + there it was again; it sung and sung, and the birch overhead took up the + melody and rustled it with its leaves, and the grasshopper over in the + grass caught it and whirred it with her wings. The water, the trees, the + air, were full of it. What a strange melody! + </p> + <p> + Aasa well knew that every brook and river has its Neck, besides hosts of + little water-sprites. She had heard also that in the moonlight at + midsummer, one might chance to see them rocking in bright little shells, + playing among the pebbles, or dancing on the large leaves of the + water-lily. And that they could sing also, she doubted not; it was their + voices she heard through the murmuring of the brook. Aasa eagerly bent + forward and gazed down into the water: the faint song grew louder, paused + suddenly, and sprang into life again; and its sound was so sweet, so + wonderfully alluring! Down there in the water, where a stubborn pebble + kept chafing a precipitous little side current, clear tiny pearl-drops + would leap up from the stream, and float half-wonderingly downward from + rapid to rapid, until they lost themselves in the whirl of some stronger + current. Thus sat Aasa and gazed and gazed, and in one moment she seemed + to see what in the next moment she saw not. Then a sudden great hush stole + through the forest, and in the hush she could hear the silence calling her + name. It was so long since she had been in the forest, it seemed ages and + ages ago. She hardly knew herself; the light seemed to be shining into her + eyes as with a will and purpose, perhaps to obliterate something, some old + dream or memory, or to impart some new power—the power of seeing the + unseen. And this very thought, this fear of some possible loss, brought + the fading memory back, and she pressed her hands against her throbbing + temples as if to bind and chain it there forever; and it was he to whom + her thought returned. She heard his voice, saw him beckoning to her to + follow him, and she rose to obey, but her limbs were as petrified, and the + stone on which she was sitting held her with the power of a hundred strong + arms. The sunshine smote upon her eyelids, and his name was blotted out + from her life; there was nothing but emptiness all around her. Gradually + the forest drew nearer and nearer, the water bubbled and rippled, and the + huge, bare-stemmed pines stretched their long gnarled arms toward her. The + birches waved their heads with a wistful nod, and the profile of the rock + grew into a face with a long, hooked nose, and a mouth half open as if to + speak. And the word that trembled on his lips was, “Come.” She felt no + fear nor reluctance, but rose to obey. Then and not until then she saw an + old man standing at her side; his face was the face of the rock, his white + beard flowed to his girdle, and his mouth was half open, but no word came + from his lips. There was something in the wistful look of his eye which + she knew so well, which she had seen so often, although she could not tell + when or where. The old man extended his hand; Aasa took it, and fearlessly + or rather spontaneously followed. They approached the steep, rocky wall; + as they drew near, a wild, fierce laugh rang through the forest. The + features of the old man were twisted as it were into a grin; so also were + the features of the rock; but the laugh blew like a mighty blast through + the forest. + </p> + <p> + Aasa clung to the old man’s hand and followed him—she knew not + whither. + </p> + <p> + At home in the large sitting-room at Kvaerk sat Lage, brooding over the + wreck of his hopes and his happiness. Aasa had gone to the woods again the + very first day after Vigfusson’s departure. What would be the end of all + this? It was already late in the evening, and she had not returned. The + father cast anxious glances toward the door, every time he heard the latch + moving. At last, when it was near midnight, he roused all his men from + their sleep, and commanded them to follow him. Soon the dusky forests + resounded far and near with the blast of horns, the report of guns, and + the calling and shouting of men. The affrighted stag crossed and recrossed + the path of the hunters, but not a rifle was leveled at its head. Toward + morning—it was before the sun had yet risen—Lage, weary and + stunned, stood leaning up against a huge fir. Then suddenly a fierce, wild + laugh rang through the forest. Lage shuddered, raised his hand slowly and + pressed it hard against his forehead, vainly struggling to clear his + thoughts. The men clung fearfully together; a few of the more courageous + ones drew their knives and made the sign of the cross with them in the + air. Again the same mad laugh shook the air, and swept over the crowns of + the pine-trees. Then Lage lifted his eyes toward heaven and wrung his + hands: for the awful truth stood before him. He remained a long while + leaning against that old fir as in a dead stupor; and no one dared to + arouse him. A suppressed murmur reached the men’s ears. “But deliver us + from evil” were the last words they heard. + </p> + <p> + When Lage and his servants came home to Kvaerk with the mournful tidings + of Aasa’s disappearance, no one knew what to do or say. There could be no + doubt that Aasa was “mountain-taken,” as they call it; for there were + Trolds and dwarfs in all the rocks and forests round about, and they would + hardly let slip the chance of alluring so fair a maiden as Aasa was into + their castles in the mountains. Elsie, her mother, knew a good deal about + the Trolds, their tricks, and their way of living, and when she had wept + her fill, she fell to thinking of the possibility of regaining her + daughter from their power. If Aasa had not yet tasted of food or drink in + the mountain, she was still out of danger; and if the pastor would allow + the church-bell to be brought up into the forest and rung near the rock + where the laugh had been heard, the Trolds could be compelled to give her + back. No sooner had this been suggested to Lage, than the command was + given to muster the whole force of men and horses, and before evening on + the same day the sturdy swains of Kvaerk were seen climbing the tower of + the venerable church, whence soon the huge old bell descended, to the + astonishment of the throng of curious women and children who had flocked + together to see the extraordinary sight. It was laid upon four large + wagons, which had been joined together with ropes and planks, and drawn + away by twelve strong horses. Long after the strange caravan had vanished + in the twilight, the children stood gazing up into the empty bell-tower. + </p> + <p> + It was near midnight, when Lage stood at the steep, rocky wall in the + forest; the men were laboring to hoist the church-bell up to a staunch + cross-beam between two mighty fir-trees, and in the weird light of their + torches, the wild surroundings looked wilder and more fantastic. Anon, the + muffled noise and bustle of the work being at an end, the laborers + withdrew, and a strange, feverish silence seemed to brood over the forest. + Lage took a step forward, and seized the bell-rope; the clear, conquering + toll of the metal rung solemnly through the silence, and from the rocks, + the earth, and the tree-tops, rose a fierce chorus of howls, groans, and + screams. All night the ringing continued; the old trees swayed to and fro, + creaked, and groaned, the roots loosened their holds in the fissures of + the rock, and the bushy crowns bowed low under their unwonted burden. + </p> + <p> + It was well-nigh morn, but the dense fog still brooded over the woods, and + it was dark as night. Lage was sitting on the ground, his head leaning on + both his elbows; at his side lay the flickering torch, and the huge bell + hung dumb overhead. In the dark he felt a hand touch his shoulder; had it + happened only a few hours before, he would have shuddered; now the + physical sensation hardly communicated itself to his mind, or, if it did, + had no power to rouse him from his dead, hopeless apathy. Suddenly—could + he trust his own ears?—the church-bell gave a slow, solemn, + quivering stroke, and the fogs rolled in thick masses to the east and to + the west, as if blown by the breath of the sound. Lage seized his torch, + sprang to his feet, and saw—Vigfusson. He stretched his arm with the + blazing torch closer to the young man’s face, stared at him with large + eyes, and his lip quivered; but he could not utter a word. + </p> + <p> + “Vigfusson?” faltered he at last. + </p> + <p> + “It is I;” and the second stroke followed, stronger and more solemn than + the first. The same fierce, angry voices chorused forth from every nook of + the rock and the woods. Then came the third—the noise grew; fourth—and + it sounded like a hoarse, angry hiss; when the twelfth stroke fell, + silence reigned again in the forest. Vigfusson dropped the bell-rope, and + with a loud voice called Lage Kvaerk and his men. He lit a torch, held it + aloft over his head, and peered through the dusky night. The men spread + through the highlands to search for the lost maiden; Lage followed close + in Vigfusson’s footsteps. They had not walked far when they heard the + babbling of the brook only a few feet away. Thither they directed their + steps. On a large stone in the middle of the stream the youth thought he + saw something white, like a large kerchief. Quick as thought he was at its + side, bowed down with his torch, and—fell backward. It was Aasa, his + beloved, cold and dead; but as the father stooped over his dead child the + same mad laugh echoed wildly throughout the wide woods, but madder and + louder than ever before, and from the rocky wall came a fierce, broken + voice: + </p> + <p> + “I came at last.” + </p> + <p> + When, after an hour of vain search, the men returned to the place whence + they had started, they saw a faint light flickering between the birches + not fifty feet away; they formed a firm column, and with fearful hearts + drew nearer. There lay Lage Kvaerk, their master, still bending down over + his child’s pale features, and staring into her sunken eyes as if he could + not believe that she were really dead. And at his side stood Vigfusson, + pale and aghast, with the burning torch in his hand. The footsteps of the + men awakened the father, but when he turned his face on them they + shuddered and started back. Then Lage rose, lifted the maiden from the + stone, and silently laid her in Vigfusson’s arms; her rich yellow hair + flowed down over his shoulder. The youth let his torch fall into the + waters, and with a sharp, serpent-like hiss its flame was quenched. He + crossed the brook; the men followed, and the dark pine-trees closed over + the last descendant of Lage Ulfson’s mighty race. + </p> + <p> + <a name="link2H_FOOT" id="link2H_FOOT"> + <!-- H2 anchor --> </a> + </p> + <div style="height: 4em;"> + <br /><br /><br /><br /> + </div> + <h2> + Footnotes: + </h2> + <p> + <a name="linknote-1" id="linknote-1"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 1 (<a href="#linknoteref-1">return</a>)<br /> [ “I am a Dane. I speak + Danish.”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-2" id="linknote-2"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 2 (<a href="#linknoteref-2">return</a>)<br /> [ Examen artium is the + entrance examination to the Norwegian University, and philosophicum the + first degree. The ranks given at these are Laudabilis prae ceteris (in + student’s parlance, prae), laudabilis or laud, haud illaudabilis, or haud, + etc.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-3" id="linknote-3"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 3 (<a href="#linknoteref-3">return</a>)<br /> [ Free translation of a + Swedish serenade, the name of whose author I have forgotten. H. H. B.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-4" id="linknote-4"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 4 (<a href="#linknoteref-4">return</a>)<br /> [ Translation, from “Exotics. + By J. F. C. & C. L.”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-5" id="linknote-5"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 5 (<a href="#linknoteref-5">return</a>)<br /> [ In the country districts of + Norway Saturday evening is regarded as “the wooer’s eve.”] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-6" id="linknote-6"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 6 (<a href="#linknoteref-6">return</a>)<br /> [ The saeter is a place in + the mountains where the Norwegian peasants spend their summers pasturing + their cattle. Every large farm has its own saeter, consisting of one or + more chalets, hedged in by a fence of stone or planks.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-7" id="linknote-7"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 7 (<a href="#linknoteref-7">return</a>)<br /> [ Katzenjammer is the + sensation a man has the morning after a carousal.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-8" id="linknote-8"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 8 (<a href="#linknoteref-8">return</a>)<br /> [ A stave is an improvised + responsive song. It is an ancient pastime in Norway, and is kept up until + this day, especially among the peasantry. The students, also, at their + social gatherings, throw improvised rhymes to each other across the table, + and the rest of the company repeat the refrain.] + </p> + <p> + <a name="linknote-9" id="linknote-9"> + <!-- Note --></a> + </p> + <p class="foot"> + 9 (<a href="#linknoteref-9">return</a>)<br /> [ “The red cock crew” is the + expression used in the old Norwegian Fagas for incendiary fire.] + </p> + <p> + <br /><br /> + </p> +<pre xml:space="preserve"> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Tales From Two Hemispheres, by +Hjalmar Hjorth Boysen + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES *** + +***** This file should be named 299-h.htm or 299-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/9/299/ + +Produced by Charles Keller, and David Widger + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association / Illinois + Benedictine College" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Illinois Benedictine College". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + + + +Scanned by Charles Keller with +OmniPage Professional OCR software +donated by Caere Corporation, 1-800-535-7226. +Contact Mike Lough <Mikel@caere.com> + + +TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES. + +BY + +HJALMAR HJORTH BOYSEN. + +1877 + + + + +CONTENTS +---- +THE MAN WHO LOST HIS NAME +THE STORY OF AN OUTCAST +A GOOD-FOR-NOTHING +A SCIENTIFIC VAGABOND +TRULS, THE NAMELESS +ASATHOR'S VENGEANCE + + + + + +TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES. + +THE MAN WHO LOST HIS NAME. + +ON the second day of June, 186--, a +young Norseman, Halfdan Bjerk by +name, landed on the pier at Castle +Garden. He passed through the straight +and narrow gate where he was asked his name, +birthplace, and how much money he had,--at +which he grew very much frightened. + +"And your destination?"--demanded the +gruff-looking functionary at the desk. + +"America," said the youth, and touched his +hat politely. + +"Do you think I have time for joking?" +roared the official, with an oath. + +The Norseman ran his hand through his hair, +smiled his timidly conciliatory smile, and tried +his best to look brave; but his hand trembled +and his heart thumped away at an alarmingly +quickened tempo. + +"Put him down for Nebraska!" cried a stout +red-cheeked individual (inwrapped in the mingled +fumes of tobacco and whisky) whose function +it was to open and shut the gate. + +"There aint many as go to Nebraska." + +"All right, Nebraska." + +The gate swung open and the pressure from +behind urged the timid traveler on, while an +extra push from the gate-keeper sent him flying +in the direction of a board fence, where he sat +down and tried to realize that he was now in +the land of liberty. + +Halfdan Bjerk was a tall, slender-limbed youth +of very delicate frame; he had a pair of +wonderfully candid, unreflecting blue eyes, a smooth, +clear, beardless face, and soft, wavy light hair, +which was pushed back from his forehead without +parting. His mouth and chin were well +cut, but their lines were, perhaps, rather weak +for a man. When in repose, the ensemble of +his features was exceedingly pleasing and somehow +reminded one of Correggio's St. John. He +had left his native land because he was an +ardent republican and was abstractly convinced +that man, generically and individually, lives +more happily in a republic than in a monarchy. +He had anticipated with keen pleasure the large, +freely breathing life he was to lead in a land +where every man was his neighbor's brother, +where no senseless traditions kept a jealous +watch over obsolete systems and shrines, and +no chilling prejudice blighted the spontaneous +blossoming of the soul. + +Halfdan was an only child. His father, a +poor government official, had died during his +infancy, and his mother had given music lessons, +and kept boarders, in order to gain the means +to give her son what is called a learned education. +In the Latin school Halfdan had enjoyed +the reputation of being a bright youth, and at +the age of eighteen, he had entered the +university under the most promising auspices. He +could make very fair verses, and play all +imaginable instruments with equal ease, which +made him a favorite in society. Moreover, he +possessed that very old-fashioned accomplishment +of cutting silhouettes; and what was more, +he could draw the most charmingly fantastic +arabesques for embroidery patterns, and he even +dabbled in portrait and landscape painting. +Whatever he turned his hand to, he did well, +in fact, astonishingly well for a dilettante, and +yet not well enough to claim the title of an +artist. Nor did it ever occur to him to make +such a claim. As one of his fellow-students +remarked in a fit of jealousy, "Once when Nature +had made three geniuses, a poet, a musician, +and a painter, she took all the remaining odds +and ends and shook them together at random +and the result was Halfdan Bjerk." This agreeable +melange of accomplishments, however, +proved very attractive to the ladies, who invited +the possessor to innumerable afternoon +tea-parties, where they drew heavy drafts on +his unflagging patience, and kept him steadily +engaged with patterns and designs for embroidery, +leather flowers, and other dainty knickknacks. +And in return for all his exertions +they called him "sweet" and "beautiful," and +applied to him many other enthusiastic adjectives +seldom heard in connection with masculine +names. In the university, talents of this order +gained but slight recognition, and when Halfdan +had for three years been preparing himself +in vain for the examen philosophicum, he found +himself slowly and imperceptibly drifting into +the ranks of the so-called studiosi perpetui, who +preserve a solemn silence at the examination +tables, fraternize with every new generation of +freshmen, and at last become part of the fixed +furniture of their Alma Mater. In the larger +American colleges, such men are mercilessly +dropped or sent to a Divinity School; but the +European universities, whose tempers the centuries +have mellowed, harbor in their spacious +Gothic bosoms a tenderer heart for their +unfortunate sons. There the professors greet them +at the green tables with a good-humored smile +of recognition; they are treated with gentle +forbearance, and are allowed to linger on, until +they die or become tutors in the families of +remote clergymen, where they invariably fall +in love with the handsomest daughter, and thus +lounge into a modest prosperity. + +If this had been the fate of our friend Bjerk, +we should have dismissed him here with a confident +"vale" on his life's pilgrimage. But, +unfortunately, Bjerk was inclined to hold the +government in some way responsible for his own +poor success as a student, and this, in connection +with an aesthetic enthusiasm for ancient Greece, +gradually convinced him that the republic was +the only form of government under which men +of his tastes and temperament were apt to flourish. +It was, like everything that pertained to +him, a cheerful, genial conviction, without the +slightest tinge of bitterness. The old institutions +were obsolete, rotten to the core, he said, +and needed a radical renovation. He could sit +for hours of an evening in the Students' Union, +and discourse over a glass of mild toddy, on the +benefits of universal suffrage and trial by jury, +while the picturesqueness of his language, his +genial sarcasms, or occasional witty allusions +would call forth uproarious applause from +throngs of admiring freshmen. These were the +sunny days in Halfdan's career, days long to be +remembered. They came to an abrupt end +when old Mrs. Bjerk died, leaving nothing +behind her but her furniture and some trifling +debts. The son, who was not an eminently +practical man, underwent long hours of misery +in trying to settle up her affairs, and finally in +a moment of extreme dejection sold his entire +inheritance in a lump to a pawnbroker (reserving +for himself a few rings and trinkets) for the +modest sum of 250 dollars specie. He then +took formal leave of the Students' Union in a +brilliant speech, in which he traced the parallelisms +between the lives of Pericles and Washington,-- +in his opinion the two greatest men +the world had ever seen,--expounded his theory +of democratic government, and explained the +causes of the rapid rise of the American Republic. +The next morning he exchanged half of +his worldly possessions for a ticket to New +York, and within a few days set sail for the +land of promise, in the far West. + + + +II. + + +From Castle Garden, Halfdan made his way +up through Greenwich street, pursued by a +clamorous troop of confidence men and hotel +runners. + +"Kommen Sie mit mir. Ich bin auch +Deutsch," cried one. "Voila, voila, je parle +Francais," shouted another, seizing hold of his +valise. "Jeg er Dansk. Tale Dansk,"[1] roared +a third, with an accent which seriously impeached +his truthfulness. In order to escape +from these importunate rascals, who were every +moment getting bolder, he threw himself into +the first street-car which happened to pass; he +sat down, gazed out of the windows and soon +became so thoroughly absorbed in the animated +scenes which moved as in a panorama before his +eyes, that he quite forgot where he was going. +The conductor called for fares, and received an +English shilling, which, after some ineffectual +expostulation, he pocketed, but gave no change. +At last after about an hour's journey, the car +stopped, the conductor called out "Central +Park," and Halfdan woke up with a start. He +dismounted with a timid, deliberate step, stared +in dim bewilderment at the long rows of palatial +residences, and a chill sense of loneliness +crept over him. The hopeless strangeness of +everything he saw, instead of filling him with +rapture as he had once anticipated, Sent a cold +shiver to his heart. It is a very large affair, +this world of ours--a good deal larger than it +appeared to him gazing out upon it from his +snug little corner up under the Pole; and it was +as unsympathetic as it was large; he suddenly +felt what he had never been aware of before-- +that he was a very small part of it and of very +little account after all. He staggered over to a +bench at the entrance to the park, and sat long +watching the fine carriages as they dashed past +him; he saw the handsome women in brilliant +costumes laughing and chatting gayly; the +apathetic policemen promenading in stoic dignity +up and down upon the smooth pavements; the +jauntily attired nurses, whom in his Norse +innocence he took for mothers or aunts of the chil- +dren, wheeling baby-carriages which to Norse +eyes seemed miracles of dainty ingenuity, under +the shady crowns of the elm-trees. He did not +know how long he had been sitting there, when +a little bright-eyed girl with light kid gloves, a +small blue parasol and a blue polonaise, quite a +lady of fashion en miniature, stopped in front +of him and stared at him in shy wonder. He +had always been fond of children, and often rejoiced +in their affectionate ways and confidential +prattle, and now it suddenly touched him +with a warm sense of human fellowship to have +this little daintily befrilled and crisply starched +beauty single him out for notice among the +hundreds who reclined in the arbors, or sauntered +to and fro under the great trees. + + +[1] "I am a Dane. I speak Danish." + + + +"What is your name, my little girl?" he +asked, in a tone of friendly interest. + +"Clara," answered the child, hesitatingly; +then, having by another look assured herself of +his harmlessness, she added: "How very funny +you speak!" + +"Yes," he said, stooping down to take he +tiny begloved hand. "I do not speak as well +as you do, yet; but I shall soon learn." + +Clara looked puzzled. + +"How old are you?" she asked, raising her +parasol, and throwing back her head with an +air of superiority. + +"I am twenty-four years old." + +She began to count half aloud on her fingers: +"One, two, three, four," but, before she reached +twenty, she lost her patience. + +"Twenty-four," she exclaimed, "that is a +great deal. I am only seven, and papa gave me +a pony on my birthday. Have you got a pony?" + +"No; I have nothing but what is in this valise, +and you know I could not very well get a pony into it." + +Clara glanced curiously at the valise and +laughed; then suddenly she grew serious again, +put her hand into her pocket and seemed to be +searching eagerly for something. Presently +she hauled out a small porcelain doll's head, +then a red-painted block with letters on it, +and at last a penny. + +"Do you want them?" she said, reaching him +her treasures in both hands. "You may have +them all." + +Before he had time to answer, a shrill, +penetrating voice cried out: + +"Why, gracious! child, what are you doing ? " + +And the nurse, who had been deeply absorbed +in "The New York Ledger," came rushing up, +snatched the child away, and retreated as hastily +as she had come. + +Halfdan rose and wandered for hours aimlessly +along the intertwining roads and footpaths. +He visited the menageries, admired the +statues, took a very light dinner, consisting of +coffee, sandwiches, and ice, at the Chinese +Pavilion, and, toward evening, discovered an inviting +leafy arbor, where he could withdraw into the +privacy of his own thoughts, and ponder upon +the still unsolved problem of his destiny. The +little incident with the child had taken the edge +off his unhappiness and turned him into a more +conciliatory mood toward himself and the great +pitiless world, which seemed to take so little +notice of him. And he, who had come here with +so warm a heart and so ardent a will to join in +the great work of human advancement--to find +himself thus harshly ignored and buffeted about, +as if he were a hostile intruder! Before him +lay the huge unknown city where human life +pulsated with large, full heart-throbs, where a +breathless, weird intensity, a cold, fierce +passion seemed to be hurrying everything onward +in a maddening whirl, where a gentle, warm- +blooded enthusiast like himself had no place and +could expect naught but a speedy destruction. +A strange, unconquerable dread took possession +of him, as if he had been caught in a swift, +strong whirlpool, from which he vainly struggled +to escape. He crouched down among the +foliage and shuddered. He could not return to +the city. No, no: he never would return. He +would remain here hidden and unseen until +morning, and then he would seek a vessel bound +for his dear native land, where the great +mountains loomed up in serene majesty toward the +blue sky, where the pine-forests whispered their +dreamily sympathetic legends, in the long summer +twilights, where human existence flowed +on in calm beauty with the modest aims, small +virtues, and small vices which were the +happiness of modest, idyllic souls. He even saw +himself in spirit recounting to his astonished +countrymen the wonderful things he had heard +and seen during his foreign pilgrimage, and +smiled to himself as he imagined their wonder +when he should tell them about the beautiful +little girl who had been the first and only one +to offer him a friendly greeting in the strange +land. During these reflections he fell asleep, +and slept soundly for two or three hours. Once, +he seemed to hear footsteps and whispers among +the trees, and made an effort to rouse himself, +but weariness again overmastered him and he +slept on. At last, he felt himself seized +violently by the shoulders, and a gruff voice +shouted in his ear: + +"Get up, you sleepy dog." + +He rubbed his eyes, and, by the dim light of +the moon, saw a Herculean policeman lifting a +stout stick over his head. His former terror +came upon him with increased violence, and his +heart stood for a moment still, then, again, +hammered away as if it would burst his sides. + +"Come along!" roared the policeman, shaking +him vehemently by the collar of his coat. + +In his bewilderment he quite forgot where he +was, and, in hurried Norse sentences, assured +his persecutor that he was a harmless, honest +traveler, and implored him to release him. But +the official Hercules was inexorable. + +"My valise, my valise;" cried Halfdan. +"Pray let me get my valise." + +They returned to the place where he had +slept, but the valise was nowhere to be found. +Then, with dumb despair he resigned himself to +his fate, and after a brief ride on a street-car, +found himself standing in a large, low-ceiled +room; he covered his face with his hands and +burst into tears. + +"The grand-the happy republic," he +murmured, "spontaneous blossoming of the soul. +Alas! I have rooted up my life; I fear it will +never blossom." + +All the high-flown adjectives he had employed +in his parting speech in the Students' Union, +when he paid his enthusiastic tribute to the +Grand Republic, now kept recurring to him, and +in this moment the paradox seemed cruel. The +Grand Republic, what did it care for such as +he? A pair of brawny arms fit to wield the +pick-axe and to steer the plow it received with +an eager welcome; for a child-like, loving heart +and a generously fantastic brain, it had but the +stern greeting of the law. + + + +III. + + +The next morning, Halfdan was released +from the Police Station, having first been fined +five dollars for vagrancy. All his money, with +the exception of a few pounds which he had +exchanged in Liverpool, he had lost with his +valise, and he had to his knowledge not a single +acquaintance in the city or on the whole +continent. In order to increase his capital he +bought some fifty "Tribunes," but, as it was +already late in the day, he hardly succeeded in +selling a single copy. The next morning, he +once more stationed himself on the corner of +Murray street and Broadway, hoping in his +innocence to dispose of the papers he had still +on hand from the previous day, and actually +did find a few customers among the people who +were jumping in and out of the omnibuses that +passed up and down the great thoroughfare. +To his surprise, however, one of these gentlemen +returned to him with a very wrathful +countenance, shook his fist at him, and vociferated +with excited gestures something which to +Halfdan's ears had a very unintelligible sound. +He made a vain effort to defend himself; the +situation appeared so utterly incomprehensible +to him, and in his dumb helplessness he looked +pitiful enough to move the heart of a stone. +No English phrase suggested itself to him, only +a few Norse interjections rose to his lips. The +man's anger suddenly abated; he picked up the +paper which he had thrown on the sidewalk, +and stood for a while regarding Halfdan curiously. + +"Are you a Norwegian?" he asked. + +"Yes, I came from Norway yesterday." + +"What's your name?" + +"Halfdan Bjerk." + +"Halfdan Bjerk! My stars! Who would +have thought of meeting you here! You do not +recognize me, I suppose." + +Halfdan declared with a timid tremor in his +voice that he could not at the moment recall +his features. + +"No, I imagine I must have changed a good +deal since you saw me," said the man, suddenly +dropping into Norwegian. "I am Gustav Olson, +I used to live in the same house with you once, +but that is long ago now." + +Gustav Olson--to be sure, he was the porter's +son in the house, where his mother had once +during his childhood, taken a flat. He well +remembered having clandestinely traded jack- +knives and buttons with him, in spite of the +frequent warnings he had received to have nothing +to do with him; for Gustav, with his broad +freckled face and red hair, was looked upon by +the genteel inhabitants of the upper flats as +rather a disreputable character. He had once +whipped the son of a colonel who had been +impudent to him, and thrown a snow-ball at the +head of a new-fledged lieutenant, which offenses +he had duly expiated at a house of correction. +Since that time he had vanished from Halfdan's +horizon. He had still the same broad freckled +face, now covered with a lusty growth of coarse +red beard, the same rebellious head of hair, +which refused to yield to the subduing influences +of the comb, the same plebeian hands and feet, +and uncouth clumsiness of form. But his linen +was irreproachable, and a certain dash in his +manner, and the loud fashionableness of his +attire, gave unmistakable evidences of prosperity. + +"Come, Bjerk," said he in a tone of good- +fellowship, which was not without its sting to the +idealistic republican, "you must take up a better +business than selling yesterday's `Tribune.' +That won't pay here, you know. Come along +to our office and I will see if something can't be +done for you." + +"But I should be sorry to give you trouble," +stammered Halfdan, whose native pride, even +in his present wretchedness, protested against +accepting a favor from one whom he had been +wont to regard as his inferior. + +"Nonsense, my boy. Hurry up, I haven't +much time to spare. The office is only two +blocks from here. You don't look as if you +could afford to throw away a friendly offer." + +The last words suddenly roused Halfdan from +his apathy; for he felt that they were true. A +drowning man cannot afford to make nice +distinctions--cannot afford to ask whether the +helping hand that is extended to him be that of +an equal or an inferior. So he swallowed his +humiliation and threaded his way through the +bewildering turmoil of Broadway, by the side +of his officious friend. + +They entered a large, elegantly furnished +office, where clerks with sleek and severely +apathetic countenances stood scribbling at their desks. + +"You will have to amuse yourself as best you +can," said Olson. "Mr. Van Kirk will be here +in twenty minutes. I haven't time to entertain you." + +A dreary half hour passed. Then the door +opened and a tall, handsome man, with a full +grayish beard, and a commanding presence, +entered and took his seat at a desk in a smaller +adjoining office. He opened, with great dispatch, +a pile of letters which lay on the desk +before him, called out in a sharp, ringing tone +for a clerk, who promptly appeared, handed +him half-a-dozen letters, accompanying each +with a brief direction, took some clean paper +from a drawer and fell to writing. There was +something brisk, determined, and business-like +in his manner, which made it seem very hopeless +to Halfdan to appear before him as a petitioner. +Presently Olson entered the private office, closing +the door behind him, and a few minutes +later re-appeared and summoned Halfdan into +the chief's presence. + +"You are a Norwegian, I hear," said the +merchant, looking around over his shoulder at +the supplicant, with a preoccupied air. "You +want work. What can you do?" + +What can you do? A fatal question. But +here was clearly no opportunity for mental +debate. So, summoning all his courage, but +feeling nevertheless very faint, he answered: + +"I have passed both examen artium and +philosophicum,[2] and got my laud clear in the former, +but in the latter haud on the first point." + + +[2] Examen artium is the entrance examination to the Norwegian +University, and philosophicum the first degree. The ranks given at +these are Laudabilis prae ceteris (in student's parlance, prae), +laudabilis or laud, haud illaudabilis, or haud, etc. + + + +Mr. Van Kirk wheeled round on his chair and +faced the speaker: + +"That is all Greek to me," he said, in a severe +tone. "Can you keep accounts?" + +"No. I am afraid not." + +Keeping accounts was not deemed a classical +accomplishment in Norway. It was only "trade- +rats" who troubled themselves about such gross +things, and if our Norseman had not been too +absorbed with the problem of his destiny, he +would have been justly indignant at having +such a question put to him. + +"Then you don't know book-keeping?" + +"I think not. I never tried it." + +"Then you may be sure you don't know it. +But you must certainly have tried your hand at +something. Is there nothing you can think of +which might help you to get a living?" + +"I can play the piano--and--and the violin." + +"Very well, then. You may come this afternoon +to my house. Mr. Olson will tell you the +address. I will give you a note to Mrs. Van +Kirk. Perhaps she will engage you as a music +teacher for the children. Good morning." + + + +IV. + + +At half-past four o'clock in the afternoon, +Halfdan found himself standing in a large, dimly +lighted drawing-room, whose brilliant +upholstery, luxurious carpets, and fantastically +twisted furniture dazzled and bewildered his +senses. All was so strange, so strange; nowhere +a familiar object to give rest to the +wearied eye. Wherever he looked he saw his +shabbily attired figure repeated in the long +crystal mirrors, and he became uncomfortably +conscious of his threadbare coat, his uncouth +boots, and the general incongruity of his +appearance. With every moment his uneasiness +grew; and he was vaguely considering the +propriety of a precipitate flight, when the rustle of +a dress at the farther end of the room startled +him, and a small, plump lady, of a daintily +exquisite form, swept up toward him, gave a +slight inclination of her head, and sank down +into an easy-chair: + +"You are Mr. ----, the Norwegian, who +wishes to give music lessons?" she said, holding +a pair of gold-framed eyeglasses up to her eyes, +and running over the note which she held in her +hand. It read as follows: + + +DEAR MARTHA,--The bearer of this note is a young +Norwegian, I forgot to ascertain his name, a friend of +Olson's. He wishes to teach music. If you can help the +poor devil and give him something to do, you will oblige, + Yours, H. V. K. + + +Mrs. Van Kirk was evidently, by at least +twelve years, her husband's junior, and apparently +not very far advanced in the forties. Her +blonde hair, which was freshly crimped, fell +lightly over her smooth, narrow forehead; her +nose, mouth and chin had a neat distinctness of +outline; her complexion was either naturally or +artificially perfect, and her eyes, which were of +the purest blue, had, owing to their near-sightedness, +a certain pinched and scrutinizing look. +This look, which was without the slightest touch +of severity, indicating merely a lively degree of +interest, was further emphasized by three small +perpendicular wrinkles, which deepened and +again relaxed according to the varying intensity +of observation she bestowed upon the object +which for the time engaged her attention. + +"Your name, if you please?" said Mrs. Van +Kirk, having for awhile measured her visitor +with a glance of mild scrutiny. + +"Halfdan Bjerk." + +"Half-dan B----, how do you spell that?" + +"B-j-e-r-k." + +"B-jerk. Well, but I mean, what is your +name in English?" + +Halfdan looked blank, and blushed to his +ears. + +"I wish to know," continued the lady +energetically, evidently anxious to help him out, +"what your name would mean in plain English. +Bjerk, it certainly must mean something." + +"Bjerk is a tree--a birch-tree." + +"Very well, Birch,--that is a very respectable +name. And your first name? What did +you say that was? + +"H-a-l-f-d-a-n." + +"Half Dan. Why not a whole Dan and be +done with it? Dan Birch, or rather Daniel +Birch. Indeed, that sounds quite Christian." + +"As you please, madam," faltered the victim,; +looking very unhappy. + +"You will pardon my straightforwardness, +won't you? B-jerk. I could never pronounce +that, you know." + +"Whatever may be agreeable to you, madam, +will be sure to please me." + +"That is very well said. And you will find +that it always pays to try to please me. And +you wish to teach music? If you have no +objection I will call my oldest daughter. She is +an excellent judge of music, and if your playing +meets with her approval, I will engage you, +as my husband suggests, not to teach Edith, +you understand, but my youngest child, Clara." + +Halfdan bowed assent, and Mrs. Van Kirk +rustled out into the hall where she rang a bell, +and re-entered. A servant in dress-coat +appeared, and again vanished as noiselessly as he +had come. To our Norseman there was some +thing weird and uncanny about these silent +entrances and exits; he could hardly suppress a +shudder. He had been accustomed to hear the +clatter of people's heels upon the bare floors, as +they approached, and the audible crescendo of +their footsteps gave one warning, and prevented +one from being taken by surprise. While +absorbed in these reflections, his senses must +have been dormant; for just then Miss Edith +Van Kirk entered, unheralded by anything but +a hovering perfume, the effect of which was to +lull him still deeper into his wondering abstraction. + +"Mr. Birch," said Mrs. Van Kirk, "this is +my daughter Miss Edith," and as Halfdan +sprang to his feet and bowed with visible +embarrassment, she continued: + +"Edith, this is Mr. Daniel Birch, whom your +father has sent here to know if he would be +serviceable as a music teacher for Clara. And +now, dear, you will have to decide about the +merits of Mr. Birch. I don't know enough +about music to be anything of a judge." + +"If Mr. Birch will be kind enough to play," +said Miss Edith with a languidly musical +intonation," I shall be happy to listen to him." + +Halfdan silently signified his willingness and +followed the ladies to a smaller apartment which +was separated from the drawing-room by folding +doors. The apparition of the beautiful +young girl who was walking at his side had +suddenly filled him with a strange burning and +shuddering happiness; he could not tear his +eyes away from her; she held him as by a powerful +spell. And still, all the while he had a +painful sub-consciousness of his own unfortunate +appearance, which was thrown into cruel relief +by her splendor. The tall, lithe magnificence of +her form, the airy elegance of her toilet, which +seemed the perfection of self-concealing art, the +elastic deliberateness of her step--all wrought +like a gentle, deliciously soothing opiate upon +the Norseman's fancy and lifted him into hitherto +unknown regions of mingled misery and +bliss. She seemed a combination of the most +divine contradictions, one moment supremely +conscious, and in the next adorably child-like +and simple, now full of arts and coquettish +innuendoes, then again na<i:>ve, unthinking and +almost boyishly blunt and direct; in a word, +one of those miraculous New York girls whom +abstractly one may disapprove of, but in the +concrete must abjectly adore. This easy +predominance of the masculine heart over the mas- +culine reason in the presence of an impressive +woman, has been the motif of a thousand tragedies +in times past, and will inspire a thousand +more in times to come. + +Halfdan sat down at the grand piano and +played Chopin's Nocturne in G major, flinging +out that elaborate filigree of sound with an +impetuosity and superb ABANDON which caused the +ladies to exchange astonished glances behind his +back. The transitions from the light and ethereal +texture of melody to the simple, more concrete +theme, which he rendered with delicate +shadings of articulation, were sufficiently +startling to impress even a less cultivated ear than +that of Edith Van Kirk, who had, indeed, +exhausted whatever musical resources New York +has to offer. And she was most profoundly +impressed. As he glided over the last pianissimo +notes toward the two concluding chords (an ending +so characteristic of Chopin) she rose and hurried +to his side with a heedless eagerness, which was +more eloquent than emphatic words of praise. + +"Won't you please repeat this passage?" she +said, humming the air with soft modulations; +"I have always regarded the monotonous repetition +of this strain" (and she indicated it lightly +by a few touches of the keys) "as rather a +blemish of an otherwise perfect composition. +But as you play it, it is anything but monotonous. +You put into this single phrase a more intense +meaning and a greater variety of thought than +I ever suspected it was capable of expressing." + +"It is my favorite composition," answered he, +modestly. "I have bestowed more thought +upon it than upon anything I have ever played, +unless perhaps it be the one in G minor, which, +with all its difference of mood and phraseology, +expresses an essentially kindred thought." + +"My dear Mr. Birch," exclaimed Mrs. Van +Kirk, whom his skillful employment of technical +terms (in spite of his indifferent accent) had +impressed even more than his rendering of the +music,--"you are a comsummate{sic} artist, and +we shall deem it a great privilege if you will +undertake to instruct our child. I have listened +to you with profound satisfaction." + +Halfdan acknowledged the compliment by a +bow and a blush, and repeated the latter part of +the nocturne according to Edith's request. + +"And now," resumed Edith, "may I trouble +you to play the G minor, which has even puzzled +me more than the one you have just played." + +"It ought really to have been played first," +replied Halfdan. "It is far intenser in its coloring +and has a more passionate ring, but its conclusion +does not seem to be final. There is no +rest in it, and it seems oddly enough to be a +mere transition into the major, which is its +proper supplement and completes the fragmentary +thought." + +Mother and daughter once more telegraphed +wondering looks at each other, while Halfdan +plunged into the impetuous movements of the +minor nocturne, which he played to the end with +ever-increasing fervor and animation. + +"Mr. Birch," said Edith, as he arose from the +piano with a flushed face, and the agitation of +the music still tingling through his nerves. +"You are a far greater musician than you seem +to be aware of. I have not been taking lessons +for some time, but you have aroused all my musical +ambition, and if you will accept me too, as +a pupil, I shall deem it a favor." + +"I hardly know if I can teach you anything," +answered he, while his eyes dwelt with keen +delight on her beautiful form. "But in my present +position I can hardly afford to decline so +flattering an offer." + +"You mean to say that you would decline it if you +were in a position to do so," said she, smiling. + +"No, only that I should question my convenience +more closely." + +"Ah, never mind. I take all the responsibility. +I shall cheerfully consent to being imposed upon by you." + +Mrs. Van Kirk in the mean while had been +examining the contents of a fragrant Russia-leather +pocket-book, and she now drew out two crisp +ten-dollar notes, and held them out toward him. + +"I prefer to make sure of you by paying you +in advance," said she, with a cheerfully familiar +nod, and a critical glance at his attire, the meaning +of which he did not fail to detect. "Somebody +else might make the same discovery that +we have made to-day, and outbid us. And we +do not want to be cheated out of our good fortune +in having been the first to secure so valuable a prize." + +"You need have no fear on that score, +madam," retorted Halfdan, with a vivid blush, +and purposely misinterpreting the polite subterfuge. +"You may rely upon my promise. I shall be here again, +as soon as you wish me to return." + +"Then, if you please, we shall look for you +to-morrow morning at ten o'clock." + +And Mrs. Van Kirk hesitatingly folded up +her notes and replaced them in her pocket-book. + +To our idealist there was something extremely +odious in this sudden offer of money. It was +the first time any one had offered to pay him, +and it seemed to put him on a level with a common +day-laborer. His first impulse was to resent +it as a gratuitous humiliation, but a glance +at Mrs. Van Kirk's countenance, which was all +aglow with officious benevolence, re-assured him, +and his indignation died away. + +That same afternoon Olson, having been +informed of his friend's good fortune, volunteered +a loan of a hundred dollars, and accompanied +him to a fashionable tailor, where he underwent +a pleasing metamorphosis. + + + +V. + + +In Norway the ladies dress with the innocent +purpose of protecting themselves against the +weather; if this purpose is still remotely present +in the toilets of American women of to-day, +it is, at all events, sufficiently disguised to +challenge detection, very much like a primitive +Sanscrit root in its French and English derivatives. +This was the reflection which was uppermost in +Halfdan's mind as Edith, ravishing to behold +in the airy grace of her fragrant morning toilet, +at the appointed time took her seat at his side +before the piano. Her presence seemed so +intense, so all-absorbing, that it left no thought +for the music. A woman, with all the spiritual +mysteries which that name implies, had always +appeared to him rather a composite phenomenon, +even apart from those varied accessories of +dress, in which as by an inevitable analogy, she +sees fit to express the inner multiformity of her +being. Nevertheless, this former conception +of his, when compared to that wonderful +complexity of ethereal lines, colors, tints and half- +tints which go to make up the modern New +York girl, seemed inexpressibly simple, almost +what plain arithmetic must appear to a man who +has mastered calculus. + +Edith had opened one of those small red- +covered volumes of Chopin where the rich, +wondrous melodies lie peacefully folded up like +strange exotic flowers in an herbarium. She began +to play the fantasia impromtu, which ought +to be dashed off at a single "heat," whose +passionate impulse hurries it on breathlessly toward +its abrupt finale. But Edith toiled considerably +with her fingering, and blurred the keen +edges of each swift phrase by her indistinct ar- +ticulation. And still there was a sufficiently +ardent intention in her play to save it from being +a failure. She made a gesture of disgust +when she had finished, shut the book, and let +her hands drop crosswise in her lap. + +"I only wanted to give you a proof of my incapacity," +she said, turning her large luminous gaze +upon her instructor, "in order to make +you duly appreciate what you have undertaken. +Now, tell me truly and honestly, +are you not discouraged?" + +"Not by any means," replied he, while the +rapture of her presence rippled through his +nerves, "you have fire enough in you to make +an admirable musician. But your fingers, as +yet, refuse to carry out your fine intentions. +They only need discipline." + +"And do you suppose you can discipline +them? They are a fearfully obstinate set, and +cause me infinite mortification." + +"Would you allow me to look at your hand?" + +She raised her right hand, and with a sort of +impulsive heedlessness let it drop into his. An +exclamation of surprise escaped him. + +`{`}If you will pardon me," he said, "it is a +superb hand--a hand capable of performing mira- +cles--musical miracles I mean. Only look here" +--(and he drew the fore and second fingers apart) +--"so firmly set in the joint and still so flexible. +I doubt if Liszt himself can boast a finer row +of fingers. Your hands will surely not prevent +you from becoming a second Von Bulow, which to +my mind means a good deal more than a second Liszt." + +"Thank you, that is quite enough," she +exclaimed, with an incredulous laugh; "you have +done bravely. That at all events throws the +whole burden of responsibility upon myself, if +I do not become a second somebody. I shall be +perfectly satisfied, however, if you can only +make me as good a musician as you are yourself, +so that I can render a not too difficult piece +without feeling all the while that I am committing +sacrilege in mutilating the fine thoughts +of some great composer." + +"You are too modest; you do not--" + +"No, no, I am not modest," she interrupted +him with an impetuosity which startled him. +"I beg of you not to persist in paying me +compliments. I get too much of that cheap article +elsewhere. I hate to be told that I am better +than I know I am. If you are to do me any +good by your instruction, you must be perfectly +sincere toward me, and tell me plainly of my +short-comings. I promise you beforehand that +I shall never be offended. There is my hand. +Now, is it a bargain?" + +His fingers closed involuntarily over the soft +beautiful hand, and once more the luxury of her +touch sent a thrill of delight through him. + +"I have not been insincere," he murmured, +"but I shall be on my guard in future, even +against the appearance of insincerity." + +"And when I play detestably, you will say so, +and not smooth it over with unmeaning flatteries?" + +"I will try." + +"Very well, then we shall get on well +together. Do not imagine that this is a mere +feminine whim of mine. I never was more in +earnest. Men, and I believe foreigners, to a +greater degree than Americans, have the idea +that women must be treated with gentle forbearance; +that their follies, if they are foolish, +must be glossed over with some polite name. +They exert themselves to the utmost to make +us mere playthings, and, as such, contemptible +both in our own eyes and in theirs. No sincere +respect can exist where the truth has to be +avoided. But the majority of American women +are made of too stern a stuff to be dealt with in +that way. They feel the lurking insincerity +even where politeness forbids them to show it, +and it makes them disgusted both with themselves, +and with the flatterer. And now you +must pardon me for having spoken so plainly +to you on so short an acquaintance; but you +are a foreigner, and it may be an act of friendship +to initiate you as soon as possible into our +ways and customs." + +He hardly knew what to answer. Her +vehemence was so sudden, and the sentiments she +had uttered so different from those which he +had habitually ascribed to women, that he could +only sit and gaze at her in mute astonishment. +He could not but admit that in the main she +had judged him rightly, and that his own attitude +and that of other men toward her sex, +were based upon an implied assumption of superiority. + +"I am afraid I have shocked you," she +resumed, noticing the startled expression of his +countenance. "But really it was quite inevitable, +if we were at all to understand each other. +You will forgive me, won't you?" + +"Forgive!" stammered he, "I have nothing +to forgive. It was only your merciless truth- +fulness which startled me. I rather owe you +thanks, if you will allow me to be grateful to +you. It seems an enviable privilege." + +"Now," interrupted Edith, raising her +forefinger in playful threat, "remember your +promise." + +The lesson was now continued without further +interruption. When it was finished, a little girl, +with her hair done up in curl-papers, and a very +stiffly starched dress, which stood out on all sides +almost horizontally, entered, accompanied by +Mrs. Van Kirk. Halfdan immediately recognized +his acquaintance from the park, and it appeared +to him a good omen that this child, whose friendly +interest in him had warmed his heart in a moment +when his fortunes seemed so desperate, +should continue to be associated with his life +on this new continent. Clara was evidently +greatly impressed by the change in his appearance, +and could with difficulty be restrained +from commenting upon it. + +She proved a very apt scholar in music, and +enjoyed the lessons the more for her cordial +liking of her teacher. + +It will be necessary henceforth to omit the +less significant details in the career of our friend +"Mr. Birch." Before a month was past, he had +firmly established himself in the favor of the +different members of the Van Kirk family. +Mrs. Van Kirk spoke of him to her lady visitors +as "a perfect jewel," frequently leaving them +in doubt as to whether he was a cook or a +coachman. Edith apostrophized him to her +fashionable friends as "a real genius," leaving +a dim impression upon their minds of flowing +locks, a shiny velvet jacket, slouched hat, +defiant neck-tie and a general air of disreputable +pretentiousness. Geniuses of the foreign type +were never, in the estimation of fashionable +New York society, what you would call "exactly +nice," and against prejudices of this order +no amount of argument will ever prevail. Clara, +who had by this time discovered that her teacher +possessed an inexhaustible fund of fairy stories, +assured her playmates across the street that he +was "just splendid," and frequently invited +them over to listen to his wonderful tales. Mr. +Van Kirk himself, of course, was non-committal, +but paid the bills unmurmuringly. + +Halfdan in the meanwhile was vainly struggling +against his growing passion for Edith; +but the more he rebelled the more hopelessly +he found himself entangled in its inextricable +net. The fly, as long as it keeps quiet in the +spider's web, may for a moment forget its +situation; but the least effort to escape is apt to +frustrate itself and again reveal the imminent +peril. Thus he too "kicked against the pricks," +hoped, feared, rebelled against his destiny, and +again, from sheer weariness, relapsed into a +dull, benumbed apathy. In spite of her friendly +sympathy, he never felt so keenly his alienism +as in her presence. She accepted the spontaneous +homage he paid her, sometimes with impatience, +as something that was really beneath +her notice; at other times she frankly +recognized it, bantered him with his "Old World +chivalry," which would soon evaporate in the +practical American atmosphere, and called him +her Viking, her knight and her faithful squire. +But it never occurred to her to regard his +devotion in a serious light, and to look upon him +as a possible lover had evidently never entered +her head. As their intercourse grew more +intimate, he had volunteered to read his favorite +poets with her, and had gradually succeeded in +imparting to her something of his own passionate +liking for Heine and Bj<o:>rnson. She had in +return called his attention to the works of +American authors who had hitherto been little +more than names to him, and they had thus +managed to be of mutual benefit to each other, +and to spend many a pleasant hour during the +long winter afternoons in each other's company. +But Edith had a very keen sense of humor, and +could hardly restrain her secret amusement when +she heard him reading Longfellow's "Psalm of +Life" and Poe's "Raven" (which had been +familiar to her from her babyhood), often with +false accent, but always with intense enthusiasm. +The reflection that he had had no part of his +life in common with her,--that he did not love +the things which she loved,--could not share +her prejudices (and women have a feeling akin +to contempt for a man who does not respond to +their prejudices)--removed him at times almost +beyond the reach of her sympathy. It was +interesting enough as long as the experience +was novel, to be thus unconsciously exploring +another person's mind and finding so many +strange objects there; but after a while the +thing began to assume an uncomfortably serious +aspect, and then there seemed to be something +almost terrible about it. At such times a call +from a gentleman of her own nation, even +though he were one of the placidly stupid type, +would be a positive relief; she could abandon +herself to the secure sense of being at home; +she need fear no surprises, and in the smooth +shallows of their talk there were no unsuspected +depths to excite and to baffle her ingenuity. +And, again, reverting in her thought to Halfdan, +his conversational brilliancy would almost +repel her, as something odious and un-American, +the cheap result of outlandish birth and +unrepublican education. Not that she had ever +valued republicanism very highly; she was one +of those who associated politics with noisy +vulgarity in speech and dress, and therefore +thanked fortune that women were permitted to +keep aloof from it. But in the presence of this +alien she found herself growing patriotic; that +much-discussed abstraction, which we call our +country (and which is nothing but the aggregate +of all the slow and invisible influences +which go toward making up our own being), +became by degrees a very palpable and +intelligible fact to her. + +Frequently while her American self was thus +loudly asserting itself, Edith inflicted many a +cruel wound upon her foreign adorer. Once,-- +it was the Fourth of July, more than a year after +Halfdan's arrival, a number of young ladies and +gentlemen, after having listened to a patriotic +oration, were invited in to an informal luncheon. +While waiting, they naturally enough spent their +time in singing national songs, and Halfdan's +clear tenor did good service in keeping the +straggling voices together. When they had +finished, Edith went up to him and was quite +effusive in her expressions of gratitude. + +"I am sure we ought all to be very grateful +to you, Mr. Birch," she said, "and I, for my +part, can assure you that I am." + +"Grateful? Why?" demanded Halfdan, +looking quite unhappy. + +"For singing OUR national songs, of course. +Now, won't you sing one of your own, please? +We should all be so delighted to hear how a +Swedish--or Norwegian, is it?--national song +sounds." + +"Yes, Mr. Birch, DO sing a Swedish song," +echoed several voices. + +They, of course, did not even remotely suspect +their own cruelty. He had, in his enthusiasm +for the day allowed himself to forget that +he was not made of the same clay as they were, +that he was an exile and a stranger, and must +ever remain so, that he had no right to share +their joy in the blessing of liberty. Edith had +taken pains to dispel the happy illusion, and had +sent him once more whirling toward his cold +native Pole. His passion came near choking +him, and, to conceal his impetuous emotion, he +flung himself down on the piano-stool, and struck +some introductory chords with perhaps a little +superfluous emphasis. Suddenly his voice burst +out into the Swedish national anthem, "Our +Land, our Land, our Fatherland," and the air +shook and palpitated with strong martial melody. +His indignation, his love and his misery, +imparted strength to his voice, and its occasional +tremble in the PIANO passages was something +more than an artistic intention. He was loudly +applauded as he arose, and the young ladies +thronged about him to ask if he "wouldn't +please write out the music for them." + +Thus month after month passed by, and every +day brought its own misery. Mrs. Van Kirk's +patronizing manners, and ostentatious kindness, +often tested his patience to the utmost. If he +was guilty of an innocent witticism or a little +quaintness of expression, she always assumed it +to be a mistake of terms and corrected him +with an air of benign superiority. At times, of +course, her corrections were legitimate, as for +instance, when he spoke of WEARING a cane, +instead of CARRYING one, but in nine cases out of +ten the fault lay in her own lack of imagination +and not in his ignorance of English. On such +occasions Edith often took pity on him, +defended him against her mother's criticism, and +insisted that if this or that expression was not +in common vogue, that was no reason why it +should not be used, as it was perfectly +grammatical, and, moreover, in keeping with the +spirit of the language. And he, listening +passively in admiring silence to her argument, +thanked her even for the momentary pain +because it was followed by so great a happiness. +For it was so sweet to be defended by Edith, to +feel that he and she were standing together side +by side against the outer world. Could he only +show her in the old heroic manner how much he +loved her! Would only some one that was +dear to her die, so that he, in that breaking +down of social barriers which follows a great +calamity, might comfort her in her sorrow. +Would she then, perhaps, weeping, lean her +wonderful head upon his breast, feeling but that +he was a fellow-mortal, who had a heart that +was loyal and true, and forgetting, for one brief +instant, that he was a foreigner. Then, to +touch that delicate Elizabethan frill which +wound itself so daintily about Edith's neck-- +what inconceivable rapture! But it was quite +impossible. It could never be. These were +selfish thoughts, no doubt, but they were a lover's +selfishness, and, as such, bore a close kinship to +all that is purest and best in human nature. + +It is one of the tragic facts of this life, that a +relation so unequal as that which existed between +Halfdan and Edith, is at all possible. As +for Edith, I must admit that she was well aware +that her teacher was in love with her. Women +have wonderfully keen senses for phenomena of +that kind, and it is an illusion if any one +imagines, as our Norseman did, that he has locked +his secret securely in the hidden chamber of his +heart. In fleeting intonations, unconscious +glances and attitudes, and through a hundred +other channels it will make its way out, and the +bereaved jailer may still clasp his key in fierce +triumph, never knowing that he has been +robbed. It was of course no fault of Edith's +that she had become possessed of Halfdan's +heart-secret. She regarded it as on the whole +rather an absurd affair, and prized it very +lightly. That a love so strong and yet so humble, +so destitute of hope and still so unchanging, +reverent and faithful, had something grand and +touching in it, had never occurred to her. It is +a truism to say that in our social code the value +of a man's character is determined by his position; +and fine traits in a foreigner (unless he +should happen to be something very great) +strike us rather as part of a supposed mental +alienism, and as such, naturally suspicious. It +is rather disgraceful than otherwise to have your +music teacher in love with you, and critical +friends will never quite banish the suspicion +that you have encouraged him. + +Edith had, in her first delight at the discovery +of Halfdan's talent, frankly admitted him +to a relation of apparent equality. He was a +man of culture, had the manners and bearing of +a gentleman, and had none of those theatrical +airs which so often raise a sort of invisible wall +between foreigners and Americans. Her mother, +who loved to play the patron, especially to young +men, had invited him to dinner-parties and introduced +him to their friends, until almost every one +looked upon him as a protege of the family. He +appeared so well in a parlor, and had really such +a distinguished presence, that it was a pleasure +to look at him. He was remarkably free from +those obnoxious traits which generalizing American +travelers have led us to believe were inseparable +from foreign birth; his finger-nails were +in no way conspicuous; he did not, as a French +count, a former adorer of Edith's, had done, +indulge an unmasculine taste for diamond rings +(possibly because he had none); his politeness +was unobtrusive and subdued, and of his accent +there was just enough left to give an agreeable +color of individuality to his speech. But, for +all that, Edith could never quite rid herself of +the impression that he was intensely un-American. +There was a certain idyllic quiescence +about him, a child-like directness and simplicity, +and a total absence of "push," which were +startlingly at variance with the spirit of American +life. An American could never have been +content to remain in an inferior position without +trying, in some way, to better his fortunes. +But Halfdan could stand still and see, without +the faintest stirring of envy, his plebeian friend +Olson, whose education and talents could bear +no comparison with his own, rise rapidly above +him, and apparently have no desire to emulate +him. He could sit on a cricket in a corner, +with Clara on his lap, and two or three little +girls nestling about him, and tell them fairy +stories by the hour, while his kindly face +beamed with innocent happiness. And if Clara, +to coax him into continuing the entertainment, +offered to kiss him, his measure of joy was full. +This fair child, with her affectionate ways, and +her confiding prattle, wound herself ever more +closely about his homeless heart, and he clung +to her with a touching devotion. For she was +the only one who seemed to be unconscious of +the difference of blood, who had not yet learned +that she was an American and he--a foreigner. + + + +VI. + + +Three years had passed by and still the situation +was unchanged. Halfdan still taught music +and told fairy stories to the children. He had +a good many more pupils now than three years +ago, although he had made no effort to solicit +patronage, and had never tried to advertise his +talent by what he regarded as vulgar and +inartistic display. But Mrs. Van Kirk, who had by +this time discovered his disinclination to assert +himself, had been only the more active; had +"talked him up" among her aristocratic friends; +had given musical soirees, at which she had +coaxed him to play the principal role, and had +in various other ways exerted herself in his +behalf. It was getting to be quite fashionable to +admire his quiet, unostentatious style of playing, +which was so far removed from the noisy +bravado and clap-trap then commonly in vogue. +Even professional musicians began to indorse +him, and some, who had discovered that "there +was money in him," made him tempting offers +for a public engagement. But, with characteristic +modesty, he distrusted their verdict; his +sensitive nature shrank from anything which had +the appearance of self-assertion or display. + +But Edith--ah, if it had not been for Edith +he might have found courage to enter at the +door of fortune, which was now opened ajar. +That fame, if he should gain it, would bring +him any nearer to her, was a thought that was +alien to so unworldly a temperament as his. +And any action that had no bearing upon his +relation to her, left him cold--seemed unworthy +of the effort. If she had asked him to play in +public; if she had required of him to go to the +North Pole, or to cut his own throat, I verily +believe he would have done it. And at last +Edith did ask him to play. She and Olson had +plotted together, and from the very friendliest +motives agreed to play into each other's hands. + +"If you only WOULD consent to play," said she, +in her own persuasive way, one day as they had +finished their lesson, "we should all be so happy. +Only think how proud we should be of your +success, for you know there is nothing you +can't do in the way of music if you really want +to." + +"Do you really think so?" exclaimed he, +while his eyes suddenly grew large and luminous. + +"Indeed I do," said Edith, emphatically. + +"And if--if I played well," faltered he, +"would it really please you?" + +"Of course it would," cried Edith, laughing; +"how can you ask such a foolish question?" + +"Because I hardly dared to believe it." + +"Now listen to me," continued the girl, +leaning forward in her chair, and beaming all over +with kindly officiousness; "now for once you +must be rational and do just what I tell you. I +shall never like you again if you oppose me in +this, for I have set my heart upon it; you must +promise beforehand that you will be good and +not make any objection. Do you hear?" + +When Edith assumed this tone toward him, +she might well have made him promise to perform +miracles. She was too intent upon her +benevolent scheme to heed the possible +inferences which he might draw from her sudden +display of interest. + +"Then you promise?" repeated she, eagerly, +as he hesitated to answer. + +"Yes, I promise." + +"Now, you must not be surprised; but mamma +and I have made arrangements with Mr. +S---- that you are to appear under his auspices +at a concert which is to be given a week from +to-night. All our friends are going, and we +shall take up all the front seats, and I have +already told my gentlemen friends to scatter +through the audience, and if they care anything +for my favor, they will have to applaud vigorously." + +Halfdan reddened up to his temples, and +began to twist his watch-chain nervously. + +"You must have small confidence in my +ability," he murmured, "since you resort to +precautions like these." + +"But my dear Mr. Birch," cried Edith, who +was quick to discover that she had made a +mistake, "it is not kind in you to mistrust me in +that way. If a New York audience were as +highly cultivated in music as you are, I admit +that my precautions would be superfluous. But +the papers, you know, will take their tone from +the audience, and therefore we must make use +of a little innocent artifice to make sure of it. +Everything depends upon the success of your +first public appearance, and if your friends can +in this way help you to establish the reputation +which is nothing but your right, I am sure you +ought not to bind their hands by your foolish +sensitiveness. You don't know the American +way of doing things as well as I do, therefore +you must stand by your promise, and leave +everything to me." + +It was impossible not to believe that anything +Edith chose to do was above reproach. She +looked so bewitching in her excited eagerness +for his welfare that it would have been inhuman +to oppose her. So he meekly succumbed, and +began to discuss with her the programme for +the concert. + +During the next week there was hardly a day +that he did not read some startling paragraph +in the newspapers about "the celebrated Scandinavian +pianist," whose appearance at S---- +Hall was looked forward to as the principal +event of the coming season. He inwardly +rebelled against the well-meant exaggerations; +but as he suspected that it was Edith's influence +which was in this way asserting itself in his behalf, +he set his conscience at rest and remained silent. + +The evening of the concert came at last, and, +as the papers stated the next morning, "the +large hall was crowded to its utmost capacity +with a select and highly appreciative audience." +Edith must have played her part of the performance +skillfully, for as he walked out upon +the stage, he was welcomed with an enthusiastic +burst of applause, as if he had been a world- +renowned artist. At Edith's suggestion, her +two favorite nocturnes had been placed first +upon the programme; then followed one of +those ballads of Chopin, whose rhythmic din and +rush sweep onward, beleaguering the ear like +eager, melodious hosts, charging in thickening +ranks and columns, beating impetuous retreats, +and again uniting with one grand emotion the +wide-spreading army of sound for the final +victory. Besides these, there was one of Liszt's +"Rhapsodies Hongroises," an impromptu by +Schubert, and several orchestral pieces; but the +greater part of the programme was devoted +to Chopin, because Halfdan, with his great, +hopeless passion laboring in his breast, felt that +he could interpret Chopin better than he could +any other composer. He carried his audience +by storm. As he retired to the dressing-room, +after having finished the last piece, his friends, +among whom Edith and Mrs. Van Kirk were +the most conspicuous, thronged about him, +showering their praises and congratulations +upon him. They insisted with much friendly +urging upon taking him home in their carriage; +Clara kissed him, Mrs. Van Kirk introduced +him to her lady acquaintances as "our friend, +Mr. Birch," and Edith held his hand so long in +hers that he came near losing his presence of +mind and telling her then and there that he +loved her. As his eyes rested on her, they +became suddenly suffused with tears, and a vast +bewildering happiness vibrated through his +frame. At last he tore himself away and wandered +aimlessly through the long, lonely streets. +Why could he not tell Edith that he loved her? +Was there any disgrace in loving? This heavenly +passion which so suddenly had transfused +his being, and year by year deadened the +substance of his old self, creating in its stead +something new and wild and strange which he +never could know, but still held infinitely dear +--had it been sent to him merely as a scourge to +test his capacity for suffering? + +Once, while he was a child, his mother had +told him that somewhere in this wide world +there lived a maiden whom God had created +for him, and for him alone, and when he should +see her, he should love her, and his life should +thenceforth be all for her. It had hardly +occurred to him, then, to question whether she +would love him in return, it had appeared so +very natural that she should. Now he had +found this maiden, and she had been very kind +to him; but her kindness had been little better +than cruelty, because he had demanded something +more than kindness. And still he had +never told her of his love. He must tell her even +this very night while the moon rode high in the +heavens and all the small differences between +human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit +stillness. He knew well that by the relentless +glare of the daylight his own insignificance +would be cruelly conspicuous in the presence of +her splendor; his scruples would revive, and his +courage fade. + +The night was clear and still. A clock struck +eleven in some church tower near by. The Van +Kirk mansion rose tall and stately in the moonlight, +flinging a dense mass of shadow across +the street. Up in the third story he saw two +windows lighted; the curtains were drawn, but +the blinds were not closed. All the rest of the +house was dark. He raised his voice and sang +a Swedish serenade which seemed in perfect +concord with his own mood. His clear tenor +rose through the silence of the night, and a +feeble echo flung it back from the mansion +opposite: + + [3] "Star, sweet star, that brightly beamest, + Glittering on the skies nocturnal, + Hide thine eye no more from me, + Hide thine eye no more from me!" + + +[3] Free translation of a Swedish serenade, the name of whose author I +have forgotten. H. H. B. + + + +The curtain was drawn aside, the window +cautiously raised, and the outline of Edith's +beautiful head appeared dark and distinct +against the light within. She instantly recognized him. + +"You must go away, Mr. Birch," came her +voice in an anxious whisper out of the shadow. +"Pray go away. You will wake up the people." + +Her words were audible enough, but they +failed to convey any meaning to his excited +mind. Once more his voice floated upward to +her opened window: + + "And I yearn to reach thy dwelling, + Yearn to rise from earth's fierce turmoil; + Sweetest star upward to thee, + Yearn to rise, bright star to thee." + + +"Dear Mr. Birch," she whispered once more +in tones of distress. "Pray DO go away. Or +perhaps," she interrupted herself "--wait one +moment and I will come down." + +Presently the front door was noiselessly +opened, and Edith's tall, lithe form, dressed in a +white flowing dress, and with her blonde hair +rolling loosely over her shoulders, appeared for +an instant, and then again vanished. With one +leap Halfdan sprang up the stairs and pushed +through the half-opened door. Edith closed +the door behind him, then with rapid steps led +the way to the back parlor where the moon broke +feebly through the bars of the closed shutters. + +"Now Mr. Birch," she said, seating herself +upon a lounge, "you may explain to me what +this unaccountable behavior of yours means. +I should hardly think I had deserved to be +treated in this way by you." + +Halfdan was utterly bewildered; a nervous +fit of trembling ran through him, and he +endeavored in vain to speak. He had been +prepared for passionate reproaches, but this calm +severity chilled him through, and he could only +gasp and tremble, but could utter no word in +his defense. + +"I suppose you are aware," continued Edith, +in the same imperturbable manner, "that if I +had not interrupted you, the policeman would +have h*eard you, and you would have been +arrested for street disturbance. Then to-morrow +we should have seen it in all the newspapers, +and I should have been the laughing-stock of +the whole town." + +No, surely he had never thought of it in +that light; the idea struck him as entirely new. +There was a long pause. A cock crowed with +a drowsy remoteness in some neighboring yard, +and the little clock on the mantel-piece ticked +on patiently in the moonlit dusk. + +"If you have nothing to say," resumed Edith, +while the stern indifference in her voice +perceptibly relaxed, "then I will bid you good- +night." + +She arose, and with a grand sweep of her +drapery, moved toward the door. + +"Miss Edith," cried he, stretching his hands +despairingly after her, "you must not leave me." + +She paused, tossed her hair back with her +hands, and gazed at him over her shoulder. He +threw himself on his knees, seized the hem of +her dress, and pressed it to his lips. It was a +gesture of such inexpressible humility that even +a stone would have relented. + +"Do not be foolish, Mr. Birch," she said, try- +ing to pull her dress away from him. "Get up, +and if you have anything rational to say to me, +I will stay and listen." + +"Yes, yes," he whispered, hoarsely, "I shall +be rational. Only do not leave me." + +She again sank down wearily upon the +lounge, and looked at him in expectant silence. + +"Miss Edith," pleaded he in the same hoarse, +passionate undertone, "have pity on me, and +do not despise me. I love you--oh--if you +would but allow me to die for you, I should be +the happiest of men." + +Again he shuddered, and stood long gazing +at her with a mute, pitiful appeal. A tear stole +into Edith's eye and trickled down over her +cheek. + +"Ah, Mr. Birch," she murmured, while a +sigh shook her bosom, "I am sorry--very sorry +that this misfortune has happened to you. You +have deserved a better fate than to love me--to +love a woman who can never give you anything +in return for what you give her." + +"Never?" he repeated mournfully, "never?" + +"No, never! You have been a good friend +to me, and as such I value you highly, and I had +hoped that you would always remain so. But +I see that it cannot be. It will perhaps be best +for you henceforth not to see me, at least not +until--pardon the expression--you have out- +lived this generous folly. And now, you know, +you will need me no more. You have made a +splendid reputation, and if you choose to avail +yourself of it, your fortune is already made. I +shall always rejoice to hear of your success, and +--and if you should ever need a FRIEND, you +must come to no one but me. I know that these +are feeble words, Mr. Birch, and if they seem +cold to you, you must pardon me. I can say +nothing more." + +They were indeed feeble words, although +most cordially spoken. He tried to weigh them, +to measure their meaning, but his mind was as +if benumbed, and utterly incapable of thought. +He walked across the floor, perhaps only to do +something, not feeling where he trod, but still +with an absurd sensation that he was taking +immoderately long steps. Then he stopped +abruptly, wrung his hands, and gazed at Edith. +And suddenly, like a flash in a vacuum, the +thought shot through his brain that he had seen +this very scene somewhere--in a dream, in a +remote childhood, in a previous existence, he did +not know when or where. It seemed strangely +familiar, and in the next instant strangely mean- +ingless and unreal. The walls, the floor-- +everything began to move, to whirl about him; he +struck his hands against his forehead, and sank +down into a damask-covered easy-chair. With +a faint cry of alarm, Edith sprang up, seized a +bottle of cologne which happened to be within +reach, and knelt down at his side. She put her +arm around his neck, and raised his head. + +"Mr. Birch, dear Mr. Birch," she cried, in a +frightened whisper, "for God's sake come to +yourself! O God, what have I done?" + +She blew the eau-de-cologne into his face, +and, as he languidly opened his eyes, he felt the +touch of her warm hand upon his cheeks and his +forehead. + +"Thank heaven! he is better," she murmured, +still continuing to bathe his temples. "How do +you feel now, Mr. Birch?" she added, in a tone +of anxious inquiry. + +"Thank you, it was an unpardonable weakness," +he muttered, without changing his attitude. +"Do not trouble yourself about me. I +shall soon be well." + +It was so sweet to be conscious of her gentle +ministry, that it required a great effort, an effort +of conscience, to rouse him once more, as his +strength returned. + +"Had you not better stay?" she asked, as he +rose to put on his overcoat. "I will call one of +the servants and have him show you a room. +We will say to-morrow morning that you were +taken ill, and nobody will wonder." + +"No, no," he responded, energetically. "I +am perfectly strong now." But he still had to +lean on a chair, and his face was deathly pale. + +"Farewell, Miss Edith," he said; and a tender +sadness trembled in his voice. "Farewell. We +shall--probably--never meet again." + +"Do not speak so," she answered, seizing his +hand. "You will try to forget this, and you +will still be great and happy. And when fortune +shall again smile upon you, and--and-- +you will be content to be my friend, then we +shall see each other as before." + +"No, no," he broke forth, with a sudden +hoarseness. "It will never be." + +He walked toward the door with the motions +of one who feels death in his limbs; then +stopped once more and his eyes lingered with +inexpressible sadness on the wonderful, beloved +form which stood dimly outlined before him in +the twilight. Then Edith's measure of misery, +too, seemed full. With the divine heedlessness +which belongs to her sex, she rushed up toward +him, and remembering only that he was weak +and unhappy, and that he suffered for her sake, +she took his face between her hands and kissed +him. He was too generous a man to misinterpret +the act; so he whispered but once more: +"Farewell," and hastened away. + + + +VII. + + +After that eventful December night, America +was no more what it had been to Halfdan +Bjerk. A strange torpidity had come over him; +every rising day gazed into his eyes with a fierce +unmeaning glare. The noise of the street +annoyed him and made him childishly fretful, and +the solitude of his own room seemed still more +dreary and depressing. He went mechanically +through the daily routine of his duties as if the +soul had been taken out of his work, and left +his life all barrenness and desolation. He +moved restlessly from place to place, roamed at +all times of the day and night through the city +and its suburbs, trying vainly to exhaust his +physical strength; gradually, as his lethargy +deepened into a numb, helpless despair, it seemed +somehow to impart a certain toughness to his +otherwise delicate frame. Olson, who was now +a junior partner in the firm of Remsen, Van +Kirk and Co., stood by him faithfully in these +days of sorrow. He was never effusive in his +sympathy, but was patiently forbearing with +his friend's whims and moods, and humored him +as if he had been a sick child intrusted to his +custody. That Edith might be the moving +cause of Olson's kindness was a thought which, +strangely enough, had never occurred to Halfdan. + +At last, when spring came, the vacancy of his +mind was suddenly invaded with a strong desire +to revisit his native land. He disclosed his plan +to Olson, who, after due deliberation and +several visits to the Van Kirk mansion, decided +that the pleasure of seeing his old friends and +the scenes of his childhood might push the +painful memories out of sight, and renew his +interest in life. So, one morning, while the +May sun shone with a soft radiance upon the +beautiful harbor, our Norseman found himself +standing on the deck of a huge black-hulled +Cunarder, shivering in spite of the warmth, and +feeling a chill loneliness creeping over him at +the sight of the kissing and affectionate leave- +takings which were going on all around him. +Olson was running back and forth, attending to +his baggage; but he himself took no thought, +and felt no more responsibility than if he had +been a helpless child. He half regretted that +his own wish had prevailed, and was inclined to +hold his friend responsible for it; and still he +had not energy enough to protest now when the +journey seemed inevitable. His heart still clung +to the place which held the corpse of his ruined +life, as a man may cling to the spot which hides +his beloved dead. + +About two weeks later Halfdan landed in +Norway. He was half reluctant to leave the +steamer, and the land of his birth excited no +emotion in his breast. He was but conscious of +a dim regret that he was so far away from +Edith. At last, however, he betook himself to +a hotel, where he spent the afternoon sitting +with half-closed eyes at a window, watching +listlessly the drowsy slow-pulsed life which +dribbled languidly through the narrow +thoroughfare. The noisy uproar of Broadway +chimed remotely in his ears, like the distant +roar of a tempest-tossed sea, and what had once +been a perpetual annoyance was now a sweet +memory. How often with Edith at his side had +he threaded his way through the surging crowds +that pour, on a fine afternoon, in an unceasing +current up and down the street between Union +and Madison Squares. How friendly, and sweet, +and gracious, Edith had been at such times; +how fresh her voice, how witty and animated +her chance remarks when they stopped to greet +a passing acquaintance; and, above all, how +inspiring the sight of her heavenly beauty. +Now that was all past. Perhaps he should +never see Edith again. + +The next day he sauntered through the city, +meeting some old friends, who all seemed +changed and singularly uninteresting. They +were all engaged or married, and could talk of +nothing but matrimony, and their prospects of +advancement in the Government service. One +had an influential uncle who had been a chum +of the present minister of finance; another based +his hopes of future prosperity upon the family +connections of his betrothed, and a third was +waiting with a patient perseverance, worthy of +a better cause, for the death or resignation of +an antiquated chef-de-bureau, which, according +to the promise of some mighty man, would open +a position for him in the Department of Justice. +All had the most absurd theories about American +democracy, and indulged freely in prophecies +of coming disasters; but about their own +government they had no opinion whatever. If +Halfdan attempted to set them right, they at +once grew excited and declamatory; their +opinions were based upon conviction and a +charming ignorance of facts, and they were not +to be moved. They knew all about Tweed and +the Tammany Ring, and believed them to be +representative citizens of New York, if not of +the United States; but of Charles Sumner and +Carl Schurz they had never heard. Halfdan, +who, in spite of his misfortunes in the land of +his adoption, cherished a very tender feeling for +it, was often so thoroughly aroused at the foolish +prejudices which everywhere met him, that his +torpidity gradually thawed away, and he began +to look more like his former self. + +Toward autumn he received an invitation +to visit a country clergyman in the North, a +distant relative of his father's, and there whiled +away his time, fishing and shooting, until winter +came. But as Christmas drew near, and the day +wrestled feebly with the all-conquering night, +the old sorrow revived. In the darkness which +now brooded over land and sea, the thoughts +needed no longer be on guard against themselves; +they could roam far and wide as they +listed. Where was Edith now, the sweet, the +wonderful Edith? Was there yet the same +dancing light in her beautiful eyes, the same +golden sheen in her hair, the same merry ring +in her voice? And had she not said that when +he was content to be only her friend, he might +return to her, and she would receive him in the +old joyous and confiding way? Surely there +was no life to him apart from her: why should +he not be her friend? Only a glimpse of her +lovely face--ah, it was worth a lifetime; it +would consecrate an age of misery, a glimpse of +Edith's face. Thus ran his fancies day by day, +and the night only lent a deeper intensity to the +yearnings of the day. He walked about as in a +dream, seeing nothing, heeding nothing, while +this one strong desire--to see Edith once more +--throbbed and throbbed with a slow, feverish +perseverance within him. Edith--Edith, the +very name had a strange, potent fascination. +Every thought whispered "Edith,"--his pulse +beat "Edith,"--and his heart repeated the +beloved name. It was his pulse-beat,--his +heartbeat,--his life-beat. + +And one morning as he stood absently +looking at his fingers against the light--and they +seemed strangely wan and transparent--the +thought at last took shape. It rushed upon +him with such vehemence, that he could no more +resist it. So he bade the clergyman good-bye, +gathered his few worldly goods together and +set out for Bergen. There he found an English +steamer which carried him to Hull, and a few +weeks later, he was once more in New York. + +It was late one evening in January that a +tug-boat arrived and took the cabin passengers +ashore. The moon sailed tranquilly over the +deep blue dome of the sky, the stars traced their +glittering paths of light from the zenith downward, +and it was sharp, bitter cold. Northward +over the river lay a great bank of cloud, dense, +gray and massive, the spectre of the coming +snow-storm. There it lay so huge and fantastically +human, ruffling itself up, as fowls do, in +defense against the cold. Halfdan walked on +at a brisk rate--strange to say, all the street- +cars he met went the wrong way--startling +every now and then some precious memory, some +word or look or gesture of Edith's which had +hovered long over those scenes, waiting for his +recognition. There was the great jewel-store +where Edith had taken him so often to consult +his taste whenever a friend of hers was to be +married. It was there that they had had an +amicable quarrel over that bronze statue of +Faust which she had found beautiful, while he, +with a rudeness which seemed now quite +incomprehensible, had insisted that it was not. +And when he had failed to convince her, she had +given him her hand in token of reconciliation-- +and Edith had a wonderful way of giving her +hand, which made any one feel that it was a +peculiar privilege to press it--and they had +walked out arm in arm into the animated, gas- +lighted streets, with a delicious sense of +snugness and security, being all the more closely +united for their quarrel. Here, farther up the +avenue, they had once been to a party, and he +had danced for the first time in his life with +Edith. Here was Delmonico's, where they had +had such fascinating luncheons together; where +she had got a stain on her dress, and he had +been forced to observe that her dress was then +not really a part of herself, since it was a thing +that could not be stained. Her dress had +always seemed to him as something absolute and +final, exalted above criticism, incapable of +improvement. + +As I have said, Halfdan walked briskly up the +avenue, and it was something after eleven when +he reached the house which he sought. The +great cloud-bank in the north had then begun +to expand and stretched its long misty arms +eastward and westward over the heavens. The +windows on the ground-floor were dark, but the +sleeping apartments in the upper stories were +lighted. In Edith's room the inside shutters +were closed, but one of the windows was a little +down at the top. And as he stood gazing +with tremulous happiness up to that window, +a stanza from Heine which he and Edith had +often read together, came into his head. It +was the story of the youth who goes to the +Madonna at Kevlar and brings her as a votive +offering a heart of wax, that she may heal him +of his love and his sorrow. + + "I bring this waxen image, + The image of my heart, + Heal thou my bitter sorrow, + And cure my deadly smart!"[4] + + +[4] Translation, from "Exotics. By J. F. C. & C. L." + + +Then came the thought that for him, too, as +for the poor youth of Cologne, there was healing +only in death. And still in this moment he +was so near Edith, should see her perhaps, and +the joy at this was stronger than all else, +stronger even than death. So he sat down +beside the steps of the mansion opposite, where +there was some shelter from the wind, and +waited patiently till Edith should close her win- +dow. He was cold, perhaps, but, if so, he hardly +knew it, for the near joy of seeing her throbbed +warmly in his veins. Ah, there--the blinds +were thrown open; Edith, in all the lithe +magnificence of her wonderful form, stood out clear +and beautiful against the light within; she +pushed up the lower window in order to reach +the upper one, and for a moment leaned out +over the sill. Once more her wondrous profile +traced itself in strong relief against the outer +gloom. There came a cry from the street below, +a feeble involuntary one, but still distinctly +audible. Edith peered anxiously out into the +darkness, but the darkness had grown denser +and she could see nothing. The window was +fastened, the shutters closed, and the broad +pathway of light which she had flung out upon +the night had vanished. + +Halfdan closed his eyes trying to retain the +happy vision. Yes, there she stood still, and +there was a heavenly smile upon her lips--ugh, +he shivered--the snow swept in a wild whirl up +the street. He wrapped his plaid more closely +about him, and strained his eyes to catch one +more glimpse of the beloved Edith. Ah, yes; +there she was again; she came nearer and +nearer, and she touched his cheek, gently, warily +smiling all the while with a strange wistful smile +which was surely not Edith's. There, she bent +over him,--touched him again,--how cold her +hands were; the touch chilled him to the heart. +The snow had now begun to fall in large scattered +flakes, whirling fitfully through the air, +following every chance gust of wind, but still +falling, falling, and covering the earth with its +white, death-like shroud. + +But surely--there was Edith again,--how +wonderful!--in a long snow-white robe, grave +and gracious, still with the wistful smile on her +lips. See, she beckons to him with her hand, +and he rises to follow, but something heavy +clings to his feet and he cannot stir from the +spot. He tries to cry for help, but he cannot,-- +can only stretch out his hands to her, and feel +very unhappy that he cannot follow her. But +now she pauses in her flight, turns about, and +he sees that she wears a myrtle garland in her +hair like a bride. She comes toward him, her +countenance all radiant with love and happiness, +and she stoops down over him and speaks: + +"Come; they are waiting for us. I will follow +thee in life and in death, wherever thou +goest. Come," repeats Edith, "they have long +been waiting. They are all here." + +And he imagines he knows who they all are, +although he has never heard of them, nor can +he recall their names. + +"But--but," he stammers, "I--I--am a foreigner " + +It appeared then that for some reason this +was an insurmountable objection. And Edith's +happiness dies out of her beautiful face, and she +turns away weeping. + +"Edith, beloved!" + +Then she is once more at his side. + +"Thou art no more a foreigner to me, beloved. +Whatever thou art, I am." + +And she presses her lips to his--it was the +sweetest kiss of his life--the kiss of death. + +The next morning, as Edith, after having put +the last touch to her toilet, threw the shutters +open, a great glare of sun-smitten snow burst +upon her and for a moment blinded her eyes. +On the sidewalk opposite, half a dozen men +with snow-shovels in their hands and a couple +of policeman had congregated, and, judging by +their manner, were discussing some object of +interest. Presently they were joined by her +father, who had just finished his breakfast and +was on his way to the office. Now he stooped +down and gazed at something half concealed in +the snow, then suddenly started back, and as +she caught a glimpse of his face, she saw that +it was ghastly white. A terrible foreboding +seized her. She threw a shawl about her shoulders +and rushed down-stairs. In the hall she was +met by her father, who was just entering, +followed by four men, carrying something between +them. She well knew what it was. She would +fain have turned away, but she could not: +grasping her father's arm and pressing it hard, +she gazed with blank, frightened eyes at the +white face, the lines of which Death had so +strangely emphasized. The snow-flakes which +hung in his hair had touched him with their +sudden age, as if to bridge the gulf between youth +and death. And still he was beautiful--the +clear brow, the peaceful, happy indolence, the +frozen smile which death had perpetuated. +Smiling, he had departed from the earth which +had no place for him, and smiling entered the +realm where, among the many mansions, there is, perhaps, +also one for a gentle, simple-hearted enthusiast. + + + +THE STORY OF AN OUTCAST. + +THERE was an ancient feud between +the families; and Bjarne Blakstad was +not the man to make it up, neither was +Hedin Ullern. So they looked askance +at each other whenever they met on the +highway, and the one took care not to cross the +other's path. But on Sundays, when the church- +bells called the parishioners together, they could +not very well avoid seeing each other on the +church-yard; and then, one day, many years +ago, when the sermon had happened to touch +Bjarne's heart, he had nodded to Hedin and +said: "Fine weather to-day;" and Hedin had +returned the nod and answered: "True is that." +"Now I have done my duty before God and +men," thought Bjarne, "and it is his turn to +take the next step." "The fellow is proud," +said Hedin to himself, "and he wants to show +off his generosity. But I know the wolf by his +skin, even if he has learned to bleat like +a ewe-lamb." + +What the feud really was about, they had +both nearly forgotten. All they knew was +that some thirty years ago there had been a +quarrel between the pastor and the parish about +the right of carrying arms to the church. And +then Bjarne's father had been the spokesman of +the parish, while Hedin's grandsire had been a +staunch defender of the pastor. There was a +rumor, too, that they had had a fierce encounter +somewhere in the woods, and that the one had +stabbed the other with a knife; but whether that +was really true, no one could tell. + +Bjarne was tall and grave, like the weather- +beaten fir-trees in his mast-forest. He had a +large clean-shaven face, narrow lips, and small +fierce eyes. He seldom laughed, and when he +did, his laugh seemed even fiercer than his +frown. He wore his hair long, as his fathers +had done, and dressed in the styles of two +centuries ago; his breeches were clasped with large +silver buckles at the knees, and his red jerkin +was gathered about his waist with a leathern +girdle. He loved everything that was old, in +dress as well as in manners, took no newspapers, +and regarded railroads and steamboats as inventions +of the devil. Bjarne had married late in +life, and his marriage had brought him two +daughters, Brita and Grimhild. + +Hedin Ullern was looked upon as an upstart. +He could only count three generations back, +and he hardly knew himself how his grandfather +had earned the money that had enabled +him to buy a farm and settle down in the +valley. He had read a great deal, and was well +informed on the politics of the day; his name +had even been mentioned for storthingsmand, or +member of parliament from the district, and it +was the common opinion, that if Bjarne Blakstad +had not so vigorously opposed him, he +would have been elected, being the only +"cultivated" peasant in the valley. Hedin was no +unwelcome guest in the houses of gentlefolks, +and he was often seen at the judge's and the +pastor's omber parties. And for all this Bjarne +Blakstad only hated him the more. Hedin's +wife, Thorgerda, was fair-haired, tall and stout, +and it was she who managed the farm, while +her husband read his books, and studied politics +in the newspapers; but she had a sharp tongue +and her neighbors were afraid of her. They +had one son, whose name was Halvard. + +Brita Blakstad, Bjarne's eldest daughter, was +a maid whom it was a joy to look upon. They +called her "Glitter-Brita," because she was fond +of rings and brooches, and everything that was +bright; while she was still a child, she once +took the old family bridal-crown out from the +storehouse and carried it about on her head. +"Beware of that crown, child," her father had +said to her, "and wear it not before the time. +There is not always blessing in the bridal +silver." And she looked wonderingly up into +his eyes and answered: "But it glitters, +father;" and from that time forth they had +named her Glitter-Brita. + +And Glitter-Brita grew up to be a fair and +winsome maiden, and wherever she went the +wooers flocked on her path. Bjarne shook +his head at her, and often had harsh words +upon his lips, when he saw her braiding field- +flowers into her yellow tresses or clasping the +shining brooches to her bodice; but a look +of hers or a smile would completely disarm +him. She had a merry way of doing things +which made it all seem like play; but work went +rapidly from her hands, while her ringing laughter +echoed through the house, and her sunny +presence made it bright in the dusky ancestral +halls. In her kitchen the long rows of copper +pots and polished kettles shone upon the walls, +and the neatly scoured milk-pails stood like +soldiers on parade about the shelves under the +ceiling. Bjarne would often sit for hours watching +her, and a strange spring-feeling would steal +into his heart. He felt a father's pride in her +stately growth and her rich womanly beauty. +"Ah!" he would say to himself, "she has the +pure blood in her veins and, as true as I live, +the farm shall be hers." And then, quite +contrary to his habits, he would indulge in a little +reverie, imagining the time when he, as an +aged man, should have given the estate over +into her hands, and seeing her as a worthy matron +preside at the table, and himself rocking +his grandchildren on his knee. No wonder, +then, that he eyed closely the young lads who +were beginning to hover about the house, and +that he looked with suspicion upon those who +selected Saturday nights for their visits.[5] +When Brita was twenty years old, however, her +father thought that it was time for her to make +her choice. There were many fine, brave lads +in the valley, and, as Bjarne thought, Brita +would have the good sense to choose the finest +and the bravest. So, when the winter came, he +suddenly flung his doors open to the youth of +the parish, and began to give parties with ale +and mead in the grand old style. He even +talked with the young men, at times, encouraged +them to manly sports, and urged them to taste +of his home-brewed drinks and to tread the +spring-dance briskly. And Brita danced and +laughed so that her hair flew around her and +the silver brooches tinkled and rang on her +bosom. But when the merriment was at an +end, and any one of the lads remained behind +to offer her his hand, she suddenly grew grave, +told him she was too young, that she did not +know herself, and that she had had no time as yet +to decide so serious a question. Thus the winter +passed and the summer drew near. + + +[5] In the country districts of Norway Saturday +evening is regarded as "the wooer's eve." + + +In the middle of June, Brita went to the saeter[6] +with the cattle; and her sister, Grimhild, +remained at home to keep house on the farm. She +loved the life in the mountains; the great +solitude sometimes made her feel sad, but it was +not an unpleasant sadness, it was rather a gentle +toning down of all the shrill and noisy feelings +of the soul. Up there, in the heart of the +primeval forest, her whole being seemed to herself +a symphony of melodious whispers with a +vague delicious sense of remoteness and mystery +in them, which she only felt and did not attempt +to explain. There, those weird legends which, +in former days, still held their sway in the fancy +of every Norsewoman, breathed their secrets +into her ear, and she felt her nearness and kinship +to nature, as at no other time. + + +[6] The saeter is a place in the mountains where the +Norwegian peasants spend their summers pasturing their cattle. +Every large farm has its own saeter, consisting of one +or more chalets, hedged in by a fence of stone or planks. + + +One night, as the sun was low, and a purple +bluish smoke hung like a thin veil over the tops +of the forest, Brita had taken out her knitting +and seated herself on a large moss-grown stone, +on the croft. Her eyes wandered over the broad +valley which was stretched out below, and she +could see the red roofs of the Blakstad mansion +peeping forth between the fir-trees. And she +wondered what they were doing down there, +whether Grimhild had done milking, and +whether her father had returned from the ford, +where it was his habit at this hour to ride with +the footmen to water the horses. As she sat +thus wondering, she was startled by a creaking +in the dry branches hard by, and lifting her eye, +she saw a tall, rather clumsily built, young man +emerging from the thicket. He had a broad +but low forehead, flaxen hair which hung down +over a pair of dull ox-like eyes; his mouth was +rather large and, as it was half open, displayed +two massive rows of shining white teeth. His +red peaked cap hung on the back of his head +and, although it was summer, his thick wadmal +vest was buttoned close up to his throat; over +his right arm he had flung his jacket, and in his +hand he held a bridle. + +"Good evening," said Brita, "and thanks for +last meeting;" although she was not sure that +she had ever seen him before. + +"It was that bay mare, you know," stammered +the man in a half apologetic tone, and +shook the bridle, as if in further explanation. + +"Ah, you have lost your mare," said the girl, +and she could not help smiling at his helplessness +and his awkward manner. + +"Yes, it was the bay mare," answered he, in +the same diffident tone; then, encouraged by her +smile, he straightened himself a little and +continued rather more fluently: "She never was +quite right since the time the wolves were after +her. And then since they took the colt away +from her the milk has been troubling her, and +she hasn't been quite like herself." + +"I haven't seen her anywhere hereabouts," +said Brita; "you may have to wander far, before +you get on the track of her." + +"Yes, that is very likely. And I am tired already." + +"Won't you sit down and rest yourself?" + +He deliberately seated himself in the grass, +and gradually gained courage to look her +straight in the face; and his dull eye remained +steadfastly fixed on her in a way which bespoke +unfeigned surprise and admiration. Slowly his +mouth broadened into a smile; but his smile had +more of sadness than of joy in it. She had, +from the moment she saw him, been possessed +of a strangely patronizing feeling toward him. +She could not but treat him as if he had been a +girl or some person inferior to her in station. +In spite of his large body, the impression he +made upon her was that of weakness; but she +liked the sincerity and kindness which expressed +themselves in his sad smile and large, honest +blue eyes. His gaze reminded her of that of an +ox, but it had not only the ox's dullness, but +also its simplicity and good-nature. + +They sat talking on for a while about the weather, +the cattle, and the prospects of the crops. + +"What is your name?" she asked, at last. + +"Halvard Hedinson Ullern." + +A sudden shock ran through her at the sound +of that name; in the next moment a deep blush +stole over her countenance. + +"And my name," she said, slowly, "is Brita +Bjarne's daughter Blakstad." + +She fixed her eyes upon him, as if to see +what effect her words produced. But his features +wore the same sad and placid expression; +and no line in his face seemed to betray either +surprise or ill-will. Then her sense of patronage +grew into one of sympathy and pity. "He +must either be weak-minded or very unhappy," +thought she, "and what right have I then to +treat him harshly." And she continued her +simple, straightforward talk with the young +man, until he, too, grew almost talkative, and +the sadness of his smile began to give way to +something which almost resembled happiness. +She noticed the change and rejoiced. At last, +when the sun had sunk behind the western +mountain tops, she rose and bade him good- +night; in another moment the door of the saeter- +cottage closed behind her, and he heard her +bolting it on the inside. But for a long time +he remained sitting on the grass, and strange +thoughts passed through his head. He had +quite forgotten his bay mare. + +The next evening when the milking was done, +and the cattle were gathered within the saeter +enclosure, Brita was again sitting on the large +stone, looking out over the valley. She felt a +kind of companionship with the people when +she saw the smoke whirling up from their chimneys, +and she could guess what they were going +to have for supper. As she sat there, she again +heard a creaking in the branches, and Halvard +Ullern stood again before her, with his jacket +on his arm, and the same bridle in his hand. + +"You have not found your bay mare yet?" +she exclaimed, laughingly. "And you think +she is likely to be in this neighborhood?" + +"I don't know," he answered; "and I don't +care if she isn't." + +He spread his jacket on the grass, and sat +down on the spot where he had sat the night +before. Brita looked at him in surprise and +remained silent; she didn't know how to interpret +this second visit. + +"You are very handsome," he said, suddenly, +with a gravity which left no doubt as to his +sincerity. + +"Do you think so?" she answered, with a +merry laugh. He appeared to her almost a +child, and it never entered her mind to feel +offended. On the contrary, she was not sure but +that she felt pleased. + +"I have thought of you ever since yesterday," +he continued, with the same imperturbable +manner. "And if you were not angry with me, I +thought I would like to look at you once more. +You are so different from other folks." + +"God bless your foolish talk," cried Brita, +with a fresh burst of merriment. "No, indeed +I am not angry with you; I should just as soon +think of being angry with--with that calf," +she added for want of another comparison. + +"You think I don't know much," he +stammered. "And I don't." The sad smile again +settled on his countenance. + +A feeling of guilt sent the blood throbbing +through her veins. She saw that she had done +him injustice. He evidently possessed more +sense, or at least a finer instinct, than she had +given him credit for. + +"Halvard," she faltered, "if I have offended +you, I assure you I didn't mean to do it; and a +thousand times I beg your pardon." + +"You haven't offended me, Brita," answered +he, blushing like a girl. "You are the first one +who doesn't make me feel that I am not so wise +as other folks." + +She felt it her duty to be open and confiding +with him in return; and in order not to seem +ungenerous, or rather to put them on an equal +footing by giving him also a peep into her +heart, she told him about her daily work, about +the merry parties at her father's house, and +about the lusty lads who gathered in their halls +to dance the Halling and the spring-dance. He +listened attentively while she spoke, gazing +earnestly into her face, but never interrupting +her. In his turn he described to her in his +slow deliberate way, how his father constantly +scolded him because he was not bright, and did +not care for politics and newspapers, and how +his mother wounded him with her sharp tongue +by making merry with him, even in the presence +of the servants and strangers. He did not seem +to imagine that there was anything wrong in +what he said, or that he placed himself in a +ludicrous light; nor did he seem to speak from +any unmanly craving for sympathy. His manner +was so simple and straightforward that +what Brita probably would have found strange +in another, she found perfectly natural in him. + +It was nearly midnight when they parted{.} +She hardly slept at all that night, and she was +half vexed with herself for the interest she +took in this simple youth. The next morning +her father came up to pay her a visit and to see +how the flocks were thriving. She understood +that it would be dangerous to say anything to +him about Halvard, for she knew his temper +and feared the result, if he should ever discover +her secret. Therefore, she shunned an opportunity +to talk with him, and only busied herself +the more with the cattle and the cooking. +Bjarne soon noticed her distraction, but, of +course, never suspected the cause. Before he +left her, he asked her if she did not find it too +lonely on the saeter, and if it would not be well +if he sent her one of the maids for a companion. +She hastened to assure him that that was quite +unnecessary; the cattle-boy who was there to +help her was all the company she wanted. +Toward evening, Bjarne Blakstad loaded his +horses with buckets, filled with cheese and butter, +and started for the valley. Brita stood +long looking after him as he descended the +rocky slope, and she could hardly conceal from +herself that she felt relieved, when, at last, the +forest hid him from her sight. All day she had +been walking about with a heavy heart; there +seemed to be something weighing on her breast, +and she could not throw it off. Who was this +who had come between her and her father? +Had she ever been afraid of him before, had +she been glad to have him leave her? A sudden +bitterness took possession of her, for in her +distress, she gave Halvard the blame for all that +had happened. She threw herself down on the +grass and burst into a passionate fit of weeping; +she was guilty, wretchedly miserable, and +all for the sake of one whom she had hardly +known for two days. If he should come in +this moment, she would tell him what he had +done toward her; and her wish must have been +heard, for as she raised her eyes, he stood there +at her side, the sad feature about his mouth and +his great honest eyes gazing wonderingly at her. +She felt her purpose melt within her; he looked +so good and so unhappy. Then again came the +thought of her father and of her own wrong, +and the bitterness again revived. + +"Go away," cried she, in a voice half +reluctantly tender and half defiant. "Go away, +I say; I don't want to see you any more." + +"I will go to the end of the world if you +wish it," he answered, with a strange firmness. + +He picked up his jacket which he had dropped +on the ground, then turned slowly, gave her +mother long look, an infinitely sad and hopeless +one, and went. Her bosom heaved violently +--remorse, affection and filial duty wrestled +desperately in her heart. + +"No, no," she cried, "why do you go? I did +not mean it so. I only wanted--" + +He paused and returned as deliberately as he +had gone. + +Why should I dwell upon the days that followed-- +how her heart grew ever more restless, +how she would suddenly wake up at nights and +see those large blue eyes sadly gazing at her, +how by turns she would condemn herself and +him, and how she felt with bitter pain that she +was growing away from those who had hitherto +been nearest and dearest to her. And strange +to say, this very isolation from her father made +her cling only the more desperately to him. It +seemed to her as if Bjarne had deliberately +thrown her off; that she herself had been the +one who took the first step had hardly occurred +to her. Alas, her grief was as irrational as her +love. By what strange devious process of +reasoning these convictions became settled in her +mind, it is difficult to tell. It is sufficient to +know that she was a woman and that she loved. +She even knew herself that she was irrational, +and this very sense drew her more hopelessly +into the maze of the labyrinth from which she +saw no escape. + +His visits were as regular as those of the sun. +She knew that there was only a word of hers +needed to banish him from her presence forever. +And how many times did she not resolve to +speak that word? But the word was never +spoken. At times a company of the lads from +the valley would come to spend a merry evening +at the saeter; but she heeded them not, and +they soon disappeared. Thus the summer went +amid passing moods of joy and sorrow. She +had long known that he loved her, and when at +last his slow confession came, it added nothing +to her happiness; it only increased her fears for +the future. They laid many plans together in +those days; but winter came as a surprise to +both, the cattle were removed from the mountains, +and they were again separated. + +Bjarne Blakstad looked long and wistfully +at his daughter that morning, when he came to +bring her home. She wore no more rings and +brooches, and it was this which excited Bjarne's +suspicion that everything was not right with +her. Formerly he was displeased because she +wore too many; now he grumbled because she +wore none. + + + +II. + + +The winter was half gone; and in all this +time Brita had hardly once seen Halvard. Yes, +once,--it was Christmas-day,--she had ventured +to peep over to his pew in the church, and had +seen him, sitting at his father's side, and gazing +vacantly out into the empty space; but as he +had caught her glance, he had blushed, and began +eagerly to turn the leaves of his hymn- +book. It troubled her that he made no effort to +see her; many an evening she had walked alone +down at the river-side, hoping that he might +come; but it was all in vain. She could not but +believe that his father must have made some +discovery, and that he was watched. In the +mean time the black cloud thickened over her +head; for a secret gnawed at the very roots of +her heart. It was a time of terrible suspense +and suffering--such as a man never knows, such +as only a woman can endure. It was almost a +relief when the cloud burst, and the storm broke +loose, as presently it did. + +One Sunday, early in April, Bjarne did not +return at the usual hour from church. His +daughters waited in vain for him with the dinner, +and at last began to grow uneasy. It was +not his habit to keep irregular hours. There +was a great excitement in the valley just then; +the America-fever had broken out. A large +vessel was lying out in the fjord, ready to take +the emigrants away; and there was hardly a +family that did not mourn the loss of some +brave-hearted son, or of some fair and cherished +daughter. The old folks, of course, had to +remain behind; and when the children were gone, +what was there left for them but to lie down +and die? America was to them as distant as if +it were on another planet. The family feeling, +too, has ever been strong in the Norseman's +breast; he lives for his children, and seems to +live his life over again in them. It is his greatest +pride to be able to trace his blood back into the +days of Sverre and St. Olaf, and with the same +confidence he expects to see his race spread into +the future in the same soil where once it has +struck root. Then comes the storm from the +Western seas, wrestles with the sturdy trunk, +and breaks it; and the shattered branches fly to +all the four corners of the heavens. No wonder, +then, like a tree that has lost its crown, his +strength is broken and he expects but to +smoulder into the earth and die. + +Bjarne Blakstad, like the sturdy old patriot +that he was, had always fiercely denounced the +America rage; and it was now the hope of his +daughters that, perhaps, he had stayed behind +to remind the restless ones among the youth of +their duty toward their land, or to frighten some +bold emigration agent who might have been too +loud in his declamations. But it was already +eight o'clock and Bjarne was not yet to be seen. +The night was dark and stormy; a cold sleet +fiercely lashed the window-panes, and the wind +roared in the chimney. Grimhild, the younger +sister, ran restlessly out and in and slammed the +doors after her. Brita sat tightly pressed up +against the wall in the darkest corner of the +room. Every time the wind shook the house +she started up; then again seated herself and +shuddered. Dark forebodings filled her soul. + +At last,--the clock had just struck ten,--there +was a noise heard in the outer hall. Grimhild +sprang to the door and tore it open. A tall, +stooping figure entered, and by the dress she at +once recognized her father. + +"Good God," cried she, and ran up to him. + +"Go away, child," muttered he, in a voice +that sounded strangely unfamiliar, and he pushed +her roughly away. For a moment he stood +still, then stalked up to the table, and, with a +heavy thump, dropped down into a chair. There +he remained with his elbows resting on his +knees, and absently staring on the floor. His +long hair hung in wet tangles down over his +face, and the wrinkles about his mouth seemed +deeper and fiercer than usual. Now and then +he sighed, or gave vent to a deep groan. In a +while his eyes began to wander uneasily about +the room; and as they reached the corner where +Brita was sitting, he suddenly darted up, as if +stung by something poisonous, seized a brand +from the hearth, and rushed toward her. + +"Tell me I did not see it," he broke forth, +in a hoarse whisper, seizing her by the arm and +thrusting the burning brand close up to her face. +"Tell me it is a lie--a black, poisonous lie." + +She raised her eyes slowly to his and gazed +steadfastly into his face. "Ah," he continued +in the same terrible voice, "it was what I told +them down there at the church--a lie--an infernal +lie. And I drew blood--blood, I say--I +did--from the slanderer. Ha, ha, ha! What +a lusty sprawl that was!" + +The color came and departed from Brita's +cheeks. And still she was strangely self +possessed. She even wondered at her own calmness. +Alas, she did not know that it was a +calmness that is more terrible than pain, the +corpse of a forlorn and hopeless heart. + +"Child," continued Bjarne, and his voice +assumed a more natural tone, "why dost thou +not speak? They have lied about thee, child, +because thou art fair, they have envied thee." +Then, almost imploringly, "Open thy mouth, +Brita, and tell thy father that thou art pure-- +pure as the snow, child--my own--my beautiful child." + +There was a long and painful pause, in which +the crackling of the brand, and the heavy +breathing of the old man were the only sounds +to break the silence. Pale like a marble image +stood she before him; no word of excuse, no +prayer for forgiveness escaped her; only a +convulsive quivering of the lips betrayed the life +that struggled within her. With every moment +the hope died in Bjarne's bosom. His visage +was fearful to behold. Terror and fierce +indomitable hatred had grimly distorted his features, +and his eyes burned like fire-coals beneath his bushy brows. + +"Harlot," he shrieked, "harlot!" + +A cold gust of wind swept through the room. +The windows shook, the doors flew open, as if +touched by a strong invisible hand--and the old +man stood alone, holding the flickering brand +above his head. + +It was after midnight, the wind had abated, +but the snow still fell, thick and silent, burying +paths and fences under its cold white mantle. +Onward she fled--onward and ever onward. +And whither, she knew not. A cold numbness +had chilled her senses, but still her feet drove +her irresistibly onward. A dark current seemed +to have seized her, she only felt that she was +adrift, and she cared not whither it bore her. +In spite of the stifling dullness which oppressed +her, her body seemed as light as air. At last,-- +she knew not where,--she heard the roar of the +sea resounding in her ears, a genial warmth +thawed the numbness of her senses, and she +floated joyfully among the clouds--among +golden, sun-bathed clouds. When she opened +her eyes, she found herself lying in a comfortable +bed, and a young woman with a kind motherly +face was sitting at her side. It was all +like a dream, and she made no effort to account +for what appeared so strange and unaccountable. + +What she afterward heard was that a fisher- +man had found her in a snow-drift on the strand, +and that he had carried her home to his cottage +and had given her over to the charge of his +wife. This was the second day since her arrival. +They knew who she was, but had kept the doors +locked and had told no one that she was there. +She heard the story of the good woman without +emotion; it seemed an intolerable effort to think. +But on the third day, when her child was born, +her mind was suddenly aroused from its lethargy, +and she calmly matured her plans; and for the +child's sake she resolved to live and to act. +That same evening there came a little boy with +a bundle for her. She opened it and found +therein the clothes she had left behind, and-- +her brooches. She knew that it was her sister +who had sent them; then there was one who +still thought of her with affection. And yet her +first impulse was to send it all back, or to throw +it into the ocean; but she looked at her child and forbore. + +A week passed, and Brita recovered. Of +Halvard she had heard nothing. One night, as +she lay in a half doze, she thought she had Seen +a pale, frightened face pressed up against the +window-pane, and staring fixedly at her and her +child; but, after all, it might have been merely +a dream. For her fevered fancy had in these +last days frequently beguiled her into similar +visions. She often thought of him, but, strangely +enough, no more with bitterness, but with +pity. Had he been strong enough to be wicked, +she could have hated him, but he was weak, and +she pitied him. Then it was that; one evening, +as she heard that the American vessel was to +sail at daybreak, she took her little boy and +wrapped him carefully in her own clothes, bade +farewell to the good fisherman and his wife, and +walked alone down to the strand. Huge clouds +of fantastic shapes chased each other desperately +along the horizon, and now and then the +slender new moon glanced forth from the deep +blue gulfs between. She chose a boat at random +and was about to unmoor it, when she saw the +figure of a man tread carefully over the stones +and hesitatingly approach her. + +"Brita," came in a whisper from the strand. + +"Who's there?" + +"It is I. Father knows it all, and he has +nearly killed me; and mother, too." + +"Is that what you have come to tell me?" + +"No, I would like to help you some. I have +been trying to see you these many days." And +he stepped close up to the boat. + +"Thank you; I need no help." + +"But, Brita," implored he, "I have sold my +gun and my dog, and everything I had, and this +is what I have got for it." He stretched out +his hand and reached her a red handkerchief +with something heavy bound up in a corner. +She took it mechanically, held it in her hand for +a moment, then flung it far out into the water. +A smile of profound contempt and pity passed +over her countenance. + +"Farewell, Halvard," said she, calmly, and +pushed the boat into the water. + +"But, Brita," cried he, in despair, "what +would you have me do?" + +She lifted the child in her arms, then pointed +to the vacant seat at her side. He understood +what she meant, and stood for a moment wavering. +Suddenly, he covered his face with his +hands and burst into tears. Within half an +hour, Brita boarded the vessel, and as the first +red stripe of the dawn illumined the horizon, the +wind filled the sails, and the ship glided westward +toward that land where there is a home +for them whom love and misfortune have exiled. + +It was a long and wearisome voyage. There +was an old English clergyman on board, who +collected curiosities; to him she sold her rings +and brooches, and thereby obtained more than +sufficient money to pay her passage. She hardly +spoke to any one except her child. Those of +her fellow-parishioners who knew her, and perhaps +guessed her history, kept aloof from her, +and she was grateful to them that they did. +From morning till night, she sat in a corner +between a pile of deck freight and the kitchen +skylight, and gazed at her little boy who was +lying in her lap. All her hopes, her future, and +her life were in him. For herself, she had +ceased to hope. + +"I can give thee no fatherland, my child," she +said to him. "Thou shalt never know the name +of him who gave thee life. Thou and I, we +shall struggle together, and, as true as there is +a God above, who sees us, He will not leave either +of us to perish. But let us ask no questions, +child, about that which is past. Thou shalt +grow and be strong, and thy mother must grow +with thee." + +During the third week of the voyage, the +English clergyman baptized the boy, and she +called him Thomas, after the day in the almanac +on which he was born. He should never +know that Norway had been his mother's home; +therefore she would give him no name which +might betray his race. One morning, early in +the month of June, they hailed land, and the +great New World lay before them. + + + +III. + + +Why should I speak of the ceaseless care, the +suffering, and the hard toil, which made the +first few months of Brita's life on this continent +a mere continued struggle for existence? They +are familiar to every emigrant who has come +here with a brave heart and an empty purse. +Suffice it to say that at the end of the second +month, she succeeded in obtaining service as +milkmaid with a family in the neighborhood of +New York. With the linguistic talent peculiar +to her people, she soon learned the English +language and even spoke it well. From her +countrymen, she kept as far away as possible, not +for her own sake, but for that of her boy; for +he was to grow great and strong, and the knowledge +of his birth might shatter his strength and +break his courage. For the same reason she +also exchanged her picturesque Norse costume +for that of the people among whom she was +living. She went commonly by the name of +Mrs. Brita, which pronounced in the English +way, sounded very much like Mrs. Bright, and +this at last became the name by which she was +known in the neighborhood. + +Thus five years passed; then there was a great +rage for emigrating to the far West, and Brita, +with many others, started for Chicago. There +she arrived in the year 1852, and took up her +lodgings with an Irish widow, who was living +in a little cottage in what was then termed the +outskirts of the city. Those who saw her in +those days, going about the lumber-yards and +doing a man's work, would hardly have recognized +in her the merry Glitter-Brita, who in +times of old trod the spring-dance so gayly in +the well-lighted halls of the Blakstad mansion. +And, indeed, she was sadly changed! Her features +had become sharper, and the firm lines +about her mouth expressed severity, almost +sternness. Her clear blue eyes seemed to have +grown larger, and their glance betrayed secret, +ever-watchful care. Only her yellow hair had +resisted the force of time and sorrow; for it +still fell in rich and wavy folds over a smooth +white forehead. She was, indeed, half ashamed +of it, and often took pains to force it into a +sober, matronly hood. Only at nights, when +she sat alone talking with her boy, she would +allow it to escape from its prison; and he would +laugh and play with it, and in his child's way +even wonder at the contrast between her stern +face and her youthful maidenly tresses. + +This Thomas, her son, was a strange child. +He had a Norseman's taste for the fabulous and +fantastic, and although he never heard a tale of +Necken or the Hulder, he would often startle +his mother by the most fanciful combinations +of imagined events, and by bolder personifications +than ever sprung from the legendary soil +of the Norseland. She always took care to +check him whenever he indulged in these imaginary +flights, and he at last came to look upon +them as something wrong and sinful. The boy, +as he grew up, often strikingly reminded her of +her father, as, indeed, he seemed to have +inherited more from her own than from Halvard's +race. Only the bright flaxen hair and his square, +somewhat clumsy stature might have told him +to be the latter's child. He had a hot temper, +and often distressed his mother by his stubbornness; +and then there would come a great burst +of repentance afterwards, which distressed her +still more. For she was afraid it might be a +sign of weakness. "And strong he must be," +said she to herself, "strong enough to overcome +all resistance, and to conquer a great name for +himself, strong enough to bless a mother who +brought him into the world nameless." + +Strange to say, much as she loved this child, +she seldom caressed him. It was a penance she +had imposed upon herself to atone for her guilt. +Only at times, when she had been sitting up late, +and her eyes would fall, as it were, by accident +upon the little face on the pillow, with the +sweet unconsciousness of sleep resting upon it +like a soft, invisible veil, would she suddenly +throw herself down over him, kiss him, and +whisper tender names in his ear, while her tears +fell hot and fast on his yellow hair and his rosy +countenance. Then the child would dream that +he was sailing aloft over shining forests, and +that his mother, beaming with all the beauty of +her lost youth, flew before him, showering +golden flowers on his path. These were the +happiest moments of Brita's joyless life, and +even these were not unmixed with bitterness; +for into the midst of her joy would steal a shy +anxious thought which was the more terrible +because it came so stealthily, so soft-footed and +unbidden. Had not this child been given her +as a punishment for her guilt? Had she then a +right to turn God's scourge into a blessing? +Did she give to God "that which belongeth unto +God," as long as all her hopes, her thoughts, +and her whole being revolved about this one +earthly thing, her son, the child of her sorrow? +She was not a nature to shrink from grave questions; +no, she met them boldly, when once they +were there, wrestled fiercely with them, was +defeated, and again with a martyr's zeal rose to +renew the combat. God had Himself sent her +this perplexing doubt and it was her duty to +bear His burden. Thus ran Brita's reasoning. +In the mean while the years slipped by, and great +changes were wrought in the world about her. + +The few hundred dollars which Brita had been +able to save, during the first three years of her +stay in Chicago, she had invested in a piece of +land. In the mean while the city had grown, +and in the year 1859 she was offered five thousand +dollars for her lot; this offer she accepted +and again bought a small piece of property at +a short distance from the city. The boy had +since his eighth year attended the public school, +and had made astonishing progress. Every day +when school was out, she would meet him at the +gate, take him by the hand and lead him home. +If any of the other boys dared to make sport of +her, or to tease him for his dependence upon +her, it was sure to cost that boy a black eye{.} +He soon succeeded in establishing himself in +the respect of his school-mates, for he was the +strongest boy of his own age, and ever ready to +protect and defend the weak and defenseless. +When Thomas Bright (for that was the name +by which he was known) was fifteen years old +he was offered a position as clerk in the office of +a lumber-merchant, and with his mother's consent +he accepted it. He was a fine young lad +now, large and well-knit, and with a clear +earnest countenance. In the evening he would bring +home books to read, and as it had always been +Brita's habit to interest herself in whatever +interested him, she soon found herself studying +and discussing with him things which had in +former years been far beyond the horizon of +her mind. She had at his request reluctantly +given up her work in the lumber-yards, and now +spent her days at home, busying herself with +sewing and reading and such other things as +women find to fill up a vacant hour. + +One evening, when Thomas was in his nineteenth +year, he returned from his office with a +graver face than usual. His mother's quick eye +immediately saw that something had agitated +him, but she forbore to ask. + +"Mother," said he at last, "who is my father? +Is he dead or alive?" + +"God is your father, my son," answered she, +tremblingly. "If you love me, ask me no more." + +"I do love you, mother," he said, and gave +her a grave look, in which she thought she +detected a mingling of tenderness and reproach. +"And it shall be as you have said." + +It was the first time she had had reason to +blush before him, and her emotion came near +overwhelming her; but with a violent effort +she stifled it, and remained outwardly calm. +He began pacing up and down the floor with +his head bent and his hands on his back. It +suddenly occurred to her that he was a grown +man, and that she could no longer hold the +same relation to him as his supporter and +protector. "Alas," thought she, "if God will but +let me remain his mother, I shall bless and thank Him." + +It was the first time this subject had been +broached, and it gave rise to many a doubt and +many a question in the anxious mother's mind. +Had she been right in concealing from him that +which he might justly claim to know? What +had been her motive in keeping him ignorant of +his origin and of the land of his birth? She +had wished him to grow to the strength of man- +hood, unconscious of guilt, so that he might +bear his head upright, and look the world +fearlessly in the face. And still, had there not in +all this been a lurking thought of herself, a fear +of losing his love, a desire to stand pure and +perfect in his eye? She hardly dared to answer +these questions, for, alas, she knew not that even +our purest motives are but poorly able to bear a +searching scrutiny. She began to suspect that +her whole course with her son had been wrong +from the very beginning. Why had she not +told him the stern truth, even if he should +despise her for it, even if she should have to stand +a blushing culprit in his presence? Often, when +she heard his footsteps in the hall, as he returned +from the work of the day, she would man herself +up and the words hovered upon her lips: +"Son, thou art a bastard born, a child of guilt, +and thy mother is an outcast upon the earth." +But when she met those calm blue eyes of his, +saw the unsuspecting frankness of his manner +and the hopefulness with which he looked to +the future, her womanly heart shrank from its +duty, and she hastened out of the room, threw +herself on her bed, and wept. Fiercely she +wrestled with God in prayer, until she thought +that even God had deserted her. Thus months +passed and years, and the constant care and +anxiety began to affect her health. She grew +pale and nervous, and the slightest noise would +annoy her. In the mean while, her manner +toward the young man had become strangely +altered, and he soon noticed it, although he +forbore to speak. She was scrupulously mindful +of his comfort, anxiously anticipated his wants, +and observed toward him an ever vigilant consideration, +as if he had been her master instead of her son. + +When Thomas was twenty-two years of age, +he was offered a partnership in his employer's +business, and with every year his prospects +brightened. The sale of his mother's property +brought him a very handsome little fortune, +which enabled him to build a fine and comfortable +house in one of the best portions of the +city. Thus their outward circumstances were +greatly improved, and of comfort and luxury +Brita had all and more than she had ever +desired; but her health was broken down, and the +physicians declared that a year of foreign +travel and a continued residence in Italy might +possibly restore her. At last, Thomas, too, +began to urge her, until she finally yielded. It +was on a bright morning in May that they both +started for New York, and three days later they +took the boat for Europe. What countries +they were to visit they had hardly decided, but +after a brief stay in England we find them again +on a steamer bound for Norway. + + + +IV. + + +Warm and gentle as it is, June often comes +to the fjord-valleys of Norway with the voice +and the strength of a giant. The glaciers totter +and groan, as if in anger at their own weakness, +and send huge avalanches of stones and ice +down into the valleys. The rivers swell and +rush with vociferous brawl out over the mountain- +sides, and a thousand tiny brooks join in +the general clamor, and dance with noisy chatter +over the moss-grown birch-roots. But later, +when the struggle is at an end, and June has +victoriously seated herself upon her throne, her +voice becomes more richly subdued and brings +rest and comfort to the ear and to the troubled +heart. It was while the month was in this latter +mood that Brita and her son entered once more +the valley whence, twenty-five years ago, they +had fled. Many strange, turbulent emotions +stirred the mother's bosom, as she saw again +the great snow-capped mountains, and the calm, +green valley, her childhood's home, lying so +snugly sheltered in their mighty embrace. +Even Thomas's breast was moved with vaguely +sympathetic throbs, as this wondrous scene +spread itself before him. They soon succeeded +in hiring a farm-house, about half an hour's +walk from Blakstad, and, according to Brita's +wish, established themselves there for the summer. +She had known the people well, when she +was young, but they never thought of identifying +her with the merry maid, who had once +startled the parish by her sudden flight; and +she, although she longed to open her heart to +them, let no word fall to betray her real +character. Her conscience accused her of playing +a false part, but for her son's sake she kept silent. + +Then, one day,--it was the second Sunday +after their arrival,--she rose early in the morning, +and asked Thomas to accompany her on a +walk up through the valley. There was Sabbath +in the air; the soft breath of summer, laden +with the perfume of fresh leaves and field-flowers, +gently wafted into their faces. The sun +glittered in the dewy grass, the crickets sung +with a remote voice of wonder, and the air +seemed to be half visible, and moved in trem- +bling wavelets on the path before them. Resting +on her son's arm, Brita walked slowly up +through the flowering meadows; she hardly +knew whither her feet bore her, but her heart +beat violently, and she often was obliged to +pause and press her hands against her bosom, as +if to stay the turbulent emotions. + +"You are not well, mother," said the son. +"It was imprudent in me to allow you to exert +yourself in this way." + +"Let us sit down on this stone," answered +she. "I shall soon be better. Do not look so +anxiously at me. Indeed, I am not sick." + +He spread his light summer coat on the stone +and carefully seated her. She lifted her veil +and raised her eyes to the large red-roofed mansion, +whose dark outlines drew themselves dimly +on the dusky background of the pine forest. +Was he still alive, he whose life-hope she had +wrecked, he who had once driven her out into +the night with all but a curse upon his lips? +How would he receive her, if she were to +return? Ah, she knew him, and she trembled at +the very thought of meeting him. But was not +the guilt hers? Could she depart from this +valley, could she die in peace, without having +thrown herself at his feet and implored his for- +giveness? And there, on the opposite side of +the valley, lay the home of him who had been +the cause of all her misery. What had been +his fate, and did he still remember those long +happy summer days, ah! so long, long ago? +She had dared to ask no questions of the people +with whom she lived, but now a sudden weakness +had overtaken her, and she felt that to-day +must decide her fate; she could no longer bear +this torture of uncertainty. Thomas remained +standing at her side and looked at her with +anxiety and wonder. He knew that she had +concealed many things from him, but whatever +her reasons might be, he was confident that +they were just and weighty. It was not for +him to question her about what he might have +no right to know. He felt as if he had never +loved her as in this moment, when she seemed +to be most in need of him, and an overwhelming +tenderness took possession of his heart. +He suddenly stooped down, took her pale, thin +face between his hands and kissed her. The +long pent-up emotion burst forth in a flood of +tears; she buried her face in her lap and wept +long and silently. Then the church-bells began +to peal down in the valley, and the slow mighty +sound floated calmly and solemnly up to them. +How many long-forgotten memories of childhood +and youth did they not wake in her bosom +--memories of the time when the merry Glitter- +Brita, decked with her shining brooches, wended +her way to the church among the gayly-dressed +lads and maidens of the parish? + +A cluster of white-stemmed birches threw its +shadow over the stone where the penitent +mother was sitting, and the tall grass on both +sides of the path nearly hid her from sight. +Presently the church-folk began to appear, and +Brita raised her head and drew her veil down over +her face. No one passed without greeting the +strangers, and the women and maidens, according +to old fashion, stopped and courtesied. At +last, there came an old white-haired man, leaning +on the arm of a middle-aged woman. His +whole figure was bent forward, and he often +stopped and drew his breath heavily. + +"Oh, yes, yes," he said, ill a hoarse, broken +voice, as he passed before them, "age is gaining +on me fast. I can't move about any more +as of old. But to church I must this day. God +help me! I have done much wrong and need to +pray for forgiveness." + +"You had better sit down and rest, father," +said the woman. "Here is a stone, and the +fine lady, I am sure, will allow a weak old man +to sit down beside her." + +Thomas rose and made a sign to the old man +to take his seat. + +"O yes, yes," he went on murmuring, as if +talking to himself. "Much wrong--much +forgiveness. God help us all--miserable sinners. +He who hateth not father and mother--and +daughter is not worthy of me. O, yes--yes-- +God comfort us all. Help me up, Grimhild. I +think I can move on again, now." + +Thomas, of course, did not understand a word +of what he said, but seeing that he wished to +rise, he willingly offered his assistance, supported +his arm and raised him. + +"Thanks to you, young man," said the peasant. +"And may God reward your kindness." + +And the two, father and daughter, moved on, +slowly and laboriously, as they had come. +Thomas stood following them with his eyes, +until a low, half-stifled moan suddenly called +him to his mother's side. Her frame trembled violently. + +"Mother, mother," implored he, stooping +over her, "what has happened? Why are you +no more yourself?" + +"Ah, my son, I can bear it no longer," sobbed +she. "God forgive me--thou must know it all." + +He sat down at her side and drew her closely +up to him and she hid her face on his bosom. +There was a long silence, only broken by the +loud chirruping of the crickets. + +"My son," she began at last, still hiding her face, +"thou art a child of guilt." + +"That has been no secret to me, mother," +answered he, gravely and tenderly, "since I was +old enough to know what guilt was." + +She quickly raised her head, and a look of +amazement, of joyous surprise, shone through +the tears that veiled her eyes. She could read +nothing but filial love and confidence in those +grave, manly features, and she saw in that +moment that all her doubts had been groundless, +that her long prayerful struggle had been for naught. + +"I brought thee into the world nameless," she +whispered, "and thou hast no word of reproach +for me?" + +"With God's help, I am strong enough to conquer +a name for myself, mother," was his answer. + +It was the very words of her own secret wish, +and upon his lips they sounded like a blessed +assurance, like a miraculous fulfillment of her +motherly prayer. + +"Still, another thing, my child," she went on +in a more confident voice. "This is thy native +land,--and the old man who was just sitting +here at my side was--my father." + +And there, in the shadow of the birch-trees, +in the summer stillness of that hour, she told +him the story of her love, of her flight, and of +the misery of these long, toilsome five and +twenty years. + +Late in the afternoon, Brita and her son were +seen returning to the farm-house. A calm, subdued +happiness beamed from the mother's countenance; +she was again at peace with the world +and herself, and her heart was as light as in the +days of her early youth. But her bodily +strength had given out, and her limbs almost +refused to support her. The strain upon her +nerves and the constant effort had hitherto +enabled her to keep up, but now, when that +strain was removed, exhausted nature claimed +its right. The next day--she could not leave +her bed, and with every hour her strength +failed. A physician was sent for. He gave +medicine, but no hope. He shook his head +gravely, as he went, and both mother and son +knew what that meant. + +Toward evening, Bjarne Blakstad was +summoned, and came at once. Thomas left the +room, as the old man entered, and what passed +in that hour between father and daughter, only +God knows. When the door was again opened, +Brita's eyes shone with a strange brilliancy, and +Bjarne lay on his knees before the bed, pressing +her hand convulsively between both of his. + +"This is my son, father," said she, in a +language which her son did not understand; and a +faint smile of motherly pride and happiness +flitted over her pale features. "I would give +him to thee in return for what thou hast lost; +but God has laid his future in another land." + +Bjarne rose, grasped his grandson's hand, and +pressed it; and two heavy tears ran down his +furrowed cheeks. "Alas," murmured he, "my +son, that we should meet thus." + +There they stood, bound together by the +bonds of blood, but, alas, there lay a world +between them. + +All night they sat together at the dying +woman's bedside. Not a word was spoken. +Toward morning, as the sun stole into the darkened +chamber, Brita murmured their names, and +they laid their hands in hers. + +"God be praised," whispered she, scarcely +audibly, "I have found you both--my father +and my son." A deep pallor spread over her +countenance. She was dead. + +Two days later, when the body was laid out, +Thomas stood alone in the room. The windows +were covered with white sheets, and a subdued +light fell upon the pale, lifeless countenance. +Death had dealt gently with her, she seemed +younger than before, and her light wavy +hair fell softly over the white forehead. Then +there came a middle-aged man, with a dull eye, +and a broad forehead, and timidly approached +the lonely mourner. He walked on tip-toe and +his figure stooped heavily. For a long while he +stood gazing at the dead body, then he knelt +down at the foot of the coffin, and began to sob +violently. At last he arose, took two steps toward +the young man, paused again, and departed +silently as he had come. It was Halvard. + +Close under the wall of the little red-painted +church, they dug the grave; and a week later +her father was laid to rest at his daughter's side. + +But the fresh winds blew over the Atlantic +and beckoned the son to new fields of labor in +the great land of the future. + + + +A GOOD-FOR-NOTHING. + +RALPH GRIM was born a gentleman. +He had the misfortune of coming into +the world some ten years later than +might reasonably have been expected. +Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve +anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had +given up all hopes of ever having a son and +heir, when this late-comer startled them by his +unexpected appearance. The only previous +addition to the family had been a daughter, and +she was then ten summers old. + +Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only +with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his +hold of the slender thread which bound him to +existence. He was rubbed with whisky, and +wrapped in cotton, and given mare's milk to +drink, and God knows what not, and the Colonel +swore a round oath of paternal delight +when at last the infant stopped gasping in that +distressing way and began to breathe like other +human beings. The mother, who, in spite of +her anxiety for the child's life, had found time +to plot for him a career of future magnificence, +now suddenly set him apart for literature, +because that was the easiest road to fame, and +disposed of him in marriage to one of the most +distinguished families of the land. She +cautiously suggested this to her husband when he +came to take his seat at her bedside; but to +her utter astonishment she found that he had +been indulging a similar train of thought, and +had already destined the infant prodigy for the +army. She, however, could not give up her +predilection for literature, and the Colonel, who +could not bear to be contradicted in his own +house, as he used to say, was getting every +minute louder and more flushed, when, happily, +the doctor's arrival interrupted the dispute. + +As Ralph grew up from infancy to childhood, +he began to give decided promise of future +distinction. He was fond of sitting down in a +corner and sucking his thumb, which his mother +interpreted as the sign of that brooding disposition +peculiar to poets and men of lofty genius. +At the age of five, he had become sole master +in the house. He slapped his sister Hilda in +the face, or pulled her hair, when she hesitated +to obey him, tyrannized over his nurse, and +sternly refused to go to bed in spite of his +mother's entreaties. On such occasions, the +Colonel would hide his face behind his newspaper, +and chuckle with delight; it was evident +that nature had intended his son for a great +military commander. As soon as Ralph himself +was old enough to have any thoughts about his +future destiny, he made up his mind that he +would like to be a pirate. A few months later, +having contracted an immoderate taste for +candy, he contented himself with the comparatively +humble position of a baker; but when +he had read "Robinson Crusoe," he manifested +a strong desire to go to sea in the hope of being +wrecked on some desolate island. The parents +spent long evenings gravely discussing these +indications of uncommon genius, and each +interpreted them in his or her own way. + +"He is not like any other child I ever knew," +said the mother. + +"To be sure," responded the father, earnestly. +"He is a most extraordinary child. I was a +very remarkable child too, even if I do say it +myself; but, as far as I remember, I never +aspired to being wrecked on an uninhabited is +land." + +The Colonel probably spoke the truth; but +he forgot to take into account that he had never +read "Robinson Crusoe." + +Of Ralph's school-days there is but little to +report, for, to tell the truth, he did not fancy +going to school, as the discipline annoyed him. +The day after his having entered the gymnasium, +which was to prepare him for the Military +Academy, the principal saw him waiting at the +gate after his class had been dismissed. He +approached him, and asked why he did not go +home with the rest. + +"I am waiting for the servant to carry my +books," was the boy's answer. + +"Give me your books," said the teacher. + +Ralph reluctantly obeyed. That day the +Colonel was not a little surprised to see his son +marching up the street, and every now and then +glancing behind him with a look of discomfort +at the principal, who was following quietly in +his train, carrying a parcel of school-books. +Colonel Grim and his wife, divining the teacher's +intention, agreed that it was a great outrage, +but they did not mention the matter to Ralph. +Henceforth, however, the boy refused to be +accompanied by his servant. A week later he +was impudent to the teacher of gymnastics, +who whipped him in return. The Colonel's +rage knew no bounds; he rode in great haste +to the gymnasium, reviled the teacher for +presuming to chastise HIS son, and committed the +boy to the care of a private tutor. + +At the age of sixteen, Ralph went to the +capital with the intention of entering the +Military Academy. He was a tall, handsome youth, +slender of stature, and carried himself as erect +as a candle. He had a light, clear complexion +of almost feminine delicacy; blonde, curly hair, +which he always kept carefully brushed; a low +forehead, and a straight, finely modeled nose. +There was an expression of extreme sensitiveness +about the nostrils, and a look of indolence +in the dark-blue eyes. But the ensemble of his +features was pleasing, his dress irreproachable, +and his manners bore no trace of the awkward +self-consciousness peculiar to his age. Immediately +on his arrival in the capital he hired a +suite of rooms in the aristocratic part of the +city, and furnished them rather expensively, +but in excellent taste. From a bosom friend, +whom he met by accident in the restaurant's +pavilion in the park, he learned that a pair of +antlers, a stuffed eagle, or falcon, and a couple +of swords, were indispensable to a well-appointed +apartment. He accordingly bought these articles +at a curiosity-shop. During the first weeks +of his residence in the city he made some feeble +efforts to perfect himself in mathematics, in +which he suspected he was somewhat deficient. +But when the same officious friend laughed at +him, and called him "green," he determined to +trust to fortune, and henceforth devoted himself +the more assiduously to the French ballet, where +he had already made some interesting acquaintances. + +The time for the examination came; the +French ballet did not prove a good preparation; +Ralph failed. It quite shook him for the time, +and he felt humiliated. He had not the courage +to tell his father; so he lingered on from +day to day, sat vacantly gazing out of his window, +and tried vainly to interest himself in the +busy bustle down on the street. It provoked +him that everybody else should be so light- +hearted, when he was, or at least fancied himself, +in trouble. The parlor grew intolerable; +he sought refuge in his bedroom. There +he sat one evening (it was the third day after +the examination), and stared out upon the gray +stone walls which on all sides enclosed the +narrow court-yard. The round stupid face of the +moon stood tranquilly dozing like a great Limburger +cheese suspended under the sky. + +Ralph, at least, could think of a no more +fitting simile. But the bright-eyed young girl +in the window hard by sent a longing look up +to the same moon, and thought of her distant +home on the fjords, where the glaciers stood +like hoary giants, and caught the yellow moonbeams +on their glittering shields of snow. She +had been reading "Ivanhoe" all the afternoon, +until the twilight had overtaken her quite +unaware, and now she suddenly remembered that +she had forgotten to write her German exercise. +She lifted her face and saw a pair of sad, vacant +eyes, gazing at her from the next window in +the angle of the court. She was a little startled +at first, but in the next moment she thought of +her German exercise and took heart. + +"Do you know German?" she said; then +immediately repented that she had said it. + +"I do," was the answer. + +She took up her apron and began to twist it +with an air of embarrassment. + +"I didn't mean anything," she whispered, at last. +"I only wanted to know." + +"You are very kind." + +That answer roused her; he was evidently +making sport of her. + +"Well, then, if you do, you may write my +exercise for me. I have marked the place in +the book." + +And she flung her book over to his window, +and he caught it on the edge of the sill, just as +it was falling. + +"You are a very strange girl," he remarked, +turning over the leaves of the book, although +it was too dark to read. "How old are you?" + +"I shall be fourteen six weeks before +Christmas," answered she, frankly. + +"Then I excuse you." + +"No, indeed," cried she, vehemently. "You +needn't excuse me at all. If you don't want to +write my exercise, you may send the book back +again. I am very sorry I spoke to you, and I +shall never do it again." + +"But you will not get the book back again +without the exercise," replied he, quietly. +"Good-night." + +The girl stood long looking after him, hoping +that he would return. Then, with a great burst +of repentance, she hid her face in her lap, and +began to cry. + +"Oh, dear, I didn't mean to be rude," she +sobbed. "But it was Ivanhoe and Rebecca +who upset me." + +The next morning she was up before daylight, +and waited for two long hours in great +suspense before the curtain of his window was +raised. He greeted her politely; threw a hasty +glance around the court to see if he was +observed, and then tossed her book dexterously +over into her hands. + +"I have pinned the written exercise to the fly- +leaf," he said. "You will probably have time +to copy it before breakfast." + +"I am ever so much obliged to you," she +managed to stammer. + +He looked so tall and handsome, and grown- +up, and her remorse stuck in her throat, and +threatened to choke her. She had taken him for a boy +as he sat there in his window the evening before. + +"By the way, what is your name?" he asked, +carelessly, as he turned to go. + +"Bertha." + +"Well, my dear Bertha, I am happy to have +made your acquaintance." + +And he again made her a polite bow, and entered his parlor. + +"How provokingly familiar he is," thought +she; "but no one can deny that he is handsome." + +The bright roguish face of the young girl +haunted Ralph during the whole next week. +He had been in love at least ten times before, of +course; but, like most boys, with young ladies far +older than himself. He found himself frequently +glancing over to her window in the +hope of catching another glimpse of her face; +but the curtain was always drawn down, and +Bertha remained invisible. During the second +week, however, she relented, and they had many +a pleasant chat together. He now volunteered +to write all her exercises, and she made no +objections. He learned that she was the daughter +of a well-to-do peasant in the sea-districts of +Norway (and it gave him quite a shock to hear +it), and that she was going to school in the city, +and boarded with an old lady who kept a pension +in the house adjoining the one in which he lived. + +One day in the autumn Ralph was surprised +by the sudden arrival of his father, and the fact +of his failure in the examination could no longer +be kept a secret. The old Colonel flared up at +once when Ralph made his confession; the large +veins upon his forehead swelled; he grew coppery- +red in his face, and stormed up and down +the floor, until his son became seriously alarmed; +but, to his great relief, he was soon made aware + +that his father's wrath was not turned against +him personally, but against the officials of the +Military Academy who had rejected him. The +Colonel took it as an insult to his own good +name and irreproachable standing as an officer; +he promptly refused any other explanation, and +vainly racked his brain to remember if any +youthful folly of his could possibly have made +him enemies among the teachers of the Academy. +He at last felt satisfied that it was envy +of his own greatness and rapid advancement +which had induced the rascals to take vengeance +on his son. Ralph reluctantly followed +his father back to the country town where the +latter was stationed, and the fair-haired Bertha +vanished from his horizon. His mother's wish +now prevailed, and he began, in his own easy +way, to prepare himself for the University. He +had little taste for Cicero, and still less for +Virgil, but with the use of a "pony" he soon +gained sufficient knowledge of these authors to +be able to talk in a sort of patronizing way +about them, to the great delight of his fond +parents. He took quite a fancy, however, to the +ode in Horace ending with the lines: + + Dulce ridentem, + Dulce loquentem, + Lalagen amabo. + +And in his thought he substituted for Lalage the +fair-haired Bertha, quite regardless of the +requirements of the metre. + +To make a long story short, three years later +Ralph returned to the capital, and, after having +worn out several tutors, actually succeeded +in entering the University. + +The first year of college life is a happy time +to every young man, and Ralph enjoyed its +processions, its parliamentary gatherings, and its +leisure, as well as the rest. He was certainly +not the man to be sentimental over the loss of a +young girl whom, moreover, he had only known +for a few weeks. Nevertheless, he thought of +her at odd times, but not enough to disturb +his pleasure. The standing of his family, his +own handsome appearance, and his immaculate +linen opened to him the best houses of the city, +and he became a great favorite in society. At +lectures he was seldom seen, but more frequently +in the theatres, where he used to come in during +the middle of the first act, take his station in +front of the orchestra box, and eye, through his +lorgnettes, by turns, the actresses and the ladies +of the parquet. + + + +II. + + +Two months passed, and then came the great +annual ball which the students give at the opening +of the second semester. Ralph was a man +of importance that evening; first, because he +belonged to a great family; secondly, because he +was the handsomest man of his year. He wore +a large golden star on his breast (for his fellow- +students had made him a Knight of the Golden +Boar), and a badge of colored ribbons in his +button-hole. + +The ball was a brilliant affair, and everybody +was in excellent spirits, especially the ladies. +Ralph danced incessantly, twirled his soft +mustache, and uttered amiable platitudes. It was +toward midnight, just as the company was moving +out to supper, that he caught the glance of +a pair of dark-blue eyes, which suddenly drove +the blood to his cheeks and hastened the beating +of his heart. But when he looked once +more the dark-blue eyes were gone, and his +unruly heart went on hammering against his side. +He laid his hand on his breast and glanced +furtively at his fair neighbor, but she looked happy +and unconcerned, for the flavor of the ice-cream +was delicious. It seemed an endless meal, but, +when it was done, Ralph rose, led his partner +back to the ball-room, and hastily excused +himself. His glance wandered round the wide hall, +seeking the well-remembered eyes once more, +and, at length, finding them in a remote corner, +half hid behind a moving wall of promenaders. +In another moment he was at Bertha's side. + +"You must have been purposely hiding yourself, +Miss Bertha," said he, when the usual +greetings were exchanged. "I have not caught +a glimpse of you all this evening, until a few +moments ago." + +"But I have seen you all the while," answered +the girl, frankly. "I knew you at once as I +entered the hall." + +"If I had but known that you were here," +resumed Ralph, as it were, invisibly expanding +with an agreeable sense of dignity, "I assure +you, you would have been the very first one I +should have sought." + +She raised her large grave eyes to his, as if +questioning his sincerity; but she made no +answer. + +"Good gracious!" thought Ralph. "She +takes things terribly in earnest." + +"You look so serious, Miss Bertha," said he, +after a moment's pause. "I remember you as a +bright-eyed, flaxen-haired little girl, who threw +her German exercise-book to me across the yard, +and whose merry laughter still rings pleasantly +in my memory. I confess I don't find it quite +easy to identify this grave young lady with my +merry friend of three years ago." + +"In other words, you are disappointed at not +finding me the same as I used to be." + +"No, not exactly that; but--" + +Ralph paused and looked puzzled. There +was something in the earnestness of her manner +which made a facetious compliment seem grossly +inappropriate, and in the moment no other +escape suggested itself. + +"But what?" demanded Bertha, mercilessly. + +"Have you ever lost an old friend?" +asked he, abruptly. + +"Yes; how so?" + +"Then," answered he, while his features +lighted up with a happy inspiration--"then you +will appreciate my situation. I fondly cherished +my old picture of you in my memory. Now I +have lost it, and I cannot help regretting the +loss. I do not mean, however, to imply that +this new acquaintance--this second edition of +yourself, so to speak--will prove less interesting." + +She again sent him a grave, questioning look, +and began to gaze intently upon the stone in her bracelet. + +"I suppose you will laugh at me," began she, +while a sudden blush flitted over her countenance. +"But this is my first ball, and I feel as +if I had rushed into a whirlpool, from which I +have, since the first rash plunge was made, been +vainly trying to escape. I feel so dreadfully +forlorn. I hardly know anybody here except +my cousin, who invited me, and I hardly think +I know him either." + +"Well, since you are irredeemably committed," +replied Ralph, as the music, after some +prefatory flourishes, broke into the delicious +rhythm of a Strauss waltz, "then it is no use +struggling against fate. Come, let us make the +plunge together. Misery loves company." + +He offered her his arm, and she arose, +somewhat hesitatingly, and followed. + +"I am afraid," she whispered, as they fell +into line with the procession that was moving +down the long hall, "that you have asked me to +dance merely because I said I felt forlorn. If +that is the case, I should prefer to be led back +to my seat." + +"What a base imputation!" cried Ralph. + +There was something so charmingly na<i:>ive in +this self-depreciation--something so altogether +novel in his experience, and, he could not help +adding, just a little bit countrified. His spirits +rose; he began to relish keenly his position as an +experienced man of the world, and, in the +agreeable glow of patronage and conscious +superiority, chatted with hearty ABANDON with his +little rustic beauty. + +"If your dancing is as perfect as your German +exercises were," said she, laughing, as they +swung out upon the floor, "then I promise myself +a good deal of pleasure from our meeting." + +"Never fear," answered he, quickly reversing +his step, and whirling with many a capricious +turn away among the thronging couples. + +When Ralph drove home in his carriage +toward morning he briefly summed up his +impressions of Bertha in the following adjectives: +intelligent, delightfully unsophisticated, a little +bit verdant, but devilish pretty. + +Some weeks later Colonel Grim received an +appointment at the fortress of Aggershuus, and +immediately took up his residence in the capital. +He saw that his son cut a fine figure in the +highest circles of society, and expressed his +gratification in the most emphatic terms. If he +had known, however, that Ralph was in the +habit of visiting, with alarming regularity, at +the house of a plebeian merchant in a somewhat +obscure street, he would, no doubt, have been +more chary of his praise. But the Colonel +suspected nothing, and it was well for the peace of +the family that he did not. It may have been +cowardice in Ralph that he never mentioned +Bertha's name to his family or to his aristocratic +acquaintances; for, to be candid, he himself felt +ashamed of the power she exerted over him, and +by turns pitied and ridiculed himself for pursuing +so inglorious a conquest. Nevertheless +it wounded his egotism that she never showed +any surprise at seeing him, that she received +him with a certain frank unceremoniousness, +which, however, was very becoming to her; +that she invariably went on with her work heedless +of his presence, and in everything treated +him as if she had been his equal. She persisted +in talking with him in a half sisterly fashion +about his studies and his future career, warned +him with great solicitude against some of his +reprobate friends, of whose merry adventures +he had told her; and if he ventured to compliment +her on her beauty or her accomplishments, +she would look up gravely from her sewing, or +answer him in a way which seemed to banish +the idea of love-making into the land of the +impossible. He was constantly tormented by the +suspicion that she secretly disapproved of him, +and that from a mere moral interest in his welfare +she was conscientiously laboring to make +him a better man. Day after day he parted +from her feeling humiliated, faint-hearted, and +secretly indignant both at himself and her, and +day after day he returned only to renew the +same experience. At last it became too intolerable, +he could endure it no longer. Let it make +or break, certainty, at all risks, was at least +preferable to this sickening suspense. That he +loved her, he could no longer doubt; let his +parents foam and fret as much as they pleased; +for once he was going to stand on his own legs. +And in the end, he thought, they would have to +yield, for they had no son but him. + +Bertha was going to return to her home on +the sea-coast in a week. Ralph stood in the +little low-ceiled parlor, as she imagined, to bid +her good-bye. They had been speaking of her +father, her brothers, and the farm, and she had +expressed the wish that if he ever should come +to that part of the country he might pay them +a visit. Her words had kindled a vague hope +in his breast, but in their very frankness and +friendly regard there was something which +slew the hope they had begotten. He held her +hand in his, and her large confiding eyes shone +with an emotion which was beautiful, but was +yet not love. + +"If you were but a peasant born like myself," +said she, in a voice which sounded almost tender, +"then I should like to talk to you as I would to +my own brother; but--" + +"No, not brother, Bertha," cried he, with +sudden vehemence; "I love you better than I ever +loved any earthly being, and if you knew how +firmly this love has clutched at the roots of my +heart, you would perhaps--you would at least +not look so reproachfully at me." + +She dropped his hand, and stood for a moment silent. + +"I am sorry that it should have come to this, +Mr. Grim," said she, visibly struggling for +calmness. "And I am perhaps more to blame +than you." + +"Blame," muttered he, "why are you to blame?" + +"Because I do not love you; although I sometimes +feared that this might come. But then again +I persuaded myself that it could not be so." + +He took a step toward the door, laid his hand +on the knob, and gazed down before him. + +"Bertha," began he, slowly, raising his head, +"you have always disapproved of me, you have +despised me in your heart, but you thought you +would be doing a good work if you succeeded +in making a man of me." + +"You use strong language," answered she, +hesitatingly; "but there is truth in what you +say." + +Again there was a long pause, in which the +ticking of the old parlor clock grew louder and +louder. + +"Then," he broke out at last, "tell me before +we part if I can do nothing to gain--I will not +say your love--but only your regard? What +would you do if you were in my place?" + +"My advice you will hardly heed, and I do +not even know that it would be well if you did. +But if I were a man in your position, I should +break with my whole past, start out into the +world where nobody knew me, and where I +should be dependent only upon my own strength, +and there I would conquer a place for myself, +if it were only for the satisfaction of knowing +that I was really a man. Here cushions are +sewed under your arms, a hundred invisible +threads bind you to a life of idleness and +vanity, everybody is ready to carry you on his +hands, the road is smoothed for you, every stone +carefully moved out of your path, and you will +probably go to your grave without having ever +harbored one earnest thought, without having +done one manly deed." + +Ralph stood transfixed, gazing at her with +open mouth; he felt a kind of stupid fright, as +if some one had suddenly seized him by the +shoulders and shaken him violently. He tried +vainly to remove his eyes from Bertha. She +held him as by a powerful spell. He saw that +her face was lighted with an altogether new +beauty; he noticed the deep glow upon her +cheek, the brilliancy of her eye, the slight +quiver of her lip. But he saw all this as one +sees things in a half-trance, without attempting +to account for them; the door between his soul +and his senses was closed. + +"I know that I have been bold in speaking to +you in this way," she said at last, seating +herself in a chair at the window. "But it was +yourself who asked me. And I have felt all the +time that I should have to tell you this before +we parted." + +"And," answered he, making a strong effort +to appear calm, "if I follow your advice, will +you allow me to see you once more before you +go?" + +"I shall remain here another week, and shall, +during that time, always be ready to receive you." + +"Thank you. Good-bye." + +"Good-bye." + +Ralph carefully avoided all the fashionable +thoroughfares; he felt degraded before himself, +and he had an idea that every man could read +his humiliation in his countenance. Now he +walked on quickly, striking the sidewalk with +his heels; now, again, he fell into an uneasy, +reckless saunter, according as the changing +moods inspired defiance of his sentence, or a +qualified surrender. And, as he walked on, the +bitterness grew within him, and he pitilessly +reviled himself for having allowed himself to be +made a fool of by "that little country goose," +when he was well aware that there were hundreds +of women of the best families of the land +who would feel honored at receiving his attentions. +But this sort of reasoning he knew to he +both weak and contemptible, and his better +self soon rose in loud rebellion. + +"After all," he muttered, "in the main thing +she was right. I am a miserable good-for- +nothing, a hot-house plant, a poor stick, and if I +were a woman myself, I don't think I should +waste my affections on a man of that calibre." + +Then he unconsciously fell to analyzing +Bertha's character, wondering vaguely that a +person who moved so timidly in social life, +appearing so diffident, from an ever-present fear +of blundering against the established forms of +etiquette, could judge so quickly, and with such +a merciless certainty, whenever a moral question, +a question of right and wrong, was at issue. +And, pursuing the same train of thought, he +contrasted her with himself, who moved in the +highest spheres of society as in his native +element, heedless of moral scruples, and conscious +of no loftier motive for his actions than the +immediate pleasure of the moment. + +As Ralph turned the corner of a street, he +heard himself hailed from the other sidewalk by +a chorus of merry voices. + +"Ah, my dear Baroness," cried a young man, +springing across the street and grasping Ralph's +hand (all his student friends called him the +Baroness), "in the name of this illustrious +company, allow me to salute you. But why the +deuce--what is the matter with you? If you +have the Katzenjammer,[7] soda-water is the +thing. Come along,--it's my treat!" + + +[7] Katzenjammer is the sensation a man has +the morning after a carousal. + + +The students instantly thronged around +Ralph, who stood distractedly swinging his cane +and smiling idiotically. + +"I am not quite well," said he; "leave me +alone." + +"No, to be sure, you don't look well," cried a +jolly youth, against whom Bertha had +frequently warned him; "but a glass of sherry +will soon restore you. It would be highly +immoral to leave you in this condition without +taking care of you." + +Ralph again vainly tried to remonstrate; but +the end was, that he reluctantly followed. + +He had always been a conspicuous figure in +the student world; but that night he astonished +his friends by his eloquence, his reckless humor, +and his capacity for drinking. He made a +speech for "Woman," which bristled with wit, +cynicism, and sarcastic epigrams. One young +man, named Vinter, who was engaged, undertook +to protest against his sweeping condemnation, +and declared that Ralph, who was a Universal +favorite among the ladies, ought to be +the last to revile them. + +"If," he went on, "the Baroness should propose +to six well-known ladies here in this city +whom I could mention, I would wager six +Johannisbergers, and an equal amount of +champagne, that every one of them would accept +him." + +The others loudly applauded this proposal, +and Ralph accepted the wager. The letters were +written on the spot, and immediately dispatched. +Toward morning, the merry carousal broke up, +and Ralph was conducted in triumph to his +home. + + +III. + + +Two days later, Ralph again knocked on +Bertha's door. He looked paler than usual, +almost haggard; his immaculate linen was a little +crumpled, and he carried no cane; his lips were +tightly compressed, and his face wore an air of +desperate resolution. + +"It is done," he said, as he seated himself +opposite her. "I am going." + +"Going!" cried she, startled at his unusual +appearance. "How, where?" + +"To America. I sail to-night. I have followed +your advice, you see. I have cut off the +last bridge behind me." + +"But, Ralph," she exclaimed, in a voice of +alarm. "Something dreadful must have happened. +Tell me quick; I must know it." + +"No; nothing dreadful," muttered he, smiling +bitterly. "I have made a little scandal, that is +all. My father told me to-day to go to the +devil, if I chose, and my mother gave me five +hundred dollars to help me along on the way. +If you wish to know, here is the explanation." + +And he pulled from his pocket six perfumed +and carefully folded notes, and threw them into +her lap. + +"Do you wish me to read them?" she asked, +with growing surprise. + +"Certainly. Why not?" + +She hastily opened one note after the other, +and read. + +"But, Ralph," she cried, springing up from +her seat, while her eyes flamed with indignation, +"what does this mean? What have you +done?" + +"I didn't think it needed any explanation," +replied he, with feigned indifference. "I +proposed to them all, and, you see, they all +accepted me. I received all these letters to-day. +I only wished to know whether the whole world +regarded me as such a worthless scamp as you +told me I was." + +She did not answer, but sat mutely staring at +him, fiercely crumpling a rose-colored note in +her hand. He began to feel uncomfortable under +her gaze, and threw himself about uneasily +in his chair. + +"Well," said he, at length, rising, "I suppose +there is nothing more. Good-bye." + +"One moment, Mr. Grim," demanded she, +sternly. "Since I have already said so much, +and you have obligingly revealed to me a new +side of your character, I claim the right to +correct the opinion I expressed of you at our last +meeting." + +"I am all attention." + +"I did think, Mr. Grim," began she, breathing +hard, and steadying herself against the +table at which she stood, "that you were a +very selfish man--an embodiment of selfishness, +absolute and supreme, but I did not believe that +you were wicked." + +"And what convinced you that I was selfish, +if I may ask?" + +"What convinced me?" repeated she, in a +tone of inexpressible contempt. "When did +you ever act from any generous regard for +others? What good did you ever do to anybody?" + +"You might ask, with equal justice, +what good I ever did to myself." + +"In a certain sense, yes; because to gratify +a mere momentary wish is hardly doing one's +self good." + +"Then I have, at all events, followed the +Biblical precept, and treated my neighbor very +much as I treat myself." + +"I did think," continued Bertha, without +heeding the remark, "that you were at bottom +kind-hearted, but too hopelessly well-bred ever +to commit an act of any decided complexion, +either good or bad. Now I see that I have +misjudged you, and that you are capable of +outraging the most sacred feelings of a woman's +heart in mere wantonness, or for the sake of +satisfying a base curiosity, which never could +have entered the mind of an upright and generous man." + +The hard, benumbed look in Ralph's face +thawed in the warmth of her presence, and her +words, though stern, touched a secret spring in +his heart. He made two or three vain attempts +to speak, then suddenly broke down, and cried: + +"Bertha, Bertha, even if you scorn me, have +patience with me, and listen." + +And he told her, in rapid, broken sentences, +how his love for her had grown from day to +day, until he could no longer master it; and +how, in an unguarded moment, when his pride +rose in fierce conflict against his love, he had +done this reckless deed of which he was now +heartily ashamed. The fervor of his words +touched her, for she felt that they were sincere. +Large mute tears trembled in her eyelashes as +she sat gazing tenderly at him, and in the depth +of her soul the wish awoke that she might have +been able to return this great and strong love +of his; for she felt that in this love lay the germ +of a new, of a stronger and better man. She +noticed, with a half-regretful pleasure, his +handsome figure, his delicately shaped hands, and the +noble cast of his features; an overwhelming +pity for him rose within her, and she began to +reproach herself for having spoken so harshly, +and, as she now thought, so unjustly. Perhaps +he read in her eyes the unspoken wish. He +seized her hand, and his words fell with a warm +and alluring cadence upon her ear. + +"I shall not see you for a long time to come, +Bertha," said he, "but if, at the end of five or +six years your hand is still free, and I return +another man--a man to whom you could safely +intrust your happiness--would you then listen +to what I may have to say to you? For I promise, +by all that we both hold sacred--" + +"No, no," interrupted she, hastily. "Promise +nothing. It would be unjust to--yourself, and +perhaps also to me; for a sacred promise is a +terrible thing, Ralph. Let us both remain free; +and, if you return and still love me, then come, +and I shall receive you and listen to you. And +even if you have outgrown your love, which is, +indeed, more probable, come still to visit me +wherever I may be, and we shall meet as friends +and rejoice in the meeting." + +"You know best," he murmured. "Let it be +as you have said." + +He arose, took her face between his hands, +gazed long and tenderly into her eyes, pressed +a kiss upon her forehead, and hastened away. + +That night Ralph boarded the steamer for Hull, +and three weeks later landed in New York. + + +IV. + + +The first three months of Ralph's sojourn in +America were spent in vain attempts to obtain a +situation. Day after day he walked down +Broadway, calling at various places of business +and night after night he returned to his cheer- +less room with a faint heart and declining spirits. +It was, after all, a more serious thing than he +had imagined, to cut the cable which binds one +to the land of one's birth. There a hundred +subtile influences, the existence of which no one +suspects until the moment they are withdrawn, +unite to keep one in the straight path of rectitude, +or at least of external respectability; and +Ralph's life had been all in society; the opinion +of his fellow-men had been the one force to +which he implicitly deferred, and the conscience +by which he had been wont to test his actions +had been nothing but the aggregate judgment +of his friends. To such a man the isolation and +the utter irresponsibility of a life among +strangers was tenfold more dangerous; and Ralph +found, to his horror, that his character contained +innumerable latent possibilities which the easy- +going life in his home probably never would +have revealed to him. It often cut him to the +quick, when, on entering an office in his daily +search for employment, he was met by hostile +or suspicious glances, or when, as it occasionally +happened, the door was slammed in his face, as +if he were a vagabond or an impostor. Then +the wolf was often roused within him, and he +felt a momentary wild desire to become what +the people here evidently believed him to be. +Many a night he sauntered irresolutely about +the gambling places in obscure streets, and the +glare of light, the rude shouts and clamors in +the same moment repelled and attracted him. +If he went to the devil, who would care? His +father had himself pointed out the way to him; +and nobody could blame him if he followed the +advice. But then again a memory emerged from +that chamber of his soul which still he held +sacred; and Bertha's deep-blue eyes gazed upon +him with their earnest look of tender warning +and regret. + +When the summer was half gone, Ralph had +gained many a hard victory over himself, and +learned many a useful lesson; and at length he +swallowed his pride, divested himself of his +fine clothes, and accepted a position as assistant +gardener at a villa on the Hudson. And as he +stood perspiring with a spade in his hand, and +a cheap broad-brimmed straw hat on his head, +he often took a grim pleasure in picturing to +himself how his aristocratic friends at home +would receive him, if he should introduce himself +to them in this new costume. + +"After all, it was only my position they +cared for," he reflected, bitterly; "without my +father's name what would I be to them?" + +Then, again, there was a certain satisfaction +in knowing that, for his present situation, humble +as it was, he was indebted to nobody but +himself; and the thought that Bertha's eyes, if +they could have seen him now would have dwelt +upon him with pleasure and approbation, went +far to console him for his aching back, his +sunburned face, and his swollen and blistered hands. + +One day, as Ralph was raking the gravel- +walks in the garden, his employer's daughter, a +young lady of seventeen, came out and spoke +to him. His culture and refinement of manner +struck her with wonder, and she asked him to +tell her his history; but then he suddenly grew +very grave, and she forbore pressing him. From +that time she attached a kind of romantic interest +to him, and finally induced her father to obtain +him a situation that would be more to his +taste. And, before winter came, Ralph saw the +dawn of a new future glimmering before him. +He had wrestled bravely with fate, and had +once more gained a victory. He began the +career in which success and distinction awaited +him, as proof-reader on a newspaper in the city. +He had fortunately been familiar with the English +language before he left home, and by the +strength of his will he conquered all difficulties. +At the end of two years he became attached to +the editorial staff; new ambitious hopes, hitherto +foreign to his mind, awoke within him; +and with joyous tumult of heart he saw life +opening its wide vistas before him, and he +labored on manfully to repair the losses of the +past, and to prepare himself for greater usefulness +in times to come. He felt in himself a +stronger and fuller manhood, as if the great +arteries of the vast universal world-life pulsed in +his own being. The drowsy, indolent existence +at home appeared like a dull remote dream from +which he had awaked, and he blessed the destiny +which, by its very sternness, had mercifully +saved him; he blessed her, too, who, from the +very want of love for him, had, perhaps, made +him worthier of love. + +The years flew rapidly. Society had flung its +doors open to him, and what was more, he had +found some warm friends, in whose houses he +could come and go at pleasure. He enjoyed +keenly the privilege of daily association with +high-minded and refined women; their eager +activity of intellect stimulated him, their +exquisite ethereal grace and their delicately chiseled +beauty satisfied his aesthetic cravings, and the +responsive vivacity of their nature prepared him +ever new surprises. He felt a strange fascination +in the presence of these women, and the +conviction grew upon him that their type of +womanhood was superior to any he had hitherto +known. And by way of refuting his own +argument, he would draw from his pocket-book +the photograph of Bertha, which had a secret +compartment there all to itself, and, gazing +tenderly at it, would eagerly defend her against the +disparaging reflections which the involuntary +comparison had provoked. And still, how could +he help seeing that her features, though well +molded, lacked animation; that her eye, with +its deep, trustful glance, was not brilliant, and +that the calm earnestness of her face, when +compared with the bright, intellectual beauty of his +present friends, appeared pale and simple, like +a violet in a bouquet of vividly colored roses? +It gave him a quick pang, when, at times, +he was forced to admit this; nevertheless, +it was the truth. + +After six years of residence in America, +Ralph had gained a very high reputation as a +journalist of rare culture and ability, and, in +1867 he was sent to the World's Exhibition in +Paris, as correspondent of the paper on which +he had during all these years been employed. +What wonder, then, that he started for Europe +a few weeks before his presence was needed in +the imperial city, and that he steered his course +directly toward the fjord valley where Bertha +had her home? It was she who had bidden him +Godspeed when he fled from the land of his +birth, and she, too, should receive his first +greeting on his return. + + +V. + + +The sun had fortified itself behind a citadel +of flaming clouds, and the upper forest region +shone with a strange ethereal glow, while the +lower plains were wrapped in shadow; but the +shadow itself had a strong suffusion of color. +The mountain peaks rose cold and blue in the distance. + +Ralph, having inquired his way of the +boatman who had landed him at the pier, walked +rapidly along the beach, with a small valise in +his hand, and a light summer overcoat flung +over his shoulder. Many half-thoughts grazed +his mind, and ere the first had taken shape, the +second, and the third came and chased it away. +And still they all in some fashion had reference +to Bertha; for in a misty, abstract way, she +filled his whole mind; but for some indefinable +reason, he was afraid to give free rein to the +sentiment which lurked in the remoter corners +of his soul. + +Onward he hastened, while his heart throbbed +with the quickening tempo of mingled expectation +and fear. Now and then one of those chill +gusts of air which seem to be careering about +aimlessly in the atmosphere during early summer, +would strike into his face, and recall him +to a keener self-consciousness. + +Ralph concluded, from his increasing agitation, +that he must be very near Bertha's home. +He stopped and looked around him. He saw a +large maple at the roadside, some thirty steps +from where he was standing, and the girl who +was sitting under it, resting her head in her +hand and gazing out over the sea, he recognized +in an instant to be Bertha. He sprang up on the +road, not crossing, however, her line of vision, +and approached her noiselessly from behind. + +"Bertha," he whispered. + +She gave a little joyous cry, sprang up, and +made a gesture as if to throw herself in his arms; +then suddenly checked herself, blushed crimson, +and moved a step backward. + +"You came so suddenly," she murmured. + +"But, Bertha," cried he (and the full bass of +his voice rang through her very soul), "have I +gone into exile and waited these many years for +so cold a welcome?" + +"You have changed so much, Ralph," she +answered, with that old grave smile which he +knew so well, and stretched out both her hands +toward him. "And I have thought of you so +much since you went away, and blamed myself +because I had judged you so harshly, and wondered +that you could listen to me so patiently, +and never bear me any malice for what I said." + +"If you had said a word less," declared Ralph, +seating himself at her side on the greensward, +"or if you had varnished it over with politeness, +then you would probably have failed to produce +any effect and I should not have been burdened +with that heavy debt of gratitude which +I now owe you. I was a pretty thick-skinned +animal in those days, Bertha. You said the +right word at the right moment; you gave me +a hold and a good piece of advice, which my +own ingenuity would never have suggested to +me. I will not thank you, because, in so grave +a case as this, spoken thanks sound like a mere +mockery. Whatever I am, Bertha, and whatever +I may hope to be, I owe it all to that hour." + +She listened with rapture to the manly assurance +of his voice; her eyes dwelt with unspeakable +joy upon his strong, bronzed features, his +full thick blonde beard, and the vigorous +proportions of his frame. Many and many a time +during his absence had she wondered how he +would look if he ever came back, and with that +minute conscientiousness which, as it were, +pervaded her whole character, she had held herself +responsible before God for his fate, prayed for +him, and trembled lest evil powers should gain +the ascendency over his soul. + +On their way to the house they talked together +of many things, but in a guarded, cautious fashion, +and without the cheerful abandonment of +former years. They both, as it were, groped their +way carefully in each other's minds, and each +vaguely felt that there was something in the +other's thought which it was not well to touch +unbidden. Bertha saw that all her fears for +him had been groundless, and his very appearance +lifted the whole weight of responsibility +from her breast; and still, did she rejoice at her +deliverance from her burden? Ah, no, in this +moment she knew that that which she had foolishly +cherished as the best and noblest part of +herself, had been but a selfish need of her own +heart. She feared that she had only taken that +interest in him which one feels in a thing of +one's own making; and now, when she saw that +he had risen quite above her; that he was free +and strong, and could have no more need of her, +she had, instead of generous pleasure at his +success, but a painful sense of emptiness, as if +something very dear had been taken from her. + +Ralph, too, was loath to analyze the impression +his old love made upon him. His feelings +were of so complex a nature, he was anxious to +keep his more magnanimous impulses active, and +he strove hard to convince himself that she was +still the same to him as she had been before they +had ever parted. But, alas! though the heart +be warm and generous, the eye is a merciless +critic. And the man who had moved on the +wide arena of the world, whose mind had housed +the large thoughts of this century, and expanded +with its invigorating breath,--was he to blame +because he had unconsciously outgrown his old +provincial self, and could no more judge by its +standards? + +Bertha's father was a peasant, but he had, +by his lumber trade, acquired what in Norway +was called a very handsome fortune. He received +his guest with dignified reserve, and +Ralph thought he detected in his eyes a lurking +look of distrust. "I know your errand," that +look seemed to say, "but you had better give it +up at once. It will be of no use for you to try." + +And after supper, as Ralph and Bertha sat +talking confidingly with each other at the window, +he sent his daughter a quick, sharp glance, +and then, without ceremony, commanded her to +go to bed. Ralph's heart gave a great thump +within him; not because he feared the old man, +but because his words, as well as his glances, +revealed to him the sad history of these long, +patient years. He doubted no longer that the +love which he had once so ardently desired was +his at last; and he made a silent vow that, +come what might, he would remain faithful. + +As he came down to breakfast the next +morning, he found Bertha sitting at the window, +engaged in hemming what appeared to be a +rough kitchen towel. She bent eagerly over +her work, and only a vivid flush upon her cheek +told him that she had noticed his coming. He +took a chair, seated himself opposite her, and +bade her "good-morning." She raised her head, +and showed him a sweet, troubled countenance, +which the early sunlight illumined with a high +spiritual beauty. It reminded him forcibly of +those pale, sweet-faced saints of Fra Angelico, +with whom the frail flesh seems ever on the +point of yielding to the ardent aspirations of +the spirit. And still, even in this moment he +could not prevent his eyes from observing that +one side of her forefinger was rough from sewing, +and that the whiteness of her arm, which +the loose sleeves displayed, contrasted strongly +with the browned and sun-burned complexion of +her hands. + +After breakfast they again walked together +on the beach, and Ralph, having once formed +his resolution, now talked freely of the New +World--of his sphere of activity there; of his +friends and of his plans for the future; and she +listened to him with a mild, perplexed look in +her eyes, as if trying vainly to follow the flight +of his thoughts. And he wondered, with secret +dismay, whether she was still the same strong, +brave-hearted girl whom he had once accounted +almost bold; whether the life in this narrow +valley, amid a hundred petty and depressing +cares, had not cramped her spiritual growth, +and narrowed the sphere of her thought. Or +was she still the same, and was it only he who +had changed? At last he gave utterance to his +wonder, and she answered him in those grave, +earnest tones which seemed in themselves to be +half a refutation of his doubts. + +"It was easy for me to give you daring +advice, then, Ralph," she said. "Like most school- +girls, I thought that life was a great and glorious +thing, and that happiness was a fruit which +hung within reach of every hand. Now I have +lived for six years trying single-handed to +relieve the want and suffering of the needy people +with whom I come in contact, and their squalor +and wretchedness have sickened me, and, what +is still worse, I feel that all I can do is as a drop +in the ocean, and after all, amounts to nothing. +I know I am no longer the same reckless girl, +who, with the very best intention, sent you +wandering through the wide world; and I thank +God that it proved to be for your good, +although the whole now appears quite incredible +to me. My thoughts have moved so long within +the narrow circle of these mountains that they +have lost their youthful elasticity, and can no +more rise above them." + +Ralph detected, in the midst of her despondency, +a spark of her former fire, and grew eloquent +in his endeavors to persuade her that she +was unjust to herself, and that there was but a +wider sphere of life needed to develop all the +latent powers of her rich nature. + +At the dinner-table, her father again sat eyeing +his guest with that same cold look of distrust +and suspicion. And when the meal was +at an end, he rose abruptly and called his +daughter into another room. Presently Ralph +heard his angry voice resounding through the +house, interrupted now and then by a woman's +sobs, and a subdued, passionate pleading. When +Bertha again entered the room, her eyes were +very red, and he saw that she had been weeping. +She threw a shawl over her shoulders, +beckoned to him with her hand, and he arose +and followed her. She led the way silently +until they reached a thick copse of birch and +alder near the strand. She dropped down upon +a bench between two trees, and he took his seat +at her side. + +"Ralph," began she, with a visible effort, "I +hardly know what to say to you; but there is +something which I must tell you--my father +wishes you to leave us at once." + +"And YOU, Bertha?" + +"Well--yes--I wish it too." + +She saw the painful shock which her words +gave him, and she strove hard to speak. Her +lips trembled, her eyes became suffused with +tears, which grew and grew, but never fell; she +could not utter a word. + +"Well, Bertha," answered he, with a little +quiver in his voice, "if you, too, wish me to go, +I shall not tarry. Good-bye." + +He rose quickly, and, with averted face, held +out his hand to her; but as she made no motion +to grasp the hand, he began distractedly to +button his coat, and moved slowly away. + +"Ralph." + +He turned sharply, and, before he knew it, +she lay sobbing upon his breast. + +"Ralph," she murmured, while the tears +almost choked her words, "I could not have you +leave me thus. It is hard enough--it is hard +enough--" + +"What is hard, beloved?" + +She raised her head abruptly, and turned +upon him a gaze full of hope and doubt, and +sweet perplexity. + +"Ah, no, you do not love me," she whispered, +sadly. + +"Why should I come to seek you, after these +many years, dearest, if I did not wish to make +you my wife before God and men? Why +should I--" + +"Ah, yes, I know," she interrupted him with +a fresh fit of weeping, "you are too good and +honest to wish to throw me away, now when +you have seen how my soul has hungered for +the sight of you these many years, how even +now I cling to you with a despairing clutch. +But you cannot disguise yourself, Ralph, and I +saw from the first moment that you loved me +no more." + +"Do not be such an unreasonable child," he +remonstrated, feebly. "I do not love you with +the wild, irrational passion of former years; +but I have the tenderest regard for you, and +my heart warms at the sight of your sweet +face, and I shall do all in my power to make +you as happy as any man can make you who--" + +"Who does not love me," she finished. + +A sudden shudder seemed to shake her whole frame, +and she drew herself more tightly up to him. + +"Ah, no," she continued, after a while, +sinking back upon her seat. "It is a hopeless thing +to compel a reluctant heart. I will accept no +sacrifice from you. You owe me nothing, for +you have acted toward me honestly and uprightly, +and I shall be a stronger, or--at least-- +a better woman for what you gave me--and-- +for what you could not give me, even though +you would." + +"But, Bertha," exclaimed he, looking mournfully +at her, "it is not true when you say that I +owe you nothing. Six years ago, when first I +wooed you, you could not return my love, and +you sent me out into the world, and even refused +to accept any pledge or promise for the future." + +"And you returned," she responded, "a man, +such as my hope had pictured you; but, while I +had almost been standing still, you had outgrown +me, and outgrown your old self, and, +with your old self, outgrown its love for me, +for your love was not of your new self, but of +the old. Alas! it is a sad tale, but it is true." + +She spoke gravely now, and with a steadier +voice, but her eyes hung upon his face with an +eager look of expectation, as if yearning to detect +there some gleam of hope, some contradiction +of the dismal truth. He read that look +aright, and it pierced him like a sharp sword. +He made a brave effort to respond to its appeal, +but his features seemed hard as stone, and he +could only cry out against his destiny, and +bewail his misfortune and hers. + +Toward evening, Ralph was sitting in an +open boat, listening to the measured oar-strokes +of the boatmen who were rowing him out to the +nearest stopping-place of the steamer. The +mountains lifted their great placid heads up +among the sun-bathed clouds, and the fjord +opened its cool depths as if to make room for +their vast reflections. Ralph felt as if he were +floating in the midst of the blue infinite space, +and, with the strength which this feeling +inspired, he tried to face boldly the thought from +which he had but a moment ago shrunk as from +something hopelessly sad and perplexing. + +And in that hour he looked fearlessly into the +gulf which separates the New World from the +Old. He had hoped to bridge it; but, alas! it +cannot be bridged. + + + +A SCIENTIFIC VAGABOND. + +I. + +THE steamer which as far back as 1860 +passed every week on its northward +way up along the coast of Norway, +was of a very sociable turn of mind. It +ran with much shrieking and needless bluster in +and out the calm, winding fjords, paid unceremonious +little visits in every out-of-the-way nook +and bay, dropped now and then a black heap of +coal into the shining water, and sent thick volleys +of smoke and shrill little echoes careering +aimlessly among the mountains. It seemed, on +the whole, from an aesthetic point of view, an +objectionable phenomenon--a blot upon the perfect +summer day. By the inhabitants, however, +of these remote regions (with the exception +of a few obstinate individuals, who had at +first looked upon it as the sure herald of dooms- +day, and still were vaguely wondering what the +world was coming to,) it was regarded in a +very different light. This choleric little monster +was to them a friendly and welcome visitor, +which established their connection with the outside +world, and gave them a proud consciousness +of living in the very heart of civilization. +Therefore, on steamboat days they flocked en +masse down on the piers, and, with an ever-fresh +sense of novelty, greeted the approaching boat +with lively cheers, with firing of muskets and +waving of handkerchiefs. The men of condition, +as the judge, the sheriff, and the parson, +whose dignity forbade them to receive the +steamer in person, contented themselves with +watching it through an opera-glass from their +balconies; and if a high official was known to be +on board, they perhaps displayed the national +banner from their flag-poles, as a delicate +compliment to their superior. + +But the Rev. Mr. Oddson, the parson of whom +I have to speak, had this day yielded to the +gentle urgings of his daughters (as, indeed, he +always did), and had with them boarded the +steamer to receive his nephew, Arnfinn Vording, +who was returning from the university for his +summer vacation. And now they had him +between them in their pretty white-painted par- +sonage boat, with the blue line along the +gunwale, beleaguering him with eager questions +about friends and relatives in the capital, chums, +university sports, and a medley of other things +interesting to young ladies who have a collegian +for a cousin. His uncle was charitable enough +to check his own curiosity about the nephew's +progress in the arts and sciences, and the result +of his recent examinations, till he should have +become fairly settled under his roof; and Arnfinn, +who, in spite of his natural brightness and +ready humor, was anything but a "dig," was +grateful for the respite. + +The parsonage lay snugly nestled at the end +of the bay, shining contentedly through the +green foliage from a multitude of small sun- +smitten windows. Its pinkish whitewash, which +was peeling off from long exposure to the +weather, was in cheerful contrast to the broad +black surface of the roof, with its glazed tiles, +and the starlings' nests under the chimney-tops. +The thick-leaved maples and walnut-trees which +grew in random clusters about the walls seemed +loftily conscious of standing there for purposes +of protection; for, wherever their long-fingered +branches happened to graze the roof, it was +always with a touch, light, graceful, and airily +caressing. The irregularly paved yard was +inclosed on two sides by the main building, and on +the third by a species of log cabin, which, in +Norway, is called a brew-house; but toward the +west the view was but slightly obscured by an +elevated pigeon cot and a clump of birches, +through whose sparse leaves the fjord beneath +sent its rapid jets and gleams of light, and its +strange suggestions of distance, peace and +unaccountable gladness. + +Arnfinn Vording's career had presented that +subtle combination of farce and tragedy which +most human lives are apt to be; and if the tragic +element had during his early years been preponderating, +he was hardly himself aware of it; for +he had been too young at the death of his +parents to feel that keenness of grief which the +same privation would have given him at a later +period of his life. It might have been humiliating +to confess it, but it was nevertheless true +that the terror he had once sustained on being +pursued by a furious bull was much more vivid +in his memory than the vague wonder and +depression which had filled his mind at seeing his +mother so suddenly stricken with age, as she lay +motionless in her white robes in the front parlor. +Since then his uncle, who was his guardian and +nearest relative, had taken him into his family, +had instructed him with his own daughters, and +finally sent him to the University, leaving the little +fortune which he had inherited to accumulate +for future use. Arnfinn had a painfully distinct +recollection of his early hardships in trying to +acquire that soft pronunciation of the r which is +peculiar to the western fjord districts of Norway, +and which he admired so much in his +cousins; for the merry-eyed Inga, who was less +scrupulous by a good deal than her older sister, +Augusta, had from the beginning persisted in +interpreting their relation of cousinship as an +unbounded privilege on her part to ridicule him +for his personal peculiarities, and especially for +his harsh r and his broad eastern accent. Her +ridicule was always very good-natured, to be +sure, but therefore no less annoying. + +But--such is the perverseness of human nature-- +in spite of a series of apparent rebuffs, +interrupted now and then by fits of violent +attachment, Arnfinn had early selected this dimpled +and yellow-haired young girl, with her piquant +little nose, for his favorite cousin. It was the +prospect of seeing her which, above all else, +had lent, in anticipation, an altogether new +radiance to the day when he should present him- +self in his home with the long-tasseled student +cap on his head, the unnecessary "pinchers" on +his nose, and with the other traditional +paraphernalia of the Norwegian student. That +great day had now come; Arnfinn sat at Inga's +side playing with her white fingers, which lay +resting on his knee, and covering the depth of +his feeling with harmless banter about her +"amusingly unclassical little nose." He had +once detected her, when a child, standing before +a mirror, and pinching this unhappy feature in +the middle, in the hope of making it "like +Augusta's;" and since then he had no longer felt +so utterly defenseless whenever his own foibles +were attacked. + +"But what of your friend, Arnfinn?" exclaimed +Inga, as she ran up the stairs of the +pier. "He of whom you have written so much. +I have been busy all the morning making the +blue guest-chamber ready for him." + +"Please, cousin," answered the student, in a +tone of mock entreaty, "only an hour's respite! +If we are to talk about Strand we must make a +day of it, you know. And just now it seems so +grand to be at home, and with you, that I +would rather not admit even so genial a subject +as Strand to share my selfish happiness." + +"Ah, yes, you are right. Happiness is too +often selfish. But tell me only why he didn't +come and I'll release you." + +"He IS coming." + +"Ah! And when?" + +"That I don't know. He preferred to take +the journey on foot, and he may be here at +almost any time. But, as I have told you, he is +very uncertain. If he should happen to make +the acquaintance of some interesting snipe, or +crane, or plover, he may prefer its company to +ours, and then there is no counting on him any +longer. He may be as likely to turn up at the +North Pole as at the Gran Parsonage." + +"How very singular. You don't know how +curious I am to see him." + +And Inga walked on in silence under the +sunny birches which grew along the road, trying +vainly to picture to herself this strange +phenomenon of a man. + +"I brought his book," remarked Arnfinn, +making a gigantic effort to be generous, for he +felt dim stirrings of jealousy within him. "If +you care to read it, I think it will explain him +to you better than anything I could say." + + + +II. + + +The Oddsons were certainly a happy family +though not by any means a harmonious one. +The excellent pastor, who was himself neutrally +good, orthodox, and kind-hearted, had often, in +the privacy of his own thought, wondered what +hidden ancestral influences there might have +been at work in giving a man so peaceable and +inoffensive as himself two daughters of such +strongly defined individuality. There was +Augusta, the elder, who was what Arnfinn called +"indiscriminately reformatory," and had a +universal desire to improve everything, from the +Government down to agricultural implements +and preserve jars. As long as she was content +to expend the surplus energy, which seemed to +accumulate within her through the long eventless +winters, upon the Zulu Mission, and other +legitimate objects, the pastor thought it all +harmless enough; although, to be sure, her +enthusiasm for those naked and howling savages +did at times strike him as being somewhat +extravagant. But when occasionally, in her own +innocent way, she put both his patience and his +orthodoxy to the test by her exceedingly puzzling +questions, then he could not, in the depth +of his heart, restrain the wish that she might +have been more like other young girls, and less +ardently solicitous about the fate of her kind. +Affectionate and indulgent, however, as the pastor +was, he would often, in the next moment, do +penance for his unregenerate thought, and thank +God for having made her so fair to behold, so +pure, and so noble-hearted. + +Toward Arnfinn, Augusta had, although of +his own age, early assumed a kind of elder-sisterly +relation; she had been his comforter during +all the trials of his boyhood; had yielded +him her sympathy with that eager impulse which +lay so deep in her nature, and had felt forlorn +when life had called him away to where her +words of comfort could not reach him. But +when once she had hinted this to her father, he +had pedantically convinced her that her feeling +was unchristian, and Inga had playfully remarked +that the hope that some one might soon +find the open Polar Sea would go far toward +consoling her for her loss; for Augusta had +glorious visions at that time of the open Polar Sea. +Now, the Polar Sea, and many other things, far +nearer and dearer, had been forced into uneasy +forgetfulness; and Arnfinn was once more with +her, no longer a child, and no longer appealing +to her for aid and sympathy; man enough, ap- +parently, to have outgrown his boyish needs +and still boy enough to be ashamed of having +ever had them. + +It was the third Sunday after Arnfinn's +return. He and Augusta were climbing the hillside +to the "Giant's Hood," from whence they +had a wide view of the fjord, and could see the +sun trailing its long bridge of flame upon the +water. It was Inga's week in the kitchen, +therefore her sister was Arnfinn's companion. +As they reached the crest of the "Hood," +Augusta seated herself on a flat bowlder, and the +young student flung himself on a patch of +greensward at her feet. The intense light of +the late sun fell upon the girl's unconscious face, +and Arnfinn lay, gazing up into it, and wondering +at its rare beauty; but he saw only the clean +cut of its features and the purity of its form, +being too shallow to recognize the strong and +heroic soul which had struggled so long for +utterance in the life of which he had been a blind +and unmindful witness. + +"Gracious, how beautiful you are, cousin!" +he broke forth, heedlessly, striking his leg with +his slender cane; "pity you were not born a +queen; you would be equal to almost anything, +even if it were to discover the Polar Sea." + +"I thought you were looking at the sun, +Arnfinn," answered she, smiling reluctantly. + +"And so I am, cousin," laughed he, with an +other-emphatic slap of his boot. + +"That compliment is rather stale." + +"But the opportunity was too tempting." + +"Never mind, I will excuse you from further +efforts. Turn around and notice that wonderful +purple halo which is hovering over the forests +below. Isn't it glorious?" + +"No, don't let us be solemn, pray. The sun I +have seen a thousand times before, but you I +have seen very seldom of late. Somehow, since +I returned this time, you seem to keep me at a +distance. You no longer confide to me your +great plans for the abolishment of war, and the +improvement of mankind generally. Why don't +you tell me whether you have as yet succeeded +in convincing the peasants that cleanliness is a +cardinal virtue, that hawthorn hedges are more +picturesque than rail fences, and that salt meat +is a very indigestible article?" + +"You know the fate of my reforms, from long +experience," she answered, with the same sad, +sweet smile. "I am afraid there must be some +thing radically wrong about my methods; and, +moreover, I know that your aspirations and +mine are no longer the same, if they ever have +been, and I am not ungenerous enough to force +you to feign an interest which you do not feel." + +"Yes, I know you think me flippant and +boyish," retorted he, with sudden energy, and +tossing a stone down into the gulf below. +"But, by the way, my friend Strand, if he ever +comes, would be just the man for you. He has +quite as many hobbies as you have, and, what is +more, he has a profound respect for hobbies in +general, and is universally charitable toward +those of others." + +"Your friend is a great man," said the girl, +earnestly. "I have read his book on `The +Wading Birds of the Norwegian Highlands,' +and none but a great man could have written it." + +"He is an odd stick, but, for all that, a capital +fellow; and I have no doubt you would get on +admirably with him." + +At this moment the conversation was interrupted +by the appearance of the pastor's man, +Hans, who came to tell the "young miss" that +there was a big tramp hovering about the barns +in the "out-fields," where he had been sleeping +during the last three nights. He was a dangerous +character, Hans thought, at least judging +from his looks, and it was hardly safe for the +young miss to be roaming about the fields at +night as long as he was in the neighborhood. + +"Why don't you speak to the pastor, and +have him arrested?" said Arnfinn, impatient of +Hans's long-winded recital. + +"No, no, say nothing to father," demanded +Augusta, eagerly. "Why should you arrest +a poor man as long as he does nothing worse +than sleep in the barns in the out-fields?" + +"As you say, miss," retorted Hans, and departed. + +The moon came up pale and mist-like over +the eastern mountain ridges, struggled for a few +brief moments feebly with the sunlight, and +then vanished. + +"It is strange," said Arnfinn, "how +everything reminds me of Strand to-night. What +gloriously absurd apostrophes to the moon he +could make! I have not told you, cousin, of a +very singular gift which he possesses. He can +attract all kinds of birds and wild animals to +himself; he can imitate their voices, and they +flock around him, as if he were one of them, +without fear of harm." + +"How delightful," cried Augusta, with sudden +animation. "What a glorious man your friend +must be!" + +"Because the snipes and the wild ducks like him? +You seem to have greater confidence in their judgment +than in mine." + +"Of course I have--at least as long as you +persist in joking. But, jesting aside, what a +wondrously beautiful life he must lead whom +Nature takes thus into her confidence; who has, +as it were, an inner and subtler sense, corresponding +to each grosser and external one; who is +keen-sighted enough to read the character of +every individual beast, and has ears sensitive to +the full pathos of joy or sorrow in the song of +the birds that inhabit our woodlands." + +"Whether he has any such second set of +senses as you speak of, I don't know; but there +can be no doubt that his familiarity, not to say +intimacy, with birds and beasts gives him a +great advantage as a naturalist. I suppose you +know that his little book has been translated +into French, and rewarded with the gold medal +of the Academy." + +"Hush! What is that?" Augusta sprang +up, and held her hand to her ear. + +"Some love-lorn mountain-cock playing yonder +in the pine copse," suggested Arnfinn, +amused at his cousin's eagerness. + +"You silly boy! Don't you know the mountain- +cock never plays except at sunrise?" + +"He would have a sorry time of it now, then, +when there IS no sunrise." + +"And so he has; he does not play except in +early spring." + +The noise, at first faint, now grew louder. It +began with a series of mellow, plaintive clucks +that followed thickly one upon another, like +smooth pearls of sound that rolled through the +throat in a continuous current; then came a few +sharp notes as of a large bird that snaps his +bill; then a long, half-melodious rumbling, +intermingled with cacklings and snaps, and at last, +a sort of diminuendo movement of the same +round, pearly clucks. There was a whizzing of +wing-beats in the air; two large birds swept +over their heads and struck down into the copse +whence the sound had issued. + +"This is indeed a most singular thing," said +Augusta, under her breath, and with wide-eyed wonder. +"Let us go nearer, and see what it can be." + +"I am sure I can go if you can," responded +Arnfinn, not any too eagerly. "Give me your +hand, and we can climb the better." + +As they approached the pine copse, which + +projected like a promontory from the line of +the denser forest, the noise ceased, and only the +plaintive whistling of a mountain-hen, calling +her scattered young together, and now and then +the shrill response of a snipe to the cry of its +lonely mate, fell upon the summer night, not as +an interruption, but as an outgrowth of the very +silence. Augusta stole with soundless tread +through the transparent gloom which lingered +under those huge black crowns, and Arnfinn +followed impatiently after. Suddenly she motioned +to him to stand still, and herself bent forward +in an attitude of surprise and eager observation. +On the ground, some fifty steps from +where she was stationed, she saw a man +stretched out full length, with a knapsack under +his head, and surrounded by a flock of downy, +half-grown birds, which responded with a low, +anxious piping to his alluring cluck, then scattered +with sudden alarm, only to return again +in the same curious, cautious fashion as before. +Now and then there was a great flapping of +wings in the trees overhead, and a heavy brown +and black speckled mountain-hen alighted close +to the man's head, stretched out her neck toward +him, cocked her head, called her scattered brood +together, and departed with slow and deliberate +wing-beats. + +Again there was a frightened flutter over- +head, a shrill anxious whistle rose in the air, +and all was silence. Augusta had stepped on a +dry branch--it had broken under her weight-- +hence the sudden confusion and flight. The +unknown man had sprung up, and his eye, after a +moment's search, had found the dark, beautiful +face peering forth behind the red fir-trunk. +He did not speak or salute her; he greeted her +with silent joy, as one greets a wondrous vision +which is too frail and bright for consciousness +to grasp, which is lost the very instant one is +conscious of seeing. But, while to the girl the +sight, as it were, hung trembling in the range +of mere physical perception, while its suddenness +held it aloof from moral reflection, there +came a great shout from behind, and Arnfinn, +whom in her surprise she had quite forgotten, +came bounding forward, grasping the stranger +by the hand with much vigor, laughing heartily, +and pouring forth a confused stream of +delighted interjections, borrowed from all manner +of classical and unclassical tongues. + +"Strand! Strand!" he cried, when the first +tumult of excitement had subsided; "you most +marvelous and incomprehensible Strand! From +what region of heaven or earth did you jump +down into our prosaic neighborhood? And +what in the world possessed you to choose our +barns as the centre of your operations, and +nearly put me to the necessity of having you +arrested for vagrancy? How I do regret that +Cousin Augusta's entreaties mollified my heart +toward you. Pardon me, I have not introduced +you. This is my cousin, Miss Oddson, and this +is my miraculous friend, the world-renowned +author, vagrant, and naturalist, Mr. Marcus Strand." + +Strand stepped forward, made a deep but +somewhat awkward bow, and was dimly aware +that a small soft hand was extended to him, +and, in the next moment, was enclosed in his +own broad and voluminous palm. He grasped +it firmly, and, in one of those profound abstractions +into which he was apt to fall when under +the sway of a strong impression, pressed it with +increasing cordiality, while he endeavored to +find fitting answers to Arnfinn's multifarious +questions. + +"To tell the truth, Vording," he said, in a +deep, full-ringing bass, "I didn't know that +these were your cousin's barns--I mean that +your uncle"--giving the unhappy hand an emphatic +shake--"inhabited these barns." + +"No, thank heaven, we are not quite reduced +to that," cried Arnfinn, gayly; "we still boast a +parsonage, as you will presently discover, and a +very bright and cozy one, to boot. But, whatever +you do, have the goodness to release +Augusta's hand. Don't you see how desperately +she is struggling, poor thing?" + +Strand dropped the hand as if it had been a +hot coal, blushed to the edge of his hair, and +made another profound reverence. He was a +tall, huge-limbed youth, with a frame of +gigantic mold, and a large, blonde, shaggy head, +like that of some good-natured antediluvian +animal, which might feel the disadvantages of +its size amid the puny beings of this later stage +of creation. There was a frank directness in +his gaze, and an unconsciousness of self, which +made him very winning, and which could not +fail of its effect upon a girl who, like Augusta, +was fond of the uncommon, and hated smooth, +facile and well-tailored young men, with the +labels of society and fashion upon their coats, +their mustaches, and their speech. And Strand, +with his large sun-burned face, his wild-growing +beard, blue woolen shirt, top boots, and unkempt +appearance generally, was a sufficiently +startling phenomenon to satisfy even so exacting +a fancy as hers; for, after reading his book +about the Wading Birds, she had made up her +mind that he must have few points of resemblance +to the men who had hitherto formed part +of her own small world, although she had not +until now decided just in what way he was to +differ. + +"Suppose I help you carry your knapsack," +said Arnfinn, who was flitting about like a small +nimble spaniel trying to make friends with some +large, good-natured Newfoundland. "You must +be very tired, having roamed about in this +Quixotic fashion!" + +"No, I thank you," responded Strand, with +an incredulous laugh, glancing alternately from +Arnfinn to the knapsack, as if estimating their +proportionate weight. "I am afraid you would +rue your bargain if I accepted it." + +"I suppose you have a great many stuffed +birds at home," remarked the girl, looking +with self-forgetful admiration at the large +brawny figure. + +"No, I have hardly any," answered he, +seating himself on the ground, and pulling a thick +note-book from his pocket. "I prefer live +creatures. Their anatomical and physiological +peculiarities have been studied by others, and +volumes have been written about them. It is +their psychological traits, ii you will allow the +expression, which interest me, and those I can +only get at while they are alive." + +"How delightful!" + +Some minutes later they were all on their way +to the Parsonage. The sun, in spite of its mid- +summer wakefulness, was getting red-eyed and +drowsy, and the purple mists which hung in +scattered fragments upon the forest below had +lost something of their deep-tinged brilliancy. +But Augusta, quite blind to the weakened light +effects, looked out upon the broad landscape in +ecstasy, and, appealing to her more apathetic +companions, invited them to share her joy at the +beauty of the faint-flushed summer night. + +"You are getting quite dithyrambic, my +dear," remarked Arnfinn, with an air of cousinly +superiority, which he felt was eminently +becoming to him; and Augusta looked up with +quick surprise, then smiled in an absent way, +and forgot what she had been saying. She had +no suspicion but that her enthusiasm had been +all for the sunset. + + + +III. + + +In a life so outwardly barren and monotonous +as Augusta's--a life in which the small external +events were so firmly interwoven with the +subtler threads of yearnings, wants, and desires +--the introduction of so large and novel a fact +as Marcus Strand would naturally produce some +perceptible result. It was that deplorable +inward restlessness of hers, she reasoned, which +had hitherto made her existence seem so empty +and unsatisfactory; but now his presence filled +the hours, and the newness of his words, his +manner, and his whole person afforded +inexhaustible material for thought. It was now a +week since his arrival, and while Arnfinn and +Inga chatted at leisure, drew caricatures, or +read aloud to each other in some shady nook of +the garden, she and Strand would roam along +the beach, filling the vast unclouded horizon +with large glowing images of the future of the +human race. He always listened in sympathetic +silence while she unfolded to him her +often childishly daring schemes for the +amelioration of suffering and the righting of social +wrongs; and when she had finished, and he met +the earnest appeal of her dark eye, there would +often be a pause, during which each, with a +half unconscious lapse from the impersonal, +would feel more keenly the joy of this new +and delicious mental companionship. And +when at length he answered, sometimes gently +refuting and sometimes assenting to her +proposition, it was always with a slow, deliberate +earnestness, as if he felt but her deep sincerity, +and forgot for the moment her sex, her +youth, and her inexperience. It was just this +kind of fellowship for which she had hungered +so long, and her heart went out with a +great gratitude toward this strong and +generous man, who was willing to recognize her +humanity, and to respond with an ever-ready +frankness, unmixed with petty suspicions and +second thoughts, to the eager needs of her half- +starved nature. It is quite characteristic, too, +of the type of womanhood which Augusta +represents (and with which this broad continent +of ours abounds), that, with her habitual disregard +of appearances, she would have scorned +the notion that their intercourse had any ultimate +end beyond that of mutual pleasure and instruction. + +It was early in the morning in the third week +of Strand's stay at the Parsonage. A heavy +dew had fallen during the night, and each tiny +grass-blade glistened in the sun, bending under +the weight of its liquid diamond. The birds +were improvising a miniature symphony in the +birches at the end of the garden; the song- +thrush warbled with a sweet melancholy his +long-drawn contralto notes; the lark, like a +prima donna, hovering conspicuously in mid +air, poured forth her joyous soprano solo; and +the robin, quite unmindful of the tempo, filled +out the pauses with his thoughtless staccato +chirp. Augusta, who was herself the early bird +of the pastor's family, had paid a visit to the +little bath-house down at the brook, and was +now hurrying homeward, her heavy black hair +confined in a delicate muslin hood, and her lithe +form hastily wrapped in a loose morning gown. +She had paused for a moment under the birches +to listen to the song of the lark, when suddenly +a low, half articulate sound, very unlike the +voice of a bird, arrested her attention; she +raised her eyes, and saw Strand sitting in the +top of a tree, apparently conversing with himself, +or with some tiny thing which he held in +his hands. + +"Ah, yes, you poor little sickly thing!" she +heard him mutter. "Don't you make such an +ado now. You shall soon be quite well, if you +will only mind what I tell you. Stop, stop! +Take it easy. It is all for your own good, you +know. If you had only been prudent, and not +stepped on your lame leg, you might have been +spared this affliction. But, after all, it was not +your fault--it was that foolish little mother of +yours. She will remember now that a skein of +hemp thread is not the thing to line her nest +with. If she doesn't, you may tell her that it +was I who said so." + +Augusta stood gazing on in mute astonishment; +then, suddenly remembering her hasty +toilet, she started to run; but, as chance would +have it, a dry branch, which hung rather low, +caught at her hood, and her hair fell in a black +wavy stream down over her shoulders. She +gave a little cry, the tree shook violently, and +Strand was at her side. She blushed crimson +over neck and face, and, in her utter bewilderment, +stood like a culprit before him, unable to +move, unable to speak, and only returning with +a silent bow his cordial greeting. It seemed to +her that she had ungenerously intruded upon +his privacy, watching him, while he thought +himself unobserved. And Augusta was quite +unskilled in those social accomplishments which +enable young ladies to hide their inward emotions +under a show of polite indifference, for, +however hard she strove, she could not suppress +a slight quivering of her lips, and her intense +self-reproach made Strand's words fall dimly on +her ears, and prevented her from gathering the +meaning of what he was saying. He held in +his hands a young bird with a yellow line along +the edge of its bill (and there was something +beautifully soft and tender in the way those +large palms of his handled any living thing), +and he looked pityingly at it while he spoke. + +"The mother of this little linnet," he said, +smiling, "did what many foolish young mothers +are apt to do. She took upon her the responsibility +of raising offspring without having acquired +the necessary knowledge of housekeeping. +So she lined her nest with hemp, and the +consequence was, that her first-born got his legs +entangled, and was obliged to remain in the +nest long after his wings had reached their full +development. I saw her feeding him about a +week ago, and, as my curiosity prompted me to +look into the case, I released the little cripple, +cleansed the deep wound which the threads had +cut in his flesh, and have since been watching +him during his convalescence. Now he is quite +in a fair way, but I had to apply some salve, +and to cut off the feathers about the wound, and +the little fool squirmed under the pain, and grew +rebellious. Only notice this scar, if you please, +Miss Oddson, and you may imagine what the +poor thing must have suffered." + +Augusta gave a start; she timidly raised her +eyes, and saw Strand's grave gaze fixed upon +her. She felt as if some intolerable spell had +come over her, and, as her agitation increased, +her power of speech seemed utterly to desert +her. + +"Ah, you have not been listening to me?" +said Strand, in a tone of wondering inquiry. +"Pardon me for presuming to believe that my +little invalid could be as interesting to you as +he is to me." + +"Mr. Strand," stammered the girl, while the +invisible tears came near choking her voice. +"Mr. Strand--I didn't mean--really--" + +She knew that if she said another word she +should burst into tears. With a violent effort, +she gathered up her wrapper, which somehow +had got unbuttoned at the neck, and, with +heedlessly hurrying steps, darted away toward the +house. + +Strand stood looking after her, quite unmindful +of his feathered patient, which flew chirping +about him in the grass. Two hours later Arnfinn +found him sitting under the birches with +his hands clasped over the top of his head, and +his surgical instruments scattered on the ground +around him. + +"Corpo di Baccho," exclaimed the student, +stooping to pick up the precious tools; "have +you been amputating your own head, or is it I +who am dreaming?" + +"Ah," murmured Strand, lifting a large, +strange gaze upon his friend, "is it you?" + +"Who else should it be? I come to call you +to breakfast." + + + +IV. + + +"I wonder what is up between Strand and +Augusta?" said Arnfinn to his cousin Inga. The +questioner was lying in the grass at her feet, +resting his chin on his palms, and gazing with +roguishly tender eyes up into her fresh, blooming +face; but Inga, who was reading aloud from +"David Copperfield," and was deep in the +matrimonial tribulations of that noble hero, only +said "hush," and continued reading. Arnfinn, +after a minute's silence, repeated his remark, +whereupon his fair cousin wrenched his cane +out of his hand, and held it threateningly over +his head. + +"Will you be a good boy and listen?" she +exclaimed, playfully emphasizing each word +with a light rap on his curly pate. + +"Ouch! that hurts," cried Arnfinn, and +dodged. + +"It was meant to hurt," replied Inga, with +mock severity, and returned to "Copperfield." + +Presently the seed of a corn-flower struck the +tip of her nose, and again the cane was lifted; +but Dora's housekeeping experiences were too +absorbingly interesting, and the blue eyes could +not resist their fascination. + +"Cousin Inga," said Arnfinn, and this time +with as near an approach to earnestness as he +was capable of at that moment, "I do believe +that Strand is in love with Augusta." + +Inga dropped the book, and sent him what +was meant to be a glance of severe rebuke, and +then said, in her own amusingly emphatic way: + +"I do wish you wouldn't joke with such +things, Arnfinn." + +"Joke! Indeed I am not joking. I wish to +heaven that I were. What a pity it is that she +has taken such a dislike to him!" + +"Dislike! Oh, you are a profound philosopher, +you are! You think that because she +avoids--" + +Here Inga abruptly clapped her hand over +her mouth, and, with sudden change of voice +and expression, said: + +"I am as silent as the grave." + +"Yes, you are wonderfully discreet," cried +Arnfinn, laughing, while the girl bit her under +lip with an air of penitence and mortification +which, in any other bosom than a cousin's would +have aroused compassion. + +"Aha! So steht's!" he broke forth, with +another burst of merriment; then, softened by the +sight of a tear that was slowly gathering beneath +her eyelashes, he checked his laughter, +crept up to her side, and in a half childishly +coaxing, half caressing tone, he whispered: + +"Dear little cousin, indeed I didn't mean to +hurt your feelings. You are not angry with +me, are you? And if you will only promise me +not to tell, I have something here which I should +like to show you." + +He well knew that there was nothing which +would sooner soothe Inga's wrath than confiding +a secret to her; and while he was a boy, he had, +in cases of sore need, invented secrets lest his +life should be made miserable by the sense that +she was displeased with him. In this instance +her anger was not strong enough to resist the +anticipation of a secret, probably relating to +that little drama which had, during the last +weeks, been in progress under her very eyes. +With a resolute movement, she brushed her +tears away, bent eagerly forward, and, in the +next moment, her face was all expectancy and +animation. + +Arnfinn pulled a thick black note-book from +his breast pocket, opened it in his lap, and read: + +"August 3, 5 A. M.--My little invalid is doing +finely; he seemed to relish much a few dozen +flies which I brought him in my hand. His +pulse is to-day, for the first time, normal. He +is beginning to step on the injured leg without +apparent pain. + +"10 A. M.--Miss Augusta's eyes have a strange, +lustrous brilliancy whenever she speaks of subjects +which seem to agitate the depths of her +being. How and why is it that an excessive +amount of feeling always finds its first expression +in the eye? One kind of emotion seems to widen +the pupil, another kind to contract it. TO be +noticed in future, how particular emotions affect +the eye. + +"6 P. M.--I met a plover on the beach this +afternoon. By imitating his cry, I induced him +to come within a few feet of me. The plover, +as his cry indicates, is a very melancholy bird. +In fact I believe the melancholy temperament to +be prevailing among the wading birds, as the +phlegmatic among birds of prey. The singing +birds are choleric or sanguine. Tease a thrush, +or even a lark, and you will soon be convinced. +A snipe, or plover, as far as my experience goes, +seldom shows anger; you cannot tease them. +To be considered, how far the voice of a bird may +be indicative of its temperament. + +"August 5, 9 P. M.--Since the unfortunate +meeting yesterday morning, when my intense +pre-occupation with my linnet, which had torn +its wound open again, probably made me commit +some breach of etiquette, Miss Augusta +avoids me. + +"August 7--I am in a most singular state. +My pulse beats 85, which is a most unheard-of +thing for me, as my pulse is naturally full and +slow. And, strangely enough, I do not feel at +all unwell. On the contrary, my physical well- +being is rather heightened than otherwise. +The life of a whole week is crowded into a day, +and that of a day into an hour." + +Inga, who, at several points of this narrative, +had been struggling hard to preserve her gravity, +here burst into a ringing laugh. + +"That is what I call scientific love-making," +said Arnfinn, looking up from the book with an +expression of subdued amusement. + +"But Arnfinn," cried the girl, while the laughter +quickly died out of her face, "does Mr. +Strand know that you are reading this?" + +"To be sure he does. And that is just what +to my mind makes the situation so excessively +comical. He has himself no suspicion that this +book contains anything but scientific notes. He +appears to prefer the empiric method in love as +in philosophy. I verily believe that he is +innocently experimenting with himself, with a view +to making some great physiological discovery." + +"And so he will, perhaps," rejoined the girl, +the mixture of gayety and grave solicitude +making her face, as her cousin thought, particularly +charming. + +"Only not a physiological, but possibly a +psychological one," remarked Arnfinn. "But +listen to this. Here is something rich: + +"August 9--Miss Augusta once said something +about the possibility of animals being immortal. +Her eyes shone with a beautiful animation +as she spoke. I am longing to continue +the subject with her. It haunts me the whole +day long. There may be more in the idea than +appears to a superficial observer." + +"Oh, how charmingly he understands how to +deceive himself," cried Inga. + +"Merely a quid pro quo," said Arnfinn. + +"I know what I shall do!" + +"And so do I." + +"Won't you tell me, please?" + +"No." + +"Then I sha'n't tell you either." + +And they flew apart like two thoughtless little +birds ("sanguine," as Strand would have called +them), each to ponder on some formidable plot +for the reconciliation of the estranged lovers. + + + +V. + + +During the week that ensued, the multifarious +sub-currents of Strand's passion seemed +slowly to gather themselves into one clearly defined +stream, and, after much scientific speculation, +he came to the conclusion that he loved +Augusta. In a moment of extreme discouragement, +he made a clean breast of it to Arnfinn, +at the same time informing him that he had +packed his knapsack, and would start on his +wanderings again the next morning. All his +friend's entreaties were in vain; he would and +must go. Strand was an exasperatingly head- +strong fellow, and persuasions never prevailed +with him. He had confirmed himself in the belief +that he was very unattractive to women, and +that Augusta, of all women, for some reason +which was not quite clear to him, hated and +abhorred him. Inexperienced as he was, he could +see no reason why she should avoid him, if she +did not hate him. They sat talking until mid- +night, each entangling himself in those passionate +paradoxes and contradictions peculiar to +passionate and impulsive youth. Strand paced +the floor with large steps, pouring out his long +pent-up emotion in violent tirades of self- +accusation and regret; while Arnfinn sat on the bed, +trying to soothe his excitement by assuring him +that he was not such a monster as, for the moment, +he had believed himself to be, but only +succeeding, in spite of all his efforts, in pouring +oil on the flames. Strand was scientifically +convinced that Nature, in accordance with some +inscrutable law of equilibrium, had found it +necessary to make him physically unattractive, +perhaps to indemnify mankind for that excess +of intellectual gifts which, at the expense of the +race at large, she had bestowed upon him. + +Early the next morning, as a kind of etherealized +sunshine broke through the white muslin +curtains of Arnfinn's room, and long streaks of +sun-illumined dust stole through the air toward +the sleeper's pillow, there was a sharp rap at the +door, and Strand entered. His knapsack was +strapped over his shoulders, his long staff was in +his hand, and there was an expression of +conscious martyrdom in his features. Arnfinn +raised himself on his elbows, and rubbed his +eyes with a desperate determination to get +awake, but only succeeded in gaining a very +dim impression of a beard, a blue woolen shirt, +and a disproportionately large shoe buckle. The +figure advanced to the bed, extended a broad, +sun-burned hand, and a deep bass voice was +heard to say: + +"Good-bye, brother." + +Arnfinn, who was a hard sleeper, gave another +rub, and, in a querulously sleepy tone, managed +to mutter: + +"Why,--is it as late as that--already?" + +The words of parting were more remotely +repeated, the hand closed about Arnfinn's half- +unfeeling fingers, the lock on the door gave a +little sharp click, and all was still. But the +sunshine drove the dust in a dumb, confused dance +through the room. + +Some four hours later, Arnfinn woke up with +a vague feeling as if some great calamity had +happened; he was not sure but that he had slept +a fortnight or more. He dressed with a sleepy, +reckless haste, being but dimly conscious of the +logic of the various processes of ablution which +he underwent. He hurried up to Strand's room, +but, as he had expected, found it empty. + +During all the afternoon, the reading of "David +Copperfield" was interrupted by frequent +mutual condolences, and at times Inga's hand +would steal up to her eye to brush away a +treacherous tear. But then she only read the +faster, and David and Agnes were already safe +in the haven of matrimony before either she or +Arnfinn was aware that they had struggled +successfully through the perilous reefs and quick- +sands of courtship. + +Augusta excused herself from supper, Inga's +forced devices at merriment were too transparent, +Arnfinn's table-talk was of a rambling, +incoherent sort, and he answered dreadfully +malapropos, if a chance word was addressed to him, +and even the good-natured pastor began, at last, +to grumble; for the inmates of the Gran Parsonage +seemed to have but one life and one soul in +common, and any individual disturbance immediately +disturbed the peace and happiness of the +whole household. Now gloom had, in some +unaccountable fashion, obscured the common +atmosphere. Inga shook her small wise head, and +tried to extract some little consolation from the +consciousness that she knew at least some things +which Arnfinn did not know, and which it would +be very unsafe to confide to him. + + + +VI. + + +Four weeks after Strand's departure, as the +summer had already assumed that tinge of sadness +which impresses one as a foreboding of +coming death, Augusta was walking along the +beach, watching the flight of the sea-birds. Her +latest "aberration," as Arnfinn called it, was an +extraordinary interest in the habits of the eider- +ducks, auks, and sea-gulls, the noisy monotony +of whose existence had, but a few months ago, +appeared to her the symbol of all that was vulgar +and coarse in human and animal life. Now +she had even provided herself with a note-book, +and (to use once more the language of her +unbelieving cousin) affected a half-scientific interest +in their clamorous pursuits. She had made +many vain attempts to imitate their voices and +to beguile them into closer intimacy, and had +found it hard at times to suppress her indignation +when they persisted in viewing her in the +light of an intruder, and in returning her amiable +approaches with shy suspicion, as if they +doubted the sincerity of her intentions. + +She was a little paler now, perhaps, than before, +but her eyes had still the same lustrous +depth, and the same sweet serenity was still +diffused over her features, and softened, like a +pervading tinge of warm color, the grand +simplicity of her presence. She sat down on a +large rock, picked up a curiously twisted shell, +and seeing a plover wading in the surf, gave a +soft, low whistle, which made the bird turn +round and gaze at her with startled distrust. +She repeated the call, but perhaps a little too +eagerly, and the bird spread its wings with a +frightened cry, and skimmed, half flying, half +running, out over the glittering surface of the +fjord. But from the rocks close by came a long +melancholy whistle like that of a bird in +distress, and the girl rose and hastened with eager +steps toward the spot. She climbed up on a +stone, fringed all around with green slimy sea- +weeds, in order to gain a wider view of the +beach. Then suddenly some huge figure started +up between the rocks at her feet; she gave a +little scream, her foot slipped, and in the next +moment she lay--in Strand's arms. He offered +no apology, but silently carried her over the +slippery stones, and deposited her tenderly upon +the smooth white sand. There it occurred to +her that his attention was quite needless, but at +the moment she was too startled to make any +remonstrance. + +"But how in the world, Mr. Strand, did you +come here?" she managed at last to stammer. +"We all thought that you had gone away." + +"I hardly know myself," said Strand, in a +beseeching undertone, quite different from his +usual confident bass. "I only know that--that +I was very wretched, and that I had to come +back." + +Then there was a pause, which to both seemed +quite interminable, and, in order to fill it out in +some way, Strand began to move his head and +arms uneasily, and at length seated himself at +Augusta's side. The blood was beating with +feverish vehemence in her temples, and for the +first time in her life she felt something akin to +pity for this large, strong man, whose strength +and cheerful self-reliance had hitherto seemed +to raise him above the need of a woman's aid +and sympathy. Now the very shabbiness of his +appearance, and the look of appealing misery in +his features, opened in her bosom the gate +through which compassion could enter, and, +with that generous self-forgetfulness which was +the chief factor of her character, she leaned +over toward him, and said: + +"You must have been very sick, Mr. Strand. +Why did you not come to us and allow us to +take care of you, instead of roaming about here +in this stony wilderness?" + +"Yes; I have been sick," cried Strand, with +sudden vehemence, seizing her hand; "but it is +a sickness of which I shall never, never be +healed." + +And with that world-old eloquence which is +yet ever new, he poured forth his passionate +confession in her ear, and she listened, hungrily +at first, then with serene, wide-eyed happiness. +He told her how, driven by his inward restlessness, +he had wandered about in the mountains, +until one evening at a saeter, he had heard a +peasant lad singing a song, in which this stanza +occurred: + + "A woman's frown, a woman's smile, + Nor hate nor fondness prove; + For maidens smile on him they hate, + And fly from him they love." + + +Then it had occurred to him for the first time +in his life that a woman's behavior need not be +the logical indicator of her deepest feelings, +and, enriched with this joyful discovery, +inspired with new hope, he had returned, but had +not dared at once to seek the Parsonage, until +he could invent some plausible reason for his +return; but his imagination was very poor, and +he had found none, except that he loved the +pastor's beautiful daughter. + +The evening wore on. The broad mountain- +guarded valley, flooded now to the brim with a +soft misty light, spread out about them, and +filled them with a delicious sense of security. +The fjord lifted its grave gaze toward the sky, +and deepened responsively with a bright, ever- +receding immensity. The young girl felt this +blessed peace gently stealing over her; doubt +and struggle were all past, and the sun shone +ever serene and unobscured upon the widening +expanses of the future. And in his breast, too, +that mood reigned in which life looks boundless +and radiant, human woes small or impossible, +and one's own self large and all-conquering. +In that hour they remodeled this old and +obstinate world of ours, never doubting that, if +each united his faith and strength with the +other's, they could together lift its burden. + +That night was the happiest and most memorable +night in the history of the Gran Parsonage. +The pastor walked up and down on the floor, +rubbing his hands in quiet contentment. Inga, +to whom an engagement was essentially a sol- +emn affair, sat in a corner and gazed at her +sister and Strand with tearful radiance. Arnfinn +gave vent to his joy by bestowing embraces +promiscuously upon whomsoever chanced to +come in his way. + +This story, however, has a brief but not +unimportant sequel. It was not many weeks after +this happy evening that Arnfinn and the maiden +with the "amusingly unclassical nose" presented +themselves in the pastor's study and asked for +his paternal and unofficial blessing. But the +pastor, I am told, grew very wroth, and +demanded that his nephew should first take his +second and third degrees, attaching, besides, +some very odious stipulations regarding average +in study and college standing, before there could +be any talk about engagement or matrimony. +So, at present, Arnfinn is still studying, and the +fair-haired Inga is still waiting. + + + +TRULS, THE NAMELESS. + +HE was born in the houseman's lodge; +she in the great mansion. He did not +know who his father was; she was +the daughter of Grim of Skogli, and +she was the only daughter he had. They were +carried to baptism on the same day, and he was +called Truls, because they had to call him something; +she received the name of Borghild, because +that had been the name of every eldest +born daughter in the family for thirty +generations. They both cried when the pastor poured +the water on their heads; his mother hushed +him, blushed, and looked timidly around her; +but the woman who carried Borghild lifted her +high up in her arms so that everybody could +see her, and the pastor smiled benignly, and the +parishioners said that they had never seen so +beautiful a child. That was the way in which +they began life--he as a child of sin, she as the +daughter of a mighty race. + +They grew up together. She had round +cheeks and merry eyes, and her lips were redder +than the red rose. He was of slender +growth, his face was thin and pale, and his eyes +had a strange, benumbed gaze, as if they were +puzzling themselves with some sad, life-long +riddle which they never hoped to solve. On +the strand where they played the billows came +and went, and they murmured faintly with a +sound of infinite remoteness. Borghild laughed +aloud, clapped her hands and threw stones out +into the water, while he sat pale and silent, and +saw the great white-winged sea-birds sailing +through the blue ocean of the sky. + +"How would you like to live down there in +the deep green water?" she asked him one day, +as they sat watching the eider-ducks which +swam and dived, and stood on their heads +among the sea-weeds. + +"I should like it very well," he answered, "if +you would follow me." + +"No, I won't follow you," she cried. "It is +cold and wet down in the water. And I should +spoil the ribbons on my new bodice. But +when I grow up and get big and can braid my +hair, then I shall row with the young lads to the +church yonder on the headland, and there the +old pastor will marry me, and I shall wear the +big silver crown which my mother wore when +she was married." + +"And may I go with you?" asked he, timidly. + +"Yes, you may steer my boat and be my +helmsman, or--you may be my bridegroom, if +you would like that better." + +"Yes, I think I should rather be your +bridegroom," and he gave her a long, strange look +which almost frightened her. + +The years slipped by, and before Borghild +knew it, she had grown into womanhood. The +down on Truls's cheeks became rougher, and he, +too, began to suspect that he was no longer a +boy. When the sun was late and the breeze +murmured in the great, dark-crowned pines, +they often met by chance, at the well, on the +strand, or on the saeter-green. And the oftener +they met the more they found to talk about; to +be sure, it was she who did the talking, and he +looked at her with his large wondering eyes and +listened. She told him of the lamb which had +tumbled down over a steep precipice and still +was unhurt, of the baby who pulled the pastor's +hair last Sunday during the baptismal ceremony, +or of the lumberman, Lars, who drank the kero- +sene his wife gave him for brandy, and never +knew the difference. But, when the milkmaids +passed by, she would suddenly forget what she +had been saying, and then they sat gazing at +each other in silence. Once she told him of the +lads who danced with her at the party at Houg; +and she thought she noticed a deeper color on +his face, and that he clinched both his fists and +--thrust them into his pockets. That set her +thinking, and the more she thought, the more +curious she grew. He played the violin well; +suppose she should ask him to come and fiddle +at the party her father was to give at the end +of the harvest. She resolved to do it, and he, +not knowing what moved her, gave his promise +eagerly. It struck her, afterward, that she had +done a wicked thing, but, like most girls, she +had not the heart to wrestle with an uncomfortable +thought; she shook it off and began to hum +a snatch of an old song. + + "O'er the billows the fleet-footed storm-wind rode, + The billows blue are the merman's abode, + So strangely that harp was sounding." + + +The memory of old times came back to her, +the memory of the morning long years ago, +when they sat together on the strand, and he +said; "I think I would rather be your bride- +groom, Borghild." The memory was sweet +but it was bitter too; and the bitterness rose +and filled her heart. She threw her head back +proudly, and laughed a strange, hollow laugh. +"A bastard's bride, ha, ha! A fine tale were +that for the parish gossips." A yellow butterfly +lighted on her arm, and with a fierce frown on +her face she caught it between her fingers. +Then she looked pityingly on the dead wings, +as they lay in her hand, and murmured between +her teeth: "Poor thing! Why did you come +in my way, unbidden?" + +The harvest was rich, and the harvest party +was to keep pace with the harvest. The broad +Skogli mansion was festively lighted (for it was +already late in September); the tall, straight +tallow candles, stuck in many-armed candlesticks, +shone dimly through a sort of misty halo, +and only suffused the dusk with a faint glimmering +of light. And every time a guest entered, +the flames of the candles flickered and +twisted themselves with the wind, struggling +to keep erect. And Borghild's courage, too, +rose and fell with the flickering motion of a +flame which wrestles with the wind. Whenever +the latch clicked she lifted her eyes and looked +for Truls, and one moment she wished that she +might never see his face again, and in the next +she sent an eager glance toward the door. Presently +he came, threw his fiddle on a bench, and +with a reckless air walked up to her and held +out his hand. She hesitated to return his greeting, +but when she saw the deep lines of suffering +in his face, her heart went forward with a +great tenderness toward him, a tenderness such +as one feels for a child who is sick, and suffers +without hope of healing. She laid her hand in +his, and there it lay for a while listlessly; for +neither dared trust the joy which the sight of +the other enkindled. But when she tried to +draw her hand away, he caught it quickly, and +with a sudden fervor of voice he said: + +"The sight of you, Borghild, stills the hunger +which is raging in my soul. Beware that you +do not play with a life, Borghild, even though +it be a worthless one." + +There was something so hopelessly sad in his +words, that they stung her to the quick. They +laid bare a hidden deep in her heart, and she +shrank back st the sight of her own vileness. +How could she repair the injury she had done +him? How could she heal the wound she had +inflicted? A number of guests came up to greet +her and among them Syvert Stein, a bold-look- +ing young man, who, during that summer, had +led her frequently in the dance. He had a +square face, strong features, and a huge crop of +towy hair. His race was far-famed for wit and +daring. + +"Tardy is your welcome, Borghild of Skogli," +quoth he. "But what a faint heart does not +give a bold hand can grasp, and what I am not +offered I take unbidden." + +So saying, he flung his arm about her waist, +lifted her from the floor and put her down in +the middle of the room. Truls stood and gazed +at them with large, bewildered eyes. He tried +hard to despise the braggart, but ended with +envying him. + +"Ha, fiddler, strike up a tune that shall ring +through marrow and bone," shouted Syvert +Stein, who struck the floor with his heels and +moved his body to the measure of a spring-dance. + +Truls still followed them with his eyes; +suddenly he leaped up, and a wild thought burned +in his breast. But with an effort he checked +himself, grasped his violin, and struck a wailing +chord of lament. Then he laid his ear close +to the instrument, as if he were listening to +some living voice hidden there within, ran wa- +rily with the bow over the strings, and warbled, +and caroled, and sang with maddening glee, and +still with a shivering undercurrent of woe. And +the dusk which slept upon the black rafters was +quickened and shook with the weird sound; +every pulse in the wide hall beat more rapidly, +and every eye kindled with a bolder fire. +Pressently{sic} a Strong male voice sang out to the +measure of the violin: + + +"Come, fairest maid, tread the dance with me; + O heigh ho!" + +And a clear, tremulous treble answered: + +"So gladly tread I the dance with thee; + O heigh ho!" + + +Truls knew the voices only too well; it was Syvert Stein +and Borghild who were singing a stave.[8] + + +[8] A stave is an improvised responsive song. It is an ancient pastime +in Norway, and is kept up until this day, especially among the peasantry. +The students, also, at their social gatherings, throw improvised +rhymes to each other across the table, and the rest of the company +repeat the refrain. + + +Syvert--Like brier-roses thy red cheeks blush, +Borghild--And thine are rough like the thorny bush; + Both--An' a heigho! + +Syvert--So fresh and green is the sunny lea; + O heigh ho! +Borghild--The fiddle twangeth so merrily; + O heigh ho! +Syvert--So lightly goeth the lusty reel, +Borghild--And round we whirl like a spinning-wheel; + Both--An' a heigho! + +Syvert--Thine eyes are bright like the sunny fjord; + O heigh ho! +Borghild--And thine do flash like a Viking's sword; + O heigh ho! +Syvert--So lightly trippeth thy foot along, +Borghild--The air is teeming with joyful song; + Both--An' a heigh ho! + +Syvert--Then fairest maid, while the woods are green, + O heigh ho! +Borghild--And thrushes sing the fresh leaves between; + O heigh ho! +Syvert--Come, let us dance in the gladsome day, +Borghild--Dance hate, and sorrow, and care away; + Both--An' a heigh ho! + + +The stave was at an end. The hot and flushed +dancers straggled over the floor by twos and +threes, and the big beer-horns were passed from +hand to hand. Truls sat in his corner hugging +his violin tightly to his bosom, only to do +something, for he was vaguely afraid of himself-- +afraid of the thoughts that might rise--afraid +of the deed they might prompt. He ran his +fingers over his forehead, but he hardly felt the +touch of his own hand. It was as if something +was dead within him--as if a string had +snapped in his breast, and left it benumbed and +voiceless. + +Presently he looked up and saw Borghild +standing before him; she held her arms akimbo, +her eyes shone with a strange light, and her +features wore an air of recklessness mingled +with pity. + +"Ah, Borghild, is it you?" said he, in a hoarse +voice. "What do you want with me? I +thought you had done with me now." + +"You are a very unwitty fellow," answered +she, with a forced laugh. "The branch that +does not bend must break." + +She turned quickly on her heel and was lost +in the crowd. He sat long pondering on her +words, but their meaning remained hidden to +him. The branch that does not bend must +break. Was he the branch, and must he bend +or break? By-and-by he put his hands on his +knees, rose with a slow, uncertain motion, and +stalked heavily toward the door. The fresh +night air would do him good. The thought +breathes more briskly in God's free nature, +under the broad canopy of heaven. The white +mist rose from the fields, and made the valley +below appear like a white sea whose nearness +you feel, even though you do not see it. And +out of the mist the dark pines stretched their +warning hands against the sky, and the moon +was swimming, large and placid, between silvery +islands of cloud. Truls began to beat his arms +against his sides, and felt the warm blood +spreading from his heart and thawing the numbness +of his limbs. Not caring whither he went, +he struck the path leading upward to the +mountains. He took to humming an old air +which happened to come into his head, only to +try if there was life enough left in him to sing. +It was the ballad of Young Kirsten and the +Merman: + + "The billows fall and the billows swell, + In the night so lone, + In the billows blue doth the merman dwell, + And strangely that harp was sounding." + + +He walked on briskly for a while, and, looking +back upon the pain he had endured but a +moment ago, he found it quite foolish and +irrational. An absurd merriment took possession +of him; but all the while he did not know where +his foot stepped; his head swam, and his pulse +beat feverishly. About midway between the +forest and the mansion, where the field sloped +more steeply, grew a clump of birch-trees, +whose slender stems glimmered ghostly white in +the moonlight. Something drove Truls to leave +the beaten road, and, obeying the impulse, he +steered toward the birches. A strange sound +fell upon his ear, like the moan of one in +distress. It did not startle him; indeed, he was in +a mood when nothing could have caused him +wonder. If the sky had suddenly tumbled +down upon him, with moon and all, he would +have taken it as a matter of course. Peering +for a moment through the mist, he discerned +the outline of a human figure. With three +great strides he reached the birch-tree; at his +feet sat Borghild rocking herself to and fro and +weeping piteously. Without a word he seated +himself at her side and tried to catch a glimpse +of her face; but she hid it from him and went +on sobbing. Still there could be no doubt that +it was Borghild--one hour ago so merry, reckless, +and defiant, now cowering at his feet and +weeping like a broken-hearted child. + +"Borghild," he said, at last, putting his arm +gently about her waist, "you and I, I think, +played together when we were children." + +"So we did, Truls," answered she, struggling +with her tears. + +"And as we grew up, we spent many a pleasant +hour with each other." + +"Many a pleasant hour." + +She raised her head, and he drew her more +closely to him. + +"But since then I have done you a great +wrong," began she, after a while. + +"Nothing done that cannot yet be undone," +he took heart to answer. + +It was long before her thoughts took shape, +and, when at length they did, she dared not +give them utterance. Nevertheless, she was all +the time conscious of one strong desire, from +which her conscience shrank as from a crime; +and she wrestled ineffectually with her weakness +until her weakness prevailed. + +"I am glad you came," she faltered. "I +knew you would come. There was something I +wished to say to you." + +"And what was it, Borghild?" + +"I wanted to ask you to forgive me--" + +"Forgive you--" + +He sprang up as if something had stung him. + +"And why not?" she pleaded, piteously. + +"Ah, girl, you know not what you ask," +cried he, with a sternness which startled her. +"If I had more than one life to waste--but you +caress with one hand and stab with the other. +Fare thee well, Borghild, for here our paths +separate." + +He turned his back upon her and began to +descend the slope. + +"For God's sake, stay, Truls," implored she, +and stretched her arms appealingly toward him; +"tell me, oh, tell me all." + +With a leap he was again at her side, stooped +down over her, and, in a hoarse, passionate +whisper, spoke the secret of his life in her ear. +She gazed for a moment steadily into his face, +then, in a few hurried words, she pledged him +her love, her faith, her all. And in the stillness +of that summer night they planned together +their flight to a greater and freer land, where no +world-old prejudice frowned upon the union of +two kindred souls. They would wait in patience +and silence until spring; then come the fresh +winds from the ocean, and, with them, the birds +of passage which awake the longings in the +Norsernen's breasts, and the American vessels +which give courage to many a sinking spirit, +strength to the wearied arm, hope to the hopeless heart. + +During that winter Truls and Borghild seldom +saw each other. The parish was filled +with rumors, and after the Christmas holiday +it was told for certain that the proud maiden of +Skogli had been promised in marriage to Syvert +Stein. It was the general belief that the families +had made the match, and that Borghild, at +least, had hardly had any voice in the matter. +Another report was that she had flatly refused +to listen to any proposal from that quarter, and +that, when she found that resistance was vain, +she had cried three days and three nights, and +refused to take any food. When this rumor +reached the pastor's ear, he pronounced it an +idle tale; "for," said he, "Borghild has always +been a proper and well-behaved maiden, and she +knows that she must honor father and mother, +that it may be well with her, and she live long +upon the land." + +But Borghild sat alone in her gable window +and looked longingly toward the ocean. The +glaciers glittered, the rivers swelled, the buds of +the forest burst, and great white sails began to +glimmer on the far western horizon. + +If Truls, the Nameless, as scoffers were wont +to call him, had been a greater personage in the +valley, it would, no doubt, have shocked the +gossips to know that one fine morning he sold +his cow, his gun and his dog, and wrapped sixty +silver dollars in a leathern bag, which he sewed +fast to the girdle he wore about his waist. That +same night some one was heard playing wildly +up in the birch copse above the Skogli mansion; +now it sounded like a wail of distress, then like a +fierce, defiant laugh, and now again the music +seemed to hush itself into a heart-broken, sorrowful +moan, and the people crossed themselves, and +whispered: "Our Father;" but Borghild sat at +her gable window and listened long to the weird +strain. The midnight came, but she stirred not. +With the hour of midnight the music ceased. +From the windows of hall and kitchen the light +streamed out into the damp air, and the darkness +stood like a wall on either side; within, +maids and lads were busy brewing, baking, and +washing, for in a week there was to be a +wedding on the farm. + +The week went and the wedding came. +Truls had not closed his eyes all that night, +and before daybreak he sauntered down along +the beach and gazed out upon the calm fjord, +where the white-winged sea-birds whirled in +great airy surges around the bare crags. Far +up above the noisy throng an ospray sailed on +the blue expanse of the sky, and quick as +thought swooped down upon a halibut which +had ventured to take a peep at the rising sun. +The huge fish struggled for a moment at the +water's edge, then, with a powerful stroke of +its tail, which sent the spray hissing through +the air, dived below the surface. The bird of +prey gave a loud scream, flapped fiercely with +its broad wings, and for several minutes a +thickening cloud of applauding ducks and seagulls +and showers of spray hid the combat from +the observer's eye. When the birds scattered, +the ospray had vanished, and the waters again +glittered calmly in the morning sun. Truls +stood long, vacantly staring out upon the scene +of the conflict, and many strange thoughts +whirled through his head. + +"Halloo, fiddler!" cried a couple of lads who +had come to clear the wedding boats, "you are +early on foot to-day. Here is a scoop. Come +on and help us bail the boats." + +Truls took the scoop, and looked at it as if he +had never seen such a thing before; he moved +about heavily, hardly knowing what he did, but +conscious all the while of his own great misery. +His limbs seemed half frozen, and a dull pain +gathered about his head and in his breast--in +fact, everywhere and nowhere. + +About ten o'clock the bridal procession +descended the slope to the fjord. Syvert Stein, +the bridegroom, trod the earth with a firm, +springy step, and spoke many a cheery word to +tho bride, who walked, silent and with downcast +eyes, at his side. She wore the ancestral +bridal crown on her head, and the little silver +disks around its edge tinkled and shook as she +walked. They hailed her with firing of guns +and loud hurrahs as she stepped into the boat; +still she did not raise her eyes, but remained +silent. A small cannon, also an heir-loom in the +family, was placed amidships, and Truls, with +his violin, took his seat in the prow. A large +solitary cloud, gold-rimmed but with thunder +in its breast, sailed across the sky and threw its +shadow over the bridal boat as it was pushed +out from the shore, and the shadow fell upon +the bride's countenance too; and when she +lifted it, the mother of the bridegroom, who sat +opposite her, shrank back, for the countenance +looked hard, as if carved in stone--in the eyes +a mute, hopeless appeal; on the lips a frozen +prayer. The shadow of thunder upon a life +that was opening--it was an ill omen, and its +gloom sank into the hearts of the wedding +guests. They spoke in undertones and threw +pitying glances at the bride. Then at length +Syvert Stein lost his patience. + +"In sooth," cried he, springing up from his +seat, "where is to-day the cheer that is wont to +abide in the Norseman's breast? Methinks I +see but sullen airs and ill-boding glances. Ha, +fiddler, now move your strings lustily! None +of your funeral airs, my lad, but a merry tune +that shall sing through marrow and bone, and +make the heart leap in the bosom." + +Truls heard the words, and in a slow, +mechanical way he took the violin out of its case and +raised it to his chin. Syvert in the mean while +put a huge silver beer-jug to his mouth, and, +pledging his guests, emptied it even to the +dregs. But the bride's cheek was pale; and it +was so still in the boat that every man could +hear his own breathing. + +"Ha, to-day is Syvert Stein's wedding-day!" +shouted the bridegroom, growing hot with +wrath. "Let us try if the iron voice of the +cannon can wake my guests from their slumber." + +He struck a match and put it to the touch- +hole of the cannon; a long boom rolled away +over the surface of the waters and startled the +echoes of the distant glaciers. A faint hurrah +sounded from the nearest craft, but there came +no response from the bridal boat. Syvert pulled +the powder-horn from his pocket, laughed a +wild laugh, and poured the whole contents of +the horn into the mouth of the cannon. + +"Now may the devil care for his own," roared +he, and sprang up upon the row-bench. Then +there came a low murmuring strain as of wavelets +that ripple against a sandy shore. Borghild +lifted her eyes, and they met those of the fiddler. + +"Ah, I think I should rather be your +bridegroom," whispered she, and a ray of life stole +into her stony visage. + +And she saw herself as a little rosy-cheeked +girl sitting at his side on the beach fifteen years +ago. But the music gathered strength from +her glance, and onward it rushed through the +noisy years of boyhood, shouting with wanton +voice in the lonely glen, lowing with the cattle +on the mountain pastures, and leaping like the +trout at eventide in the brawling rapids; but +through it all there ran a warm strain of boyish +loyalty and strong devotion, and it thawed her +frozen heart; for she knew that it was all for +her and for her only. And it seemed such a +beautiful thing, this long faithful life, which +through sorrow and joy, through sunshine and +gloom, for better for worse, had clung so fast +to her. The wedding guests raised their heads, +and a murmur of applause ran over the waters. + +"Bravo!" cried the bridegroom. "Now at +last the tongues are loosed." + +Truls's gaze dwelt with tender sadness on the +bride. Then came from the strings some airy +quivering chords, faintly flushed like the petals +of the rose, and fragrant like lilies of the valley; +and they swelled with a strong, awakening +life, and rose with a stormy fullness until they +seemed on the point of bursting, when again +they hushed themselves and sank into a low, +disconsolate whisper. Once more the tones +stretched out their arms imploringly, and again +they wrestled despairingly with themselves, fled +with a stern voice of warning, returned once +more, wept, shuddered, and were silent. + +"Beware that thou dost not play with a life!" +sighed the bride, "even though it be a worthless one." + +The wedding guests clapped their hands and +shouted wildly against the sky. The bride's +countenance burned with a strange feverish +glow. The fiddler arose in the prow of the +boat, his eyes flamed, he struck the strings +madly, and the air trembled with melodious +rapture. The voice of that music no living +tongue can interpret. But the bride fathomed +its meaning; her bosom labored vehemently, +her lips quivered for an instant convulsively, +and she burst into tears. A dark +suspicion shot through the bridegroom's mind. +He stared intently upon the weeping Borghild +then turned his gaze to the fiddler, who, still +regarding her, stood playing, with a half-frenzied +look and motion. + +"You cursed wretch!" shrieked Syvert, and +made a leap over two benches to where Truls was +standing. It came so unexpectedly that Truls +had no time to prepare for defense; so he merely +stretched out the hand in which he held the +violin to ward off the blow which he saw was +coming; but Syvert tore the instrument from +his grasp and dashed it against the cannon, and, +as it happened, just against the touch-hole. +With a tremendous crash something black +darted through the air and a white smoke +brooded over the bridal boat. The bridegroom +stood pale and stunned. At his feet lay Borghild-- +lay for a moment still, as if lifeless, then +rose on her elbows, and a dark red current +broke from her breast. The smoke scattered. +No one saw how it was done; but a moment +later Truls, the Nameless, lay kneeling at +Borghild's side. + +"It WAS a worthless life, beloved," whispered +he, tenderly. "Now it is at an end." + +And he lifted her up in his arms as one lifts +a beloved child, pressed a kiss on her pale lips, +and leaped into the water. Like lead they fell +into the sea. A throng of white bubbles whirled +up to the surface. A loud wail rose from +the bridal fleet, and before the day was at an +end it filled the valley; but the wail did not +recall Truls, the Nameless, or Borghild his +bride. + +What life denied them, would to God that +death may yield them! + + + +ASATHOR'S VENGEANCE. + +I. + +IT was right up under the steel mountain +wall where the farm of Kvaerk +lay. How any man of common sense +could have hit upon the idea of building +a house there, where none but the goat and +the hawk had easy access, had been, and I am +afraid would ever be, a matter of wonder to the +parish people. However, it was not Lage Kvaerk +who had built the house, so he could hardly be +made responsible for its situation. Moreover, +to move from a place where one's life has once +struck deep root, even if it be in the chinks and +crevices of stones and rocks, is about the same +as to destroy it. An old tree grows but poorly +in a new soil. So Lage Kvaerk thought, and so +he said, too, whenever his wife Elsie spoke of +her sunny home at the river. + +Gloomy as Lage usually was, he had his +brighter moments, and people noticed that these +were most likely to occur when Aasa, his daughter, +was near. Lage was probably also the only +being whom Aasa's presence could cheer; on +other people it seemed to have the very opposite +effect; for Aasa was--according to the testimony +of those who knew her--the most peculiar creature +that ever was born. But perhaps no one +did know her; if her father was right, no one +really did--at least no one but himself. + +Aasa was all to her father; she was his past +and she was his future, his hope and his life; +and withal it must be admitted that those who +judged her without knowing her had at least in +one respect as just an opinion of her as he; for +there was no denying that she was strange, +very strange. She spoke when she ought to be +silent, and was silent when it was proper to +speak; wept when she ought to laugh, and +laughed when it was proper to weep; but her +laughter as well as her tears, her speech like her +silence, seemed to have their source from within +her own soul, to be occasioned, as it were, by +something which no one else could see or hear. +It made little difference where she was; if the +tears came, she yielded to them as if they were +something she had long desired in vain. Few +could weep like her, and "weep like Aasa +Kvaerk," was soon also added to the stock of +parish proverbs. And then her laugh! Tears +may be inopportune enough, when they come +out of time, but laughter is far worse; and when +poor Aasa once burst out into a ringing laughter +in church, and that while the minister was +pronouncing the benediction, it was only with +the greatest difficulty that her father could +prevent the indignant congregation from seizing +her and carrying her before the sheriff for +violation of the church-peace. Had she been poor +and homely, then of course nothing could have +saved her; but she happened to be both rich +and beautiful, and to wealth and beauty much +is pardoned. Aasa's beauty, however, was also +of a very unusual kind; not the tame sweetness +so common in her sex, but something of the +beauty of the falcon, when it swoops down upon +the unwatchful sparrow or soars round the lonely +crags; something of the mystic depth of the +dark tarn, when with bodeful trembling you +gaze down into it, and see its weird traditions +rise from its depth and hover over the pine-tops +in the morning fog. Yet, Aasa was not dark; +her hair was as fair and yellow as a wheat-field +in August, her forehead high and clear, and her +mouth and chin as if cut with a chisel; only her +eyes were perhaps somewhat deeper than is +common in the North, and the longer you +looked at them the deeper they grew, just like +the tarn, which, if you stare long enough into +it, you will find is as deep as the heavens above, +that is, whose depth only faith and fancy can +fathom. But however long you looked at Aasa, +you could never be quite sure that she looked at +you; she seemed but to half notice whatever +went on around her; the look of her eye was +always more than half inward, and when it +shone the brightest, it might well happen that +she could not have told you how many years +she had lived, or the name her father gave her +in baptism. + +Now Aasa was eighteen years old, and could +knit, weave, and spin, and it was full time that +wooers should come. "But that is the consequence +of living in such an out-of-the-way +place," said her mother; "who will risk his +limbs to climb that neck-breaking rock? and the +round-about way over the forest is rather too +long for a wooer." Besides handling the loom +and the spinning-wheel, Aasa had also learned +to churn and make cheese to perfection, and +whenever Elsie grieved at her strange behavior +she always in the end consoled herself with the +reflection that after all Aasa would make the +man who should get her an excellent housewife. + +The farm of Kvaerk was indeed most singularly +situated. About a hundred feet from the +house the rough wall of the mountain rose steep +and threatening; and the most remarkable part +of it was that the rock itself caved inward and +formed a lofty arch overhead, which looked like +a huge door leading into the mountain. Some +short distance below, the slope of the fields +ended in an abrupt precipice; far underneath +lay the other farm-houses of the valley, scattered +like small red or gray dots, and the river wound +onward like a white silver stripe in the shelter +of the dusky forest. There was a path down +along the rock, which a goat or a brisk lad +might be induced to climb, if the prize of the +experiment were great enough to justify the +hazard. The common road to Kvaerk made a +large circuit around the forest, and reached the +valley far up at its northern end. + +It was difficult to get anything to grow at +Kvaerk. In the spring all the valley lay bare +and green, before the snow had begun to think +of melting up there; and the night-frost would +be sure to make a visit there, while the fields +along the river lay silently drinking the summer +dew. On such occasions the whole family at +Kvaerk would have to stay up during all the +night and walk back and forth on either side of +the wheat-fields, carrying a long rope between +them and dragging it slowly over the heads of +the rye, to prevent the frost from settling; for +as long as the ears could be kept in motion, +they could not freeze. But what did thrive at +Kvaerk in spite of both snow and night-frost was +legends, and they throve perhaps the better for +the very sterility of its material soil. Aasa of +course had heard them all and knew them by +heart; they had been her friends from childhood, +and her only companions. All the servants, +however, also knew them and many others +besides, and if they were asked how the mansion +of Kvaerk happened to be built like an eagle's +nest on the brink of a precipice, they would tell +you the following: + +Saint Olaf, Norway's holy king, in the time of +his youth had sailed as a Viking over the wide +ocean, and in foreign lands had learned the +doctrine of Christ the White. When he came +home to claim the throne of his hereditary +kingdom, he brought with him tapers and black +priests, and commanded the people to overthrow +the altars of Odin and Thor and to believe alone +in Christ the White. If any still dared to +slaughter a horse to the old gods, he cut off +their ears, burned their farms, and drove them +houseless from the smoking ruins. Here in the +valley old Thor, or, as they called him, Asathor, +had always helped us to vengeance and victory, +and gentle Frey for many years had given us +fair and fertile summers. Therefore the peasants +paid little heed to King Olaf's god, and +continued to bring their offerings to Odin and +Asathor. This reached the king's ear, and he +summoned his bishop and five black priests, and +set out to visit our valley. Having arrived +here, he called the peasants together, stood up +on the Ting-stone, told them of the great things +that the White Christ had done, and bade them +choose between him and the old gods. Some +were scared, and received baptism from the +king's priests; others bit their lips and were +silent; others again stood forth and told Saint +Olaf that Odin and Asathor had always served +them well, and that they were not going to give +them up for Christ the White, whom they had +never seen and of whom they knew nothing. +The next night the red cock crew[9] over ten +farms in the valley, and it happened to he theirs +who had spoken against King Olaf's god. Then +the peasants flocked to the Ting-stone and +received the baptism of Christ the White. Some +few, who had mighty kinsmen in the North, +fled and spread the evil tidings. Only one +neither fled nor was baptized, and that one was +Lage Ulfson Kvaerk, the ancestor of the present +Lage. He slew his best steed before Asathor's +altar, and promised to give him whatever he +should ask, even to his own life, if he would +save him from the vengeance of the king. Asathor +heard his prayer. As the sun set, a storm +sprung up with thick darkness and gloom, the +earth shook, Asathor drove his chariot over the +heavens with deafening thunder and swung his +hammer right and left, and the crackling lightning +flew through the air like a hail-storm of +fire. Then the peasants trembled, for they knew +that Asathor was wroth. Only the king sat +calm and fearless with his bishop and priests, +quaffing the nut-brown mead. The tempest +raged until morn. When the sun rose, Saint +Olaf called his hundred swains, sprang into the +saddle and rode down toward the river. Few +men who saw the angry fire in his eye, and the +frown on his royal brow, doubted whither he +was bound. But having reached the ford, a +wondrous sight met his eye. Where on the day +before the highway had wound itself up the +slope toward Lage Kvaerk's mansion, lay now a +wild ravine; the rock was shattered into a +thousand pieces, and a deep gorge, as if made +by a single stroke of a huge hammer, separated +the king from his enemy. Then Saint Olaf +made the sign of the cross, and mumbled the +name of Christ the White; but his hundred +swains made the sign of the hammer under their +cloaks, and thought, Still is Asathor alive. + + +[9] "The red cock crew" is the expression used +in the old Norwegian Fagas for incendiary fire. + + +That same night Lage Ulfson Kvaerk slew a +black ram, and thanked Asathor for his deliverance; +and the Saga tells that while he was +sprinkling the blood on the altar, the thundering +god himself appeared to him, and wilder he +looked than the fiercest wild Turk. Rams, said +he, were every-day fare; they could redeem no +promise. Brynhild, his daughter, was the +reward Asathor demanded. Lage prayed and +besought him to ask for something else. He +would gladly give him one of his sons; for he +had three sons, but only one daughter. Asathor +was immovable; but so long Lage continued to +beg, that at last he consented to come back in a +year, when Lage perchance would be better +reconciled to the thought of Brynhild's loss. + +In the mean time King Olaf built a church to +Christ the White on the headland at the river, +where it stands until this day. Every evening, +when the huge bell rumbled between the mountains, +the parishioners thought they heard heavy, +half-choked sighs over in the rocks at Kvaerk; +and on Sunday mornings, when the clear-voiced +chimes called them to high-mass, a suppressed +moan would mingle with the sound of the bells, +and die away with the last echo. Lage Ulfson +was not the man to be afraid; yet the church- +bells many a time drove the blood from his cheeks; +for he also heard the moan from the mountain. + +The year went, and Asathor returned. If he +had not told his name, however, Lage would not +have recognized him. That a year could work +so great a change in a god, he would hardly +have believed, if his own eyes had not testified +to it. Asathor's cheeks were pale and bloodless, +the lustre of his eye more than half +quenched, and his gray hair hung in disorder +down over his forehead. + +"Methinks thou lookest rather poorly to-day," +said Lage. + +"It is only those cursed church-bells," answered +the god; "they leave me no rest day or night." + +"Aha," thought Lage, "if the king's bells are +mightier than thou, then there is still hope of +safety for my daughter." + +"Where is Brynhild, thy daughter?" asked Asathor. + +"I know not where she is," answered the +father; and straightway he turned his eyes +toward the golden cross that shone over the +valley from Saint Olaf's steeple, and he called +aloud on the White Christ's name. Then the +god gave a fearful roar, fell on the ground, +writhed and foamed and vanished into the +mountain. In the next moment Lage heard a +hoarse voice crying from within, "I shall return, +Lage Ulfson, when thou shalt least expect me!" + +Lage Ulfson then set to work clearing a way +through the forest; and when that was done, he +called all his household together, and told them +of the power of Christ the White. Not long +after he took his sons and his daughter, and +hastened with them southward, until he found +King Olaf. And, so the Saga relates, they all +fell down on their knees before him, prayed for +his forgiveness, and received baptism from the +king's own bishop. + +So ends the Saga of Lage Ulfson Kvaerk. + + +II. + + +Aasa Kvaerk loved her father well, but +especially in the winter. Then, while she sat +turning her spinning-wheel in the light of the +crackling logs, his silent presence always had a +wonderfully soothing and calming effect upon +her. She never laughed then, and seldom wept; +when she felt his eyes resting on her, her +thoughts, her senses, and her whole being +seemed by degrees to be lured from their hiding- +place and concentrate on him; and from him +they ventured again, first timidly, then more +boldly, to grasp the objects around him. At +such times Aasa could talk and jest almost like +other girls, and her mother, to whom "other +girls" represented the ideal of womanly perfection, +would send significant glances, full of hope +and encouragement, over to Lage, and he would +quietly nod in return, as if to say that he +entirely agreed with her. Then Elsie had bright +visions of wooers and thrifty housewives, and +even Lage dreamed of seeing the ancient honor +of the family re-established. All depended on +Aasa. She was the last of the mighty race. +But when summer came, the bright visions fled; +and the spring winds, which to others bring life +and joy, to Kvaerk brought nothing but sorrow. +No sooner had the mountain brooks begun to +swell, than Aasa began to laugh and to weep; +and when the first birches budded up in the +glens, she could no longer be kept at home. +Prayers and threats were equally useless. From +early dawn until evening she would roam about +in forests and fields, and when late at night she +stole into the room and slipped away into some +corner, Lage drew a deep sigh and thought of +the old tradition. + +Aasa was nineteen years old before she had a +single wooer. But when she was least expecting it, +the wooer came to her. + +It was late one summer night; the young +maiden was sitting on the brink of the ravine, +pondering on the old legend and peering down +into the deep below. It was not the first +time she had found her way hither, where but +seldom a human foot had dared to tread. To +her every alder and bramble-bush, that clothed +the naked wall of the rock, were as familiar as +were the knots and veins in the ceiling of the +chamber where from her childhood she had +slept; and as she sat there on the brink of the +precipice, the late summer sun threw its red lustre +upon her and upon the fogs that came drifting +up from the deep. With her eyes she followed +the drifting masses of fog, and wondered, as +they rose higher and higher, when they would +reach her; in her fancy she saw herself dancing +over the wide expanse of heaven, clad in the +sun-gilded evening fogs; and Saint Olaf, the +great and holy king, came riding to meet her, +mounted on a flaming steed made of the glory +of a thousand sunsets; then Saint Olaf took her +hand and lifted her up, and she sat with him on +the flaming steed: but the fog lingered in the +deep below, and as it rose it spread like a thin, +half-invisible gauze over the forests and the +fields, and at last vanished into the infinite +space. But hark! a huge stone rolls down over +the mountain-side, then another, and another; +the noise grows, the birches down there in the +gorge tremble and shake. Aasa leaned out over +the brink of the ravine, and, as far as she could +distinguish anything from her dizzying height, +thought she saw something gray creeping slowly +up the neck-breaking mountain path; she +watched it for a while, but as it seemed to +advance no farther she again took refuge in her +reveries. An hour might have passed, or perhaps +more, when suddenly she heard a noise +only a few feet distant, and, again stooping out +over the brink, saw the figure of a man strug- +gling desperately to climb the last great ledge +of the rock. With both his hands he clung to +a little birch-tree which stretched its slender +arms down over the black wall, but with every +moment that passed seemed less likely to +accomplish the feat. The girl for a while stood +watching him with unfeigned curiosity, then, +suddenly reminding herself that the situation +to him must be a dangerous one, seized hold +of a tree that grew near the brink, and leaned +out over the rock to give him her assistance. +He eagerly grasped her extended hand, and +with a vigorous pull she flung him up on the +grassy level, where he remained lying for a +minute or two, apparently utterly unable to +account for his sudden ascent, and gazing around +him with a half-frightened, half-bewildered +look. Aasa, to whom his appearance was no +less strange than his demeanor, unluckily hit +upon the idea that perhaps her rather violent +treatment had momentarily stunned him, and +when, as answer to her sympathizing question +if he was hurt, the stranger abruptly rose to his +feet and towered up before her to the formidable +height of six feet four or five, she could no +longer master her mirth, but burst out into a +most vehement fit of laughter. He stood calm +and silent, and looked at her with a timid but +strangely bitter smile. He was so very different +from any man she had ever seen before; +therefore she laughed, not necessarily because +he amused her, but because his whole person +was a surprise to her; and there he stood, tall +and gaunt and timid, and said not a word, only +gazed and gazed. His dress was not the national +costume of the valley, neither was it like +anything that Aasa had ever known. On his head +he wore a cap that hung all on one side, and +was decorated with a long, heavy silk tassel. +A threadbare coat, which seemed to be made +expressly not to fit him, hung loosely on his +sloping shoulders, and a pair of gray pantaloons, +which were narrow where they ought to have +been wide, and wide where it was their duty to +be narrow, extended their service to a little +more than the upper half of the limb, and, by a +kind of compromise with the tops of the boots, +managed to protect also the lower half. His +features were delicate, and would have been called +handsome had they belonged to a proportionately +delicate body; in his eyes hovered a dreamy +vagueness which seemed to come and vanish, +and to flit from one feature to another, suggesting +the idea of remoteness, and a feeling of +hopeless strangeness to the world and all its +concerns. + +"Do I inconvenience you, madam?" were the +first words he uttered, as Aasa in her usual +abrupt manner stayed her laughter, turned her +back on him, and hastily started for the house. + +"Inconvenience?" said she, surprised, and +again slowly turned on her heel; "no, not that +I know." + +"Then tell me if there are people living here +in the neighborhood, or if the light deceived +me, which I saw from the other side of the river." + +"Follow me," answered Aasa, and she na<i:>vely +reached him her hand; "my father's name is +Lage Ulfson Kvaerk; he lives in the large house +you see straight before you, there on the hill; +and my mother lives there too." + +And hand in hand they walked together, +where a path had been made between two +adjoining rye-fields; his serious smile seemed to +grow milder and happier, the longer he lingered +at her side, and her eye caught a ray of more +human intelligence, as it rested on him. + +"What do you do up here in the long winter?" +asked he, after a pause. + +"We sing," answered she, as it were at ran- +dom, because the word came into her mind; +"and what do you do, where you come from?" + +"I gather song." + +"Have you ever heard the forest sing?" +asked she, curiously. + +"That is why I came here." + +And again they walked on in silence. + +It was near midnight when they entered the +large hall at Kvaerk. Aasa went before, still +leading the young man by the hand. In the +twilight which filled the house, the space +between the black, smoky rafters opened a vague +vista into the region of the fabulous, and every +object in the room loomed forth from the dusk +with exaggerated form and dimensions. The +room appeared at first to be but the haunt of +the spirits of the past; no human voice, no human +footstep, was heard; and the stranger +instinctively pressed the hand he held more +tightly; for he was not sure but that he was +standing on the boundary of dream-land, and some +elfin maiden had reached him her hand to lure +him into her mountain, where he should live +with her forever. But the illusion was of brief +duration; for Aasa's thoughts had taken a +widely different course; it was but seldom she +had found herself under the necessity of making +a decision; and now it evidently devolved upon +her to find the stranger a place of rest for the +night; so instead of an elf-maid's kiss and a +silver palace, he soon found himself huddled into +a dark little alcove in the wall, where he was +told to go to sleep, while Aasa wandered over +to the empty cow-stables, and threw herself down +in the hay by the side of two sleeping milkmaids. + + +III. + + +There was not a little astonishment manifested +among the servant-maids at Kvaerk the +next morning, when the huge, gaunt figure +of a man was seen to launch forth from Aasa's +alcove, and the strangest of all was, that Aasa +herself appeared to be as much astonished as +the rest. And there they stood, all gazing at +the bewildered traveler, who indeed was no less +startled than they, and as utterly unable to +account for his own sudden apparition. After a +long pause, he summoned all his courage, fixed +his eyes intently on the group of the girls, and +with a few rapid steps advanced toward Aasa, +whom he seized by the hand and asked, "Are +you not my maiden of yester-eve?" + +She met his gaze firmly, and laid her hand on +her forehead as if to clear her thoughts; as the +memory of the night flashed through her mind, +a bright smile lit up her features, and she +answered, "You are the man who gathers song. +Forgive me, I was not sure but it was all a +dream; for I dream so much." + +Then one of the maids ran out to call Lage +Ulfson, who had gone to the stables to harness +the horses; and he came and greeted the unknown +man, and thanked him for last meeting, +as is the wont of Norse peasants, although they +had never seen each other until that morning. +But when the stranger had eaten two meals in +Lage's house, Lage asked him his name and his +father's occupation; for old Norwegian +hospitality forbids the host to learn the guest's +name before he has slept and eaten under his +roof. It was that same afternoon, when they +sat together smoking their pipes under the huge +old pine in the yard,--it was then Lage inquired +about the young man's name and family; and +the young man said that his name was Trond +Vigfusson, that he had graduated at the +University of Christiania, and that his father had +been a lieutenant in the army; but both he and +Trond's mother had died, when Trond was only +a few years old. Lage then told his guest +Vigfusson something about his family, but of +the legend of Asathor and Saint Olaf he spoke +not a word. And while they were sitting there +talking together, Aasa came and sat down at +Vigfusson's feet; her long golden hair flowed in +a waving stream down over her back and +shoulders, there was a fresh, healthful glow on +her cheeks, and her blue, fathomless eyes had a +strangely joyous, almost triumphant expression. +The father's gaze dwelt fondly upon her, and +the collegian was but conscious of one thought: +that she was wondrously beautiful. And still +so great was his natural timidity and awkwardness +in the presence of women, that it was only +with the greatest difficulty he could master his +first impulse to find some excuse for leaving +her. She, however, was aware of no such restraint. + +"You said you came to gather song," she +said; "where do you find it? for I too should +like to find some new melody for my old +thoughts; I have searched so long." + +"I find my songs on the lips of the people," +answered he, "and I write them down as the +maidens or the old men sing them." + +She did not seem quite to comprehend that. +"Do you hear maidens sing them?" asked she, +astonished. "Do you mean the troll-virgins +and the elf-maidens?" + +"By troll-virgins and elf-maidens, or what the +legends call so, I understand the hidden and still +audible voices of nature, of the dark pine forests, +the legend-haunted glades, and the silent +tarns; and this was what I referred to when I +answered your question if I had ever heard the +forest sing." + +"Oh, oh!" cried she, delighted, and clapped +her hands like a child; but in another moment +she as suddenly grew serious again, and sat +steadfastly gazing into his eye, as if she were +trying to look into his very soul and there to +find something kindred to her own lonely heart. +A minute ago her presence had embarrassed +him; now, strange to say, he met her eye, and +smiled happily as he met it. + +"Do you mean to say that you make your +living by writing songs?" asked Lage. + +"The trouble is," answered Vigfusson, "that +I make no living at all; but I have invested a +large capital, which is to yield its interest in the +future. There is a treasure of song hidden in +every nook and corner of our mountains and +forests, and in our nation's heart. I am one of +the miners who have come to dig it out before +time and oblivion shall have buried every trace +of it, and there shall not be even the will-o'-the- +wisp of a legend to hover over the spot, and +keep alive the sad fact of our loss and our +blamable negligence." + +Here the young man paused; his eyes gleamed, +his pale cheeks flushed, and there was a +warmth and an enthusiasm in his words which +alarmed Lage, while on Aasa it worked like the +most potent charm of the ancient mystic runes; +she hardly comprehended more than half of the +speaker's meaning, but his fire and eloquence +were on this account none the less powerful. + +"If that is your object," remarked Lage, "I +think you have hit upon the right place in +coming here. You will be able to pick up many an +odd bit of a story from the servants and others +hereabouts, and you are welcome to stay here +with us as long as you choose." + +Lage could not but attribute to Vigfusson the +merit of having kept Aasa at home a whole day, +and that in the month of midsummer. And +while he sat there listening to their conversation, +while he contemplated the delight that +beamed from his daughter's countenance and, as +he thought, the really intelligent expression of +her eyes, could he conceal from himself the pa- +ternal hopes that swelled his heart? She was +all that was left him, the life or the death of his +mighty race. And here was one who was likely +to understand her, and to whom she seemed +willing to yield all the affection of her warm +but wayward heart. Thus ran Lage Ulfson's +reflections; and at night he had a little consultation +with Elsie, his wife, who, it is needless to +add, was no less sanguine than he. + +"And then Aasa will make an excellent housewife, +you know," observed Elsie. "I will speak +to the girl about it to-morrow." + +"No, for Heaven's sake, Elsie!" exclaimed +Lage, "don't you know your daughter better +than that? Promise me, Elsie, that you will +not say a single word; it would be a cruel thing, +Elsie, to mention anything to her. She is not +like other girls, you know." + +"Very well, Lage, I shall not say a single +word. Alas, you are right, she is not like other +girls." And Elsie again sighed at her husband's +sad ignorance of a woman's nature, and at the +still sadder fact of her daughter's inferiority to +the accepted standard of womanhood. + + + +IV. + + +Trond Vigfusson must have made a rich +harvest of legends at Kvaerk, at least judging by +the time he stayed there; for days and weeks +passed, and he had yet said nothing of going. +Not that anybody wished him to go; no, on the +contrary, the longer he stayed the more +indispensable he seemed to all; and Lage Ulfson +could hardly think without a shudder of the +possibility of his ever having to leave them. +For Aasa, his only child, was like another being +in the presence of this stranger; all that weird, +forest-like intensity, that wild, half supernatural +tinge in her character which in a measure +excluded her from the blissful feeling of fellowship +with other men, and made her the strange, +lonely creature she was,--all this seemed to vanish +as dew in the morning sun when Vigfusson's +eyes rested upon her; and with every day that +passed, her human and womanly nature gained +a stronger hold upon her. She followed him +like his shadow on all his wanderings, and when +they sat down together by the wayside, she +would sing, in a clear, soft voice, an ancient lay +or ballad, and he would catch her words on his +paper, and smile at the happy prospect of +perpetuating what otherwise would have been lost. +Aasa's love, whether conscious or not, was to +him an everlasting source of strength, was a +revelation of himself to himself, and a clearing +and widening power which brought ever more +and more of the universe within the scope of +his vision. So they lived on from day to day +and from week to week, and, as old Lage +remarked, never had Kvaerk been the scene of so +much happiness. Not a single time during +Vigfusson's stay had Aasa fled to the forest, not a +meal had she missed, and at the hours for +family devotion she had taken her seat at the +big table with the rest and apparently listened +with as much attention and interest. Indeed, +all this time Aasa seemed purposely to avoid the +dark haunts of the woods, and, whenever she +could, chose the open highway; not even +Vigfusson's entreaties could induce her to tread the +tempting paths that led into the forest's gloom. + +"And why not, Aasa?" he would say; "summer +is ten times summer there when the drowsy +noonday spreads its trembling maze of shadows +between those huge, venerable trunks. You can +feel the summer creeping into your very heart +and soul, there!" + +"Oh, Vigfusson," she would answer, shaking +her head mournfully, "for a hundred paths that +lead in, there is only one that leads out again, +and sometimes even that one is nowhere to be found." + +He understood her not, but fearing to ask, he +remained silent. + +His words and his eyes always drew her nearer +and nearer to him; and the forest and its +strange voices seemed a dark, opposing influence, +which strove to take possession of her +heart and to wrest her away from him forever; +she helplessly clung to him; every thought and +emotion of her soul clustered about him, and every +hope of life and happiness was staked on him. + +One evening Vigfusson and old Lage Ulfson +had been walking about the fields to look at the +crop, both smoking their evening pipes. But +as they came down toward the brink whence +the path leads between the two adjoining rye- +fields, they heard a sweet, sad voice crooning +some old ditty down between the birch-trees at +the precipice; they stopped to listen, and soon +recognized Aasa's yellow hair over the tops +the rye; the shadow as of a painful emotion +flitted over the father's countenance, and he +turned his back on his guest and started to go; +then again paused, and said, imploringly, "Try +to get her home if you can, friend Vigfusson.' + +Vigfusson nodded, and Lage went; the song +had ceased for a moment, now it began again: + + "Ye twittering birdlings, in forest and glen + I have heard you so gladly before; + But a bold knight hath come to woo me, + I dare listen to you no more. + For it is so dark, so dark in the forest. + + "And the knight who hath come a-wooing to me, + He calls me his love and his own; + Why then should I stray through the darksome woods, + Or dream in the glades alone? + For it is so dark, so dark in the forest." + + +Her voice fell to a low unintelligible murmur; +then it rose, and the last verses came, clear, soft, +and low, drifting on the evening breeze: + + "Yon beckoning world, that shimmering lay + O'er the woods where the old pines grow, + That gleamed through the moods of the summer day + When the breezes were murmuring low + (And it is so dark, so dark in the forest); + + "Oh let me no more in the sunshine hear + Its quivering noonday call; + The bold knight's love is the sun of my heart-- + Is my life, and my all in all. + But it is so dark, so dark in the forest." + + +The young man felt the blood rushing to his +face--his heart beat violently. There was a +keen sense of guilt in the blush on his cheek, a +loud accusation in the throbbing pulse and the +swelling heart-beat. Had he not stood there behind +the maiden's back and cunningly peered +into her soul's holy of holies? True, he loved +Aasa; at least he thought he did, and the +conviction was growing stronger with every day +that passed. And now he had no doubt that he +had gained her heart. It was not so much the +words of the ballad which had betrayed the +secret; he hardly knew what it was, but somehow +the truth had flashed upon him, and he could +no longer doubt. + +Vigfusson sat down on the moss-grown rock +and pondered. How long he sat there he did +not know, but when he rose and looked around, +Aasa was gone. Then remembering her father's +request to bring her home, he hastened up the +hill-side toward the mansion, and searched for +her in all directions. It was near midnight +when he returned to Kvaerk, where Aasa sat in +her high gable window, still humming the weird +melody of the old ballad. + +By what reasoning Vigfusson arrived at his +final conclusion is difficult to tell. If he had +acted according to his first and perhaps most +generous impulse, the matter would soon have +been decided; but he was all the time possessed +of a vague fear of acting dishonorably, and it +was probably this very fear which made him do +what, to the minds of those whose friendship +and hospitality he had accepted, had something +of the appearance he wished so carefully to +avoid. Aasa was rich; he had nothing; it was +a reason for delay, but hardly a conclusive one. +They did not know him; he must go out in the +world and prove himself worthy of her. He +would come back when he should have compelled +the world to respect him; for as yet he had done +nothing. In fact, his arguments were good and +honorable enough, and there would have been +no fault to find with him, had the object of his +love been as capable of reasoning as he was +himself. But Aasa, poor thing, could do nothing +by halves; a nature like hers brooks no delay; +to her love was life or it was death. + +The next morning he appeared at breakfast +with his knapsack on his back, and otherwise +equipped for his journey. It was of no use that +Elsie cried and begged him to stay, that Lage +joined his prayers to hers, and that Aasa stood +staring at him with a bewildered gaze. Vigfusson +shook hands with them all, thanked them for their +kindness to him, and promised to return; +he held Aasa's hand long in his, but when +he released it, it dropped helplessly at her side. + + +V. + + +Far up in the glen, about a mile from Kvaerk, +ran a little brook; that is, it was little in summer +and winter, but in the spring, while the snow +was melting up in the mountains, it overflowed +the nearest land and turned the whole glen into +a broad and shallow river. It was easy to cross, +however; a light foot might jump from stone to +stone, and be over in a minute. Not the hind +herself could be lighter on her foot than Aasa +was; and even in the spring-flood it was her +wont to cross and recross the brook, and to sit +dreaming on a large stone against which the +water broke incessantly, rushing in white +torrents over its edges. + +Here she sat one fair summer day--the day +after Vigfusson's departure. It was noon, and +the sun stood high over the forest. The water +murmured and murmured, babbled and whispered, +until at length there came a sudden unceasing +tone into its murmur, then another, and +it sounded like a faint whispering song of small +airy beings. And as she tried to listen, to fix +the air in her mind, it all ceased again, and she +heard but the monotonous murmuring of the +brook. Everything seemed so empty and +worthless, as if that faint melody had been the +world of the moment. But there it was again; +it sung and sung, and the birch overhead took +up the melody and rustled it with its leaves, and +the grasshopper over in the grass caught it and +whirred it with her wings. The water, the trees, +the air, were full of it. What a strange melody! + +Aasa well knew that every brook and river +has its Neck, besides hosts of little water-sprites. +She had heard also that in the moonlight at +midsummer, one might chance to see them +rocking in bright little shells, playing among +the pebbles, or dancing on the large leaves of +the water-lily. And that they could sing also, +she doubted not; it was their voices she heard +through the murmuring of the brook. Aasa +eagerly bent forward and gazed down into the +water: the faint song grew louder, paused +suddenly, and sprang into life again; and its sound +was so sweet, so wonderfully alluring! Down +there in the water, where a stubborn pebble +kept chafing a precipitous little side current, +clear tiny pearl-drops would leap up from the +stream, and float half-wonderingly downward +from rapid to rapid, until they lost themselves +in the whirl of some stronger current. Thus +sat Aasa and gazed and gazed, and in one moment +she seemed to see what in the next moment +she saw not. Then a sudden great hush stole +through the forest, and in the hush she could +hear the silence calling her name. It was so +long since she had been in the forest, it seemed +ages and ages ago. She hardly knew herself; +the light seemed to be shining into her eyes as +with a will and purpose, perhaps to obliterate +something, some old dream or memory, or to +impart some new power--the power of seeing +the unseen. And this very thought, this fear of +some possible loss, brought the fading memory +back, and she pressed her hands against her +throbbing temples as if to bind and chain it +there forever; and it was he to whom her +thought returned. She heard his voice, saw +him beckoning to her to follow him, and she +rose to obey, but her limbs were as petrified, +and the stone on which she was sitting held her +with the power of a hundred strong arms. The +sunshine smote upon her eyelids, and his name +was blotted out from her life; there was nothing +but emptiness all around her. Gradually +the forest drew nearer and nearer, the water +bubbled and rippled, and the huge, bare- +stemmed pines stretched their long gnarled +arms toward her. The birches waved their +heads with a wistful nod, and the profile of the +rock grew into a face with a long, hooked nose, +and a mouth half open as if to speak. And the +word that trembled on his lips was, "Come." +She felt no fear nor reluctance, but rose to obey. +Then and not until then she saw an old man +standing at her side; his face was the face of +the rock, his white beard flowed to his girdle, +and his mouth was half open, but no word +came from his lips. There was something in +the wistful look of his eye which she knew so +well, which she had seen so often, although she +could not tell when or where. The old man +extended his hand; Aasa took it, and fearlessly +or rather spontaneously followed. They +approached the steep, rocky wall; as they drew +near, a wild, fierce laugh rang through the +forest. The features of the old man were twisted +as it were into a grin; so also were the features +of the rock; but the laugh blew like a mighty +blast through the forest. + +Aasa clung to the old man's hand and followed +him--she knew not whither. + +At home in the large sitting-room at Kvaerk +sat Lage, brooding over the wreck of his hopes +and his happiness. Aasa had gone to the woods +again the very first day after Vigfusson's +departure. What would be the end of all this? +It was already late in the evening, and she had +not returned. The father cast anxious glances +toward the door, every time he heard the latch +moving. At last, when it was near midnight, he +roused all his men from their sleep, and +commanded them to follow him. Soon the dusky +forests resounded far and near with the blast +of horns, the report of guns, and the calling and +shouting of men. The affrighted stag crossed +and recrossed the path of the hunters, but not a +rifle was leveled at its head. Toward morning-- +it was before the sun had yet risen--Lage, +weary and stunned, stood leaning up against a +huge fir. Then suddenly a fierce, wild laugh +rang through the forest. Lage shuddered, +raised his hand slowly and pressed it hard +against his forehead, vainly struggling to clear +his thoughts. The men clung fearfully +together; a few of the more courageous ones drew +their knives and made the sign of the cross with +them in the air. Again the same mad laugh +shook the air, and swept over the crowns of the +pine-trees. Then Lage lifted his eyes toward +heaven and wrung his hands: for the awful +truth stood before him. He remained a long +while leaning against that old fir as in a dead +stupor; and no one dared to arouse him. A +suppressed murmur reached the men's ears. +"But deliver us from evil" were the last words +they heard. + +When Lage and his servants came home to +Kvaerk with the mournful tidings of Aasa's +disappearance, no one knew what to do or say. +There could be no doubt that Aasa was "mountain- +taken," as they call it; for there were Trolds +and dwarfs in all the rocks and forests round +about, and they would hardly let slip the chance +of alluring so fair a maiden as Aasa was into +their castles in the mountains. Elsie, her +mother, knew a good deal about the Trolds, +their tricks, and their way of living, and when +she had wept her fill, she fell to thinking of +the possibility of regaining her daughter from +their power. If Aasa had not yet tasted of food +or drink in the mountain, she was still out of +danger; and if the pastor would allow the +church-bell to be brought up into the forest and +rung near the rock where the laugh had been +heard, the Trolds could be compelled to give +her back. No sooner had this been suggested +to Lage, than the command was given to muster +the whole force of men and horses, and before +evening on the same day the sturdy swains of +Kvaerk were seen climbing the tower of the +venerable church, whence soon the huge old bell +descended, to the astonishment of the throng +of curious women and children who had flocked +together to see the extraordinary sight. It was +laid upon four large wagons, which had been +joined together with ropes and planks, and +drawn away by twelve strong horses. Long +after the strange caravan had vanished in the +twilight, the children stood gazing up into the +empty bell-tower. + +It was near midnight, when Lage stood at the +steep, rocky wall in the forest; the men were +laboring to hoist the church-bell up to a staunch +cross-beam between two mighty fir-trees, and +in the weird light of their torches, the wild +surroundings looked wilder and more fantastic. +Anon, the muffled noise and bustle of the work +being at an end, the laborers withdrew, and a +strange, feverish silence seemed to brood over +the forest. Lage took a step forward, and +seized the bell-rope; the clear, conquering toll +of the metal rung solemnly through the silence, +and from the rocks, the earth, and the tree- +tops, rose a fierce chorus of howls, groans, and +screams. All night the ringing continued; the +old trees swayed to and fro, creaked, and +groaned, the roots loosened their holds in the +fissures of the rock, and the bushy crowns +bowed low under their unwonted burden. + +It was well-nigh morn, but the dense fog still +brooded over the woods, and it was dark as +night. Lage was sitting on the ground, his +head leaning on both his elbows; at his side lay +the flickering torch, and the huge bell hung +dumb overhead. In the dark he felt a hand +touch his shoulder; had it happened only a few +hours before, he would have shuddered; now +the physical sensation hardly communicated +itself to his mind, or, if it did, had no power to +rouse him from his dead, hopeless apathy. +Suddenly--could he trust his own ears?--the +church-bell gave a slow, solemn, quivering +stroke, and the fogs rolled in thick masses to +the east and to the west, as if blown by the +breath of the sound. Lage seized his torch, +sprang to his feet, and saw--Vigfusson. He +stretched his arm with the blazing torch closer +to the young man's face, stared at him with +large eyes, and his lip quivered; but he could +not utter a word. + +"Vigfusson?" faltered he at last. + +"It is I;" and the second stroke followed, +stronger and more solemn than the first. The +same fierce, angry voices chorused forth from +every nook of the rock and the woods. Then +came the third--the noise grew; fourth--and it +sounded like a hoarse, angry hiss; when the +twelfth stroke fell, silence reigned again in the +forest. Vigfusson dropped the bell-rope, and +with a loud voice called Lage Kvaerk and his +men. He lit a torch, held it aloft over his head, +and peered through the dusky night. The men +spread through the highlands to search for the +lost maiden; Lage followed close in Vigfusson's +footsteps. They had not walked far when they +heard the babbling of the brook only a few feet +away. Thither they directed their steps. On +a large stone in the middle of the stream the +youth thought he saw something white, like a +large kerchief. Quick as thought he was at +its side, bowed down with his torch, and--fell +backward. It was Aasa, his beloved, cold and +dead; but as the father stooped over his dead +child the same mad laugh echoed wildly throughout +the wide woods, but madder and louder +than ever before, and from the rocky wall came +a fierce, broken voice: + +"I came at last." + + +When, after an hour of vain search, the men +returned to the place whence they had started, +they saw a faint light flickering between the +birches not fifty feet away; they formed a firm +column, and with fearful hearts drew nearer. +There lay Lage Kvaerk, their master, still +bending down over his child's pale features, and +staring into her sunken eyes as if he could not +believe that she were really dead. And at his +side stood Vigfusson, pale and aghast, with the +burning torch in his hand. The footsteps of +the men awakened the father, but when he +turned his face on them they shuddered and +started back. Then Lage rose, lifted the maiden +from the stone, and silently laid her in +Vigfusson's arms; her rich yellow hair flowed down +over his shoulder. The youth let his torch fall +into the waters, and with a sharp, serpent-like +hiss its flame was quenched. He crossed the +brook; the men followed, and the dark pine-trees +closed over the last descendant of Lage Ulfson's +mighty race. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Tales From Two Hemispheres + + diff --git a/old/twohe10.zip b/old/twohe10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9744f25 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/twohe10.zip diff --git a/old/twohe10h.htm b/old/twohe10h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..ae8b649 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/twohe10h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7386 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> +<head> +<title>Boysen</title> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> +</head> +<body bgcolor="#FFFFFF" text="#000000"> + +<h1>***The Project Gutenberg Etext of Tales From Two Hemispheres***</h1> +<pre> +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. We need your donations. + + +Tales From Two Hemispheres + +by Hjalmar Hjorth Boysen + +July, 1995 [Etext #299] + + +</pre> + +<p>Scanned by Charles Keller with OmniPage Professional OCR software donated by + Caere Corporation, 1-800-535-7226. </p> +<p>Contact Mike Lough <Mikel@caere.com> </p> +<p> + TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES.</p> +<p>BY</p> +<p>HJALMAR HJORTH BOYSEN.</p> +<p>1877</p> +<p></p> +<p> CONTENTS </p> +<p>---------------</p> +<p>THE MAN WHO LOST HIS NAME </p> +<p>THE STORY OF AN OUTCAST </p> +<p>A GOOD-FOR-NOTHING </p> +<p>A SCIENTIFIC VAGABOND </p> +<p>TRULS, THE NAMELESS </p> +<p>ASATHOR'S VENGEANCE</p> +<p> </p> +<p></p> +<p></p> +<p>TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES.</p> +<p>THE MAN WHO LOST HIS NAME.</p> +<p>ON the second day of June, 186--, a young Norseman, Halfdan Bjerk by name, + landed on the pier at Castle Garden. He passed through the straight and narrow + gate where he was asked his name, birthplace, and how much money he had,--at + which he grew very much frightened. </p> +<p>"And your destination?"--demanded the + gruff-looking functionary at the desk.</p> +<p>"America," said the youth, and touched his + hat politely.</p> +<p>"Do you think I have time for joking?" + roared the official, with an oath.</p> +<p>The Norseman ran his hand through his hair, + smiled his timidly conciliatory smile, and tried + his best to look brave; but his hand trembled + and his heart thumped away at an alarmingly + quickened tempo.</p> +<p>"Put him down for Nebraska!" cried a stout + red-cheeked individual (inwrapped in the mingled + fumes of tobacco and whisky) whose function + it was to open and shut the gate.</p> +<p>"There aint many as go to Nebraska."</p> +<p>"All right, Nebraska."</p> +<p>The gate swung open and the pressure from + behind urged the timid traveler on, while an + extra push from the gate-keeper sent him flying + in the direction of a board fence, where he sat + down and tried to realize that he was now in + the land of liberty.</p> +<p>Halfdan Bjerk was a tall, slender-limbed youth of very delicate frame; he had + a pair of wonderfully candid, unreflecting blue eyes, a smooth, clear, beardless + face, and soft, wavy light hair, which was pushed back from his forehead without + parting. His mouth and chin were well cut, but their lines were, perhaps, rather + weak for a man. When in repose, the ensemble of his features was exceedingly + pleasing and somehow reminded one of Correggio's St. John. He had left his native + land because he was an ardent republican and was abstractly convinced that man, + generically and individually, lives more happily in a republic than in a monarchy. + He had anticipated with keen pleasure the large, freely breathing life he was + to lead in a land where every man was his neighbor's brother, where no senseless + traditions kept a jealous watch over obsolete systems and shrines, and no chilling + prejudice blighted the spontaneous blossoming of the soul. </p> +<p>Halfdan was an only child. His father, a + poor government official, had died during his + infancy, and his mother had given music lessons, + and kept boarders, in order to gain the means + to give her son what is called a learned education. + In the Latin school Halfdan had enjoyed + the reputation of being a bright youth, and at + the age of eighteen, he had entered the + university under the most promising auspices. He + could make very fair verses, and play all + imaginable instruments with equal ease, which + made him a favorite in society. Moreover, he + possessed that very old-fashioned accomplishment + of cutting silhouettes; and what was more, + he could draw the most charmingly fantastic + arabesques for embroidery patterns, and he even + dabbled in portrait and landscape painting. + Whatever he turned his hand to, he did well, + in fact, astonishingly well for a dilettante, and + yet not well enough to claim the title of an + artist. Nor did it ever occur to him to make + such a claim. As one of his fellow-students + remarked in a fit of jealousy, "Once when Nature + had made three geniuses, a poet, a musician, + and a painter, she took all the remaining odds + and ends and shook them together at random + and the result was Halfdan Bjerk." This agreeable + melange of accomplishments, however, + proved very attractive to the ladies, who invited + the possessor to innumerable afternoon + tea-parties, where they drew heavy drafts on + his unflagging patience, and kept him steadily + engaged with patterns and designs for embroidery, + leather flowers, and other dainty knickknacks. + And in return for all his exertions + they called him "sweet" and "beautiful," and + applied to him many other enthusiastic adjectives + seldom heard in connection with masculine + names. In the university, talents of this order + gained but slight recognition, and when Halfdan + had for three years been preparing himself + in vain for the examen philosophicum, he found + himself slowly and imperceptibly drifting into + the ranks of the so-called studiosi perpetui, who + preserve a solemn silence at the examination + tables, fraternize with every new generation of + freshmen, and at last become part of the fixed + furniture of their Alma Mater. In the larger + American colleges, such men are mercilessly + dropped or sent to a Divinity School; but the + European universities, whose tempers the centuries + have mellowed, harbor in their spacious + Gothic bosoms a tenderer heart for their + unfortunate sons. There the professors greet them + at the green tables with a good-humored smile + of recognition; they are treated with gentle + forbearance, and are allowed to linger on, until + they die or become tutors in the families of + remote clergymen, where they invariably fall + in love with the handsomest daughter, and thus + lounge into a modest prosperity.</p> +<p>If this had been the fate of our friend Bjerk, + we should have dismissed him here with a confident + "vale" on his life's pilgrimage. But, + unfortunately, Bjerk was inclined to hold the + government in some way responsible for his own + poor success as a student, and this, in connection + with an aesthetic enthusiasm for ancient Greece, + gradually convinced him that the republic was + the only form of government under which men + of his tastes and temperament were apt to flourish. + It was, like everything that pertained to + him, a cheerful, genial conviction, without the + slightest tinge of bitterness. The old institutions + were obsolete, rotten to the core, he said, + and needed a radical renovation. He could sit + for hours of an evening in the Students' Union, + and discourse over a glass of mild toddy, on the + benefits of universal suffrage and trial by jury, + while the picturesqueness of his language, his + genial sarcasms, or occasional witty allusions + would call forth uproarious applause from + throngs of admiring freshmen. These were the + sunny days in Halfdan's career, days long to be + remembered. They came to an abrupt end + when old Mrs. Bjerk died, leaving nothing + behind her but her furniture and some trifling + debts. The son, who was not an eminently + practical man, underwent long hours of misery + in trying to settle up her affairs, and finally in + a moment of extreme dejection sold his entire + inheritance in a lump to a pawnbroker (reserving + for himself a few rings and trinkets) for the + modest sum of 250 dollars specie. He then + took formal leave of the Students' Union in a + brilliant speech, in which he traced the parallelisms + between the lives of Pericles and Washington,-- + in his opinion the two greatest men + the world had ever seen,--expounded his theory + of democratic government, and explained the + causes of the rapid rise of the American Republic. + The next morning he exchanged half of + his worldly possessions for a ticket to New + York, and within a few days set sail for the + land of promise, in the far West.</p> +<p></p> +<p>II.</p> +<p> + From Castle Garden, Halfdan made his way + up through Greenwich street, pursued by a + clamorous troop of confidence men and hotel + runners.</p> +<p>"Kommen Sie mit mir. Ich bin auch + Deutsch," cried one. "Voila, voila, je parle + Francais," shouted another, seizing hold of his + valise. "Jeg er Dansk. Tale Dansk,"[1] roared + a third, with an accent which seriously impeached + his truthfulness. In order to escape + from these importunate rascals, who were every + moment getting bolder, he threw himself into + the first street-car which happened to pass; he + sat down, gazed out of the windows and soon + became so thoroughly absorbed in the animated + scenes which moved as in a panorama before his + eyes, that he quite forgot where he was going. + The conductor called for fares, and received an + English shilling, which, after some ineffectual + expostulation, he pocketed, but gave no change. + At last after about an hour's journey, the car + stopped, the conductor called out "Central + Park," and Halfdan woke up with a start. He + dismounted with a timid, deliberate step, stared + in dim bewilderment at the long rows of palatial + residences, and a chill sense of loneliness + crept over him. The hopeless strangeness of + everything he saw, instead of filling him with + rapture as he had once anticipated, Sent a cold + shiver to his heart. It is a very large affair, + this world of ours--a good deal larger than it + appeared to him gazing out upon it from his + snug little corner up under the Pole; and it was + as unsympathetic as it was large; he suddenly + felt what he had never been aware of before-- + that he was a very small part of it and of very + little account after all. He staggered over to a + bench at the entrance to the park, and sat long + watching the fine carriages as they dashed past + him; he saw the handsome women in brilliant + costumes laughing and chatting gayly; the + apathetic policemen promenading in stoic dignity + up and down upon the smooth pavements; the + jauntily attired nurses, whom in his Norse + innocence he took for mothers or aunts of the chil- + dren, wheeling baby-carriages which to Norse + eyes seemed miracles of dainty ingenuity, under + the shady crowns of the elm-trees. He did not + know how long he had been sitting there, when + a little bright-eyed girl with light kid gloves, a + small blue parasol and a blue polonaise, quite a + lady of fashion en miniature, stopped in front + of him and stared at him in shy wonder. He + had always been fond of children, and often rejoiced + in their affectionate ways and confidential + prattle, and now it suddenly touched him + with a warm sense of human fellowship to have + this little daintily befrilled and crisply starched + beauty single him out for notice among the + hundreds who reclined in the arbors, or sauntered + to and fro under the great trees.</p> +<p> + [1] "I am a Dane. I speak Danish."</p> +<p></p> +<p>"What is your name, my little girl?" he + asked, in a tone of friendly interest.</p> +<p>"Clara," answered the child, hesitatingly; + then, having by another look assured herself of + his harmlessness, she added: "How very funny + you speak!"</p> +<p>"Yes," he said, stooping down to take he + tiny begloved hand. "I do not speak as well + as you do, yet; but I shall soon learn."</p> +<p>Clara looked puzzled.</p> +<p>"How old are you?" she asked, raising her + parasol, and throwing back her head with an + air of superiority.</p> +<p>"I am twenty-four years old."</p> +<p>She began to count half aloud on her fingers: + "One, two, three, four," but, before she reached + twenty, she lost her patience.</p> +<p>"Twenty-four," she exclaimed, "that is a + great deal. I am only seven, and papa gave me + a pony on my birthday. Have you got a pony?"</p> +<p>"No; I have nothing but what is in this valise, + and you know I could not very well get a pony into it."</p> +<p>Clara glanced curiously at the valise and + laughed; then suddenly she grew serious again, + put her hand into her pocket and seemed to be + searching eagerly for something. Presently + she hauled out a small porcelain doll's head, + then a red-painted block with letters on it, + and at last a penny.</p> +<p>"Do you want them?" she said, reaching him + her treasures in both hands. "You may have + them all."</p> +<p>Before he had time to answer, a shrill, + penetrating voice cried out:</p> +<p>"Why, gracious! child, what are you doing ? "</p> +<p>And the nurse, who had been deeply absorbed + in "The New York Ledger," came rushing up, + snatched the child away, and retreated as hastily + as she had come.</p> +<p>Halfdan rose and wandered for hours aimlessly along the intertwining roads + and footpaths. He visited the menageries, admired the statues, took a very light + dinner, consisting of coffee, sandwiches, and ice, at the Chinese Pavilion, + and, toward evening, discovered an inviting leafy arbor, where he could withdraw + into the privacy of his own thoughts, and ponder upon the still unsolved problem + of his destiny. The little incident with the child had taken the edge off his + unhappiness and turned him into a more conciliatory mood toward himself and + the great pitiless world, which seemed to take so little notice of him. And + he, who had come here with so warm a heart and so ardent a will to join in the + great work of human advancement--to find himself thus harshly ignored and buffeted + about, as if he were a hostile intruder! Before him lay the huge unknown city + where human life pulsated with large, full heart-throbs, where a breathless, + weird intensity, a cold, fierce passion seemed to be hurrying everything onward + in a maddening whirl, where a gentle, warm- blooded enthusiast like himself + had no place and could expect naught but a speedy destruction. A strange, unconquerable + dread took possession of him, as if he had been caught in a swift, strong whirlpool, + from which he vainly struggled to escape. He crouched down among the foliage + and shuddered. He could not return to the city. No, no: he never would return. + He would remain here hidden and unseen until morning, and then he would seek + a vessel bound for his dear native land, where the great mountains loomed up + in serene majesty toward the blue sky, where the pine-forests whispered their + dreamily sympathetic legends, in the long summer twilights, where human existence + flowed on in calm beauty with the modest aims, small virtues, and small vices + which were the happiness of modest, idyllic souls. He even saw himself in spirit + recounting to his astonished countrymen the wonderful things he had heard and + seen during his foreign pilgrimage, and smiled to himself as he imagined their + wonder when he should tell them about the beautiful little girl who had been + the first and only one to offer him a friendly greeting in the strange land. + During these reflections he fell asleep, and slept soundly for two or three + hours. Once, he seemed to hear footsteps and whispers among the trees, and made + an effort to rouse himself, but weariness again overmastered him and he slept + on. At last, he felt himself seized violently by the shoulders, and a gruff + voice shouted in his ear: </p> +<p>"Get up, you sleepy dog."</p> +<p>He rubbed his eyes, and, by the dim light of + the moon, saw a Herculean policeman lifting a + stout stick over his head. His former terror + came upon him with increased violence, and his + heart stood for a moment still, then, again, + hammered away as if it would burst his sides.</p> +<p>"Come along!" roared the policeman, shaking + him vehemently by the collar of his coat.</p> +<p>In his bewilderment he quite forgot where he + was, and, in hurried Norse sentences, assured + his persecutor that he was a harmless, honest + traveler, and implored him to release him. But + the official Hercules was inexorable.</p> +<p>"My valise, my valise;" cried Halfdan. + "Pray let me get my valise."</p> +<p>They returned to the place where he had + slept, but the valise was nowhere to be found. + Then, with dumb despair he resigned himself to + his fate, and after a brief ride on a street-car, + found himself standing in a large, low-ceiled + room; he covered his face with his hands and + burst into tears.</p> +<p>"The grand-the happy republic," he + murmured, "spontaneous blossoming of the soul. + Alas! I have rooted up my life; I fear it will + never blossom."</p> +<p>All the high-flown adjectives he had employed + in his parting speech in the Students' Union, + when he paid his enthusiastic tribute to the + Grand Republic, now kept recurring to him, and + in this moment the paradox seemed cruel. The + Grand Republic, what did it care for such as + he? A pair of brawny arms fit to wield the + pick-axe and to steer the plow it received with + an eager welcome; for a child-like, loving heart + and a generously fantastic brain, it had but the + stern greeting of the law.</p> +<p></p> +<p>III.</p> +<p> + The next morning, Halfdan was released + from the Police Station, having first been fined + five dollars for vagrancy. All his money, with + the exception of a few pounds which he had + exchanged in Liverpool, he had lost with his + valise, and he had to his knowledge not a single + acquaintance in the city or on the whole + continent. In order to increase his capital he + bought some fifty "Tribunes," but, as it was + already late in the day, he hardly succeeded in + selling a single copy. The next morning, he + once more stationed himself on the corner of + Murray street and Broadway, hoping in his + innocence to dispose of the papers he had still + on hand from the previous day, and actually + did find a few customers among the people who + were jumping in and out of the omnibuses that + passed up and down the great thoroughfare. + To his surprise, however, one of these gentlemen + returned to him with a very wrathful + countenance, shook his fist at him, and vociferated + with excited gestures something which to + Halfdan's ears had a very unintelligible sound. + He made a vain effort to defend himself; the + situation appeared so utterly incomprehensible + to him, and in his dumb helplessness he looked + pitiful enough to move the heart of a stone. + No English phrase suggested itself to him, only + a few Norse interjections rose to his lips. The + man's anger suddenly abated; he picked up the + paper which he had thrown on the sidewalk, + and stood for a while regarding Halfdan curiously.</p> +<p>"Are you a Norwegian?" he asked.</p> +<p>"Yes, I came from Norway yesterday."</p> +<p>"What's your name?"</p> +<p>"Halfdan Bjerk."</p> +<p>"Halfdan Bjerk! My stars! Who would + have thought of meeting you here! You do not + recognize me, I suppose."</p> +<p>Halfdan declared with a timid tremor in his + voice that he could not at the moment recall + his features.</p> +<p>"No, I imagine I must have changed a good + deal since you saw me," said the man, suddenly + dropping into Norwegian. "I am Gustav Olson, + I used to live in the same house with you once, + but that is long ago now."</p> +<p>Gustav Olson--to be sure, he was the porter's + son in the house, where his mother had once + during his childhood, taken a flat. He well + remembered having clandestinely traded jack- + knives and buttons with him, in spite of the + frequent warnings he had received to have nothing + to do with him; for Gustav, with his broad + freckled face and red hair, was looked upon by + the genteel inhabitants of the upper flats as + rather a disreputable character. He had once + whipped the son of a colonel who had been + impudent to him, and thrown a snow-ball at the + head of a new-fledged lieutenant, which offenses + he had duly expiated at a house of correction. + Since that time he had vanished from Halfdan's + horizon. He had still the same broad freckled + face, now covered with a lusty growth of coarse + red beard, the same rebellious head of hair, + which refused to yield to the subduing influences + of the comb, the same plebeian hands and feet, + and uncouth clumsiness of form. But his linen + was irreproachable, and a certain dash in his + manner, and the loud fashionableness of his + attire, gave unmistakable evidences of prosperity.</p> +<p>"Come, Bjerk," said he in a tone of good- + fellowship, which was not without its sting to the + idealistic republican, "you must take up a better + business than selling yesterday's `Tribune.' + That won't pay here, you know. Come along + to our office and I will see if something can't be + done for you."</p> +<p>"But I should be sorry to give you trouble," + stammered Halfdan, whose native pride, even + in his present wretchedness, protested against + accepting a favor from one whom he had been + wont to regard as his inferior.</p> +<p>"Nonsense, my boy. Hurry up, I haven't + much time to spare. The office is only two + blocks from here. You don't look as if you + could afford to throw away a friendly offer."</p> +<p>The last words suddenly roused Halfdan from + his apathy; for he felt that they were true. A + drowning man cannot afford to make nice + distinctions--cannot afford to ask whether the + helping hand that is extended to him be that of + an equal or an inferior. So he swallowed his + humiliation and threaded his way through the + bewildering turmoil of Broadway, by the side + of his officious friend.</p> +<p>They entered a large, elegantly furnished + office, where clerks with sleek and severely + apathetic countenances stood scribbling at their desks.</p> +<p>"You will have to amuse yourself as best you + can," said Olson. "Mr. Van Kirk will be here + in twenty minutes. I haven't time to entertain you."</p> +<p>A dreary half hour passed. Then the door opened and a tall, handsome man, with + a full grayish beard, and a commanding presence, entered and took his seat at + a desk in a smaller adjoining office. He opened, with great dispatch, a pile + of letters which lay on the desk before him, called out in a sharp, ringing + tone for a clerk, who promptly appeared, handed him half-a-dozen letters, accompanying + each with a brief direction, took some clean paper from a drawer and fell to + writing. There was something brisk, determined, and business-like in his manner, + which made it seem very hopeless to Halfdan to appear before him as a petitioner. + Presently Olson entered the private office, closing the door behind him, and + a few minutes later re-appeared and summoned Halfdan into the chief's presence.</p> +<p>"You are a Norwegian, I hear," said the + merchant, looking around over his shoulder at + the supplicant, with a preoccupied air. "You + want work. What can you do?"</p> +<p>What can you do? A fatal question. But + here was clearly no opportunity for mental + debate. So, summoning all his courage, but + feeling nevertheless very faint, he answered:</p> +<p>"I have passed both examen artium and + philosophicum,[2] and got my laud clear in the former, + but in the latter haud on the first point."</p> +<p> + [2] Examen artium is the entrance examination to the Norwegian + University, and philosophicum the first degree. The ranks given at + these are Laudabilis prae ceteris (in student's parlance, prae), + laudabilis or laud, haud illaudabilis, or haud, etc.</p> +<p></p> +<p>Mr. Van Kirk wheeled round on his chair and + faced the speaker:</p> +<p>"That is all Greek to me," he said, in a severe + tone. "Can you keep accounts?"</p> +<p>"No. I am afraid not."</p> +<p>Keeping accounts was not deemed a classical + accomplishment in Norway. It was only "trade- + rats" who troubled themselves about such gross + things, and if our Norseman had not been too + absorbed with the problem of his destiny, he + would have been justly indignant at having + such a question put to him.</p> +<p>"Then you don't know book-keeping?"</p> +<p>"I think not. I never tried it."</p> +<p>"Then you may be sure you don't know it. + But you must certainly have tried your hand at + something. Is there nothing you can think of + which might help you to get a living?"</p> +<p>"I can play the piano--and--and the violin."</p> +<p>"Very well, then. You may come this afternoon + to my house. Mr. Olson will tell you the + address. I will give you a note to Mrs. Van + Kirk. Perhaps she will engage you as a music + teacher for the children. Good morning."</p> +<p></p> +<p>IV.</p> +<p> + At half-past four o'clock in the afternoon, + Halfdan found himself standing in a large, dimly + lighted drawing-room, whose brilliant + upholstery, luxurious carpets, and fantastically + twisted furniture dazzled and bewildered his + senses. All was so strange, so strange; nowhere + a familiar object to give rest to the + wearied eye. Wherever he looked he saw his + shabbily attired figure repeated in the long + crystal mirrors, and he became uncomfortably + conscious of his threadbare coat, his uncouth + boots, and the general incongruity of his + appearance. With every moment his uneasiness + grew; and he was vaguely considering the + propriety of a precipitate flight, when the rustle of + a dress at the farther end of the room startled + him, and a small, plump lady, of a daintily + exquisite form, swept up toward him, gave a + slight inclination of her head, and sank down + into an easy-chair:</p> +<p>"You are Mr. ----, the Norwegian, who + wishes to give music lessons?" she said, holding + a pair of gold-framed eyeglasses up to her eyes, + and running over the note which she held in her + hand. It read as follows:</p> +<p> DEAR MARTHA,</p> +<p>--The bearer of this note is a young Norwegian, I forgot to ascertain his name, + a friend of Olson's. He wishes to teach music. If you can help the poor devil + and give him something to do, you will oblige, </p> +<p>Yours, H. V. K.</p> +<p> + Mrs. Van Kirk was evidently, by at least + twelve years, her husband's junior, and apparently + not very far advanced in the forties. Her + blonde hair, which was freshly crimped, fell + lightly over her smooth, narrow forehead; her + nose, mouth and chin had a neat distinctness of + outline; her complexion was either naturally or + artificially perfect, and her eyes, which were of + the purest blue, had, owing to their near-sightedness, + a certain pinched and scrutinizing look. + This look, which was without the slightest touch + of severity, indicating merely a lively degree of + interest, was further emphasized by three small + perpendicular wrinkles, which deepened and + again relaxed according to the varying intensity + of observation she bestowed upon the object + which for the time engaged her attention.</p> +<p>"Your name, if you please?" said Mrs. Van + Kirk, having for awhile measured her visitor + with a glance of mild scrutiny.</p> +<p>"Halfdan Bjerk."</p> +<p>"Half-dan B----, how do you spell that?"</p> +<p>"B-j-e-r-k."</p> +<p>"B-jerk. Well, but I mean, what is your + name in English?"</p> +<p>Halfdan looked blank, and blushed to his + ears.</p> +<p>"I wish to know," continued the lady + energetically, evidently anxious to help him out, + "what your name would mean in plain English. + Bjerk, it certainly must mean something."</p> +<p>"Bjerk is a tree--a birch-tree."</p> +<p>"Very well, Birch,--that is a very respectable + name. And your first name? What did + you say that was?</p> +<p>"H-a-l-f-d-a-n."</p> +<p>"Half Dan. Why not a whole Dan and be + done with it? Dan Birch, or rather Daniel + Birch. Indeed, that sounds quite Christian."</p> +<p>"As you please, madam," faltered the victim,; + looking very unhappy.</p> +<p>"You will pardon my straightforwardness, + won't you? B-jerk. I could never pronounce + that, you know."</p> +<p>"Whatever may be agreeable to you, madam, + will be sure to please me."</p> +<p>"That is very well said. And you will find that it always pays to try + to please me. And you wish to teach music? If you have no objection I will call + my oldest daughter. She is an excellent judge of music, and if your playing + meets with her approval, I will engage you, as my husband suggests, not to teach + Edith, you understand, but my youngest child, Clara." </p> +<p>Halfdan bowed assent, and Mrs. Van Kirk + rustled out into the hall where she rang a bell, + and re-entered. A servant in dress-coat + appeared, and again vanished as noiselessly as he + had come. To our Norseman there was some + thing weird and uncanny about these silent + entrances and exits; he could hardly suppress a + shudder. He had been accustomed to hear the + clatter of people's heels upon the bare floors, as + they approached, and the audible crescendo of + their footsteps gave one warning, and prevented + one from being taken by surprise. While + absorbed in these reflections, his senses must + have been dormant; for just then Miss Edith + Van Kirk entered, unheralded by anything but + a hovering perfume, the effect of which was to + lull him still deeper into his wondering abstraction.</p> +<p>"Mr. Birch," said Mrs. Van Kirk, "this is + my daughter Miss Edith," and as Halfdan + sprang to his feet and bowed with visible + embarrassment, she continued:</p> +<p>"Edith, this is Mr. Daniel Birch, whom your + father has sent here to know if he would be + serviceable as a music teacher for Clara. And + now, dear, you will have to decide about the + merits of Mr. Birch. I don't know enough + about music to be anything of a judge."</p> +<p>"If Mr. Birch will be kind enough to play," + said Miss Edith with a languidly musical + intonation," I shall be happy to listen to him."</p> +<p>Halfdan silently signified his willingness and + followed the ladies to a smaller apartment which + was separated from the drawing-room by folding + doors. The apparition of the beautiful + young girl who was walking at his side had + suddenly filled him with a strange burning and + shuddering happiness; he could not tear his + eyes away from her; she held him as by a powerful + spell. And still, all the while he had a + painful sub-consciousness of his own unfortunate + appearance, which was thrown into cruel relief + by her splendor. The tall, lithe magnificence of + her form, the airy elegance of her toilet, which + seemed the perfection of self-concealing art, the + elastic deliberateness of her step--all wrought + like a gentle, deliciously soothing opiate upon + the Norseman's fancy and lifted him into hitherto + unknown regions of mingled misery and + bliss. She seemed a combination of the most + divine contradictions, one moment supremely + conscious, and in the next adorably child-like + and simple, now full of arts and coquettish + innuendoes, then again na<i:>ve, unthinking and + almost boyishly blunt and direct; in a word, + one of those miraculous New York girls whom + abstractly one may disapprove of, but in the + concrete must abjectly adore. This easy + predominance of the masculine heart over the mas- + culine reason in the presence of an impressive + woman, has been the motif of a thousand tragedies + in times past, and will inspire a thousand + more in times to come.</p> +<p>Halfdan sat down at the grand piano and + played Chopin's Nocturne in G major, flinging + out that elaborate filigree of sound with an + impetuosity and superb ABANDON which caused the + ladies to exchange astonished glances behind his + back. The transitions from the light and ethereal + texture of melody to the simple, more concrete + theme, which he rendered with delicate + shadings of articulation, were sufficiently + startling to impress even a less cultivated ear than + that of Edith Van Kirk, who had, indeed, + exhausted whatever musical resources New York + has to offer. And she was most profoundly + impressed. As he glided over the last pianissimo + notes toward the two concluding chords (an ending + so characteristic of Chopin) she rose and hurried + to his side with a heedless eagerness, which was + more eloquent than emphatic words of praise.</p> +<p>"Won't you please repeat this passage?" she + said, humming the air with soft modulations; + "I have always regarded the monotonous repetition + of this strain" (and she indicated it lightly + by a few touches of the keys) "as rather a + blemish of an otherwise perfect composition. + But as you play it, it is anything but monotonous. + You put into this single phrase a more intense + meaning and a greater variety of thought than + I ever suspected it was capable of expressing."</p> +<p>"It is my favorite composition," answered he, + modestly. "I have bestowed more thought + upon it than upon anything I have ever played, + unless perhaps it be the one in G minor, which, + with all its difference of mood and phraseology, + expresses an essentially kindred thought."</p> +<p>"My dear Mr. Birch," exclaimed Mrs. Van + Kirk, whom his skillful employment of technical + terms (in spite of his indifferent accent) had + impressed even more than his rendering of the + music,--"you are a comsummate{sic} artist, and + we shall deem it a great privilege if you will + undertake to instruct our child. I have listened + to you with profound satisfaction."</p> +<p>Halfdan acknowledged the compliment by a + bow and a blush, and repeated the latter part of + the nocturne according to Edith's request.</p> +<p>"And now," resumed Edith, "may I trouble + you to play the G minor, which has even puzzled + me more than the one you have just played."</p> +<p>"It ought really to have been played first," + replied Halfdan. "It is far intenser in its coloring + and has a more passionate ring, but its conclusion + does not seem to be final. There is no + rest in it, and it seems oddly enough to be a + mere transition into the major, which is its + proper supplement and completes the fragmentary + thought."</p> +<p>Mother and daughter once more telegraphed + wondering looks at each other, while Halfdan + plunged into the impetuous movements of the + minor nocturne, which he played to the end with + ever-increasing fervor and animation.</p> +<p>"Mr. Birch," said Edith, as he arose from the + piano with a flushed face, and the agitation of + the music still tingling through his nerves. + "You are a far greater musician than you seem + to be aware of. I have not been taking lessons + for some time, but you have aroused all my musical + ambition, and if you will accept me too, as + a pupil, I shall deem it a favor."</p> +<p>"I hardly know if I can teach you anything," + answered he, while his eyes dwelt with keen + delight on her beautiful form. "But in my present + position I can hardly afford to decline so + flattering an offer."</p> +<p>"You mean to say that you would decline it if you + were in a position to do so," said she, smiling.</p> +<p>"No, only that I should question my convenience + more closely."</p> +<p>"Ah, never mind. I take all the responsibility. + I shall cheerfully consent to being imposed upon by you."</p> +<p>Mrs. Van Kirk in the mean while had been + examining the contents of a fragrant Russia-leather + pocket-book, and she now drew out two crisp + ten-dollar notes, and held them out toward him.</p> +<p>"I prefer to make sure of you by paying you + in advance," said she, with a cheerfully familiar + nod, and a critical glance at his attire, the meaning + of which he did not fail to detect. "Somebody + else might make the same discovery that + we have made to-day, and outbid us. And we + do not want to be cheated out of our good fortune + in having been the first to secure so valuable a prize."</p> +<p>"You need have no fear on that score, + madam," retorted Halfdan, with a vivid blush, + and purposely misinterpreting the polite subterfuge. + "You may rely upon my promise. I shall be here again, + as soon as you wish me to return."</p> +<p>"Then, if you please, we shall look for you + to-morrow morning at ten o'clock."</p> +<p>And Mrs. Van Kirk hesitatingly folded up + her notes and replaced them in her pocket-book.</p> +<p>To our idealist there was something extremely + odious in this sudden offer of money. It was + the first time any one had offered to pay him, + and it seemed to put him on a level with a common + day-laborer. His first impulse was to resent + it as a gratuitous humiliation, but a glance + at Mrs. Van Kirk's countenance, which was all + aglow with officious benevolence, re-assured him, + and his indignation died away.</p> +<p>That same afternoon Olson, having been + informed of his friend's good fortune, volunteered + a loan of a hundred dollars, and accompanied + him to a fashionable tailor, where he underwent + a pleasing metamorphosis.</p> +<p></p> +<p>V.</p> +<p> In Norway the ladies dress with the innocent purpose of protecting themselves + against the weather; if this purpose is still remotely present in the toilets + of American women of to-day, it is, at all events, sufficiently disguised to + challenge detection, very much like a primitive Sanscrit root in its French + and English derivatives. This was the reflection which was uppermost in Halfdan's + mind as Edith, ravishing to behold in the airy grace of her fragrant morning + toilet, at the appointed time took her seat at his side before the piano. Her + presence seemed so intense, so all-absorbing, that it left no thought for the + music. A woman, with all the spiritual mysteries which that name implies, had + always appeared to him rather a composite phenomenon, even apart from those + varied accessories of dress, in which as by an inevitable analogy, she sees + fit to express the inner multiformity of her being. Nevertheless, this former + conception of his, when compared to that wonderful complexity of ethereal lines, + colors, tints and half- tints which go to make up the modern New York girl, + seemed inexpressibly simple, almost what plain arithmetic must appear to a man + who has mastered calculus.</p> +<p>Edith had opened one of those small red- + covered volumes of Chopin where the rich, + wondrous melodies lie peacefully folded up like + strange exotic flowers in an herbarium. She began + to play the fantasia impromtu, which ought + to be dashed off at a single "heat," whose + passionate impulse hurries it on breathlessly toward + its abrupt finale. But Edith toiled considerably + with her fingering, and blurred the keen + edges of each swift phrase by her indistinct ar- + ticulation. And still there was a sufficiently + ardent intention in her play to save it from being + a failure. She made a gesture of disgust + when she had finished, shut the book, and let + her hands drop crosswise in her lap.</p> +<p>"I only wanted to give you a proof of my incapacity," + she said, turning her large luminous gaze + upon her instructor, "in order to make + you duly appreciate what you have undertaken. + Now, tell me truly and honestly, + are you not discouraged?"</p> +<p>"Not by any means," replied he, while the + rapture of her presence rippled through his + nerves, "you have fire enough in you to make + an admirable musician. But your fingers, as + yet, refuse to carry out your fine intentions. + They only need discipline."</p> +<p>"And do you suppose you can discipline + them? They are a fearfully obstinate set, and + cause me infinite mortification."</p> +<p>"Would you allow me to look at your hand?"</p> +<p>She raised her right hand, and with a sort of + impulsive heedlessness let it drop into his. An + exclamation of surprise escaped him.</p> +<p>`{`}If you will pardon me," he said, "it is a + superb hand--a hand capable of performing mira- + cles--musical miracles I mean. Only look here" + --(and he drew the fore and second fingers apart) + --"so firmly set in the joint and still so flexible. + I doubt if Liszt himself can boast a finer row + of fingers. Your hands will surely not prevent + you from becoming a second Von Bulow, which to + my mind means a good deal more than a second Liszt."</p> +<p>"Thank you, that is quite enough," she + exclaimed, with an incredulous laugh; "you have + done bravely. That at all events throws the + whole burden of responsibility upon myself, if + I do not become a second somebody. I shall be + perfectly satisfied, however, if you can only + make me as good a musician as you are yourself, + so that I can render a not too difficult piece + without feeling all the while that I am committing + sacrilege in mutilating the fine thoughts + of some great composer."</p> +<p>"You are too modest; you do not--"</p> +<p>"No, no, I am not modest," she interrupted + him with an impetuosity which startled him. + "I beg of you not to persist in paying me + compliments. I get too much of that cheap article + elsewhere. I hate to be told that I am better + than I know I am. If you are to do me any + good by your instruction, you must be perfectly + sincere toward me, and tell me plainly of my + short-comings. I promise you beforehand that + I shall never be offended. There is my hand. + Now, is it a bargain?"</p> +<p>His fingers closed involuntarily over the soft + beautiful hand, and once more the luxury of her + touch sent a thrill of delight through him.</p> +<p>"I have not been insincere," he murmured, + "but I shall be on my guard in future, even + against the appearance of insincerity."</p> +<p>"And when I play detestably, you will say so, + and not smooth it over with unmeaning flatteries?"</p> +<p>"I will try."</p> +<p>"Very well, then we shall get on well + together. Do not imagine that this is a mere + feminine whim of mine. I never was more in + earnest. Men, and I believe foreigners, to a + greater degree than Americans, have the idea + that women must be treated with gentle forbearance; + that their follies, if they are foolish, + must be glossed over with some polite name. + They exert themselves to the utmost to make + us mere playthings, and, as such, contemptible + both in our own eyes and in theirs. No sincere + respect can exist where the truth has to be + avoided. But the majority of American women + are made of too stern a stuff to be dealt with in + that way. They feel the lurking insincerity + even where politeness forbids them to show it, + and it makes them disgusted both with themselves, + and with the flatterer. And now you + must pardon me for having spoken so plainly + to you on so short an acquaintance; but you + are a foreigner, and it may be an act of friendship + to initiate you as soon as possible into our + ways and customs."</p> +<p>He hardly knew what to answer. Her + vehemence was so sudden, and the sentiments she + had uttered so different from those which he + had habitually ascribed to women, that he could + only sit and gaze at her in mute astonishment. + He could not but admit that in the main she + had judged him rightly, and that his own attitude + and that of other men toward her sex, + were based upon an implied assumption of superiority.</p> +<p>"I am afraid I have shocked you," she + resumed, noticing the startled expression of his + countenance. "But really it was quite inevitable, + if we were at all to understand each other. + You will forgive me, won't you?"</p> +<p>"Forgive!" stammered he, "I have nothing + to forgive. It was only your merciless truth- + fulness which startled me. I rather owe you + thanks, if you will allow me to be grateful to + you. It seems an enviable privilege."</p> +<p>"Now," interrupted Edith, raising her + forefinger in playful threat, "remember your + promise."</p> +<p>The lesson was now continued without further + interruption. When it was finished, a little girl, + with her hair done up in curl-papers, and a very + stiffly starched dress, which stood out on all sides + almost horizontally, entered, accompanied by + Mrs. Van Kirk. Halfdan immediately recognized + his acquaintance from the park, and it appeared + to him a good omen that this child, whose friendly + interest in him had warmed his heart in a moment + when his fortunes seemed so desperate, + should continue to be associated with his life + on this new continent. Clara was evidently + greatly impressed by the change in his appearance, + and could with difficulty be restrained + from commenting upon it.</p> +<p>She proved a very apt scholar in music, and + enjoyed the lessons the more for her cordial + liking of her teacher.</p> +<p>It will be necessary henceforth to omit the + less significant details in the career of our friend + "Mr. Birch." Before a month was past, he had + firmly established himself in the favor of the + different members of the Van Kirk family. + Mrs. Van Kirk spoke of him to her lady visitors + as "a perfect jewel," frequently leaving them + in doubt as to whether he was a cook or a + coachman. Edith apostrophized him to her + fashionable friends as "a real genius," leaving + a dim impression upon their minds of flowing + locks, a shiny velvet jacket, slouched hat, + defiant neck-tie and a general air of disreputable + pretentiousness. Geniuses of the foreign type + were never, in the estimation of fashionable + New York society, what you would call "exactly + nice," and against prejudices of this order + no amount of argument will ever prevail. Clara, + who had by this time discovered that her teacher + possessed an inexhaustible fund of fairy stories, + assured her playmates across the street that he + was "just splendid," and frequently invited + them over to listen to his wonderful tales. Mr. + Van Kirk himself, of course, was non-committal, + but paid the bills unmurmuringly.</p> +<p>Halfdan in the meanwhile was vainly struggling + against his growing passion for Edith; + but the more he rebelled the more hopelessly + he found himself entangled in its inextricable + net. The fly, as long as it keeps quiet in the + spider's web, may for a moment forget its + situation; but the least effort to escape is apt to + frustrate itself and again reveal the imminent + peril. Thus he too "kicked against the pricks," + hoped, feared, rebelled against his destiny, and + again, from sheer weariness, relapsed into a + dull, benumbed apathy. In spite of her friendly + sympathy, he never felt so keenly his alienism + as in her presence. She accepted the spontaneous + homage he paid her, sometimes with impatience, + as something that was really beneath + her notice; at other times she frankly + recognized it, bantered him with his "Old World + chivalry," which would soon evaporate in the + practical American atmosphere, and called him + her Viking, her knight and her faithful squire. + But it never occurred to her to regard his + devotion in a serious light, and to look upon him + as a possible lover had evidently never entered + her head. As their intercourse grew more + intimate, he had volunteered to read his favorite + poets with her, and had gradually succeeded in + imparting to her something of his own passionate + liking for Heine and Bj<o:>rnson. She had in + return called his attention to the works of + American authors who had hitherto been little + more than names to him, and they had thus + managed to be of mutual benefit to each other, + and to spend many a pleasant hour during the + long winter afternoons in each other's company. + But Edith had a very keen sense of humor, and + could hardly restrain her secret amusement when + she heard him reading Longfellow's "Psalm of + Life" and Poe's "Raven" (which had been + familiar to her from her babyhood), often with + false accent, but always with intense enthusiasm. + The reflection that he had had no part of his + life in common with her,--that he did not love + the things which she loved,--could not share + her prejudices (and women have a feeling akin + to contempt for a man who does not respond to + their prejudices)--removed him at times almost + beyond the reach of her sympathy. It was + interesting enough as long as the experience + was novel, to be thus unconsciously exploring + another person's mind and finding so many + strange objects there; but after a while the + thing began to assume an uncomfortably serious + aspect, and then there seemed to be something + almost terrible about it. At such times a call + from a gentleman of her own nation, even + though he were one of the placidly stupid type, + would be a positive relief; she could abandon + herself to the secure sense of being at home; + she need fear no surprises, and in the smooth + shallows of their talk there were no unsuspected + depths to excite and to baffle her ingenuity. + And, again, reverting in her thought to Halfdan, + his conversational brilliancy would almost + repel her, as something odious and un-American, + the cheap result of outlandish birth and + unrepublican education. Not that she had ever + valued republicanism very highly; she was one + of those who associated politics with noisy + vulgarity in speech and dress, and therefore + thanked fortune that women were permitted to + keep aloof from it. But in the presence of this + alien she found herself growing patriotic; that + much-discussed abstraction, which we call our + country (and which is nothing but the aggregate + of all the slow and invisible influences + which go toward making up our own being), + became by degrees a very palpable and + intelligible fact to her.</p> +<p>Frequently while her American self was thus + loudly asserting itself, Edith inflicted many a + cruel wound upon her foreign adorer. Once,-- + it was the Fourth of July, more than a year after + Halfdan's arrival, a number of young ladies and + gentlemen, after having listened to a patriotic + oration, were invited in to an informal luncheon. + While waiting, they naturally enough spent their + time in singing national songs, and Halfdan's + clear tenor did good service in keeping the + straggling voices together. When they had + finished, Edith went up to him and was quite + effusive in her expressions of gratitude.</p> +<p>"I am sure we ought all to be very grateful + to you, Mr. Birch," she said, "and I, for my + part, can assure you that I am."</p> +<p>"Grateful? Why?" demanded Halfdan, + looking quite unhappy.</p> +<p>"For singing OUR national songs, of course. + Now, won't you sing one of your own, please? + We should all be so delighted to hear how a + Swedish--or Norwegian, is it?--national song + sounds."</p> +<p>"Yes, Mr. Birch, DO sing a Swedish song," + echoed several voices.</p> +<p>They, of course, did not even remotely suspect + their own cruelty. He had, in his enthusiasm + for the day allowed himself to forget that + he was not made of the same clay as they were, + that he was an exile and a stranger, and must + ever remain so, that he had no right to share + their joy in the blessing of liberty. Edith had + taken pains to dispel the happy illusion, and had + sent him once more whirling toward his cold + native Pole. His passion came near choking + him, and, to conceal his impetuous emotion, he + flung himself down on the piano-stool, and struck + some introductory chords with perhaps a little + superfluous emphasis. Suddenly his voice burst + out into the Swedish national anthem, "Our + Land, our Land, our Fatherland," and the air + shook and palpitated with strong martial melody. + His indignation, his love and his misery, + imparted strength to his voice, and its occasional + tremble in the PIANO passages was something + more than an artistic intention. He was loudly + applauded as he arose, and the young ladies + thronged about him to ask if he "wouldn't + please write out the music for them."</p> +<p>Thus month after month passed by, and every + day brought its own misery. Mrs. Van Kirk's + patronizing manners, and ostentatious kindness, + often tested his patience to the utmost. If he + was guilty of an innocent witticism or a little + quaintness of expression, she always assumed it + to be a mistake of terms and corrected him + with an air of benign superiority. At times, of + course, her corrections were legitimate, as for + instance, when he spoke of WEARING a cane, + instead of CARRYING one, but in nine cases out of + ten the fault lay in her own lack of imagination + and not in his ignorance of English. On such + occasions Edith often took pity on him, + defended him against her mother's criticism, and + insisted that if this or that expression was not + in common vogue, that was no reason why it + should not be used, as it was perfectly + grammatical, and, moreover, in keeping with the + spirit of the language. And he, listening + passively in admiring silence to her argument, + thanked her even for the momentary pain + because it was followed by so great a happiness. + For it was so sweet to be defended by Edith, to + feel that he and she were standing together side + by side against the outer world. Could he only + show her in the old heroic manner how much he + loved her! Would only some one that was + dear to her die, so that he, in that breaking + down of social barriers which follows a great + calamity, might comfort her in her sorrow. + Would she then, perhaps, weeping, lean her + wonderful head upon his breast, feeling but that + he was a fellow-mortal, who had a heart that + was loyal and true, and forgetting, for one brief + instant, that he was a foreigner. Then, to + touch that delicate Elizabethan frill which + wound itself so daintily about Edith's neck-- + what inconceivable rapture! But it was quite + impossible. It could never be. These were + selfish thoughts, no doubt, but they were a lover's + selfishness, and, as such, bore a close kinship to + all that is purest and best in human nature.</p> +<p>It is one of the tragic facts of this life, that a + relation so unequal as that which existed between + Halfdan and Edith, is at all possible. As + for Edith, I must admit that she was well aware + that her teacher was in love with her. Women + have wonderfully keen senses for phenomena of + that kind, and it is an illusion if any one + imagines, as our Norseman did, that he has locked + his secret securely in the hidden chamber of his + heart. In fleeting intonations, unconscious + glances and attitudes, and through a hundred + other channels it will make its way out, and the + bereaved jailer may still clasp his key in fierce + triumph, never knowing that he has been + robbed. It was of course no fault of Edith's + that she had become possessed of Halfdan's + heart-secret. She regarded it as on the whole + rather an absurd affair, and prized it very + lightly. That a love so strong and yet so humble, + so destitute of hope and still so unchanging, + reverent and faithful, had something grand and + touching in it, had never occurred to her. It is + a truism to say that in our social code the value + of a man's character is determined by his position; + and fine traits in a foreigner (unless he + should happen to be something very great) + strike us rather as part of a supposed mental + alienism, and as such, naturally suspicious. It + is rather disgraceful than otherwise to have your + music teacher in love with you, and critical + friends will never quite banish the suspicion + that you have encouraged him.</p> +<p>Edith had, in her first delight at the discovery of Halfdan's talent, frankly + admitted him to a relation of apparent equality. He was a man of culture, had + the manners and bearing of a gentleman, and had none of those theatrical airs + which so often raise a sort of invisible wall between foreigners and Americans. + Her mother, who loved to play the patron, especially to young men, had invited + him to dinner-parties and introduced him to their friends, until almost every + one looked upon him as a protege of the family. He appeared so well in a parlor, + and had really such a distinguished presence, that it was a pleasure to look + at him. He was remarkably free from those obnoxious traits which generalizing + American travelers have led us to believe were inseparable from foreign birth; + his finger-nails were in no way conspicuous; he did not, as a French count, + a former adorer of Edith's, had done, indulge an unmasculine taste for diamond + rings (possibly because he had none); his politeness was unobtrusive and subdued, + and of his accent there was just enough left to give an agreeable color of individuality + to his speech. But, for all that, Edith could never quite rid herself of the + impression that he was intensely un-American. There was a certain idyllic quiescence + about him, a child-like directness and simplicity, and a total absence of "push," + which were startlingly at variance with the spirit of American life. An American + could never have been content to remain in an inferior position without trying, + in some way, to better his fortunes. But Halfdan could stand still and see, + without the faintest stirring of envy, his plebeian friend Olson, whose education + and talents could bear no comparison with his own, rise rapidly above him, and + apparently have no desire to emulate him. He could sit on a cricket in a corner, + with Clara on his lap, and two or three little girls nestling about him, and + tell them fairy stories by the hour, while his kindly face beamed with innocent + happiness. And if Clara, to coax him into continuing the entertainment, offered + to kiss him, his measure of joy was full. This fair child, with her affectionate + ways, and her confiding prattle, wound herself ever more closely about his homeless + heart, and he clung to her with a touching devotion. For she was the only one + who seemed to be unconscious of the difference of blood, who had not yet learned + that she was an American and he--a foreigner. </p> +<p> + VI.</p> +<p> + Three years had passed by and still the situation + was unchanged. Halfdan still taught music + and told fairy stories to the children. He had + a good many more pupils now than three years + ago, although he had made no effort to solicit + patronage, and had never tried to advertise his + talent by what he regarded as vulgar and + inartistic display. But Mrs. Van Kirk, who had by + this time discovered his disinclination to assert + himself, had been only the more active; had + "talked him up" among her aristocratic friends; + had given musical soirees, at which she had + coaxed him to play the principal role, and had + in various other ways exerted herself in his + behalf. It was getting to be quite fashionable to + admire his quiet, unostentatious style of playing, + which was so far removed from the noisy + bravado and clap-trap then commonly in vogue. + Even professional musicians began to indorse + him, and some, who had discovered that "there + was money in him," made him tempting offers + for a public engagement. But, with characteristic + modesty, he distrusted their verdict; his + sensitive nature shrank from anything which had + the appearance of self-assertion or display.</p> +<p>But Edith--ah, if it had not been for Edith + he might have found courage to enter at the + door of fortune, which was now opened ajar. + That fame, if he should gain it, would bring + him any nearer to her, was a thought that was + alien to so unworldly a temperament as his. + And any action that had no bearing upon his + relation to her, left him cold--seemed unworthy + of the effort. If she had asked him to play in + public; if she had required of him to go to the + North Pole, or to cut his own throat, I verily + believe he would have done it. And at last + Edith did ask him to play. She and Olson had + plotted together, and from the very friendliest + motives agreed to play into each other's hands.</p> +<p>"If you only WOULD consent to play," said she, + in her own persuasive way, one day as they had + finished their lesson, "we should all be so happy. + Only think how proud we should be of your + success, for you know there is nothing you + can't do in the way of music if you really want + to."</p> +<p>"Do you really think so?" exclaimed he, + while his eyes suddenly grew large and luminous.</p> +<p>"Indeed I do," said Edith, emphatically.</p> +<p>"And if--if I played well," faltered he, + "would it really please you?"</p> +<p>"Of course it would," cried Edith, laughing; + "how can you ask such a foolish question?"</p> +<p>"Because I hardly dared to believe it."</p> +<p>"Now listen to me," continued the girl, + leaning forward in her chair, and beaming all over + with kindly officiousness; "now for once you + must be rational and do just what I tell you. I + shall never like you again if you oppose me in + this, for I have set my heart upon it; you must + promise beforehand that you will be good and + not make any objection. Do you hear?"</p> +<p>When Edith assumed this tone toward him, + she might well have made him promise to perform + miracles. She was too intent upon her + benevolent scheme to heed the possible + inferences which he might draw from her sudden + display of interest.</p> +<p>"Then you promise?" repeated she, eagerly, + as he hesitated to answer.</p> +<p>"Yes, I promise."</p> +<p>"Now, you must not be surprised; but mamma + and I have made arrangements with Mr. + S---- that you are to appear under his auspices + at a concert which is to be given a week from + to-night. All our friends are going, and we + shall take up all the front seats, and I have + already told my gentlemen friends to scatter + through the audience, and if they care anything + for my favor, they will have to applaud vigorously."</p> +<p>Halfdan reddened up to his temples, and + began to twist his watch-chain nervously.</p> +<p>"You must have small confidence in my + ability," he murmured, "since you resort to + precautions like these."</p> +<p>"But my dear Mr. Birch," cried Edith, who + was quick to discover that she had made a + mistake, "it is not kind in you to mistrust me in + that way. If a New York audience were as + highly cultivated in music as you are, I admit + that my precautions would be superfluous. But + the papers, you know, will take their tone from + the audience, and therefore we must make use + of a little innocent artifice to make sure of it. + Everything depends upon the success of your + first public appearance, and if your friends can + in this way help you to establish the reputation + which is nothing but your right, I am sure you + ought not to bind their hands by your foolish + sensitiveness. You don't know the American + way of doing things as well as I do, therefore + you must stand by your promise, and leave + everything to me."</p> +<p>It was impossible not to believe that anything + Edith chose to do was above reproach. She + looked so bewitching in her excited eagerness + for his welfare that it would have been inhuman + to oppose her. So he meekly succumbed, and + began to discuss with her the programme for + the concert.</p> +<p>During the next week there was hardly a day + that he did not read some startling paragraph + in the newspapers about "the celebrated Scandinavian + pianist," whose appearance at S---- + Hall was looked forward to as the principal + event of the coming season. He inwardly + rebelled against the well-meant exaggerations; + but as he suspected that it was Edith's influence + which was in this way asserting itself in his behalf, + he set his conscience at rest and remained silent.</p> +<p>The evening of the concert came at last, and, + as the papers stated the next morning, "the + large hall was crowded to its utmost capacity + with a select and highly appreciative audience." + Edith must have played her part of the performance + skillfully, for as he walked out upon + the stage, he was welcomed with an enthusiastic + burst of applause, as if he had been a world- + renowned artist. At Edith's suggestion, her + two favorite nocturnes had been placed first + upon the programme; then followed one of + those ballads of Chopin, whose rhythmic din and + rush sweep onward, beleaguering the ear like + eager, melodious hosts, charging in thickening + ranks and columns, beating impetuous retreats, + and again uniting with one grand emotion the + wide-spreading army of sound for the final + victory. Besides these, there was one of Liszt's + "Rhapsodies Hongroises," an impromptu by + Schubert, and several orchestral pieces; but the + greater part of the programme was devoted + to Chopin, because Halfdan, with his great, + hopeless passion laboring in his breast, felt that + he could interpret Chopin better than he could + any other composer. He carried his audience + by storm. As he retired to the dressing-room, + after having finished the last piece, his friends, + among whom Edith and Mrs. Van Kirk were + the most conspicuous, thronged about him, + showering their praises and congratulations + upon him. They insisted with much friendly + urging upon taking him home in their carriage; + Clara kissed him, Mrs. Van Kirk introduced + him to her lady acquaintances as "our friend, + Mr. Birch," and Edith held his hand so long in + hers that he came near losing his presence of + mind and telling her then and there that he + loved her. As his eyes rested on her, they + became suddenly suffused with tears, and a vast + bewildering happiness vibrated through his + frame. At last he tore himself away and wandered + aimlessly through the long, lonely streets. + Why could he not tell Edith that he loved her? + Was there any disgrace in loving? This heavenly + passion which so suddenly had transfused + his being, and year by year deadened the + substance of his old self, creating in its stead + something new and wild and strange which he + never could know, but still held infinitely dear + --had it been sent to him merely as a scourge to + test his capacity for suffering?</p> +<p>Once, while he was a child, his mother had + told him that somewhere in this wide world + there lived a maiden whom God had created + for him, and for him alone, and when he should + see her, he should love her, and his life should + thenceforth be all for her. It had hardly + occurred to him, then, to question whether she + would love him in return, it had appeared so + very natural that she should. Now he had + found this maiden, and she had been very kind + to him; but her kindness had been little better + than cruelty, because he had demanded something + more than kindness. And still he had + never told her of his love. He must tell her even + this very night while the moon rode high in the + heavens and all the small differences between + human beings seemed lost in the vast starlit + stillness. He knew well that by the relentless + glare of the daylight his own insignificance + would be cruelly conspicuous in the presence of + her splendor; his scruples would revive, and his + courage fade.</p> +<p>The night was clear and still. A clock struck + eleven in some church tower near by. The Van + Kirk mansion rose tall and stately in the moonlight, + flinging a dense mass of shadow across + the street. Up in the third story he saw two + windows lighted; the curtains were drawn, but + the blinds were not closed. All the rest of the + house was dark. He raised his voice and sang + a Swedish serenade which seemed in perfect + concord with his own mood. His clear tenor + rose through the silence of the night, and a + feeble echo flung it back from the mansion + opposite:</p> +<p> [3] "Star, sweet star, that brightly beamest, + Glittering on the skies nocturnal, + Hide thine eye no more from me, + Hide thine eye no more from me!"</p> +<p> + [3] Free translation of a Swedish serenade, the name of whose author I + have forgotten. H. H. B.</p> +<p></p> +<p>The curtain was drawn aside, the window + cautiously raised, and the outline of Edith's + beautiful head appeared dark and distinct + against the light within. She instantly recognized him.</p> +<p>"You must go away, Mr. Birch," came her + voice in an anxious whisper out of the shadow. + "Pray go away. You will wake up the people."</p> +<p>Her words were audible enough, but they + failed to convey any meaning to his excited + mind. Once more his voice floated upward to + her opened window:</p> +<blockquote> + <p> "And I yearn to reach thy dwelling,<br>Yearn to rise from earth's fierce + turmoil;<br>Sweetest star upward to thee,<br>Yearn to rise, bright star to thee."</p> + </blockquote> +<p> + "Dear Mr. Birch," she whispered once more + in tones of distress. "Pray DO go away. Or + perhaps," she interrupted herself "--wait one + moment and I will come down."</p> +<p>Presently the front door was noiselessly + opened, and Edith's tall, lithe form, dressed in a + white flowing dress, and with her blonde hair + rolling loosely over her shoulders, appeared for + an instant, and then again vanished. With one + leap Halfdan sprang up the stairs and pushed + through the half-opened door. Edith closed + the door behind him, then with rapid steps led + the way to the back parlor where the moon broke + feebly through the bars of the closed shutters.</p> +<p>"Now Mr. Birch," she said, seating herself + upon a lounge, "you may explain to me what + this unaccountable behavior of yours means. + I should hardly think I had deserved to be + treated in this way by you."</p> +<p>Halfdan was utterly bewildered; a nervous + fit of trembling ran through him, and he + endeavored in vain to speak. He had been + prepared for passionate reproaches, but this calm + severity chilled him through, and he could only + gasp and tremble, but could utter no word in + his defense.</p> +<p>"I suppose you are aware," continued Edith, + in the same imperturbable manner, "that if I + had not interrupted you, the policeman would + have h*eard you, and you would have been + arrested for street disturbance. Then to-morrow + we should have seen it in all the newspapers, + and I should have been the laughing-stock of + the whole town."</p> +<p>No, surely he had never thought of it in + that light; the idea struck him as entirely new. + There was a long pause. A cock crowed with + a drowsy remoteness in some neighboring yard, + and the little clock on the mantel-piece ticked + on patiently in the moonlit dusk.</p> +<p>"If you have nothing to say," resumed Edith, + while the stern indifference in her voice + perceptibly relaxed, "then I will bid you good- + night."</p> +<p>She arose, and with a grand sweep of her + drapery, moved toward the door.</p> +<p>"Miss Edith," cried he, stretching his hands + despairingly after her, "you must not leave me."</p> +<p>She paused, tossed her hair back with her + hands, and gazed at him over her shoulder. He + threw himself on his knees, seized the hem of + her dress, and pressed it to his lips. It was a + gesture of such inexpressible humility that even + a stone would have relented.</p> +<p>"Do not be foolish, Mr. Birch," she said, try- + ing to pull her dress away from him. "Get up, + and if you have anything rational to say to me, + I will stay and listen."</p> +<p>"Yes, yes," he whispered, hoarsely, "I shall + be rational. Only do not leave me."</p> +<p>She again sank down wearily upon the + lounge, and looked at him in expectant silence.</p> +<p>"Miss Edith," pleaded he in the same hoarse, + passionate undertone, "have pity on me, and + do not despise me. I love you--oh--if you + would but allow me to die for you, I should be + the happiest of men."</p> +<p>Again he shuddered, and stood long gazing + at her with a mute, pitiful appeal. A tear stole + into Edith's eye and trickled down over her + cheek.</p> +<p>"Ah, Mr. Birch," she murmured, while a + sigh shook her bosom, "I am sorry--very sorry + that this misfortune has happened to you. You + have deserved a better fate than to love me--to + love a woman who can never give you anything + in return for what you give her."</p> +<p>"Never?" he repeated mournfully, "never?"</p> +<p>"No, never! You have been a good friend + to me, and as such I value you highly, and I had + hoped that you would always remain so. But + I see that it cannot be. It will perhaps be best + for you henceforth not to see me, at least not + until--pardon the expression--you have out- + lived this generous folly. And now, you know, + you will need me no more. You have made a + splendid reputation, and if you choose to avail + yourself of it, your fortune is already made. I + shall always rejoice to hear of your success, and + --and if you should ever need a FRIEND, you + must come to no one but me. I know that these + are feeble words, Mr. Birch, and if they seem + cold to you, you must pardon me. I can say + nothing more."</p> +<p>They were indeed feeble words, although most cordially spoken. He tried to + weigh them, to measure their meaning, but his mind was as if benumbed, and utterly + incapable of thought. He walked across the floor, perhaps only to do something, + not feeling where he trod, but still with an absurd sensation that he was taking + immoderately long steps. Then he stopped abruptly, wrung his hands, and gazed + at Edith. And suddenly, like a flash in a vacuum, the thought shot through his + brain that he had seen this very scene somewhere--in a dream, in a remote childhood, + in a previous existence, he did not know when or where. It seemed strangely + familiar, and in the next instant strangely mean- ingless and unreal. The walls, + the floor-- everything began to move, to whirl about him; he struck his hands + against his forehead, and sank down into a damask-covered easy-chair. With a + faint cry of alarm, Edith sprang up, seized a bottle of cologne which happened + to be within reach, and knelt down at his side. She put her arm around his neck, + and raised his head. </p> +<p>"Mr. Birch, dear Mr. Birch," she cried, in a + frightened whisper, "for God's sake come to + yourself! O God, what have I done?"</p> +<p>She blew the eau-de-cologne into his face, + and, as he languidly opened his eyes, he felt the + touch of her warm hand upon his cheeks and his + forehead.</p> +<p>"Thank heaven! he is better," she murmured, + still continuing to bathe his temples. "How do + you feel now, Mr. Birch?" she added, in a tone + of anxious inquiry.</p> +<p>"Thank you, it was an unpardonable weakness," + he muttered, without changing his attitude. + "Do not trouble yourself about me. I + shall soon be well."</p> +<p>It was so sweet to be conscious of her gentle + ministry, that it required a great effort, an effort + of conscience, to rouse him once more, as his + strength returned.</p> +<p>"Had you not better stay?" she asked, as he + rose to put on his overcoat. "I will call one of + the servants and have him show you a room. + We will say to-morrow morning that you were + taken ill, and nobody will wonder."</p> +<p>"No, no," he responded, energetically. "I + am perfectly strong now." But he still had to + lean on a chair, and his face was deathly pale.</p> +<p>"Farewell, Miss Edith," he said; and a tender + sadness trembled in his voice. "Farewell. We + shall--probably--never meet again."</p> +<p>"Do not speak so," she answered, seizing his + hand. "You will try to forget this, and you + will still be great and happy. And when fortune + shall again smile upon you, and--and-- + you will be content to be my friend, then we + shall see each other as before."</p> +<p>"No, no," he broke forth, with a sudden + hoarseness. "It will never be."</p> +<p>He walked toward the door with the motions of one who feels death in his limbs; + then stopped once more and his eyes lingered with inexpressible sadness on the + wonderful, beloved form which stood dimly outlined before him in the twilight. + Then Edith's measure of misery, too, seemed full. With the divine heedlessness + which belongs to her sex, she rushed up toward him, and remembering only that + he was weak and unhappy, and that he suffered for her sake, she took his face + between her hands and kissed him. He was too generous a man to misinterpret + the act; so he whispered but once more: "Farewell," and hastened away. +</p> +<p> + VII.</p> +<p> + After that eventful December night, America + was no more what it had been to Halfdan + Bjerk. A strange torpidity had come over him; + every rising day gazed into his eyes with a fierce + unmeaning glare. The noise of the street + annoyed him and made him childishly fretful, and + the solitude of his own room seemed still more + dreary and depressing. He went mechanically + through the daily routine of his duties as if the + soul had been taken out of his work, and left + his life all barrenness and desolation. He + moved restlessly from place to place, roamed at + all times of the day and night through the city + and its suburbs, trying vainly to exhaust his + physical strength; gradually, as his lethargy + deepened into a numb, helpless despair, it seemed + somehow to impart a certain toughness to his + otherwise delicate frame. Olson, who was now + a junior partner in the firm of Remsen, Van + Kirk and Co., stood by him faithfully in these + days of sorrow. He was never effusive in his + sympathy, but was patiently forbearing with + his friend's whims and moods, and humored him + as if he had been a sick child intrusted to his + custody. That Edith might be the moving + cause of Olson's kindness was a thought which, + strangely enough, had never occurred to Halfdan.</p> +<p>At last, when spring came, the vacancy of his + mind was suddenly invaded with a strong desire + to revisit his native land. He disclosed his plan + to Olson, who, after due deliberation and + several visits to the Van Kirk mansion, decided + that the pleasure of seeing his old friends and + the scenes of his childhood might push the + painful memories out of sight, and renew his + interest in life. So, one morning, while the + May sun shone with a soft radiance upon the + beautiful harbor, our Norseman found himself + standing on the deck of a huge black-hulled + Cunarder, shivering in spite of the warmth, and + feeling a chill loneliness creeping over him at + the sight of the kissing and affectionate leave- + takings which were going on all around him. + Olson was running back and forth, attending to + his baggage; but he himself took no thought, + and felt no more responsibility than if he had + been a helpless child. He half regretted that + his own wish had prevailed, and was inclined to + hold his friend responsible for it; and still he + had not energy enough to protest now when the + journey seemed inevitable. His heart still clung + to the place which held the corpse of his ruined + life, as a man may cling to the spot which hides + his beloved dead.</p> +<p>About two weeks later Halfdan landed in + Norway. He was half reluctant to leave the + steamer, and the land of his birth excited no + emotion in his breast. He was but conscious of + a dim regret that he was so far away from + Edith. At last, however, he betook himself to + a hotel, where he spent the afternoon sitting + with half-closed eyes at a window, watching + listlessly the drowsy slow-pulsed life which + dribbled languidly through the narrow + thoroughfare. The noisy uproar of Broadway + chimed remotely in his ears, like the distant + roar of a tempest-tossed sea, and what had once + been a perpetual annoyance was now a sweet + memory. How often with Edith at his side had + he threaded his way through the surging crowds + that pour, on a fine afternoon, in an unceasing + current up and down the street between Union + and Madison Squares. How friendly, and sweet, + and gracious, Edith had been at such times; + how fresh her voice, how witty and animated + her chance remarks when they stopped to greet + a passing acquaintance; and, above all, how + inspiring the sight of her heavenly beauty. + Now that was all past. Perhaps he should + never see Edith again.</p> +<p>The next day he sauntered through the city, + meeting some old friends, who all seemed + changed and singularly uninteresting. They + were all engaged or married, and could talk of + nothing but matrimony, and their prospects of + advancement in the Government service. One + had an influential uncle who had been a chum + of the present minister of finance; another based + his hopes of future prosperity upon the family + connections of his betrothed, and a third was + waiting with a patient perseverance, worthy of + a better cause, for the death or resignation of + an antiquated chef-de-bureau, which, according + to the promise of some mighty man, would open + a position for him in the Department of Justice. + All had the most absurd theories about American + democracy, and indulged freely in prophecies + of coming disasters; but about their own + government they had no opinion whatever. If + Halfdan attempted to set them right, they at + once grew excited and declamatory; their + opinions were based upon conviction and a + charming ignorance of facts, and they were not + to be moved. They knew all about Tweed and + the Tammany Ring, and believed them to be + representative citizens of New York, if not of + the United States; but of Charles Sumner and + Carl Schurz they had never heard. Halfdan, + who, in spite of his misfortunes in the land of + his adoption, cherished a very tender feeling for + it, was often so thoroughly aroused at the foolish + prejudices which everywhere met him, that his + torpidity gradually thawed away, and he began + to look more like his former self.</p> +<p>Toward autumn he received an invitation + to visit a country clergyman in the North, a + distant relative of his father's, and there whiled + away his time, fishing and shooting, until winter + came. But as Christmas drew near, and the day + wrestled feebly with the all-conquering night, + the old sorrow revived. In the darkness which + now brooded over land and sea, the thoughts + needed no longer be on guard against themselves; + they could roam far and wide as they + listed. Where was Edith now, the sweet, the + wonderful Edith? Was there yet the same + dancing light in her beautiful eyes, the same + golden sheen in her hair, the same merry ring + in her voice? And had she not said that when + he was content to be only her friend, he might + return to her, and she would receive him in the + old joyous and confiding way? Surely there + was no life to him apart from her: why should + he not be her friend? Only a glimpse of her + lovely face--ah, it was worth a lifetime; it + would consecrate an age of misery, a glimpse of + Edith's face. Thus ran his fancies day by day, + and the night only lent a deeper intensity to the + yearnings of the day. He walked about as in a + dream, seeing nothing, heeding nothing, while + this one strong desire--to see Edith once more + --throbbed and throbbed with a slow, feverish + perseverance within him. Edith--Edith, the + very name had a strange, potent fascination. + Every thought whispered "Edith,"--his pulse + beat "Edith,"--and his heart repeated the + beloved name. It was his pulse-beat,--his + heartbeat,--his life-beat.</p> +<p>And one morning as he stood absently + looking at his fingers against the light--and they + seemed strangely wan and transparent--the + thought at last took shape. It rushed upon + him with such vehemence, that he could no more + resist it. So he bade the clergyman good-bye, + gathered his few worldly goods together and + set out for Bergen. There he found an English + steamer which carried him to Hull, and a few + weeks later, he was once more in New York.</p> +<p>It was late one evening in January that a + tug-boat arrived and took the cabin passengers + ashore. The moon sailed tranquilly over the + deep blue dome of the sky, the stars traced their + glittering paths of light from the zenith downward, + and it was sharp, bitter cold. Northward + over the river lay a great bank of cloud, dense, + gray and massive, the spectre of the coming + snow-storm. There it lay so huge and fantastically + human, ruffling itself up, as fowls do, in + defense against the cold. Halfdan walked on + at a brisk rate--strange to say, all the street- + cars he met went the wrong way--startling + every now and then some precious memory, some + word or look or gesture of Edith's which had + hovered long over those scenes, waiting for his + recognition. There was the great jewel-store + where Edith had taken him so often to consult + his taste whenever a friend of hers was to be + married. It was there that they had had an + amicable quarrel over that bronze statue of + Faust which she had found beautiful, while he, + with a rudeness which seemed now quite + incomprehensible, had insisted that it was not. + And when he had failed to convince her, she had + given him her hand in token of reconciliation-- + and Edith had a wonderful way of giving her + hand, which made any one feel that it was a + peculiar privilege to press it--and they had + walked out arm in arm into the animated, gas- + lighted streets, with a delicious sense of + snugness and security, being all the more closely + united for their quarrel. Here, farther up the + avenue, they had once been to a party, and he + had danced for the first time in his life with + Edith. Here was Delmonico's, where they had + had such fascinating luncheons together; where + she had got a stain on her dress, and he had + been forced to observe that her dress was then + not really a part of herself, since it was a thing + that could not be stained. Her dress had + always seemed to him as something absolute and + final, exalted above criticism, incapable of + improvement.</p> +<p>As I have said, Halfdan walked briskly up the avenue, and it was something + after eleven when he reached the house which he sought. The great cloud-bank + in the north had then begun to expand and stretched its long misty arms eastward + and westward over the heavens. The windows on the ground-floor were dark, but + the sleeping apartments in the upper stories were lighted. In Edith's room the + inside shutters were closed, but one of the windows was a little down at the + top. And as he stood gazing with tremulous happiness up to that window, a stanza + from Heine which he and Edith had often read together, came into his head. It + was the story of the youth who goes to the Madonna at Kevlar and brings her + as a votive offering a heart of wax, that she may heal him of his love and his + sorrow.</p> +<blockquote> + <p> "I bring this waxen image, <br> + <p>The image of my heart,<br> + <p> Heal thou my bitter sorrow, <br> + <p>And cure my deadly smart!"[4] + <p><br> +</blockquote> +<p>[4] Translation, from "Exotics. By J. F. C. & C. L." </p> +<p> + Then came the thought that for him, too, as + for the poor youth of Cologne, there was healing + only in death. And still in this moment he + was so near Edith, should see her perhaps, and + the joy at this was stronger than all else, + stronger even than death. So he sat down + beside the steps of the mansion opposite, where + there was some shelter from the wind, and + waited patiently till Edith should close her win- + dow. He was cold, perhaps, but, if so, he hardly + knew it, for the near joy of seeing her throbbed + warmly in his veins. Ah, there--the blinds + were thrown open; Edith, in all the lithe + magnificence of her wonderful form, stood out clear + and beautiful against the light within; she + pushed up the lower window in order to reach + the upper one, and for a moment leaned out + over the sill. Once more her wondrous profile + traced itself in strong relief against the outer + gloom. There came a cry from the street below, + a feeble involuntary one, but still distinctly + audible. Edith peered anxiously out into the + darkness, but the darkness had grown denser + and she could see nothing. The window was + fastened, the shutters closed, and the broad + pathway of light which she had flung out upon + the night had vanished.</p> +<p>Halfdan closed his eyes trying to retain the + happy vision. Yes, there she stood still, and + there was a heavenly smile upon her lips--ugh, + he shivered--the snow swept in a wild whirl up + the street. He wrapped his plaid more closely + about him, and strained his eyes to catch one + more glimpse of the beloved Edith. Ah, yes; + there she was again; she came nearer and + nearer, and she touched his cheek, gently, warily + smiling all the while with a strange wistful smile + which was surely not Edith's. There, she bent + over him,--touched him again,--how cold her + hands were; the touch chilled him to the heart. + The snow had now begun to fall in large scattered + flakes, whirling fitfully through the air, + following every chance gust of wind, but still + falling, falling, and covering the earth with its + white, death-like shroud.</p> +<p>But surely--there was Edith again,--how + wonderful!--in a long snow-white robe, grave + and gracious, still with the wistful smile on her + lips. See, she beckons to him with her hand, + and he rises to follow, but something heavy + clings to his feet and he cannot stir from the + spot. He tries to cry for help, but he cannot,-- + can only stretch out his hands to her, and feel + very unhappy that he cannot follow her. But + now she pauses in her flight, turns about, and + he sees that she wears a myrtle garland in her + hair like a bride. She comes toward him, her + countenance all radiant with love and happiness, + and she stoops down over him and speaks:</p> +<p>"Come; they are waiting for us. I will follow + thee in life and in death, wherever thou + goest. Come," repeats Edith, "they have long + been waiting. They are all here."</p> +<p>And he imagines he knows who they all are, + although he has never heard of them, nor can + he recall their names.</p> +<p>"But--but," he stammers, "I--I--am a foreigner "</p> +<p>It appeared then that for some reason this + was an insurmountable objection. And Edith's + happiness dies out of her beautiful face, and she + turns away weeping.</p> +<p>"Edith, beloved!"</p> +<p>Then she is once more at his side.</p> +<p>"Thou art no more a foreigner to me, beloved. + Whatever thou art, I am."</p> +<p>And she presses her lips to his--it was the + sweetest kiss of his life--the kiss of death.</p> +<p>The next morning, as Edith, after having put the last touch to her toilet, + threw the shutters open, a great glare of sun-smitten snow burst upon her and + for a moment blinded her eyes. On the sidewalk opposite, half a dozen men with + snow-shovels in their hands and a couple of policeman had congregated, and, + judging by their manner, were discussing some object of interest. Presently + they were joined by her father, who had just finished his breakfast and was + on his way to the office. Now he stooped down and gazed at something half concealed + in the snow, then suddenly started back, and as she caught a glimpse of his + face, she saw that it was ghastly white. A terrible foreboding seized her. She + threw a shawl about her shoulders and rushed down-stairs. In the hall she was + met by her father, who was just entering, followed by four men, carrying something + between them. She well knew what it was. She would fain have turned away, but + she could not: grasping her father's arm and pressing it hard, she gazed with + blank, frightened eyes at the white face, the lines of which Death had so strangely + emphasized. The snow-flakes which hung in his hair had touched him with their + sudden age, as if to bridge the gulf between youth and death. And still he was + beautiful--the clear brow, the peaceful, happy indolence, the frozen smile which + death had perpetuated. Smiling, he had departed from the earth which had no + place for him, and smiling entered the realm where, among the many mansions, + there is, perhaps, also one for a gentle, simple-hearted enthusiast. </p> +<p> </p> +<p> + THE STORY OF AN OUTCAST.</p> +<p>THERE was an ancient feud between the families; and Bjarne Blakstad was not + the man to make it up, neither was Hedin Ullern. So they looked askance at each + other whenever they met on the highway, and the one took care not to cross the + other's path. But on Sundays, when the church- bells called the parishioners + together, they could not very well avoid seeing each other on the church-yard; + and then, one day, many years ago, when the sermon had happened to touch Bjarne's + heart, he had nodded to Hedin and said: "Fine weather to-day;" and + Hedin had returned the nod and answered: "True is that." "Now + I have done my duty before God and men," thought Bjarne, "and it is + his turn to take the next step." "The fellow is proud," said + Hedin to himself, "and he wants to show off his generosity. But I know + the wolf by his skin, even if he has learned to bleat like a ewe-lamb." +</p> +<p>What the feud really was about, they had + both nearly forgotten. All they knew was + that some thirty years ago there had been a + quarrel between the pastor and the parish about + the right of carrying arms to the church. And + then Bjarne's father had been the spokesman of + the parish, while Hedin's grandsire had been a + staunch defender of the pastor. There was a + rumor, too, that they had had a fierce encounter + somewhere in the woods, and that the one had + stabbed the other with a knife; but whether that + was really true, no one could tell.</p> +<p>Bjarne was tall and grave, like the weather- + beaten fir-trees in his mast-forest. He had a + large clean-shaven face, narrow lips, and small + fierce eyes. He seldom laughed, and when he + did, his laugh seemed even fiercer than his + frown. He wore his hair long, as his fathers + had done, and dressed in the styles of two + centuries ago; his breeches were clasped with large + silver buckles at the knees, and his red jerkin + was gathered about his waist with a leathern + girdle. He loved everything that was old, in + dress as well as in manners, took no newspapers, + and regarded railroads and steamboats as inventions + of the devil. Bjarne had married late in + life, and his marriage had brought him two + daughters, Brita and Grimhild.</p> +<p>Hedin Ullern was looked upon as an upstart. + He could only count three generations back, + and he hardly knew himself how his grandfather + had earned the money that had enabled + him to buy a farm and settle down in the + valley. He had read a great deal, and was well + informed on the politics of the day; his name + had even been mentioned for storthingsmand, or + member of parliament from the district, and it + was the common opinion, that if Bjarne Blakstad + had not so vigorously opposed him, he + would have been elected, being the only + "cultivated" peasant in the valley. Hedin was no + unwelcome guest in the houses of gentlefolks, + and he was often seen at the judge's and the + pastor's omber parties. And for all this Bjarne + Blakstad only hated him the more. Hedin's + wife, Thorgerda, was fair-haired, tall and stout, + and it was she who managed the farm, while + her husband read his books, and studied politics + in the newspapers; but she had a sharp tongue + and her neighbors were afraid of her. They + had one son, whose name was Halvard.</p> +<p>Brita Blakstad, Bjarne's eldest daughter, was + a maid whom it was a joy to look upon. They + called her "Glitter-Brita," because she was fond + of rings and brooches, and everything that was + bright; while she was still a child, she once + took the old family bridal-crown out from the + storehouse and carried it about on her head. + "Beware of that crown, child," her father had + said to her, "and wear it not before the time. + There is not always blessing in the bridal + silver." And she looked wonderingly up into + his eyes and answered: "But it glitters, + father;" and from that time forth they had + named her Glitter-Brita.</p> +<p>And Glitter-Brita grew up to be a fair and + winsome maiden, and wherever she went the + wooers flocked on her path. Bjarne shook + his head at her, and often had harsh words + upon his lips, when he saw her braiding field- + flowers into her yellow tresses or clasping the + shining brooches to her bodice; but a look + of hers or a smile would completely disarm + him. She had a merry way of doing things + which made it all seem like play; but work went + rapidly from her hands, while her ringing laughter + echoed through the house, and her sunny + presence made it bright in the dusky ancestral + halls. In her kitchen the long rows of copper + pots and polished kettles shone upon the walls, + and the neatly scoured milk-pails stood like + soldiers on parade about the shelves under the + ceiling. Bjarne would often sit for hours watching + her, and a strange spring-feeling would steal + into his heart. He felt a father's pride in her + stately growth and her rich womanly beauty. + "Ah!" he would say to himself, "she has the + pure blood in her veins and, as true as I live, + the farm shall be hers." And then, quite + contrary to his habits, he would indulge in a little + reverie, imagining the time when he, as an + aged man, should have given the estate over + into her hands, and seeing her as a worthy matron + preside at the table, and himself rocking + his grandchildren on his knee. No wonder, + then, that he eyed closely the young lads who + were beginning to hover about the house, and + that he looked with suspicion upon those who + selected Saturday nights for their visits.[5] + When Brita was twenty years old, however, her + father thought that it was time for her to make + her choice. There were many fine, brave lads + in the valley, and, as Bjarne thought, Brita + would have the good sense to choose the finest + and the bravest. So, when the winter came, he + suddenly flung his doors open to the youth of + the parish, and began to give parties with ale + and mead in the grand old style. He even + talked with the young men, at times, encouraged + them to manly sports, and urged them to taste + of his home-brewed drinks and to tread the + spring-dance briskly. And Brita danced and + laughed so that her hair flew around her and + the silver brooches tinkled and rang on her + bosom. But when the merriment was at an + end, and any one of the lads remained behind + to offer her his hand, she suddenly grew grave, + told him she was too young, that she did not + know herself, and that she had had no time as yet + to decide so serious a question. Thus the winter + passed and the summer drew near.</p> +<p> + [5] In the country districts of Norway Saturday + evening is regarded as "the wooer's eve."</p> +<p> + In the middle of June, Brita went to the saeter[6] + with the cattle; and her sister, Grimhild, + remained at home to keep house on the farm. She + loved the life in the mountains; the great + solitude sometimes made her feel sad, but it was + not an unpleasant sadness, it was rather a gentle + toning down of all the shrill and noisy feelings + of the soul. Up there, in the heart of the + primeval forest, her whole being seemed to herself + a symphony of melodious whispers with a + vague delicious sense of remoteness and mystery + in them, which she only felt and did not attempt + to explain. There, those weird legends which, + in former days, still held their sway in the fancy + of every Norsewoman, breathed their secrets + into her ear, and she felt her nearness and kinship + to nature, as at no other time.</p> +<p> + [6] The saeter is a place in the mountains where the + Norwegian peasants spend their summers pasturing their cattle. + Every large farm has its own saeter, consisting of one + or more chalets, hedged in by a fence of stone or planks.</p> +<p> One night, as the sun was low, and a purple bluish smoke hung like a thin + veil over the tops of the forest, Brita had taken out her knitting and seated + herself on a large moss-grown stone, on the croft. Her eyes wandered over the + broad valley which was stretched out below, and she could see the red roofs + of the Blakstad mansion peeping forth between the fir-trees. And she wondered + what they were doing down there, whether Grimhild had done milking, and whether + her father had returned from the ford, where it was his habit at this hour to + ride with the footmen to water the horses. As she sat thus wondering, she was + startled by a creaking in the dry branches hard by, and lifting her eye, she + saw a tall, rather clumsily built, young man emerging from the thicket. He had + a broad but low forehead, flaxen hair which hung down over a pair of dull ox-like + eyes; his mouth was rather large and, as it was half open, displayed two massive + rows of shining white teeth. His red peaked cap hung on the back of his head + and, although it was summer, his thick wadmal vest was buttoned close up to + his throat; over his right arm he had flung his jacket, and in his hand he held + a bridle. </p> +<p>"Good evening," said Brita, "and thanks for + last meeting;" although she was not sure that + she had ever seen him before.</p> +<p>"It was that bay mare, you know," stammered + the man in a half apologetic tone, and + shook the bridle, as if in further explanation.</p> +<p>"Ah, you have lost your mare," said the girl, + and she could not help smiling at his helplessness + and his awkward manner.</p> +<p>"Yes, it was the bay mare," answered he, in + the same diffident tone; then, encouraged by her + smile, he straightened himself a little and + continued rather more fluently: "She never was + quite right since the time the wolves were after + her. And then since they took the colt away + from her the milk has been troubling her, and + she hasn't been quite like herself."</p> +<p>"I haven't seen her anywhere hereabouts," + said Brita; "you may have to wander far, before + you get on the track of her."</p> +<p>"Yes, that is very likely. And I am tired already."</p> +<p>"Won't you sit down and rest yourself?"</p> +<p>He deliberately seated himself in the grass, + and gradually gained courage to look her + straight in the face; and his dull eye remained + steadfastly fixed on her in a way which bespoke + unfeigned surprise and admiration. Slowly his + mouth broadened into a smile; but his smile had + more of sadness than of joy in it. She had, + from the moment she saw him, been possessed + of a strangely patronizing feeling toward him. + She could not but treat him as if he had been a + girl or some person inferior to her in station. + In spite of his large body, the impression he + made upon her was that of weakness; but she + liked the sincerity and kindness which expressed + themselves in his sad smile and large, honest + blue eyes. His gaze reminded her of that of an + ox, but it had not only the ox's dullness, but + also its simplicity and good-nature.</p> +<p>They sat talking on for a while about the weather, + the cattle, and the prospects of the crops.</p> +<p>"What is your name?" she asked, at last.</p> +<p>"Halvard Hedinson Ullern."</p> +<p>A sudden shock ran through her at the sound + of that name; in the next moment a deep blush + stole over her countenance.</p> +<p>"And my name," she said, slowly, "is Brita + Bjarne's daughter Blakstad."</p> +<p>She fixed her eyes upon him, as if to see + what effect her words produced. But his features + wore the same sad and placid expression; + and no line in his face seemed to betray either + surprise or ill-will. Then her sense of patronage + grew into one of sympathy and pity. "He + must either be weak-minded or very unhappy," + thought she, "and what right have I then to + treat him harshly." And she continued her + simple, straightforward talk with the young + man, until he, too, grew almost talkative, and + the sadness of his smile began to give way to + something which almost resembled happiness. + She noticed the change and rejoiced. At last, + when the sun had sunk behind the western + mountain tops, she rose and bade him good- + night; in another moment the door of the saeter- + cottage closed behind her, and he heard her + bolting it on the inside. But for a long time + he remained sitting on the grass, and strange + thoughts passed through his head. He had + quite forgotten his bay mare.</p> +<p>The next evening when the milking was done, + and the cattle were gathered within the saeter + enclosure, Brita was again sitting on the large + stone, looking out over the valley. She felt a + kind of companionship with the people when + she saw the smoke whirling up from their chimneys, + and she could guess what they were going + to have for supper. As she sat there, she again + heard a creaking in the branches, and Halvard + Ullern stood again before her, with his jacket + on his arm, and the same bridle in his hand.</p> +<p>"You have not found your bay mare yet?" + she exclaimed, laughingly. "And you think + she is likely to be in this neighborhood?"</p> +<p>"I don't know," he answered; "and I don't + care if she isn't."</p> +<p>He spread his jacket on the grass, and sat + down on the spot where he had sat the night + before. Brita looked at him in surprise and + remained silent; she didn't know how to interpret + this second visit.</p> +<p>"You are very handsome," he said, suddenly, + with a gravity which left no doubt as to his + sincerity.</p> +<p>"Do you think so?" she answered, with a + merry laugh. He appeared to her almost a + child, and it never entered her mind to feel + offended. On the contrary, she was not sure but + that she felt pleased.</p> +<p>"I have thought of you ever since yesterday," + he continued, with the same imperturbable + manner. "And if you were not angry with me, I + thought I would like to look at you once more. + You are so different from other folks."</p> +<p>"God bless your foolish talk," cried Brita, + with a fresh burst of merriment. "No, indeed + I am not angry with you; I should just as soon + think of being angry with--with that calf," + she added for want of another comparison.</p> +<p>"You think I don't know much," he + stammered. "And I don't." The sad smile again + settled on his countenance.</p> +<p>A feeling of guilt sent the blood throbbing + through her veins. She saw that she had done + him injustice. He evidently possessed more + sense, or at least a finer instinct, than she had + given him credit for.</p> +<p>"Halvard," she faltered, "if I have offended + you, I assure you I didn't mean to do it; and a + thousand times I beg your pardon."</p> +<p>"You haven't offended me, Brita," answered + he, blushing like a girl. "You are the first one + who doesn't make me feel that I am not so wise + as other folks."</p> +<p>She felt it her duty to be open and confiding + with him in return; and in order not to seem + ungenerous, or rather to put them on an equal + footing by giving him also a peep into her + heart, she told him about her daily work, about + the merry parties at her father's house, and + about the lusty lads who gathered in their halls + to dance the Halling and the spring-dance. He + listened attentively while she spoke, gazing + earnestly into her face, but never interrupting + her. In his turn he described to her in his + slow deliberate way, how his father constantly + scolded him because he was not bright, and did + not care for politics and newspapers, and how + his mother wounded him with her sharp tongue + by making merry with him, even in the presence + of the servants and strangers. He did not seem + to imagine that there was anything wrong in + what he said, or that he placed himself in a + ludicrous light; nor did he seem to speak from + any unmanly craving for sympathy. His manner + was so simple and straightforward that + what Brita probably would have found strange + in another, she found perfectly natural in him.</p> +<p>It was nearly midnight when they parted{.} + She hardly slept at all that night, and she was + half vexed with herself for the interest she + took in this simple youth. The next morning + her father came up to pay her a visit and to see + how the flocks were thriving. She understood + that it would be dangerous to say anything to + him about Halvard, for she knew his temper + and feared the result, if he should ever discover + her secret. Therefore, she shunned an opportunity + to talk with him, and only busied herself + the more with the cattle and the cooking. + Bjarne soon noticed her distraction, but, of + course, never suspected the cause. Before he + left her, he asked her if she did not find it too + lonely on the saeter, and if it would not be well + if he sent her one of the maids for a companion. + She hastened to assure him that that was quite + unnecessary; the cattle-boy who was there to + help her was all the company she wanted. + Toward evening, Bjarne Blakstad loaded his + horses with buckets, filled with cheese and butter, + and started for the valley. Brita stood + long looking after him as he descended the + rocky slope, and she could hardly conceal from + herself that she felt relieved, when, at last, the + forest hid him from her sight. All day she had + been walking about with a heavy heart; there + seemed to be something weighing on her breast, + and she could not throw it off. Who was this + who had come between her and her father? + Had she ever been afraid of him before, had + she been glad to have him leave her? A sudden + bitterness took possession of her, for in her + distress, she gave Halvard the blame for all that + had happened. She threw herself down on the + grass and burst into a passionate fit of weeping; + she was guilty, wretchedly miserable, and + all for the sake of one whom she had hardly + known for two days. If he should come in + this moment, she would tell him what he had + done toward her; and her wish must have been + heard, for as she raised her eyes, he stood there + at her side, the sad feature about his mouth and + his great honest eyes gazing wonderingly at her. + She felt her purpose melt within her; he looked + so good and so unhappy. Then again came the + thought of her father and of her own wrong, + and the bitterness again revived.</p> +<p>"Go away," cried she, in a voice half + reluctantly tender and half defiant. "Go away, + I say; I don't want to see you any more."</p> +<p>"I will go to the end of the world if you + wish it," he answered, with a strange firmness.</p> +<p>He picked up his jacket which he had dropped + on the ground, then turned slowly, gave her + mother long look, an infinitely sad and hopeless + one, and went. Her bosom heaved violently + --remorse, affection and filial duty wrestled + desperately in her heart.</p> +<p>"No, no," she cried, "why do you go? I did + not mean it so. I only wanted--"</p> +<p>He paused and returned as deliberately as he + had gone.</p> +<p>Why should I dwell upon the days that followed-- + how her heart grew ever more restless, + how she would suddenly wake up at nights and + see those large blue eyes sadly gazing at her, + how by turns she would condemn herself and + him, and how she felt with bitter pain that she + was growing away from those who had hitherto + been nearest and dearest to her. And strange + to say, this very isolation from her father made + her cling only the more desperately to him. It + seemed to her as if Bjarne had deliberately + thrown her off; that she herself had been the + one who took the first step had hardly occurred + to her. Alas, her grief was as irrational as her + love. By what strange devious process of + reasoning these convictions became settled in her + mind, it is difficult to tell. It is sufficient to + know that she was a woman and that she loved. + She even knew herself that she was irrational, + and this very sense drew her more hopelessly + into the maze of the labyrinth from which she + saw no escape.</p> +<p>His visits were as regular as those of the sun. + She knew that there was only a word of hers + needed to banish him from her presence forever. + And how many times did she not resolve to + speak that word? But the word was never + spoken. At times a company of the lads from + the valley would come to spend a merry evening + at the saeter; but she heeded them not, and + they soon disappeared. Thus the summer went + amid passing moods of joy and sorrow. She + had long known that he loved her, and when at + last his slow confession came, it added nothing + to her happiness; it only increased her fears for + the future. They laid many plans together in + those days; but winter came as a surprise to + both, the cattle were removed from the mountains, + and they were again separated.</p> +<p>Bjarne Blakstad looked long and wistfully at his daughter that morning, when + he came to bring her home. She wore no more rings and brooches, and it was this + which excited Bjarne's suspicion that everything was not right with her. Formerly + he was displeased because she wore too many; now he grumbled because she wore + none.</p> +<p> + II.</p> +<p> + The winter was half gone; and in all this + time Brita had hardly once seen Halvard. Yes, + once,--it was Christmas-day,--she had ventured + to peep over to his pew in the church, and had + seen him, sitting at his father's side, and gazing + vacantly out into the empty space; but as he + had caught her glance, he had blushed, and began + eagerly to turn the leaves of his hymn- + book. It troubled her that he made no effort to + see her; many an evening she had walked alone + down at the river-side, hoping that he might + come; but it was all in vain. She could not but + believe that his father must have made some + discovery, and that he was watched. In the + mean time the black cloud thickened over her + head; for a secret gnawed at the very roots of + her heart. It was a time of terrible suspense + and suffering--such as a man never knows, such + as only a woman can endure. It was almost a + relief when the cloud burst, and the storm broke + loose, as presently it did.</p> +<p>One Sunday, early in April, Bjarne did not + return at the usual hour from church. His + daughters waited in vain for him with the dinner, + and at last began to grow uneasy. It was + not his habit to keep irregular hours. There + was a great excitement in the valley just then; + the America-fever had broken out. A large + vessel was lying out in the fjord, ready to take + the emigrants away; and there was hardly a + family that did not mourn the loss of some + brave-hearted son, or of some fair and cherished + daughter. The old folks, of course, had to + remain behind; and when the children were gone, + what was there left for them but to lie down + and die? America was to them as distant as if + it were on another planet. The family feeling, + too, has ever been strong in the Norseman's + breast; he lives for his children, and seems to + live his life over again in them. It is his greatest + pride to be able to trace his blood back into the + days of Sverre and St. Olaf, and with the same + confidence he expects to see his race spread into + the future in the same soil where once it has + struck root. Then comes the storm from the + Western seas, wrestles with the sturdy trunk, + and breaks it; and the shattered branches fly to + all the four corners of the heavens. No wonder, + then, like a tree that has lost its crown, his + strength is broken and he expects but to + smoulder into the earth and die.</p> +<p>Bjarne Blakstad, like the sturdy old patriot + that he was, had always fiercely denounced the + America rage; and it was now the hope of his + daughters that, perhaps, he had stayed behind + to remind the restless ones among the youth of + their duty toward their land, or to frighten some + bold emigration agent who might have been too + loud in his declamations. But it was already + eight o'clock and Bjarne was not yet to be seen. + The night was dark and stormy; a cold sleet + fiercely lashed the window-panes, and the wind + roared in the chimney. Grimhild, the younger + sister, ran restlessly out and in and slammed the + doors after her. Brita sat tightly pressed up + against the wall in the darkest corner of the + room. Every time the wind shook the house + she started up; then again seated herself and + shuddered. Dark forebodings filled her soul.</p> +<p>At last,--the clock had just struck ten,--there + was a noise heard in the outer hall. Grimhild + sprang to the door and tore it open. A tall, + stooping figure entered, and by the dress she at + once recognized her father.</p> +<p>"Good God," cried she, and ran up to him.</p> +<p>"Go away, child," muttered he, in a voice + that sounded strangely unfamiliar, and he pushed + her roughly away. For a moment he stood + still, then stalked up to the table, and, with a + heavy thump, dropped down into a chair. There + he remained with his elbows resting on his + knees, and absently staring on the floor. His + long hair hung in wet tangles down over his + face, and the wrinkles about his mouth seemed + deeper and fiercer than usual. Now and then + he sighed, or gave vent to a deep groan. In a + while his eyes began to wander uneasily about + the room; and as they reached the corner where + Brita was sitting, he suddenly darted up, as if + stung by something poisonous, seized a brand + from the hearth, and rushed toward her.</p> +<p>"Tell me I did not see it," he broke forth, + in a hoarse whisper, seizing her by the arm and + thrusting the burning brand close up to her face. + "Tell me it is a lie--a black, poisonous lie."</p> +<p>She raised her eyes slowly to his and gazed + steadfastly into his face. "Ah," he continued + in the same terrible voice, "it was what I told + them down there at the church--a lie--an infernal + lie. And I drew blood--blood, I say--I + did--from the slanderer. Ha, ha, ha! What + a lusty sprawl that was!"</p> +<p>The color came and departed from Brita's + cheeks. And still she was strangely self + possessed. She even wondered at her own calmness. + Alas, she did not know that it was a + calmness that is more terrible than pain, the + corpse of a forlorn and hopeless heart.</p> +<p>"Child," continued Bjarne, and his voice + assumed a more natural tone, "why dost thou + not speak? They have lied about thee, child, + because thou art fair, they have envied thee." + Then, almost imploringly, "Open thy mouth, + Brita, and tell thy father that thou art pure-- + pure as the snow, child--my own--my beautiful child."</p> +<p>There was a long and painful pause, in which + the crackling of the brand, and the heavy + breathing of the old man were the only sounds + to break the silence. Pale like a marble image + stood she before him; no word of excuse, no + prayer for forgiveness escaped her; only a + convulsive quivering of the lips betrayed the life + that struggled within her. With every moment + the hope died in Bjarne's bosom. His visage + was fearful to behold. Terror and fierce + indomitable hatred had grimly distorted his features, + and his eyes burned like fire-coals beneath his bushy brows.</p> +<p>"Harlot," he shrieked, "harlot!"</p> +<p>A cold gust of wind swept through the room. + The windows shook, the doors flew open, as if + touched by a strong invisible hand--and the old + man stood alone, holding the flickering brand + above his head.</p> +<p>It was after midnight, the wind had abated, + but the snow still fell, thick and silent, burying + paths and fences under its cold white mantle. + Onward she fled--onward and ever onward. + And whither, she knew not. A cold numbness + had chilled her senses, but still her feet drove + her irresistibly onward. A dark current seemed + to have seized her, she only felt that she was + adrift, and she cared not whither it bore her. + In spite of the stifling dullness which oppressed + her, her body seemed as light as air. At last,-- + she knew not where,--she heard the roar of the + sea resounding in her ears, a genial warmth + thawed the numbness of her senses, and she + floated joyfully among the clouds--among + golden, sun-bathed clouds. When she opened + her eyes, she found herself lying in a comfortable + bed, and a young woman with a kind motherly + face was sitting at her side. It was all + like a dream, and she made no effort to account + for what appeared so strange and unaccountable.</p> +<p>What she afterward heard was that a fisher- + man had found her in a snow-drift on the strand, + and that he had carried her home to his cottage + and had given her over to the charge of his + wife. This was the second day since her arrival. + They knew who she was, but had kept the doors + locked and had told no one that she was there. + She heard the story of the good woman without + emotion; it seemed an intolerable effort to think. + But on the third day, when her child was born, + her mind was suddenly aroused from its lethargy, + and she calmly matured her plans; and for the + child's sake she resolved to live and to act. + That same evening there came a little boy with + a bundle for her. She opened it and found + therein the clothes she had left behind, and-- + her brooches. She knew that it was her sister + who had sent them; then there was one who + still thought of her with affection. And yet her + first impulse was to send it all back, or to throw + it into the ocean; but she looked at her child and forbore.</p> +<p>A week passed, and Brita recovered. Of + Halvard she had heard nothing. One night, as + she lay in a half doze, she thought she had Seen + a pale, frightened face pressed up against the + window-pane, and staring fixedly at her and her + child; but, after all, it might have been merely + a dream. For her fevered fancy had in these + last days frequently beguiled her into similar + visions. She often thought of him, but, strangely + enough, no more with bitterness, but with + pity. Had he been strong enough to be wicked, + she could have hated him, but he was weak, and + she pitied him. Then it was that; one evening, + as she heard that the American vessel was to + sail at daybreak, she took her little boy and + wrapped him carefully in her own clothes, bade + farewell to the good fisherman and his wife, and + walked alone down to the strand. Huge clouds + of fantastic shapes chased each other desperately + along the horizon, and now and then the + slender new moon glanced forth from the deep + blue gulfs between. She chose a boat at random + and was about to unmoor it, when she saw the + figure of a man tread carefully over the stones + and hesitatingly approach her.</p> +<p>"Brita," came in a whisper from the strand.</p> +<p>"Who's there?"</p> +<p>"It is I. Father knows it all, and he has + nearly killed me; and mother, too."</p> +<p>"Is that what you have come to tell me?"</p> +<p>"No, I would like to help you some. I have + been trying to see you these many days." And + he stepped close up to the boat.</p> +<p>"Thank you; I need no help."</p> +<p>"But, Brita," implored he, "I have sold my + gun and my dog, and everything I had, and this + is what I have got for it." He stretched out + his hand and reached her a red handkerchief + with something heavy bound up in a corner. + She took it mechanically, held it in her hand for + a moment, then flung it far out into the water. + A smile of profound contempt and pity passed + over her countenance.</p> +<p>"Farewell, Halvard," said she, calmly, and + pushed the boat into the water.</p> +<p>"But, Brita," cried he, in despair, "what + would you have me do?"</p> +<p>She lifted the child in her arms, then pointed to the vacant seat at her side. + He understood what she meant, and stood for a moment wavering. Suddenly, he + covered his face with his hands and burst into tears. Within half an hour, Brita + boarded the vessel, and as the first red stripe of the dawn illumined the horizon, + the wind filled the sails, and the ship glided westward toward that land where + there is a home for them whom love and misfortune have exiled.</p> +<p>It was a long and wearisome voyage. There + was an old English clergyman on board, who + collected curiosities; to him she sold her rings + and brooches, and thereby obtained more than + sufficient money to pay her passage. She hardly + spoke to any one except her child. Those of + her fellow-parishioners who knew her, and perhaps + guessed her history, kept aloof from her, + and she was grateful to them that they did. + From morning till night, she sat in a corner + between a pile of deck freight and the kitchen + skylight, and gazed at her little boy who was + lying in her lap. All her hopes, her future, and + her life were in him. For herself, she had + ceased to hope.</p> +<p>"I can give thee no fatherland, my child," she + said to him. "Thou shalt never know the name + of him who gave thee life. Thou and I, we + shall struggle together, and, as true as there is + a God above, who sees us, He will not leave either + of us to perish. But let us ask no questions, + child, about that which is past. Thou shalt + grow and be strong, and thy mother must grow + with thee."</p> +<p>During the third week of the voyage, the + English clergyman baptized the boy, and she + called him Thomas, after the day in the almanac + on which he was born. He should never + know that Norway had been his mother's home; + therefore she would give him no name which + might betray his race. One morning, early in + the month of June, they hailed land, and the + great New World lay before them.</p> +<p></p> +<p>III.</p> +<p> + Why should I speak of the ceaseless care, the + suffering, and the hard toil, which made the + first few months of Brita's life on this continent + a mere continued struggle for existence? They + are familiar to every emigrant who has come + here with a brave heart and an empty purse. + Suffice it to say that at the end of the second + month, she succeeded in obtaining service as + milkmaid with a family in the neighborhood of + New York. With the linguistic talent peculiar + to her people, she soon learned the English + language and even spoke it well. From her + countrymen, she kept as far away as possible, not + for her own sake, but for that of her boy; for + he was to grow great and strong, and the knowledge + of his birth might shatter his strength and + break his courage. For the same reason she + also exchanged her picturesque Norse costume + for that of the people among whom she was + living. She went commonly by the name of + Mrs. Brita, which pronounced in the English + way, sounded very much like Mrs. Bright, and + this at last became the name by which she was + known in the neighborhood.</p> +<p>Thus five years passed; then there was a great + rage for emigrating to the far West, and Brita, + with many others, started for Chicago. There + she arrived in the year 1852, and took up her + lodgings with an Irish widow, who was living + in a little cottage in what was then termed the + outskirts of the city. Those who saw her in + those days, going about the lumber-yards and + doing a man's work, would hardly have recognized + in her the merry Glitter-Brita, who in + times of old trod the spring-dance so gayly in + the well-lighted halls of the Blakstad mansion. + And, indeed, she was sadly changed! Her features + had become sharper, and the firm lines + about her mouth expressed severity, almost + sternness. Her clear blue eyes seemed to have + grown larger, and their glance betrayed secret, + ever-watchful care. Only her yellow hair had + resisted the force of time and sorrow; for it + still fell in rich and wavy folds over a smooth + white forehead. She was, indeed, half ashamed + of it, and often took pains to force it into a + sober, matronly hood. Only at nights, when + she sat alone talking with her boy, she would + allow it to escape from its prison; and he would + laugh and play with it, and in his child's way + even wonder at the contrast between her stern + face and her youthful maidenly tresses.</p> +<p>This Thomas, her son, was a strange child. + He had a Norseman's taste for the fabulous and + fantastic, and although he never heard a tale of + Necken or the Hulder, he would often startle + his mother by the most fanciful combinations + of imagined events, and by bolder personifications + than ever sprung from the legendary soil + of the Norseland. She always took care to + check him whenever he indulged in these imaginary + flights, and he at last came to look upon + them as something wrong and sinful. The boy, + as he grew up, often strikingly reminded her of + her father, as, indeed, he seemed to have + inherited more from her own than from Halvard's + race. Only the bright flaxen hair and his square, + somewhat clumsy stature might have told him + to be the latter's child. He had a hot temper, + and often distressed his mother by his stubbornness; + and then there would come a great burst + of repentance afterwards, which distressed her + still more. For she was afraid it might be a + sign of weakness. "And strong he must be," + said she to herself, "strong enough to overcome + all resistance, and to conquer a great name for + himself, strong enough to bless a mother who + brought him into the world nameless."</p> +<p>Strange to say, much as she loved this child, + she seldom caressed him. It was a penance she + had imposed upon herself to atone for her guilt. + Only at times, when she had been sitting up late, + and her eyes would fall, as it were, by accident + upon the little face on the pillow, with the + sweet unconsciousness of sleep resting upon it + like a soft, invisible veil, would she suddenly + throw herself down over him, kiss him, and + whisper tender names in his ear, while her tears + fell hot and fast on his yellow hair and his rosy + countenance. Then the child would dream that + he was sailing aloft over shining forests, and + that his mother, beaming with all the beauty of + her lost youth, flew before him, showering + golden flowers on his path. These were the + happiest moments of Brita's joyless life, and + even these were not unmixed with bitterness; + for into the midst of her joy would steal a shy + anxious thought which was the more terrible + because it came so stealthily, so soft-footed and + unbidden. Had not this child been given her + as a punishment for her guilt? Had she then a + right to turn God's scourge into a blessing? + Did she give to God "that which belongeth unto + God," as long as all her hopes, her thoughts, + and her whole being revolved about this one + earthly thing, her son, the child of her sorrow? + She was not a nature to shrink from grave questions; + no, she met them boldly, when once they + were there, wrestled fiercely with them, was + defeated, and again with a martyr's zeal rose to + renew the combat. God had Himself sent her + this perplexing doubt and it was her duty to + bear His burden. Thus ran Brita's reasoning. + In the mean while the years slipped by, and great + changes were wrought in the world about her.</p> +<p>The few hundred dollars which Brita had been + able to save, during the first three years of her + stay in Chicago, she had invested in a piece of + land. In the mean while the city had grown, + and in the year 1859 she was offered five thousand + dollars for her lot; this offer she accepted + and again bought a small piece of property at + a short distance from the city. The boy had + since his eighth year attended the public school, + and had made astonishing progress. Every day + when school was out, she would meet him at the + gate, take him by the hand and lead him home. + If any of the other boys dared to make sport of + her, or to tease him for his dependence upon + her, it was sure to cost that boy a black eye{.} + He soon succeeded in establishing himself in + the respect of his school-mates, for he was the + strongest boy of his own age, and ever ready to + protect and defend the weak and defenseless. + When Thomas Bright (for that was the name + by which he was known) was fifteen years old + he was offered a position as clerk in the office of + a lumber-merchant, and with his mother's consent + he accepted it. He was a fine young lad + now, large and well-knit, and with a clear + earnest countenance. In the evening he would bring + home books to read, and as it had always been + Brita's habit to interest herself in whatever + interested him, she soon found herself studying + and discussing with him things which had in + former years been far beyond the horizon of + her mind. She had at his request reluctantly + given up her work in the lumber-yards, and now + spent her days at home, busying herself with + sewing and reading and such other things as + women find to fill up a vacant hour.</p> +<p>One evening, when Thomas was in his nineteenth + year, he returned from his office with a + graver face than usual. His mother's quick eye + immediately saw that something had agitated + him, but she forbore to ask.</p> +<p>"Mother," said he at last, "who is my father? + Is he dead or alive?"</p> +<p>"God is your father, my son," answered she, + tremblingly. "If you love me, ask me no more."</p> +<p>"I do love you, mother," he said, and gave + her a grave look, in which she thought she + detected a mingling of tenderness and reproach. + "And it shall be as you have said."</p> +<p>It was the first time she had had reason to + blush before him, and her emotion came near + overwhelming her; but with a violent effort + she stifled it, and remained outwardly calm. + He began pacing up and down the floor with + his head bent and his hands on his back. It + suddenly occurred to her that he was a grown + man, and that she could no longer hold the + same relation to him as his supporter and + protector. "Alas," thought she, "if God will but + let me remain his mother, I shall bless and thank Him."</p> +<p>It was the first time this subject had been + broached, and it gave rise to many a doubt and + many a question in the anxious mother's mind. + Had she been right in concealing from him that + which he might justly claim to know? What + had been her motive in keeping him ignorant of + his origin and of the land of his birth? She + had wished him to grow to the strength of man- + hood, unconscious of guilt, so that he might + bear his head upright, and look the world + fearlessly in the face. And still, had there not in + all this been a lurking thought of herself, a fear + of losing his love, a desire to stand pure and + perfect in his eye? She hardly dared to answer + these questions, for, alas, she knew not that even + our purest motives are but poorly able to bear a + searching scrutiny. She began to suspect that + her whole course with her son had been wrong + from the very beginning. Why had she not + told him the stern truth, even if he should + despise her for it, even if she should have to stand + a blushing culprit in his presence? Often, when + she heard his footsteps in the hall, as he returned + from the work of the day, she would man herself + up and the words hovered upon her lips: + "Son, thou art a bastard born, a child of guilt, + and thy mother is an outcast upon the earth." + But when she met those calm blue eyes of his, + saw the unsuspecting frankness of his manner + and the hopefulness with which he looked to + the future, her womanly heart shrank from its + duty, and she hastened out of the room, threw + herself on her bed, and wept. Fiercely she + wrestled with God in prayer, until she thought + that even God had deserted her. Thus months + passed and years, and the constant care and + anxiety began to affect her health. She grew + pale and nervous, and the slightest noise would + annoy her. In the mean while, her manner + toward the young man had become strangely + altered, and he soon noticed it, although he + forbore to speak. She was scrupulously mindful + of his comfort, anxiously anticipated his wants, + and observed toward him an ever vigilant consideration, + as if he had been her master instead of her son.</p> +<p>When Thomas was twenty-two years of age, + he was offered a partnership in his employer's + business, and with every year his prospects + brightened. The sale of his mother's property + brought him a very handsome little fortune, + which enabled him to build a fine and comfortable + house in one of the best portions of the + city. Thus their outward circumstances were + greatly improved, and of comfort and luxury + Brita had all and more than she had ever + desired; but her health was broken down, and the + physicians declared that a year of foreign + travel and a continued residence in Italy might + possibly restore her. At last, Thomas, too, + began to urge her, until she finally yielded. It + was on a bright morning in May that they both + started for New York, and three days later they + took the boat for Europe. What countries + they were to visit they had hardly decided, but + after a brief stay in England we find them again + on a steamer bound for Norway.</p> +<p></p> +<p>IV.</p> +<p> + Warm and gentle as it is, June often comes + to the fjord-valleys of Norway with the voice + and the strength of a giant. The glaciers totter + and groan, as if in anger at their own weakness, + and send huge avalanches of stones and ice + down into the valleys. The rivers swell and + rush with vociferous brawl out over the mountain- + sides, and a thousand tiny brooks join in + the general clamor, and dance with noisy chatter + over the moss-grown birch-roots. But later, + when the struggle is at an end, and June has + victoriously seated herself upon her throne, her + voice becomes more richly subdued and brings + rest and comfort to the ear and to the troubled + heart. It was while the month was in this latter + mood that Brita and her son entered once more + the valley whence, twenty-five years ago, they + had fled. Many strange, turbulent emotions + stirred the mother's bosom, as she saw again + the great snow-capped mountains, and the calm, + green valley, her childhood's home, lying so + snugly sheltered in their mighty embrace. + Even Thomas's breast was moved with vaguely + sympathetic throbs, as this wondrous scene + spread itself before him. They soon succeeded + in hiring a farm-house, about half an hour's + walk from Blakstad, and, according to Brita's + wish, established themselves there for the summer. + She had known the people well, when she + was young, but they never thought of identifying + her with the merry maid, who had once + startled the parish by her sudden flight; and + she, although she longed to open her heart to + them, let no word fall to betray her real + character. Her conscience accused her of playing + a false part, but for her son's sake she kept silent.</p> +<p>Then, one day,--it was the second Sunday + after their arrival,--she rose early in the morning, + and asked Thomas to accompany her on a + walk up through the valley. There was Sabbath + in the air; the soft breath of summer, laden + with the perfume of fresh leaves and field-flowers, + gently wafted into their faces. The sun + glittered in the dewy grass, the crickets sung + with a remote voice of wonder, and the air + seemed to be half visible, and moved in trem- + bling wavelets on the path before them. Resting + on her son's arm, Brita walked slowly up + through the flowering meadows; she hardly + knew whither her feet bore her, but her heart + beat violently, and she often was obliged to + pause and press her hands against her bosom, as + if to stay the turbulent emotions.</p> +<p>"You are not well, mother," said the son. + "It was imprudent in me to allow you to exert + yourself in this way."</p> +<p>"Let us sit down on this stone," answered + she. "I shall soon be better. Do not look so + anxiously at me. Indeed, I am not sick."</p> +<p>He spread his light summer coat on the stone and carefully seated her. She + lifted her veil and raised her eyes to the large red-roofed mansion, whose dark + outlines drew themselves dimly on the dusky background of the pine forest. Was + he still alive, he whose life-hope she had wrecked, he who had once driven her + out into the night with all but a curse upon his lips? How would he receive + her, if she were to return? Ah, she knew him, and she trembled at the very thought + of meeting him. But was not the guilt hers? Could she depart from this valley, + could she die in peace, without having thrown herself at his feet and implored + his for- giveness? And there, on the opposite side of the valley, lay the home + of him who had been the cause of all her misery. What had been his fate, and + did he still remember those long happy summer days, ah! so long, long ago? She + had dared to ask no questions of the people with whom she lived, but now a sudden + weakness had overtaken her, and she felt that to-day must decide her fate; she + could no longer bear this torture of uncertainty. Thomas remained standing at + her side and looked at her with anxiety and wonder. He knew that she had concealed + many things from him, but whatever her reasons might be, he was confident that + they were just and weighty. It was not for him to question her about what he + might have no right to know. He felt as if he had never loved her as in this + moment, when she seemed to be most in need of him, and an overwhelming tenderness + took possession of his heart. He suddenly stooped down, took her pale, thin + face between his hands and kissed her. The long pent-up emotion burst forth + in a flood of tears; she buried her face in her lap and wept long and silently. + Then the church-bells began to peal down in the valley, and the slow mighty + sound floated calmly and solemnly up to them. How many long-forgotten memories + of childhood and youth did they not wake in her bosom --memories of the time + when the merry Glitter- Brita, decked with her shining brooches, wended her + way to the church among the gayly-dressed lads and maidens of the parish?</p> +<p>A cluster of white-stemmed birches threw its + shadow over the stone where the penitent + mother was sitting, and the tall grass on both + sides of the path nearly hid her from sight. + Presently the church-folk began to appear, and + Brita raised her head and drew her veil down over + her face. No one passed without greeting the + strangers, and the women and maidens, according + to old fashion, stopped and courtesied. At + last, there came an old white-haired man, leaning + on the arm of a middle-aged woman. His + whole figure was bent forward, and he often + stopped and drew his breath heavily.</p> +<p>"Oh, yes, yes," he said, ill a hoarse, broken + voice, as he passed before them, "age is gaining + on me fast. I can't move about any more + as of old. But to church I must this day. God + help me! I have done much wrong and need to + pray for forgiveness."</p> +<p>"You had better sit down and rest, father," + said the woman. "Here is a stone, and the + fine lady, I am sure, will allow a weak old man + to sit down beside her."</p> +<p>Thomas rose and made a sign to the old man + to take his seat.</p> +<p>"O yes, yes," he went on murmuring, as if + talking to himself. "Much wrong--much + forgiveness. God help us all--miserable sinners. + He who hateth not father and mother--and + daughter is not worthy of me. O, yes--yes-- + God comfort us all. Help me up, Grimhild. I + think I can move on again, now."</p> +<p>Thomas, of course, did not understand a word + of what he said, but seeing that he wished to + rise, he willingly offered his assistance, supported + his arm and raised him.</p> +<p>"Thanks to you, young man," said the peasant. + "And may God reward your kindness."</p> +<p>And the two, father and daughter, moved on, + slowly and laboriously, as they had come. + Thomas stood following them with his eyes, + until a low, half-stifled moan suddenly called + him to his mother's side. Her frame trembled violently.</p> +<p>"Mother, mother," implored he, stooping + over her, "what has happened? Why are you + no more yourself?"</p> +<p>"Ah, my son, I can bear it no longer," sobbed + she. "God forgive me--thou must know it all."</p> +<p>He sat down at her side and drew her closely + up to him and she hid her face on his bosom. + There was a long silence, only broken by the + loud chirruping of the crickets.</p> +<p>"My son," she began at last, still hiding her face, + "thou art a child of guilt."</p> +<p>"That has been no secret to me, mother," + answered he, gravely and tenderly, "since I was + old enough to know what guilt was."</p> +<p>She quickly raised her head, and a look of + amazement, of joyous surprise, shone through + the tears that veiled her eyes. She could read + nothing but filial love and confidence in those + grave, manly features, and she saw in that + moment that all her doubts had been groundless, + that her long prayerful struggle had been for naught.</p> +<p>"I brought thee into the world nameless," she + whispered, "and thou hast no word of reproach + for me?"</p> +<p>"With God's help, I am strong enough to conquer + a name for myself, mother," was his answer.</p> +<p>It was the very words of her own secret wish, + and upon his lips they sounded like a blessed + assurance, like a miraculous fulfillment of her + motherly prayer.</p> +<p>"Still, another thing, my child," she went on + in a more confident voice. "This is thy native + land,--and the old man who was just sitting + here at my side was--my father."</p> +<p>And there, in the shadow of the birch-trees, + in the summer stillness of that hour, she told + him the story of her love, of her flight, and of + the misery of these long, toilsome five and + twenty years.</p> +<p>Late in the afternoon, Brita and her son were + seen returning to the farm-house. A calm, subdued + happiness beamed from the mother's countenance; + she was again at peace with the world + and herself, and her heart was as light as in the + days of her early youth. But her bodily + strength had given out, and her limbs almost + refused to support her. The strain upon her + nerves and the constant effort had hitherto + enabled her to keep up, but now, when that + strain was removed, exhausted nature claimed + its right. The next day--she could not leave + her bed, and with every hour her strength + failed. A physician was sent for. He gave + medicine, but no hope. He shook his head + gravely, as he went, and both mother and son + knew what that meant.</p> +<p>Toward evening, Bjarne Blakstad was + summoned, and came at once. Thomas left the + room, as the old man entered, and what passed + in that hour between father and daughter, only + God knows. When the door was again opened, + Brita's eyes shone with a strange brilliancy, and + Bjarne lay on his knees before the bed, pressing + her hand convulsively between both of his.</p> +<p>"This is my son, father," said she, in a + language which her son did not understand; and a + faint smile of motherly pride and happiness + flitted over her pale features. "I would give + him to thee in return for what thou hast lost; + but God has laid his future in another land."</p> +<p>Bjarne rose, grasped his grandson's hand, and + pressed it; and two heavy tears ran down his + furrowed cheeks. "Alas," murmured he, "my + son, that we should meet thus."</p> +<p>There they stood, bound together by the + bonds of blood, but, alas, there lay a world + between them.</p> +<p>All night they sat together at the dying + woman's bedside. Not a word was spoken. + Toward morning, as the sun stole into the darkened + chamber, Brita murmured their names, and + they laid their hands in hers.</p> +<p>"God be praised," whispered she, scarcely + audibly, "I have found you both--my father + and my son." A deep pallor spread over her + countenance. She was dead.</p> +<p>Two days later, when the body was laid out, + Thomas stood alone in the room. The windows + were covered with white sheets, and a subdued + light fell upon the pale, lifeless countenance. + Death had dealt gently with her, she seemed + younger than before, and her light wavy + hair fell softly over the white forehead. Then + there came a middle-aged man, with a dull eye, + and a broad forehead, and timidly approached + the lonely mourner. He walked on tip-toe and + his figure stooped heavily. For a long while he + stood gazing at the dead body, then he knelt + down at the foot of the coffin, and began to sob + violently. At last he arose, took two steps toward + the young man, paused again, and departed + silently as he had come. It was Halvard.</p> +<p>Close under the wall of the little red-painted + church, they dug the grave; and a week later + her father was laid to rest at his daughter's side.</p> +<p>But the fresh winds blew over the Atlantic + and beckoned the son to new fields of labor in + the great land of the future.</p> +<p></p> +<p>A GOOD-FOR-NOTHING.</p> +<p>RALPH GRIM was born a gentleman. + He had the misfortune of coming into + the world some ten years later than + might reasonably have been expected. + Colonel Grim and his lady had celebrated twelve + anniversaries of their wedding-day, and had + given up all hopes of ever having a son and + heir, when this late-comer startled them by his + unexpected appearance. The only previous + addition to the family had been a daughter, and + she was then ten summers old.</p> +<p>Ralph was a very feeble child, and could only + with great difficulty be persuaded to retain his + hold of the slender thread which bound him to + existence. He was rubbed with whisky, and + wrapped in cotton, and given mare's milk to + drink, and God knows what not, and the Colonel + swore a round oath of paternal delight + when at last the infant stopped gasping in that + distressing way and began to breathe like other + human beings. The mother, who, in spite of + her anxiety for the child's life, had found time + to plot for him a career of future magnificence, + now suddenly set him apart for literature, + because that was the easiest road to fame, and + disposed of him in marriage to one of the most + distinguished families of the land. She + cautiously suggested this to her husband when he + came to take his seat at her bedside; but to + her utter astonishment she found that he had + been indulging a similar train of thought, and + had already destined the infant prodigy for the + army. She, however, could not give up her + predilection for literature, and the Colonel, who + could not bear to be contradicted in his own + house, as he used to say, was getting every + minute louder and more flushed, when, happily, + the doctor's arrival interrupted the dispute.</p> +<p>As Ralph grew up from infancy to childhood, + he began to give decided promise of future + distinction. He was fond of sitting down in a + corner and sucking his thumb, which his mother + interpreted as the sign of that brooding disposition + peculiar to poets and men of lofty genius. + At the age of five, he had become sole master + in the house. He slapped his sister Hilda in + the face, or pulled her hair, when she hesitated + to obey him, tyrannized over his nurse, and + sternly refused to go to bed in spite of his + mother's entreaties. On such occasions, the + Colonel would hide his face behind his newspaper, + and chuckle with delight; it was evident + that nature had intended his son for a great + military commander. As soon as Ralph himself + was old enough to have any thoughts about his + future destiny, he made up his mind that he + would like to be a pirate. A few months later, + having contracted an immoderate taste for + candy, he contented himself with the comparatively + humble position of a baker; but when + he had read "Robinson Crusoe," he manifested + a strong desire to go to sea in the hope of being + wrecked on some desolate island. The parents + spent long evenings gravely discussing these + indications of uncommon genius, and each + interpreted them in his or her own way.</p> +<p>"He is not like any other child I ever knew," + said the mother.</p> +<p>"To be sure," responded the father, earnestly. + "He is a most extraordinary child. I was a + very remarkable child too, even if I do say it + myself; but, as far as I remember, I never + aspired to being wrecked on an uninhabited is + land."</p> +<p>The Colonel probably spoke the truth; but + he forgot to take into account that he had never + read "Robinson Crusoe."</p> +<p>Of Ralph's school-days there is but little to + report, for, to tell the truth, he did not fancy + going to school, as the discipline annoyed him. + The day after his having entered the gymnasium, + which was to prepare him for the Military + Academy, the principal saw him waiting at the + gate after his class had been dismissed. He + approached him, and asked why he did not go + home with the rest.</p> +<p>"I am waiting for the servant to carry my + books," was the boy's answer.</p> +<p>"Give me your books," said the teacher.</p> +<p>Ralph reluctantly obeyed. That day the + Colonel was not a little surprised to see his son + marching up the street, and every now and then + glancing behind him with a look of discomfort + at the principal, who was following quietly in + his train, carrying a parcel of school-books. + Colonel Grim and his wife, divining the teacher's + intention, agreed that it was a great outrage, + but they did not mention the matter to Ralph. + Henceforth, however, the boy refused to be + accompanied by his servant. A week later he + was impudent to the teacher of gymnastics, + who whipped him in return. The Colonel's + rage knew no bounds; he rode in great haste + to the gymnasium, reviled the teacher for + presuming to chastise HIS son, and committed the + boy to the care of a private tutor.</p> +<p>At the age of sixteen, Ralph went to the + capital with the intention of entering the + Military Academy. He was a tall, handsome youth, + slender of stature, and carried himself as erect + as a candle. He had a light, clear complexion + of almost feminine delicacy; blonde, curly hair, + which he always kept carefully brushed; a low + forehead, and a straight, finely modeled nose. + There was an expression of extreme sensitiveness + about the nostrils, and a look of indolence + in the dark-blue eyes. But the ensemble of his + features was pleasing, his dress irreproachable, + and his manners bore no trace of the awkward + self-consciousness peculiar to his age. Immediately + on his arrival in the capital he hired a + suite of rooms in the aristocratic part of the + city, and furnished them rather expensively, + but in excellent taste. From a bosom friend, + whom he met by accident in the restaurant's + pavilion in the park, he learned that a pair of + antlers, a stuffed eagle, or falcon, and a couple + of swords, were indispensable to a well-appointed + apartment. He accordingly bought these articles + at a curiosity-shop. During the first weeks + of his residence in the city he made some feeble + efforts to perfect himself in mathematics, in + which he suspected he was somewhat deficient. + But when the same officious friend laughed at + him, and called him "green," he determined to + trust to fortune, and henceforth devoted himself + the more assiduously to the French ballet, where + he had already made some interesting acquaintances.</p> +<p>The time for the examination came; the + French ballet did not prove a good preparation; + Ralph failed. It quite shook him for the time, + and he felt humiliated. He had not the courage + to tell his father; so he lingered on from + day to day, sat vacantly gazing out of his window, + and tried vainly to interest himself in the + busy bustle down on the street. It provoked + him that everybody else should be so light- + hearted, when he was, or at least fancied himself, + in trouble. The parlor grew intolerable; + he sought refuge in his bedroom. There + he sat one evening (it was the third day after + the examination), and stared out upon the gray + stone walls which on all sides enclosed the + narrow court-yard. The round stupid face of the + moon stood tranquilly dozing like a great Limburger + cheese suspended under the sky.</p> +<p>Ralph, at least, could think of a no more + fitting simile. But the bright-eyed young girl + in the window hard by sent a longing look up + to the same moon, and thought of her distant + home on the fjords, where the glaciers stood + like hoary giants, and caught the yellow moonbeams + on their glittering shields of snow. She + had been reading "Ivanhoe" all the afternoon, + until the twilight had overtaken her quite + unaware, and now she suddenly remembered that + she had forgotten to write her German exercise. + She lifted her face and saw a pair of sad, vacant + eyes, gazing at her from the next window in + the angle of the court. She was a little startled + at first, but in the next moment she thought of + her German exercise and took heart.</p> +<p>"Do you know German?" she said; then + immediately repented that she had said it.</p> +<p>"I do," was the answer.</p> +<p>She took up her apron and began to twist it + with an air of embarrassment.</p> +<p>"I didn't mean anything," she whispered, at last. + "I only wanted to know."</p> +<p>"You are very kind."</p> +<p>That answer roused her; he was evidently + making sport of her.</p> +<p>"Well, then, if you do, you may write my + exercise for me. I have marked the place in + the book."</p> +<p>And she flung her book over to his window, + and he caught it on the edge of the sill, just as + it was falling.</p> +<p>"You are a very strange girl," he remarked, + turning over the leaves of the book, although + it was too dark to read. "How old are you?"</p> +<p>"I shall be fourteen six weeks before + Christmas," answered she, frankly.</p> +<p>"Then I excuse you."</p> +<p>"No, indeed," cried she, vehemently. "You + needn't excuse me at all. If you don't want to + write my exercise, you may send the book back + again. I am very sorry I spoke to you, and I + shall never do it again."</p> +<p>"But you will not get the book back again + without the exercise," replied he, quietly. + "Good-night."</p> +<p>The girl stood long looking after him, hoping + that he would return. Then, with a great burst + of repentance, she hid her face in her lap, and + began to cry.</p> +<p>"Oh, dear, I didn't mean to be rude," she + sobbed. "But it was Ivanhoe and Rebecca + who upset me."</p> +<p>The next morning she was up before daylight, + and waited for two long hours in great + suspense before the curtain of his window was + raised. He greeted her politely; threw a hasty + glance around the court to see if he was + observed, and then tossed her book dexterously + over into her hands.</p> +<p>"I have pinned the written exercise to the fly- + leaf," he said. "You will probably have time + to copy it before breakfast."</p> +<p>"I am ever so much obliged to you," she + managed to stammer.</p> +<p>He looked so tall and handsome, and grown- + up, and her remorse stuck in her throat, and + threatened to choke her. She had taken him for a boy + as he sat there in his window the evening before.</p> +<p>"By the way, what is your name?" he asked, + carelessly, as he turned to go.</p> +<p>"Bertha."</p> +<p>"Well, my dear Bertha, I am happy to have + made your acquaintance."</p> +<p>And he again made her a polite bow, and entered his parlor.</p> +<p>"How provokingly familiar he is," thought + she; "but no one can deny that he is handsome."</p> +<p>The bright roguish face of the young girl + haunted Ralph during the whole next week. + He had been in love at least ten times before, of + course; but, like most boys, with young ladies far + older than himself. He found himself frequently + glancing over to her window in the + hope of catching another glimpse of her face; + but the curtain was always drawn down, and + Bertha remained invisible. During the second + week, however, she relented, and they had many + a pleasant chat together. He now volunteered + to write all her exercises, and she made no + objections. He learned that she was the daughter + of a well-to-do peasant in the sea-districts of + Norway (and it gave him quite a shock to hear + it), and that she was going to school in the city, + and boarded with an old lady who kept a pension + in the house adjoining the one in which he lived.</p> +<p>One day in the autumn Ralph was surprised + by the sudden arrival of his father, and the fact + of his failure in the examination could no longer + be kept a secret. The old Colonel flared up at + once when Ralph made his confession; the large + veins upon his forehead swelled; he grew coppery- + red in his face, and stormed up and down + the floor, until his son became seriously alarmed; + but, to his great relief, he was soon made aware</p> +<p>that his father's wrath was not turned against him personally, but against + the officials of the Military Academy who had rejected him. The Colonel took + it as an insult to his own good name and irreproachable standing as an officer; + he promptly refused any other explanation, and vainly racked his brain to remember + if any youthful folly of his could possibly have made him enemies among the + teachers of the Academy. He at last felt satisfied that it was envy of his own + greatness and rapid advancement which had induced the rascals to take vengeance + on his son. Ralph reluctantly followed his father back to the country town where + the latter was stationed, and the fair-haired Bertha vanished from his horizon. + His mother's wish now prevailed, and he began, in his own easy way, to prepare + himself for the University. He had little taste for Cicero, and still less for + Virgil, but with the use of a "pony" he soon gained sufficient knowledge + of these authors to be able to talk in a sort of patronizing way about them, + to the great delight of his fond parents. He took quite a fancy, however, to + the ode in Horace ending with the lines:</p> +<blockquote> + <p> Dulce ridentem, <br> + <p>Dulce loquentem, <br> + <p>Lalagen amabo.<br> + <p> +</blockquote> +<p>And in his thought he substituted for Lalage the + fair-haired Bertha, quite regardless of the + requirements of the metre.</p> +<p>To make a long story short, three years later + Ralph returned to the capital, and, after having + worn out several tutors, actually succeeded + in entering the University.</p> +<p>The first year of college life is a happy time + to every young man, and Ralph enjoyed its + processions, its parliamentary gatherings, and its + leisure, as well as the rest. He was certainly + not the man to be sentimental over the loss of a + young girl whom, moreover, he had only known + for a few weeks. Nevertheless, he thought of + her at odd times, but not enough to disturb + his pleasure. The standing of his family, his + own handsome appearance, and his immaculate + linen opened to him the best houses of the city, + and he became a great favorite in society. At + lectures he was seldom seen, but more frequently + in the theatres, where he used to come in during + the middle of the first act, take his station in + front of the orchestra box, and eye, through his + lorgnettes, by turns, the actresses and the ladies + of the parquet.</p> +<p></p> +<p>II.</p> +<p> + Two months passed, and then came the great + annual ball which the students give at the opening + of the second semester. Ralph was a man + of importance that evening; first, because he + belonged to a great family; secondly, because he + was the handsomest man of his year. He wore + a large golden star on his breast (for his fellow- + students had made him a Knight of the Golden + Boar), and a badge of colored ribbons in his + button-hole.</p> +<p>The ball was a brilliant affair, and everybody + was in excellent spirits, especially the ladies. + Ralph danced incessantly, twirled his soft + mustache, and uttered amiable platitudes. It was + toward midnight, just as the company was moving + out to supper, that he caught the glance of + a pair of dark-blue eyes, which suddenly drove + the blood to his cheeks and hastened the beating + of his heart. But when he looked once + more the dark-blue eyes were gone, and his + unruly heart went on hammering against his side. + He laid his hand on his breast and glanced + furtively at his fair neighbor, but she looked happy + and unconcerned, for the flavor of the ice-cream + was delicious. It seemed an endless meal, but, + when it was done, Ralph rose, led his partner + back to the ball-room, and hastily excused + himself. His glance wandered round the wide hall, + seeking the well-remembered eyes once more, + and, at length, finding them in a remote corner, + half hid behind a moving wall of promenaders. + In another moment he was at Bertha's side.</p> +<p>"You must have been purposely hiding yourself, + Miss Bertha," said he, when the usual + greetings were exchanged. "I have not caught + a glimpse of you all this evening, until a few + moments ago."</p> +<p>"But I have seen you all the while," answered + the girl, frankly. "I knew you at once as I + entered the hall."</p> +<p>"If I had but known that you were here," + resumed Ralph, as it were, invisibly expanding + with an agreeable sense of dignity, "I assure + you, you would have been the very first one I + should have sought."</p> +<p>She raised her large grave eyes to his, as if + questioning his sincerity; but she made no + answer.</p> +<p>"Good gracious!" thought Ralph. "She + takes things terribly in earnest."</p> +<p>"You look so serious, Miss Bertha," said he, + after a moment's pause. "I remember you as a + bright-eyed, flaxen-haired little girl, who threw + her German exercise-book to me across the yard, + and whose merry laughter still rings pleasantly + in my memory. I confess I don't find it quite + easy to identify this grave young lady with my + merry friend of three years ago."</p> +<p>"In other words, you are disappointed at not + finding me the same as I used to be."</p> +<p>"No, not exactly that; but--"</p> +<p>Ralph paused and looked puzzled. There + was something in the earnestness of her manner + which made a facetious compliment seem grossly + inappropriate, and in the moment no other + escape suggested itself.</p> +<p>"But what?" demanded Bertha, mercilessly.</p> +<p>"Have you ever lost an old friend?" + asked he, abruptly.</p> +<p>"Yes; how so?"</p> +<p>"Then," answered he, while his features + lighted up with a happy inspiration--"then you + will appreciate my situation. I fondly cherished + my old picture of you in my memory. Now I + have lost it, and I cannot help regretting the + loss. I do not mean, however, to imply that + this new acquaintance--this second edition of + yourself, so to speak--will prove less interesting."</p> +<p>She again sent him a grave, questioning look, + and began to gaze intently upon the stone in her bracelet.</p> +<p>"I suppose you will laugh at me," began she, + while a sudden blush flitted over her countenance. + "But this is my first ball, and I feel as + if I had rushed into a whirlpool, from which I + have, since the first rash plunge was made, been + vainly trying to escape. I feel so dreadfully + forlorn. I hardly know anybody here except + my cousin, who invited me, and I hardly think + I know him either."</p> +<p>"Well, since you are irredeemably committed," + replied Ralph, as the music, after some + prefatory flourishes, broke into the delicious + rhythm of a Strauss waltz, "then it is no use + struggling against fate. Come, let us make the + plunge together. Misery loves company."</p> +<p>He offered her his arm, and she arose, + somewhat hesitatingly, and followed.</p> +<p>"I am afraid," she whispered, as they fell + into line with the procession that was moving + down the long hall, "that you have asked me to + dance merely because I said I felt forlorn. If + that is the case, I should prefer to be led back + to my seat."</p> +<p>"What a base imputation!" cried Ralph.</p> +<p>There was something so charmingly na<i:>ive in + this self-depreciation--something so altogether + novel in his experience, and, he could not help + adding, just a little bit countrified. His spirits + rose; he began to relish keenly his position as an + experienced man of the world, and, in the + agreeable glow of patronage and conscious + superiority, chatted with hearty ABANDON with his + little rustic beauty.</p> +<p>"If your dancing is as perfect as your German + exercises were," said she, laughing, as they + swung out upon the floor, "then I promise myself + a good deal of pleasure from our meeting."</p> +<p>"Never fear," answered he, quickly reversing + his step, and whirling with many a capricious + turn away among the thronging couples.</p> +<p>When Ralph drove home in his carriage + toward morning he briefly summed up his + impressions of Bertha in the following adjectives: + intelligent, delightfully unsophisticated, a little + bit verdant, but devilish pretty.</p> +<p>Some weeks later Colonel Grim received an appointment at the fortress of Aggershuus, + and immediately took up his residence in the capital. He saw that his son cut + a fine figure in the highest circles of society, and expressed his gratification + in the most emphatic terms. If he had known, however, that Ralph was in the + habit of visiting, with alarming regularity, at the house of a plebeian merchant + in a somewhat obscure street, he would, no doubt, have been more chary of his + praise. But the Colonel suspected nothing, and it was well for the peace of + the family that he did not. It may have been cowardice in Ralph that he never + mentioned Bertha's name to his family or to his aristocratic acquaintances; + for, to be candid, he himself felt ashamed of the power she exerted over him, + and by turns pitied and ridiculed himself for pursuing so inglorious a conquest. + Nevertheless it wounded his egotism that she never showed any surprise at seeing + him, that she received him with a certain frank unceremoniousness, which, however, + was very becoming to her; that she invariably went on with her work heedless + of his presence, and in everything treated him as if she had been his equal. + She persisted in talking with him in a half sisterly fashion about his studies + and his future career, warned him with great solicitude against some of his + reprobate friends, of whose merry adventures he had told her; and if he ventured + to compliment her on her beauty or her accomplishments, she would look up gravely + from her sewing, or answer him in a way which seemed to banish the idea of love-making + into the land of the impossible. He was constantly tormented by the suspicion + that she secretly disapproved of him, and that from a mere moral interest in + his welfare she was conscientiously laboring to make him a better man. Day after + day he parted from her feeling humiliated, faint-hearted, and secretly indignant + both at himself and her, and day after day he returned only to renew the same + experience. At last it became too intolerable, he could endure it no longer. + Let it make or break, certainty, at all risks, was at least preferable to this + sickening suspense. That he loved her, he could no longer doubt; let his parents + foam and fret as much as they pleased; for once he was going to stand on his + own legs. And in the end, he thought, they would have to yield, for they had + no son but him. </p> +<p>Bertha was going to return to her home on + the sea-coast in a week. Ralph stood in the + little low-ceiled parlor, as she imagined, to bid + her good-bye. They had been speaking of her + father, her brothers, and the farm, and she had + expressed the wish that if he ever should come + to that part of the country he might pay them + a visit. Her words had kindled a vague hope + in his breast, but in their very frankness and + friendly regard there was something which + slew the hope they had begotten. He held her + hand in his, and her large confiding eyes shone + with an emotion which was beautiful, but was + yet not love.</p> +<p>"If you were but a peasant born like myself," + said she, in a voice which sounded almost tender, + "then I should like to talk to you as I would to + my own brother; but--"</p> +<p>"No, not brother, Bertha," cried he, with + sudden vehemence; "I love you better than I ever + loved any earthly being, and if you knew how + firmly this love has clutched at the roots of my + heart, you would perhaps--you would at least + not look so reproachfully at me."</p> +<p>She dropped his hand, and stood for a moment silent.</p> +<p>"I am sorry that it should have come to this, + Mr. Grim," said she, visibly struggling for + calmness. "And I am perhaps more to blame + than you."</p> +<p>"Blame," muttered he, "why are you to blame?"</p> +<p>"Because I do not love you; although I sometimes + feared that this might come. But then again + I persuaded myself that it could not be so."</p> +<p>He took a step toward the door, laid his hand + on the knob, and gazed down before him.</p> +<p>"Bertha," began he, slowly, raising his head, + "you have always disapproved of me, you have + despised me in your heart, but you thought you + would be doing a good work if you succeeded + in making a man of me."</p> +<p>"You use strong language," answered she, + hesitatingly; "but there is truth in what you + say."</p> +<p>Again there was a long pause, in which the + ticking of the old parlor clock grew louder and + louder.</p> +<p>"Then," he broke out at last, "tell me before + we part if I can do nothing to gain--I will not + say your love--but only your regard? What + would you do if you were in my place?"</p> +<p>"My advice you will hardly heed, and I do + not even know that it would be well if you did. + But if I were a man in your position, I should + break with my whole past, start out into the + world where nobody knew me, and where I + should be dependent only upon my own strength, + and there I would conquer a place for myself, + if it were only for the satisfaction of knowing + that I was really a man. Here cushions are + sewed under your arms, a hundred invisible + threads bind you to a life of idleness and + vanity, everybody is ready to carry you on his + hands, the road is smoothed for you, every stone + carefully moved out of your path, and you will + probably go to your grave without having ever + harbored one earnest thought, without having + done one manly deed."</p> +<p>Ralph stood transfixed, gazing at her with + open mouth; he felt a kind of stupid fright, as + if some one had suddenly seized him by the + shoulders and shaken him violently. He tried + vainly to remove his eyes from Bertha. She + held him as by a powerful spell. He saw that + her face was lighted with an altogether new + beauty; he noticed the deep glow upon her + cheek, the brilliancy of her eye, the slight + quiver of her lip. But he saw all this as one + sees things in a half-trance, without attempting + to account for them; the door between his soul + and his senses was closed.</p> +<p>"I know that I have been bold in speaking to + you in this way," she said at last, seating + herself in a chair at the window. "But it was + yourself who asked me. And I have felt all the + time that I should have to tell you this before + we parted."</p> +<p>"And," answered he, making a strong effort + to appear calm, "if I follow your advice, will + you allow me to see you once more before you + go?"</p> +<p>"I shall remain here another week, and shall, + during that time, always be ready to receive you."</p> +<p>"Thank you. Good-bye."</p> +<p>"Good-bye."</p> +<p>Ralph carefully avoided all the fashionable + thoroughfares; he felt degraded before himself, + and he had an idea that every man could read + his humiliation in his countenance. Now he + walked on quickly, striking the sidewalk with + his heels; now, again, he fell into an uneasy, + reckless saunter, according as the changing + moods inspired defiance of his sentence, or a + qualified surrender. And, as he walked on, the + bitterness grew within him, and he pitilessly + reviled himself for having allowed himself to be + made a fool of by "that little country goose," + when he was well aware that there were hundreds + of women of the best families of the land + who would feel honored at receiving his attentions. + But this sort of reasoning he knew to he + both weak and contemptible, and his better + self soon rose in loud rebellion.</p> +<p>"After all," he muttered, "in the main thing + she was right. I am a miserable good-for- + nothing, a hot-house plant, a poor stick, and if I + were a woman myself, I don't think I should + waste my affections on a man of that calibre."</p> +<p>Then he unconsciously fell to analyzing + Bertha's character, wondering vaguely that a + person who moved so timidly in social life, + appearing so diffident, from an ever-present fear + of blundering against the established forms of + etiquette, could judge so quickly, and with such + a merciless certainty, whenever a moral question, + a question of right and wrong, was at issue. + And, pursuing the same train of thought, he + contrasted her with himself, who moved in the + highest spheres of society as in his native + element, heedless of moral scruples, and conscious + of no loftier motive for his actions than the + immediate pleasure of the moment.</p> +<p>As Ralph turned the corner of a street, he + heard himself hailed from the other sidewalk by + a chorus of merry voices.</p> +<p>"Ah, my dear Baroness," cried a young man, + springing across the street and grasping Ralph's + hand (all his student friends called him the + Baroness), "in the name of this illustrious + company, allow me to salute you. But why the + deuce--what is the matter with you? If you + have the Katzenjammer,[7] soda-water is the + thing. Come along,--it's my treat!"</p> +<p> + [7] Katzenjammer is the sensation a man has + the morning after a carousal.</p> +<p> + The students instantly thronged around + Ralph, who stood distractedly swinging his cane + and smiling idiotically.</p> +<p>"I am not quite well," said he; "leave me + alone."</p> +<p>"No, to be sure, you don't look well," cried a + jolly youth, against whom Bertha had + frequently warned him; "but a glass of sherry + will soon restore you. It would be highly + immoral to leave you in this condition without + taking care of you."</p> +<p>Ralph again vainly tried to remonstrate; but + the end was, that he reluctantly followed.</p> +<p>He had always been a conspicuous figure in + the student world; but that night he astonished + his friends by his eloquence, his reckless humor, + and his capacity for drinking. He made a + speech for "Woman," which bristled with wit, + cynicism, and sarcastic epigrams. One young + man, named Vinter, who was engaged, undertook + to protest against his sweeping condemnation, + and declared that Ralph, who was a Universal + favorite among the ladies, ought to be + the last to revile them.</p> +<p>"If," he went on, "the Baroness should propose + to six well-known ladies here in this city + whom I could mention, I would wager six + Johannisbergers, and an equal amount of + champagne, that every one of them would accept + him."</p> +<p>The others loudly applauded this proposal, + and Ralph accepted the wager. The letters were + written on the spot, and immediately dispatched. + Toward morning, the merry carousal broke up, + and Ralph was conducted in triumph to his + home.</p> +<p> + III.</p> +<p> + Two days later, Ralph again knocked on + Bertha's door. He looked paler than usual, + almost haggard; his immaculate linen was a little + crumpled, and he carried no cane; his lips were + tightly compressed, and his face wore an air of + desperate resolution.</p> +<p>"It is done," he said, as he seated himself + opposite her. "I am going."</p> +<p>"Going!" cried she, startled at his unusual + appearance. "How, where?"</p> +<p>"To America. I sail to-night. I have followed + your advice, you see. I have cut off the + last bridge behind me."</p> +<p>"But, Ralph," she exclaimed, in a voice of + alarm. "Something dreadful must have happened. + Tell me quick; I must know it."</p> +<p>"No; nothing dreadful," muttered he, smiling + bitterly. "I have made a little scandal, that is + all. My father told me to-day to go to the + devil, if I chose, and my mother gave me five + hundred dollars to help me along on the way. + If you wish to know, here is the explanation."</p> +<p>And he pulled from his pocket six perfumed + and carefully folded notes, and threw them into + her lap.</p> +<p>"Do you wish me to read them?" she asked, + with growing surprise.</p> +<p>"Certainly. Why not?"</p> +<p>She hastily opened one note after the other, + and read.</p> +<p>"But, Ralph," she cried, springing up from + her seat, while her eyes flamed with indignation, + "what does this mean? What have you + done?"</p> +<p>"I didn't think it needed any explanation," + replied he, with feigned indifference. "I + proposed to them all, and, you see, they all + accepted me. I received all these letters to-day. + I only wished to know whether the whole world + regarded me as such a worthless scamp as you + told me I was."</p> +<p>She did not answer, but sat mutely staring at + him, fiercely crumpling a rose-colored note in + her hand. He began to feel uncomfortable under + her gaze, and threw himself about uneasily + in his chair.</p> +<p>"Well," said he, at length, rising, "I suppose + there is nothing more. Good-bye."</p> +<p>"One moment, Mr. Grim," demanded she, + sternly. "Since I have already said so much, + and you have obligingly revealed to me a new + side of your character, I claim the right to + correct the opinion I expressed of you at our last + meeting."</p> +<p>"I am all attention."</p> +<p>"I did think, Mr. Grim," began she, breathing + hard, and steadying herself against the + table at which she stood, "that you were a + very selfish man--an embodiment of selfishness, + absolute and supreme, but I did not believe that + you were wicked."</p> +<p>"And what convinced you that I was selfish, + if I may ask?"</p> +<p>"What convinced me?" repeated she, in a + tone of inexpressible contempt. "When did + you ever act from any generous regard for + others? What good did you ever do to anybody?"</p> +<p>"You might ask, with equal justice, + what good I ever did to myself."</p> +<p>"In a certain sense, yes; because to gratify + a mere momentary wish is hardly doing one's + self good."</p> +<p>"Then I have, at all events, followed the + Biblical precept, and treated my neighbor very + much as I treat myself."</p> +<p>"I did think," continued Bertha, without + heeding the remark, "that you were at bottom + kind-hearted, but too hopelessly well-bred ever + to commit an act of any decided complexion, + either good or bad. Now I see that I have + misjudged you, and that you are capable of + outraging the most sacred feelings of a woman's + heart in mere wantonness, or for the sake of + satisfying a base curiosity, which never could + have entered the mind of an upright and generous man."</p> +<p>The hard, benumbed look in Ralph's face + thawed in the warmth of her presence, and her + words, though stern, touched a secret spring in + his heart. He made two or three vain attempts + to speak, then suddenly broke down, and cried:</p> +<p>"Bertha, Bertha, even if you scorn me, have + patience with me, and listen."</p> +<p>And he told her, in rapid, broken sentences, + how his love for her had grown from day to + day, until he could no longer master it; and + how, in an unguarded moment, when his pride + rose in fierce conflict against his love, he had + done this reckless deed of which he was now + heartily ashamed. The fervor of his words + touched her, for she felt that they were sincere. + Large mute tears trembled in her eyelashes as + she sat gazing tenderly at him, and in the depth + of her soul the wish awoke that she might have + been able to return this great and strong love + of his; for she felt that in this love lay the germ + of a new, of a stronger and better man. She + noticed, with a half-regretful pleasure, his + handsome figure, his delicately shaped hands, and the + noble cast of his features; an overwhelming + pity for him rose within her, and she began to + reproach herself for having spoken so harshly, + and, as she now thought, so unjustly. Perhaps + he read in her eyes the unspoken wish. He + seized her hand, and his words fell with a warm + and alluring cadence upon her ear.</p> +<p>"I shall not see you for a long time to come, + Bertha," said he, "but if, at the end of five or + six years your hand is still free, and I return + another man--a man to whom you could safely + intrust your happiness--would you then listen + to what I may have to say to you? For I promise, + by all that we both hold sacred--"</p> +<p>"No, no," interrupted she, hastily. "Promise + nothing. It would be unjust to--yourself, and + perhaps also to me; for a sacred promise is a + terrible thing, Ralph. Let us both remain free; + and, if you return and still love me, then come, + and I shall receive you and listen to you. And + even if you have outgrown your love, which is, + indeed, more probable, come still to visit me + wherever I may be, and we shall meet as friends + and rejoice in the meeting."</p> +<p>"You know best," he murmured. "Let it be + as you have said."</p> +<p>He arose, took her face between his hands, + gazed long and tenderly into her eyes, pressed + a kiss upon her forehead, and hastened away.</p> +<p>That night Ralph boarded the steamer for Hull, + and three weeks later landed in New York.</p> +<p> + IV.</p> +<p> The first three months of Ralph's sojourn in America were spent in vain attempts + to obtain a situation. Day after day he walked down Broadway, calling at various + places of business and night after night he returned to his cheer- less room + with a faint heart and declining spirits. It was, after all, a more serious + thing than he had imagined, to cut the cable which binds one to the land of + one's birth. There a hundred subtile influences, the existence of which no one + suspects until the moment they are withdrawn, unite to keep one in the straight + path of rectitude, or at least of external respectability; and Ralph's life + had been all in society; the opinion of his fellow-men had been the one force + to which he implicitly deferred, and the conscience by which he had been wont + to test his actions had been nothing but the aggregate judgment of his friends. + To such a man the isolation and the utter irresponsibility of a life among strangers + was tenfold more dangerous; and Ralph found, to his horror, that his character + contained innumerable latent possibilities which the easy- going life in his + home probably never would have revealed to him. It often cut him to the quick, + when, on entering an office in his daily search for employment, he was met by + hostile or suspicious glances, or when, as it occasionally happened, the door + was slammed in his face, as if he were a vagabond or an impostor. Then the wolf + was often roused within him, and he felt a momentary wild desire to become what + the people here evidently believed him to be. Many a night he sauntered irresolutely + about the gambling places in obscure streets, and the glare of light, the rude + shouts and clamors in the same moment repelled and attracted him. If he went + to the devil, who would care? His father had himself pointed out the way to + him; and nobody could blame him if he followed the advice. But then again a + memory emerged from that chamber of his soul which still he held sacred; and + Bertha's deep-blue eyes gazed upon him with their earnest look of tender warning + and regret. </p> +<p>When the summer was half gone, Ralph had + gained many a hard victory over himself, and + learned many a useful lesson; and at length he + swallowed his pride, divested himself of his + fine clothes, and accepted a position as assistant + gardener at a villa on the Hudson. And as he + stood perspiring with a spade in his hand, and + a cheap broad-brimmed straw hat on his head, + he often took a grim pleasure in picturing to + himself how his aristocratic friends at home + would receive him, if he should introduce himself + to them in this new costume.</p> +<p>"After all, it was only my position they + cared for," he reflected, bitterly; "without my + father's name what would I be to them?"</p> +<p>Then, again, there was a certain satisfaction + in knowing that, for his present situation, humble + as it was, he was indebted to nobody but + himself; and the thought that Bertha's eyes, if + they could have seen him now would have dwelt + upon him with pleasure and approbation, went + far to console him for his aching back, his + sunburned face, and his swollen and blistered hands.</p> +<p>One day, as Ralph was raking the gravel- + walks in the garden, his employer's daughter, a + young lady of seventeen, came out and spoke + to him. His culture and refinement of manner + struck her with wonder, and she asked him to + tell her his history; but then he suddenly grew + very grave, and she forbore pressing him. From + that time she attached a kind of romantic interest + to him, and finally induced her father to obtain + him a situation that would be more to his + taste. And, before winter came, Ralph saw the + dawn of a new future glimmering before him. + He had wrestled bravely with fate, and had + once more gained a victory. He began the + career in which success and distinction awaited + him, as proof-reader on a newspaper in the city. + He had fortunately been familiar with the English + language before he left home, and by the + strength of his will he conquered all difficulties. + At the end of two years he became attached to + the editorial staff; new ambitious hopes, hitherto + foreign to his mind, awoke within him; + and with joyous tumult of heart he saw life + opening its wide vistas before him, and he + labored on manfully to repair the losses of the + past, and to prepare himself for greater usefulness + in times to come. He felt in himself a + stronger and fuller manhood, as if the great + arteries of the vast universal world-life pulsed in + his own being. The drowsy, indolent existence + at home appeared like a dull remote dream from + which he had awaked, and he blessed the destiny + which, by its very sternness, had mercifully + saved him; he blessed her, too, who, from the + very want of love for him, had, perhaps, made + him worthier of love.</p> +<p>The years flew rapidly. Society had flung its + doors open to him, and what was more, he had + found some warm friends, in whose houses he + could come and go at pleasure. He enjoyed + keenly the privilege of daily association with + high-minded and refined women; their eager + activity of intellect stimulated him, their + exquisite ethereal grace and their delicately chiseled + beauty satisfied his aesthetic cravings, and the + responsive vivacity of their nature prepared him + ever new surprises. He felt a strange fascination + in the presence of these women, and the + conviction grew upon him that their type of + womanhood was superior to any he had hitherto + known. And by way of refuting his own + argument, he would draw from his pocket-book + the photograph of Bertha, which had a secret + compartment there all to itself, and, gazing + tenderly at it, would eagerly defend her against the + disparaging reflections which the involuntary + comparison had provoked. And still, how could + he help seeing that her features, though well + molded, lacked animation; that her eye, with + its deep, trustful glance, was not brilliant, and + that the calm earnestness of her face, when + compared with the bright, intellectual beauty of his + present friends, appeared pale and simple, like + a violet in a bouquet of vividly colored roses? + It gave him a quick pang, when, at times, + he was forced to admit this; nevertheless, + it was the truth.</p> +<p>After six years of residence in America, + Ralph had gained a very high reputation as a + journalist of rare culture and ability, and, in + 1867 he was sent to the World's Exhibition in + Paris, as correspondent of the paper on which + he had during all these years been employed. + What wonder, then, that he started for Europe + a few weeks before his presence was needed in + the imperial city, and that he steered his course + directly toward the fjord valley where Bertha + had her home? It was she who had bidden him + Godspeed when he fled from the land of his + birth, and she, too, should receive his first + greeting on his return.</p> +<p> + V.</p> +<p> + The sun had fortified itself behind a citadel + of flaming clouds, and the upper forest region + shone with a strange ethereal glow, while the + lower plains were wrapped in shadow; but the + shadow itself had a strong suffusion of color. + The mountain peaks rose cold and blue in the distance.</p> +<p>Ralph, having inquired his way of the + boatman who had landed him at the pier, walked + rapidly along the beach, with a small valise in + his hand, and a light summer overcoat flung + over his shoulder. Many half-thoughts grazed + his mind, and ere the first had taken shape, the + second, and the third came and chased it away. + And still they all in some fashion had reference + to Bertha; for in a misty, abstract way, she + filled his whole mind; but for some indefinable + reason, he was afraid to give free rein to the + sentiment which lurked in the remoter corners + of his soul.</p> +<p>Onward he hastened, while his heart throbbed + with the quickening tempo of mingled expectation + and fear. Now and then one of those chill + gusts of air which seem to be careering about + aimlessly in the atmosphere during early summer, + would strike into his face, and recall him + to a keener self-consciousness.</p> +<p>Ralph concluded, from his increasing agitation, + that he must be very near Bertha's home. + He stopped and looked around him. He saw a + large maple at the roadside, some thirty steps + from where he was standing, and the girl who + was sitting under it, resting her head in her + hand and gazing out over the sea, he recognized + in an instant to be Bertha. He sprang up on the + road, not crossing, however, her line of vision, + and approached her noiselessly from behind.</p> +<p>"Bertha," he whispered.</p> +<p>She gave a little joyous cry, sprang up, and + made a gesture as if to throw herself in his arms; + then suddenly checked herself, blushed crimson, + and moved a step backward.</p> +<p>"You came so suddenly," she murmured.</p> +<p>"But, Bertha," cried he (and the full bass of + his voice rang through her very soul), "have I + gone into exile and waited these many years for + so cold a welcome?"</p> +<p>"You have changed so much, Ralph," she + answered, with that old grave smile which he + knew so well, and stretched out both her hands + toward him. "And I have thought of you so + much since you went away, and blamed myself + because I had judged you so harshly, and wondered + that you could listen to me so patiently, + and never bear me any malice for what I said."</p> +<p>"If you had said a word less," declared Ralph, + seating himself at her side on the greensward, + "or if you had varnished it over with politeness, + then you would probably have failed to produce + any effect and I should not have been burdened + with that heavy debt of gratitude which + I now owe you. I was a pretty thick-skinned + animal in those days, Bertha. You said the + right word at the right moment; you gave me + a hold and a good piece of advice, which my + own ingenuity would never have suggested to + me. I will not thank you, because, in so grave + a case as this, spoken thanks sound like a mere + mockery. Whatever I am, Bertha, and whatever + I may hope to be, I owe it all to that hour."</p> +<p>She listened with rapture to the manly assurance + of his voice; her eyes dwelt with unspeakable + joy upon his strong, bronzed features, his + full thick blonde beard, and the vigorous + proportions of his frame. Many and many a time + during his absence had she wondered how he + would look if he ever came back, and with that + minute conscientiousness which, as it were, + pervaded her whole character, she had held herself + responsible before God for his fate, prayed for + him, and trembled lest evil powers should gain + the ascendency over his soul.</p> +<p>On their way to the house they talked together + of many things, but in a guarded, cautious fashion, + and without the cheerful abandonment of + former years. They both, as it were, groped their + way carefully in each other's minds, and each + vaguely felt that there was something in the + other's thought which it was not well to touch + unbidden. Bertha saw that all her fears for + him had been groundless, and his very appearance + lifted the whole weight of responsibility + from her breast; and still, did she rejoice at her + deliverance from her burden? Ah, no, in this + moment she knew that that which she had foolishly + cherished as the best and noblest part of + herself, had been but a selfish need of her own + heart. She feared that she had only taken that + interest in him which one feels in a thing of + one's own making; and now, when she saw that + he had risen quite above her; that he was free + and strong, and could have no more need of her, + she had, instead of generous pleasure at his + success, but a painful sense of emptiness, as if + something very dear had been taken from her.</p> +<p>Ralph, too, was loath to analyze the impression + his old love made upon him. His feelings + were of so complex a nature, he was anxious to + keep his more magnanimous impulses active, and + he strove hard to convince himself that she was + still the same to him as she had been before they + had ever parted. But, alas! though the heart + be warm and generous, the eye is a merciless + critic. And the man who had moved on the + wide arena of the world, whose mind had housed + the large thoughts of this century, and expanded + with its invigorating breath,--was he to blame + because he had unconsciously outgrown his old + provincial self, and could no more judge by its + standards?</p> +<p>Bertha's father was a peasant, but he had, + by his lumber trade, acquired what in Norway + was called a very handsome fortune. He received + his guest with dignified reserve, and + Ralph thought he detected in his eyes a lurking + look of distrust. "I know your errand," that + look seemed to say, "but you had better give it + up at once. It will be of no use for you to try."</p> +<p>And after supper, as Ralph and Bertha sat + talking confidingly with each other at the window, + he sent his daughter a quick, sharp glance, + and then, without ceremony, commanded her to + go to bed. Ralph's heart gave a great thump + within him; not because he feared the old man, + but because his words, as well as his glances, + revealed to him the sad history of these long, + patient years. He doubted no longer that the + love which he had once so ardently desired was + his at last; and he made a silent vow that, + come what might, he would remain faithful.</p> +<p>As he came down to breakfast the next + morning, he found Bertha sitting at the window, + engaged in hemming what appeared to be a + rough kitchen towel. She bent eagerly over + her work, and only a vivid flush upon her cheek + told him that she had noticed his coming. He + took a chair, seated himself opposite her, and + bade her "good-morning." She raised her head, + and showed him a sweet, troubled countenance, + which the early sunlight illumined with a high + spiritual beauty. It reminded him forcibly of + those pale, sweet-faced saints of Fra Angelico, + with whom the frail flesh seems ever on the + point of yielding to the ardent aspirations of + the spirit. And still, even in this moment he + could not prevent his eyes from observing that + one side of her forefinger was rough from sewing, + and that the whiteness of her arm, which + the loose sleeves displayed, contrasted strongly + with the browned and sun-burned complexion of + her hands.</p> +<p>After breakfast they again walked together + on the beach, and Ralph, having once formed + his resolution, now talked freely of the New + World--of his sphere of activity there; of his + friends and of his plans for the future; and she + listened to him with a mild, perplexed look in + her eyes, as if trying vainly to follow the flight + of his thoughts. And he wondered, with secret + dismay, whether she was still the same strong, + brave-hearted girl whom he had once accounted + almost bold; whether the life in this narrow + valley, amid a hundred petty and depressing + cares, had not cramped her spiritual growth, + and narrowed the sphere of her thought. Or + was she still the same, and was it only he who + had changed? At last he gave utterance to his + wonder, and she answered him in those grave, + earnest tones which seemed in themselves to be + half a refutation of his doubts.</p> +<p>"It was easy for me to give you daring + advice, then, Ralph," she said. "Like most school- + girls, I thought that life was a great and glorious + thing, and that happiness was a fruit which + hung within reach of every hand. Now I have + lived for six years trying single-handed to + relieve the want and suffering of the needy people + with whom I come in contact, and their squalor + and wretchedness have sickened me, and, what + is still worse, I feel that all I can do is as a drop + in the ocean, and after all, amounts to nothing. + I know I am no longer the same reckless girl, + who, with the very best intention, sent you + wandering through the wide world; and I thank + God that it proved to be for your good, + although the whole now appears quite incredible + to me. My thoughts have moved so long within + the narrow circle of these mountains that they + have lost their youthful elasticity, and can no + more rise above them."</p> +<p>Ralph detected, in the midst of her despondency, + a spark of her former fire, and grew eloquent + in his endeavors to persuade her that she + was unjust to herself, and that there was but a + wider sphere of life needed to develop all the + latent powers of her rich nature.</p> +<p>At the dinner-table, her father again sat eyeing + his guest with that same cold look of distrust + and suspicion. And when the meal was + at an end, he rose abruptly and called his + daughter into another room. Presently Ralph + heard his angry voice resounding through the + house, interrupted now and then by a woman's + sobs, and a subdued, passionate pleading. When + Bertha again entered the room, her eyes were + very red, and he saw that she had been weeping. + She threw a shawl over her shoulders, + beckoned to him with her hand, and he arose + and followed her. She led the way silently + until they reached a thick copse of birch and + alder near the strand. She dropped down upon + a bench between two trees, and he took his seat + at her side.</p> +<p>"Ralph," began she, with a visible effort, "I + hardly know what to say to you; but there is + something which I must tell you--my father + wishes you to leave us at once."</p> +<p>"And YOU, Bertha?"</p> +<p>"Well--yes--I wish it too."</p> +<p>She saw the painful shock which her words + gave him, and she strove hard to speak. Her + lips trembled, her eyes became suffused with + tears, which grew and grew, but never fell; she + could not utter a word.</p> +<p>"Well, Bertha," answered he, with a little + quiver in his voice, "if you, too, wish me to go, + I shall not tarry. Good-bye."</p> +<p>He rose quickly, and, with averted face, held + out his hand to her; but as she made no motion + to grasp the hand, he began distractedly to + button his coat, and moved slowly away.</p> +<p>"Ralph."</p> +<p>He turned sharply, and, before he knew it, + she lay sobbing upon his breast.</p> +<p>"Ralph," she murmured, while the tears + almost choked her words, "I could not have you + leave me thus. It is hard enough--it is hard + enough--"</p> +<p>"What is hard, beloved?"</p> +<p>She raised her head abruptly, and turned + upon him a gaze full of hope and doubt, and + sweet perplexity.</p> +<p>"Ah, no, you do not love me," she whispered, + sadly.</p> +<p>"Why should I come to seek you, after these + many years, dearest, if I did not wish to make + you my wife before God and men? Why + should I--"</p> +<p>"Ah, yes, I know," she interrupted him with + a fresh fit of weeping, "you are too good and + honest to wish to throw me away, now when + you have seen how my soul has hungered for + the sight of you these many years, how even + now I cling to you with a despairing clutch. + But you cannot disguise yourself, Ralph, and I + saw from the first moment that you loved me + no more."</p> +<p>"Do not be such an unreasonable child," he + remonstrated, feebly. "I do not love you with + the wild, irrational passion of former years; + but I have the tenderest regard for you, and + my heart warms at the sight of your sweet + face, and I shall do all in my power to make + you as happy as any man can make you who--"</p> +<p>"Who does not love me," she finished.</p> +<p>A sudden shudder seemed to shake her whole frame, + and she drew herself more tightly up to him.</p> +<p>"Ah, no," she continued, after a while, sinking back upon her seat. + "It is a hopeless thing to compel a reluctant heart. I will accept no sacrifice + from you. You owe me nothing, for you have acted toward me honestly and uprightly, + and I shall be a stronger, or--at least-- a better woman for what you gave me--and-- + for what you could not give me, even though you would." </p> +<p>"But, Bertha," exclaimed he, looking mournfully + at her, "it is not true when you say that I + owe you nothing. Six years ago, when first I + wooed you, you could not return my love, and + you sent me out into the world, and even refused + to accept any pledge or promise for the future."</p> +<p>"And you returned," she responded, "a man, + such as my hope had pictured you; but, while I + had almost been standing still, you had outgrown + me, and outgrown your old self, and, + with your old self, outgrown its love for me, + for your love was not of your new self, but of + the old. Alas! it is a sad tale, but it is true."</p> +<p>She spoke gravely now, and with a steadier + voice, but her eyes hung upon his face with an + eager look of expectation, as if yearning to detect + there some gleam of hope, some contradiction + of the dismal truth. He read that look + aright, and it pierced him like a sharp sword. + He made a brave effort to respond to its appeal, + but his features seemed hard as stone, and he + could only cry out against his destiny, and + bewail his misfortune and hers.</p> +<p>Toward evening, Ralph was sitting in an + open boat, listening to the measured oar-strokes + of the boatmen who were rowing him out to the + nearest stopping-place of the steamer. The + mountains lifted their great placid heads up + among the sun-bathed clouds, and the fjord + opened its cool depths as if to make room for + their vast reflections. Ralph felt as if he were + floating in the midst of the blue infinite space, + and, with the strength which this feeling + inspired, he tried to face boldly the thought from + which he had but a moment ago shrunk as from + something hopelessly sad and perplexing.</p> +<p>And in that hour he looked fearlessly into the + gulf which separates the New World from the + Old. He had hoped to bridge it; but, alas! it + cannot be bridged.</p> +<p></p> +<p>A SCIENTIFIC VAGABOND.</p> +<p>I.</p> +<p>THE steamer which as far back as 1860 + passed every week on its northward + way up along the coast of Norway, + was of a very sociable turn of mind. It + ran with much shrieking and needless bluster in + and out the calm, winding fjords, paid unceremonious + little visits in every out-of-the-way nook + and bay, dropped now and then a black heap of + coal into the shining water, and sent thick volleys + of smoke and shrill little echoes careering + aimlessly among the mountains. It seemed, on + the whole, from an aesthetic point of view, an + objectionable phenomenon--a blot upon the perfect + summer day. By the inhabitants, however, + of these remote regions (with the exception + of a few obstinate individuals, who had at + first looked upon it as the sure herald of dooms- + day, and still were vaguely wondering what the + world was coming to,) it was regarded in a + very different light. This choleric little monster + was to them a friendly and welcome visitor, + which established their connection with the outside + world, and gave them a proud consciousness + of living in the very heart of civilization. + Therefore, on steamboat days they flocked en + masse down on the piers, and, with an ever-fresh + sense of novelty, greeted the approaching boat + with lively cheers, with firing of muskets and + waving of handkerchiefs. The men of condition, + as the judge, the sheriff, and the parson, + whose dignity forbade them to receive the + steamer in person, contented themselves with + watching it through an opera-glass from their + balconies; and if a high official was known to be + on board, they perhaps displayed the national + banner from their flag-poles, as a delicate + compliment to their superior.</p> +<p>But the Rev. Mr. Oddson, the parson of whom + I have to speak, had this day yielded to the + gentle urgings of his daughters (as, indeed, he + always did), and had with them boarded the + steamer to receive his nephew, Arnfinn Vording, + who was returning from the university for his + summer vacation. And now they had him + between them in their pretty white-painted par- + sonage boat, with the blue line along the + gunwale, beleaguering him with eager questions + about friends and relatives in the capital, chums, + university sports, and a medley of other things + interesting to young ladies who have a collegian + for a cousin. His uncle was charitable enough + to check his own curiosity about the nephew's + progress in the arts and sciences, and the result + of his recent examinations, till he should have + become fairly settled under his roof; and Arnfinn, + who, in spite of his natural brightness and + ready humor, was anything but a "dig," was + grateful for the respite.</p> +<p>The parsonage lay snugly nestled at the end + of the bay, shining contentedly through the + green foliage from a multitude of small sun- + smitten windows. Its pinkish whitewash, which + was peeling off from long exposure to the + weather, was in cheerful contrast to the broad + black surface of the roof, with its glazed tiles, + and the starlings' nests under the chimney-tops. + The thick-leaved maples and walnut-trees which + grew in random clusters about the walls seemed + loftily conscious of standing there for purposes + of protection; for, wherever their long-fingered + branches happened to graze the roof, it was + always with a touch, light, graceful, and airily + caressing. The irregularly paved yard was + inclosed on two sides by the main building, and on + the third by a species of log cabin, which, in + Norway, is called a brew-house; but toward the + west the view was but slightly obscured by an + elevated pigeon cot and a clump of birches, + through whose sparse leaves the fjord beneath + sent its rapid jets and gleams of light, and its + strange suggestions of distance, peace and + unaccountable gladness.</p> +<p>Arnfinn Vording's career had presented that + subtle combination of farce and tragedy which + most human lives are apt to be; and if the tragic + element had during his early years been preponderating, + he was hardly himself aware of it; for + he had been too young at the death of his + parents to feel that keenness of grief which the + same privation would have given him at a later + period of his life. It might have been humiliating + to confess it, but it was nevertheless true + that the terror he had once sustained on being + pursued by a furious bull was much more vivid + in his memory than the vague wonder and + depression which had filled his mind at seeing his + mother so suddenly stricken with age, as she lay + motionless in her white robes in the front parlor. + Since then his uncle, who was his guardian and + nearest relative, had taken him into his family, + had instructed him with his own daughters, and + finally sent him to the University, leaving the little + fortune which he had inherited to accumulate + for future use. Arnfinn had a painfully distinct + recollection of his early hardships in trying to + acquire that soft pronunciation of the r which is + peculiar to the western fjord districts of Norway, + and which he admired so much in his + cousins; for the merry-eyed Inga, who was less + scrupulous by a good deal than her older sister, + Augusta, had from the beginning persisted in + interpreting their relation of cousinship as an + unbounded privilege on her part to ridicule him + for his personal peculiarities, and especially for + his harsh r and his broad eastern accent. Her + ridicule was always very good-natured, to be + sure, but therefore no less annoying.</p> +<p>But--such is the perverseness of human nature-- + in spite of a series of apparent rebuffs, + interrupted now and then by fits of violent + attachment, Arnfinn had early selected this dimpled + and yellow-haired young girl, with her piquant + little nose, for his favorite cousin. It was the + prospect of seeing her which, above all else, + had lent, in anticipation, an altogether new + radiance to the day when he should present him- + self in his home with the long-tasseled student + cap on his head, the unnecessary "pinchers" on + his nose, and with the other traditional + paraphernalia of the Norwegian student. That + great day had now come; Arnfinn sat at Inga's + side playing with her white fingers, which lay + resting on his knee, and covering the depth of + his feeling with harmless banter about her + "amusingly unclassical little nose." He had + once detected her, when a child, standing before + a mirror, and pinching this unhappy feature in + the middle, in the hope of making it "like + Augusta's;" and since then he had no longer felt + so utterly defenseless whenever his own foibles + were attacked.</p> +<p>"But what of your friend, Arnfinn?" exclaimed + Inga, as she ran up the stairs of the + pier. "He of whom you have written so much. + I have been busy all the morning making the + blue guest-chamber ready for him."</p> +<p>"Please, cousin," answered the student, in a + tone of mock entreaty, "only an hour's respite! + If we are to talk about Strand we must make a + day of it, you know. And just now it seems so + grand to be at home, and with you, that I + would rather not admit even so genial a subject + as Strand to share my selfish happiness."</p> +<p>"Ah, yes, you are right. Happiness is too + often selfish. But tell me only why he didn't + come and I'll release you."</p> +<p>"He IS coming."</p> +<p>"Ah! And when?"</p> +<p>"That I don't know. He preferred to take + the journey on foot, and he may be here at + almost any time. But, as I have told you, he is + very uncertain. If he should happen to make + the acquaintance of some interesting snipe, or + crane, or plover, he may prefer its company to + ours, and then there is no counting on him any + longer. He may be as likely to turn up at the + North Pole as at the Gran Parsonage."</p> +<p>"How very singular. You don't know how + curious I am to see him."</p> +<p>And Inga walked on in silence under the + sunny birches which grew along the road, trying + vainly to picture to herself this strange + phenomenon of a man.</p> +<p>"I brought his book," remarked Arnfinn, + making a gigantic effort to be generous, for he + felt dim stirrings of jealousy within him. "If + you care to read it, I think it will explain him + to you better than anything I could say."</p> +<p></p> +<p>II.</p> +<p> + The Oddsons were certainly a happy family + though not by any means a harmonious one. + The excellent pastor, who was himself neutrally + good, orthodox, and kind-hearted, had often, in + the privacy of his own thought, wondered what + hidden ancestral influences there might have + been at work in giving a man so peaceable and + inoffensive as himself two daughters of such + strongly defined individuality. There was + Augusta, the elder, who was what Arnfinn called + "indiscriminately reformatory," and had a + universal desire to improve everything, from the + Government down to agricultural implements + and preserve jars. As long as she was content + to expend the surplus energy, which seemed to + accumulate within her through the long eventless + winters, upon the Zulu Mission, and other + legitimate objects, the pastor thought it all + harmless enough; although, to be sure, her + enthusiasm for those naked and howling savages + did at times strike him as being somewhat + extravagant. But when occasionally, in her own + innocent way, she put both his patience and his + orthodoxy to the test by her exceedingly puzzling + questions, then he could not, in the depth + of his heart, restrain the wish that she might + have been more like other young girls, and less + ardently solicitous about the fate of her kind. + Affectionate and indulgent, however, as the pastor + was, he would often, in the next moment, do + penance for his unregenerate thought, and thank + God for having made her so fair to behold, so + pure, and so noble-hearted.</p> +<p>Toward Arnfinn, Augusta had, although of + his own age, early assumed a kind of elder-sisterly + relation; she had been his comforter during + all the trials of his boyhood; had yielded + him her sympathy with that eager impulse which + lay so deep in her nature, and had felt forlorn + when life had called him away to where her + words of comfort could not reach him. But + when once she had hinted this to her father, he + had pedantically convinced her that her feeling + was unchristian, and Inga had playfully remarked + that the hope that some one might soon + find the open Polar Sea would go far toward + consoling her for her loss; for Augusta had + glorious visions at that time of the open Polar Sea. + Now, the Polar Sea, and many other things, far + nearer and dearer, had been forced into uneasy + forgetfulness; and Arnfinn was once more with + her, no longer a child, and no longer appealing + to her for aid and sympathy; man enough, ap- + parently, to have outgrown his boyish needs + and still boy enough to be ashamed of having + ever had them.</p> +<p>It was the third Sunday after Arnfinn's + return. He and Augusta were climbing the hillside + to the "Giant's Hood," from whence they + had a wide view of the fjord, and could see the + sun trailing its long bridge of flame upon the + water. It was Inga's week in the kitchen, + therefore her sister was Arnfinn's companion. + As they reached the crest of the "Hood," + Augusta seated herself on a flat bowlder, and the + young student flung himself on a patch of + greensward at her feet. The intense light of + the late sun fell upon the girl's unconscious face, + and Arnfinn lay, gazing up into it, and wondering + at its rare beauty; but he saw only the clean + cut of its features and the purity of its form, + being too shallow to recognize the strong and + heroic soul which had struggled so long for + utterance in the life of which he had been a blind + and unmindful witness.</p> +<p>"Gracious, how beautiful you are, cousin!" + he broke forth, heedlessly, striking his leg with + his slender cane; "pity you were not born a + queen; you would be equal to almost anything, + even if it were to discover the Polar Sea."</p> +<p>"I thought you were looking at the sun, + Arnfinn," answered she, smiling reluctantly.</p> +<p>"And so I am, cousin," laughed he, with an + other-emphatic slap of his boot.</p> +<p>"That compliment is rather stale."</p> +<p>"But the opportunity was too tempting."</p> +<p>"Never mind, I will excuse you from further + efforts. Turn around and notice that wonderful + purple halo which is hovering over the forests + below. Isn't it glorious?"</p> +<p>"No, don't let us be solemn, pray. The sun I have seen a thousand times + before, but you I have seen very seldom of late. Somehow, since I returned this + time, you seem to keep me at a distance. You no longer confide to me your great + plans for the abolishment of war, and the improvement of mankind generally. + Why don't you tell me whether you have as yet succeeded in convincing the peasants + that cleanliness is a cardinal virtue, that hawthorn hedges are more picturesque + than rail fences, and that salt meat is a very indigestible article?" </p> +<p>"You know the fate of my reforms, from long + experience," she answered, with the same sad, + sweet smile. "I am afraid there must be some + thing radically wrong about my methods; and, + moreover, I know that your aspirations and + mine are no longer the same, if they ever have + been, and I am not ungenerous enough to force + you to feign an interest which you do not feel."</p> +<p>"Yes, I know you think me flippant and + boyish," retorted he, with sudden energy, and + tossing a stone down into the gulf below. + "But, by the way, my friend Strand, if he ever + comes, would be just the man for you. He has + quite as many hobbies as you have, and, what is + more, he has a profound respect for hobbies in + general, and is universally charitable toward + those of others."</p> +<p>"Your friend is a great man," said the girl, + earnestly. "I have read his book on `The + Wading Birds of the Norwegian Highlands,' + and none but a great man could have written it."</p> +<p>"He is an odd stick, but, for all that, a capital + fellow; and I have no doubt you would get on + admirably with him."</p> +<p>At this moment the conversation was interrupted + by the appearance of the pastor's man, + Hans, who came to tell the "young miss" that + there was a big tramp hovering about the barns + in the "out-fields," where he had been sleeping + during the last three nights. He was a dangerous + character, Hans thought, at least judging + from his looks, and it was hardly safe for the + young miss to be roaming about the fields at + night as long as he was in the neighborhood.</p> +<p>"Why don't you speak to the pastor, and + have him arrested?" said Arnfinn, impatient of + Hans's long-winded recital.</p> +<p>"No, no, say nothing to father," demanded + Augusta, eagerly. "Why should you arrest + a poor man as long as he does nothing worse + than sleep in the barns in the out-fields?"</p> +<p>"As you say, miss," retorted Hans, and departed.</p> +<p>The moon came up pale and mist-like over + the eastern mountain ridges, struggled for a few + brief moments feebly with the sunlight, and + then vanished.</p> +<p>"It is strange," said Arnfinn, "how + everything reminds me of Strand to-night. What + gloriously absurd apostrophes to the moon he + could make! I have not told you, cousin, of a + very singular gift which he possesses. He can + attract all kinds of birds and wild animals to + himself; he can imitate their voices, and they + flock around him, as if he were one of them, + without fear of harm."</p> +<p>"How delightful," cried Augusta, with sudden + animation. "What a glorious man your friend + must be!"</p> +<p>"Because the snipes and the wild ducks like him? + You seem to have greater confidence in their judgment + than in mine."</p> +<p>"Of course I have--at least as long as you + persist in joking. But, jesting aside, what a + wondrously beautiful life he must lead whom + Nature takes thus into her confidence; who has, + as it were, an inner and subtler sense, corresponding + to each grosser and external one; who is + keen-sighted enough to read the character of + every individual beast, and has ears sensitive to + the full pathos of joy or sorrow in the song of + the birds that inhabit our woodlands."</p> +<p>"Whether he has any such second set of + senses as you speak of, I don't know; but there + can be no doubt that his familiarity, not to say + intimacy, with birds and beasts gives him a + great advantage as a naturalist. I suppose you + know that his little book has been translated + into French, and rewarded with the gold medal + of the Academy."</p> +<p>"Hush! What is that?" Augusta sprang + up, and held her hand to her ear.</p> +<p>"Some love-lorn mountain-cock playing yonder + in the pine copse," suggested Arnfinn, + amused at his cousin's eagerness.</p> +<p>"You silly boy! Don't you know the mountain- + cock never plays except at sunrise?"</p> +<p>"He would have a sorry time of it now, then, + when there IS no sunrise."</p> +<p>"And so he has; he does not play except in + early spring."</p> +<p>The noise, at first faint, now grew louder. It + began with a series of mellow, plaintive clucks + that followed thickly one upon another, like + smooth pearls of sound that rolled through the + throat in a continuous current; then came a few + sharp notes as of a large bird that snaps his + bill; then a long, half-melodious rumbling, + intermingled with cacklings and snaps, and at last, + a sort of diminuendo movement of the same + round, pearly clucks. There was a whizzing of + wing-beats in the air; two large birds swept + over their heads and struck down into the copse + whence the sound had issued.</p> +<p>"This is indeed a most singular thing," said + Augusta, under her breath, and with wide-eyed wonder. + "Let us go nearer, and see what it can be."</p> +<p>"I am sure I can go if you can," responded + Arnfinn, not any too eagerly. "Give me your + hand, and we can climb the better."</p> +<p>As they approached the pine copse, which</p> +<p>projected like a promontory from the line of + the denser forest, the noise ceased, and only the + plaintive whistling of a mountain-hen, calling + her scattered young together, and now and then + the shrill response of a snipe to the cry of its + lonely mate, fell upon the summer night, not as + an interruption, but as an outgrowth of the very + silence. Augusta stole with soundless tread + through the transparent gloom which lingered + under those huge black crowns, and Arnfinn + followed impatiently after. Suddenly she motioned + to him to stand still, and herself bent forward + in an attitude of surprise and eager observation. + On the ground, some fifty steps from + where she was stationed, she saw a man + stretched out full length, with a knapsack under + his head, and surrounded by a flock of downy, + half-grown birds, which responded with a low, + anxious piping to his alluring cluck, then scattered + with sudden alarm, only to return again + in the same curious, cautious fashion as before. + Now and then there was a great flapping of + wings in the trees overhead, and a heavy brown + and black speckled mountain-hen alighted close + to the man's head, stretched out her neck toward + him, cocked her head, called her scattered brood + together, and departed with slow and deliberate + wing-beats.</p> +<p>Again there was a frightened flutter over- + head, a shrill anxious whistle rose in the air, + and all was silence. Augusta had stepped on a + dry branch--it had broken under her weight-- + hence the sudden confusion and flight. The + unknown man had sprung up, and his eye, after a + moment's search, had found the dark, beautiful + face peering forth behind the red fir-trunk. + He did not speak or salute her; he greeted her + with silent joy, as one greets a wondrous vision + which is too frail and bright for consciousness + to grasp, which is lost the very instant one is + conscious of seeing. But, while to the girl the + sight, as it were, hung trembling in the range + of mere physical perception, while its suddenness + held it aloof from moral reflection, there + came a great shout from behind, and Arnfinn, + whom in her surprise she had quite forgotten, + came bounding forward, grasping the stranger + by the hand with much vigor, laughing heartily, + and pouring forth a confused stream of + delighted interjections, borrowed from all manner + of classical and unclassical tongues.</p> +<p>"Strand! Strand!" he cried, when the first + tumult of excitement had subsided; "you most + marvelous and incomprehensible Strand! From + what region of heaven or earth did you jump + down into our prosaic neighborhood? And + what in the world possessed you to choose our + barns as the centre of your operations, and + nearly put me to the necessity of having you + arrested for vagrancy? How I do regret that + Cousin Augusta's entreaties mollified my heart + toward you. Pardon me, I have not introduced + you. This is my cousin, Miss Oddson, and this + is my miraculous friend, the world-renowned + author, vagrant, and naturalist, Mr. Marcus Strand."</p> +<p>Strand stepped forward, made a deep but + somewhat awkward bow, and was dimly aware + that a small soft hand was extended to him, + and, in the next moment, was enclosed in his + own broad and voluminous palm. He grasped + it firmly, and, in one of those profound abstractions + into which he was apt to fall when under + the sway of a strong impression, pressed it with + increasing cordiality, while he endeavored to + find fitting answers to Arnfinn's multifarious + questions.</p> +<p>"To tell the truth, Vording," he said, in a + deep, full-ringing bass, "I didn't know that + these were your cousin's barns--I mean that + your uncle"--giving the unhappy hand an emphatic + shake--"inhabited these barns."</p> +<p>"No, thank heaven, we are not quite reduced + to that," cried Arnfinn, gayly; "we still boast a + parsonage, as you will presently discover, and a + very bright and cozy one, to boot. But, whatever + you do, have the goodness to release + Augusta's hand. Don't you see how desperately + she is struggling, poor thing?"</p> +<p>Strand dropped the hand as if it had been a + hot coal, blushed to the edge of his hair, and + made another profound reverence. He was a + tall, huge-limbed youth, with a frame of + gigantic mold, and a large, blonde, shaggy head, + like that of some good-natured antediluvian + animal, which might feel the disadvantages of + its size amid the puny beings of this later stage + of creation. There was a frank directness in + his gaze, and an unconsciousness of self, which + made him very winning, and which could not + fail of its effect upon a girl who, like Augusta, + was fond of the uncommon, and hated smooth, + facile and well-tailored young men, with the + labels of society and fashion upon their coats, + their mustaches, and their speech. And Strand, + with his large sun-burned face, his wild-growing + beard, blue woolen shirt, top boots, and unkempt + appearance generally, was a sufficiently + startling phenomenon to satisfy even so exacting + a fancy as hers; for, after reading his book + about the Wading Birds, she had made up her + mind that he must have few points of resemblance + to the men who had hitherto formed part + of her own small world, although she had not + until now decided just in what way he was to + differ.</p> +<p>"Suppose I help you carry your knapsack," + said Arnfinn, who was flitting about like a small + nimble spaniel trying to make friends with some + large, good-natured Newfoundland. "You must + be very tired, having roamed about in this + Quixotic fashion!"</p> +<p>"No, I thank you," responded Strand, with + an incredulous laugh, glancing alternately from + Arnfinn to the knapsack, as if estimating their + proportionate weight. "I am afraid you would + rue your bargain if I accepted it."</p> +<p>"I suppose you have a great many stuffed + birds at home," remarked the girl, looking + with self-forgetful admiration at the large + brawny figure.</p> +<p>"No, I have hardly any," answered he, + seating himself on the ground, and pulling a thick + note-book from his pocket. "I prefer live + creatures. Their anatomical and physiological + peculiarities have been studied by others, and + volumes have been written about them. It is + their psychological traits, ii you will allow the + expression, which interest me, and those I can + only get at while they are alive."</p> +<p>"How delightful!"</p> +<p>Some minutes later they were all on their way + to the Parsonage. The sun, in spite of its mid- + summer wakefulness, was getting red-eyed and + drowsy, and the purple mists which hung in + scattered fragments upon the forest below had + lost something of their deep-tinged brilliancy. + But Augusta, quite blind to the weakened light + effects, looked out upon the broad landscape in + ecstasy, and, appealing to her more apathetic + companions, invited them to share her joy at the + beauty of the faint-flushed summer night.</p> +<p>"You are getting quite dithyrambic, my + dear," remarked Arnfinn, with an air of cousinly + superiority, which he felt was eminently + becoming to him; and Augusta looked up with + quick surprise, then smiled in an absent way, + and forgot what she had been saying. She had + no suspicion but that her enthusiasm had been + all for the sunset.</p> +<p></p> +<p>III.</p> +<p> In a life so outwardly barren and monotonous as Augusta's--a life in which + the small external events were so firmly interwoven with the subtler threads + of yearnings, wants, and desires --the introduction of so large and novel a + fact as Marcus Strand would naturally produce some perceptible result. It was + that deplorable inward restlessness of hers, she reasoned, which had hitherto + made her existence seem so empty and unsatisfactory; but now his presence filled + the hours, and the newness of his words, his manner, and his whole person afforded + inexhaustible material for thought. It was now a week since his arrival, and + while Arnfinn and Inga chatted at leisure, drew caricatures, or read aloud to + each other in some shady nook of the garden, she and Strand would roam along + the beach, filling the vast unclouded horizon with large glowing images of the + future of the human race. He always listened in sympathetic silence while she + unfolded to him her often childishly daring schemes for the amelioration of + suffering and the righting of social wrongs; and when she had finished, and + he met the earnest appeal of her dark eye, there would often be a pause, during + which each, with a half unconscious lapse from the impersonal, would feel more + keenly the joy of this new and delicious mental companionship. And when at length + he answered, sometimes gently refuting and sometimes assenting to her proposition, + it was always with a slow, deliberate earnestness, as if he felt but her deep + sincerity, and forgot for the moment her sex, her youth, and her inexperience. + It was just this kind of fellowship for which she had hungered so long, and + her heart went out with a great gratitude toward this strong and generous man, + who was willing to recognize her humanity, and to respond with an ever-ready + frankness, unmixed with petty suspicions and second thoughts, to the eager needs + of her half- starved nature. It is quite characteristic, too, of the type of + womanhood which Augusta represents (and with which this broad continent of ours + abounds), that, with her habitual disregard of appearances, she would have scorned + the notion that their intercourse had any ultimate end beyond that of mutual + pleasure and instruction.</p> +<p>It was early in the morning in the third week + of Strand's stay at the Parsonage. A heavy + dew had fallen during the night, and each tiny + grass-blade glistened in the sun, bending under + the weight of its liquid diamond. The birds + were improvising a miniature symphony in the + birches at the end of the garden; the song- + thrush warbled with a sweet melancholy his + long-drawn contralto notes; the lark, like a + prima donna, hovering conspicuously in mid + air, poured forth her joyous soprano solo; and + the robin, quite unmindful of the tempo, filled + out the pauses with his thoughtless staccato + chirp. Augusta, who was herself the early bird + of the pastor's family, had paid a visit to the + little bath-house down at the brook, and was + now hurrying homeward, her heavy black hair + confined in a delicate muslin hood, and her lithe + form hastily wrapped in a loose morning gown. + She had paused for a moment under the birches + to listen to the song of the lark, when suddenly + a low, half articulate sound, very unlike the + voice of a bird, arrested her attention; she + raised her eyes, and saw Strand sitting in the + top of a tree, apparently conversing with himself, + or with some tiny thing which he held in + his hands.</p> +<p>"Ah, yes, you poor little sickly thing!" she + heard him mutter. "Don't you make such an + ado now. You shall soon be quite well, if you + will only mind what I tell you. Stop, stop! + Take it easy. It is all for your own good, you + know. If you had only been prudent, and not + stepped on your lame leg, you might have been + spared this affliction. But, after all, it was not + your fault--it was that foolish little mother of + yours. She will remember now that a skein of + hemp thread is not the thing to line her nest + with. If she doesn't, you may tell her that it + was I who said so."</p> +<p>Augusta stood gazing on in mute astonishment; + then, suddenly remembering her hasty + toilet, she started to run; but, as chance would + have it, a dry branch, which hung rather low, + caught at her hood, and her hair fell in a black + wavy stream down over her shoulders. She + gave a little cry, the tree shook violently, and + Strand was at her side. She blushed crimson + over neck and face, and, in her utter bewilderment, + stood like a culprit before him, unable to + move, unable to speak, and only returning with + a silent bow his cordial greeting. It seemed to + her that she had ungenerously intruded upon + his privacy, watching him, while he thought + himself unobserved. And Augusta was quite + unskilled in those social accomplishments which + enable young ladies to hide their inward emotions + under a show of polite indifference, for, + however hard she strove, she could not suppress + a slight quivering of her lips, and her intense + self-reproach made Strand's words fall dimly on + her ears, and prevented her from gathering the + meaning of what he was saying. He held in + his hands a young bird with a yellow line along + the edge of its bill (and there was something + beautifully soft and tender in the way those + large palms of his handled any living thing), + and he looked pityingly at it while he spoke.</p> +<p>"The mother of this little linnet," he said, + smiling, "did what many foolish young mothers + are apt to do. She took upon her the responsibility + of raising offspring without having acquired + the necessary knowledge of housekeeping. + So she lined her nest with hemp, and the + consequence was, that her first-born got his legs + entangled, and was obliged to remain in the + nest long after his wings had reached their full + development. I saw her feeding him about a + week ago, and, as my curiosity prompted me to + look into the case, I released the little cripple, + cleansed the deep wound which the threads had + cut in his flesh, and have since been watching + him during his convalescence. Now he is quite + in a fair way, but I had to apply some salve, + and to cut off the feathers about the wound, and + the little fool squirmed under the pain, and grew + rebellious. Only notice this scar, if you please, + Miss Oddson, and you may imagine what the + poor thing must have suffered."</p> +<p>Augusta gave a start; she timidly raised her + eyes, and saw Strand's grave gaze fixed upon + her. She felt as if some intolerable spell had + come over her, and, as her agitation increased, + her power of speech seemed utterly to desert + her.</p> +<p>"Ah, you have not been listening to me?" + said Strand, in a tone of wondering inquiry. + "Pardon me for presuming to believe that my + little invalid could be as interesting to you as + he is to me."</p> +<p>"Mr. Strand," stammered the girl, while the + invisible tears came near choking her voice. + "Mr. Strand--I didn't mean--really--"</p> +<p>She knew that if she said another word she + should burst into tears. With a violent effort, + she gathered up her wrapper, which somehow + had got unbuttoned at the neck, and, with + heedlessly hurrying steps, darted away toward the + house.</p> +<p>Strand stood looking after her, quite unmindful + of his feathered patient, which flew chirping + about him in the grass. Two hours later Arnfinn + found him sitting under the birches with + his hands clasped over the top of his head, and + his surgical instruments scattered on the ground + around him.</p> +<p>"Corpo di Baccho," exclaimed the student, + stooping to pick up the precious tools; "have + you been amputating your own head, or is it I + who am dreaming?"</p> +<p>"Ah," murmured Strand, lifting a large, + strange gaze upon his friend, "is it you?"</p> +<p>"Who else should it be? I come to call you + to breakfast."</p> +<p></p> +<p>IV.</p> +<p> + "I wonder what is up between Strand and + Augusta?" said Arnfinn to his cousin Inga. The + questioner was lying in the grass at her feet, + resting his chin on his palms, and gazing with + roguishly tender eyes up into her fresh, blooming + face; but Inga, who was reading aloud from + "David Copperfield," and was deep in the + matrimonial tribulations of that noble hero, only + said "hush," and continued reading. Arnfinn, + after a minute's silence, repeated his remark, + whereupon his fair cousin wrenched his cane + out of his hand, and held it threateningly over + his head.</p> +<p>"Will you be a good boy and listen?" she + exclaimed, playfully emphasizing each word + with a light rap on his curly pate.</p> +<p>"Ouch! that hurts," cried Arnfinn, and + dodged.</p> +<p>"It was meant to hurt," replied Inga, with + mock severity, and returned to "Copperfield."</p> +<p>Presently the seed of a corn-flower struck the + tip of her nose, and again the cane was lifted; + but Dora's housekeeping experiences were too + absorbingly interesting, and the blue eyes could + not resist their fascination.</p> +<p>"Cousin Inga," said Arnfinn, and this time + with as near an approach to earnestness as he + was capable of at that moment, "I do believe + that Strand is in love with Augusta."</p> +<p>Inga dropped the book, and sent him what + was meant to be a glance of severe rebuke, and + then said, in her own amusingly emphatic way:</p> +<p>"I do wish you wouldn't joke with such + things, Arnfinn."</p> +<p>"Joke! Indeed I am not joking. I wish to + heaven that I were. What a pity it is that she + has taken such a dislike to him!"</p> +<p>"Dislike! Oh, you are a profound philosopher, + you are! You think that because she + avoids--"</p> +<p>Here Inga abruptly clapped her hand over + her mouth, and, with sudden change of voice + and expression, said:</p> +<p>"I am as silent as the grave."</p> +<p>"Yes, you are wonderfully discreet," cried + Arnfinn, laughing, while the girl bit her under + lip with an air of penitence and mortification + which, in any other bosom than a cousin's would + have aroused compassion.</p> +<p>"Aha! So steht's!" he broke forth, with + another burst of merriment; then, softened by the + sight of a tear that was slowly gathering beneath + her eyelashes, he checked his laughter, + crept up to her side, and in a half childishly + coaxing, half caressing tone, he whispered:</p> +<p>"Dear little cousin, indeed I didn't mean to + hurt your feelings. You are not angry with + me, are you? And if you will only promise me + not to tell, I have something here which I should + like to show you."</p> +<p>He well knew that there was nothing which + would sooner soothe Inga's wrath than confiding + a secret to her; and while he was a boy, he had, + in cases of sore need, invented secrets lest his + life should be made miserable by the sense that + she was displeased with him. In this instance + her anger was not strong enough to resist the + anticipation of a secret, probably relating to + that little drama which had, during the last + weeks, been in progress under her very eyes. + With a resolute movement, she brushed her + tears away, bent eagerly forward, and, in the + next moment, her face was all expectancy and + animation.</p> +<p>Arnfinn pulled a thick black note-book from + his breast pocket, opened it in his lap, and read:</p> +<p>"August 3, 5 A. M.--My little invalid is doing + finely; he seemed to relish much a few dozen + flies which I brought him in my hand. His + pulse is to-day, for the first time, normal. He + is beginning to step on the injured leg without + apparent pain.</p> +<p>"10 A. M.--Miss Augusta's eyes have a strange, + lustrous brilliancy whenever she speaks of subjects + which seem to agitate the depths of her + being. How and why is it that an excessive + amount of feeling always finds its first expression + in the eye? One kind of emotion seems to widen + the pupil, another kind to contract it. TO be + noticed in future, how particular emotions affect + the eye.</p> +<p>"6 P. M.--I met a plover on the beach this + afternoon. By imitating his cry, I induced him + to come within a few feet of me. The plover, + as his cry indicates, is a very melancholy bird. + In fact I believe the melancholy temperament to + be prevailing among the wading birds, as the + phlegmatic among birds of prey. The singing + birds are choleric or sanguine. Tease a thrush, + or even a lark, and you will soon be convinced. + A snipe, or plover, as far as my experience goes, + seldom shows anger; you cannot tease them. + To be considered, how far the voice of a bird may + be indicative of its temperament.</p> +<p>"August 5, 9 P. M.--Since the unfortunate + meeting yesterday morning, when my intense + pre-occupation with my linnet, which had torn + its wound open again, probably made me commit + some breach of etiquette, Miss Augusta + avoids me.</p> +<p>"August 7--I am in a most singular state. + My pulse beats 85, which is a most unheard-of + thing for me, as my pulse is naturally full and + slow. And, strangely enough, I do not feel at + all unwell. On the contrary, my physical well- + being is rather heightened than otherwise. + The life of a whole week is crowded into a day, + and that of a day into an hour."</p> +<p>Inga, who, at several points of this narrative, + had been struggling hard to preserve her gravity, + here burst into a ringing laugh.</p> +<p>"That is what I call scientific love-making," + said Arnfinn, looking up from the book with an + expression of subdued amusement.</p> +<p>"But Arnfinn," cried the girl, while the laughter + quickly died out of her face, "does Mr. + Strand know that you are reading this?"</p> +<p>"To be sure he does. And that is just what + to my mind makes the situation so excessively + comical. He has himself no suspicion that this + book contains anything but scientific notes. He + appears to prefer the empiric method in love as + in philosophy. I verily believe that he is + innocently experimenting with himself, with a view + to making some great physiological discovery."</p> +<p>"And so he will, perhaps," rejoined the girl, + the mixture of gayety and grave solicitude + making her face, as her cousin thought, particularly + charming.</p> +<p>"Only not a physiological, but possibly a + psychological one," remarked Arnfinn. "But + listen to this. Here is something rich:</p> +<p>"August 9--Miss Augusta once said something + about the possibility of animals being immortal. + Her eyes shone with a beautiful animation + as she spoke. I am longing to continue + the subject with her. It haunts me the whole + day long. There may be more in the idea than + appears to a superficial observer."</p> +<p>"Oh, how charmingly he understands how to + deceive himself," cried Inga.</p> +<p>"Merely a quid pro quo," said Arnfinn.</p> +<p>"I know what I shall do!"</p> +<p>"And so do I."</p> +<p>"Won't you tell me, please?"</p> +<p>"No."</p> +<p>"Then I sha'n't tell you either."</p> +<p>And they flew apart like two thoughtless little + birds ("sanguine," as Strand would have called + them), each to ponder on some formidable plot + for the reconciliation of the estranged lovers.</p> +<p></p> +<p>V.</p> +<p> During the week that ensued, the multifarious sub-currents of Strand's passion + seemed slowly to gather themselves into one clearly defined stream, and, after + much scientific speculation, he came to the conclusion that he loved Augusta. + In a moment of extreme discouragement, he made a clean breast of it to Arnfinn, + at the same time informing him that he had packed his knapsack, and would start + on his wanderings again the next morning. All his friend's entreaties were in + vain; he would and must go. Strand was an exasperatingly head- strong fellow, + and persuasions never prevailed with him. He had confirmed himself in the belief + that he was very unattractive to women, and that Augusta, of all women, for + some reason which was not quite clear to him, hated and abhorred him. Inexperienced + as he was, he could see no reason why she should avoid him, if she did not hate + him. They sat talking until mid- night, each entangling himself in those passionate + paradoxes and contradictions peculiar to passionate and impulsive youth. Strand + paced the floor with large steps, pouring out his long pent-up emotion in violent + tirades of self- accusation and regret; while Arnfinn sat on the bed, trying + to soothe his excitement by assuring him that he was not such a monster as, + for the moment, he had believed himself to be, but only succeeding, in spite + of all his efforts, in pouring oil on the flames. Strand was scientifically + convinced that Nature, in accordance with some inscrutable law of equilibrium, + had found it necessary to make him physically unattractive, perhaps to indemnify + mankind for that excess of intellectual gifts which, at the expense of the race + at large, she had bestowed upon him.</p> +<p>Early the next morning, as a kind of etherealized + sunshine broke through the white muslin + curtains of Arnfinn's room, and long streaks of + sun-illumined dust stole through the air toward + the sleeper's pillow, there was a sharp rap at the + door, and Strand entered. His knapsack was + strapped over his shoulders, his long staff was in + his hand, and there was an expression of + conscious martyrdom in his features. Arnfinn + raised himself on his elbows, and rubbed his + eyes with a desperate determination to get + awake, but only succeeded in gaining a very + dim impression of a beard, a blue woolen shirt, + and a disproportionately large shoe buckle. The + figure advanced to the bed, extended a broad, + sun-burned hand, and a deep bass voice was + heard to say:</p> +<p>"Good-bye, brother."</p> +<p>Arnfinn, who was a hard sleeper, gave another + rub, and, in a querulously sleepy tone, managed + to mutter:</p> +<p>"Why,--is it as late as that--already?"</p> +<p>The words of parting were more remotely + repeated, the hand closed about Arnfinn's half- + unfeeling fingers, the lock on the door gave a + little sharp click, and all was still. But the + sunshine drove the dust in a dumb, confused dance + through the room.</p> +<p>Some four hours later, Arnfinn woke up with + a vague feeling as if some great calamity had + happened; he was not sure but that he had slept + a fortnight or more. He dressed with a sleepy, + reckless haste, being but dimly conscious of the + logic of the various processes of ablution which + he underwent. He hurried up to Strand's room, + but, as he had expected, found it empty.</p> +<p>During all the afternoon, the reading of "David + Copperfield" was interrupted by frequent + mutual condolences, and at times Inga's hand + would steal up to her eye to brush away a + treacherous tear. But then she only read the + faster, and David and Agnes were already safe + in the haven of matrimony before either she or + Arnfinn was aware that they had struggled + successfully through the perilous reefs and quick- + sands of courtship.</p> +<p>Augusta excused herself from supper, Inga's + forced devices at merriment were too transparent, + Arnfinn's table-talk was of a rambling, + incoherent sort, and he answered dreadfully + malapropos, if a chance word was addressed to him, + and even the good-natured pastor began, at last, + to grumble; for the inmates of the Gran Parsonage + seemed to have but one life and one soul in + common, and any individual disturbance immediately + disturbed the peace and happiness of the + whole household. Now gloom had, in some + unaccountable fashion, obscured the common + atmosphere. Inga shook her small wise head, and + tried to extract some little consolation from the + consciousness that she knew at least some things + which Arnfinn did not know, and which it would + be very unsafe to confide to him.</p> +<p></p> +<p>VI.</p> +<p> + Four weeks after Strand's departure, as the + summer had already assumed that tinge of sadness + which impresses one as a foreboding of + coming death, Augusta was walking along the + beach, watching the flight of the sea-birds. Her + latest "aberration," as Arnfinn called it, was an + extraordinary interest in the habits of the eider- + ducks, auks, and sea-gulls, the noisy monotony + of whose existence had, but a few months ago, + appeared to her the symbol of all that was vulgar + and coarse in human and animal life. Now + she had even provided herself with a note-book, + and (to use once more the language of her + unbelieving cousin) affected a half-scientific interest + in their clamorous pursuits. She had made + many vain attempts to imitate their voices and + to beguile them into closer intimacy, and had + found it hard at times to suppress her indignation + when they persisted in viewing her in the + light of an intruder, and in returning her amiable + approaches with shy suspicion, as if they + doubted the sincerity of her intentions.</p> +<p>She was a little paler now, perhaps, than before, + but her eyes had still the same lustrous + depth, and the same sweet serenity was still + diffused over her features, and softened, like a + pervading tinge of warm color, the grand + simplicity of her presence. She sat down on a + large rock, picked up a curiously twisted shell, + and seeing a plover wading in the surf, gave a + soft, low whistle, which made the bird turn + round and gaze at her with startled distrust. + She repeated the call, but perhaps a little too + eagerly, and the bird spread its wings with a + frightened cry, and skimmed, half flying, half + running, out over the glittering surface of the + fjord. But from the rocks close by came a long + melancholy whistle like that of a bird in + distress, and the girl rose and hastened with eager + steps toward the spot. She climbed up on a + stone, fringed all around with green slimy sea- + weeds, in order to gain a wider view of the + beach. Then suddenly some huge figure started + up between the rocks at her feet; she gave a + little scream, her foot slipped, and in the next + moment she lay--in Strand's arms. He offered + no apology, but silently carried her over the + slippery stones, and deposited her tenderly upon + the smooth white sand. There it occurred to + her that his attention was quite needless, but at + the moment she was too startled to make any + remonstrance.</p> +<p>"But how in the world, Mr. Strand, did you + come here?" she managed at last to stammer. + "We all thought that you had gone away."</p> +<p>"I hardly know myself," said Strand, in a + beseeching undertone, quite different from his + usual confident bass. "I only know that--that + I was very wretched, and that I had to come + back."</p> +<p>Then there was a pause, which to both seemed + quite interminable, and, in order to fill it out in + some way, Strand began to move his head and + arms uneasily, and at length seated himself at + Augusta's side. The blood was beating with + feverish vehemence in her temples, and for the + first time in her life she felt something akin to + pity for this large, strong man, whose strength + and cheerful self-reliance had hitherto seemed + to raise him above the need of a woman's aid + and sympathy. Now the very shabbiness of his + appearance, and the look of appealing misery in + his features, opened in her bosom the gate + through which compassion could enter, and, + with that generous self-forgetfulness which was + the chief factor of her character, she leaned + over toward him, and said:</p> +<p>"You must have been very sick, Mr. Strand. + Why did you not come to us and allow us to + take care of you, instead of roaming about here + in this stony wilderness?"</p> +<p>"Yes; I have been sick," cried Strand, with + sudden vehemence, seizing her hand; "but it is + a sickness of which I shall never, never be + healed."</p> +<p>And with that world-old eloquence which is yet ever new, he poured forth his + passionate confession in her ear, and she listened, hungrily at first, then + with serene, wide-eyed happiness. He told her how, driven by his inward restlessness, + he had wandered about in the mountains, until one evening at a saeter, he had + heard a peasant lad singing a song, in which this stanza occurred:</p> +<blockquote> + <p> "A woman's frown, a woman's smile, <br> + <p>Nor hate nor fondness prove;<br> + <p> For maidens smile on him they hate, <br> + <p>And fly from him they love." <br> + <p> +</blockquote> +<p>Then it had occurred to him for the first time + in his life that a woman's behavior need not be + the logical indicator of her deepest feelings, + and, enriched with this joyful discovery, + inspired with new hope, he had returned, but had + not dared at once to seek the Parsonage, until + he could invent some plausible reason for his + return; but his imagination was very poor, and + he had found none, except that he loved the + pastor's beautiful daughter.</p> +<p>The evening wore on. The broad mountain- + guarded valley, flooded now to the brim with a + soft misty light, spread out about them, and + filled them with a delicious sense of security. + The fjord lifted its grave gaze toward the sky, + and deepened responsively with a bright, ever- + receding immensity. The young girl felt this + blessed peace gently stealing over her; doubt + and struggle were all past, and the sun shone + ever serene and unobscured upon the widening + expanses of the future. And in his breast, too, + that mood reigned in which life looks boundless + and radiant, human woes small or impossible, + and one's own self large and all-conquering. + In that hour they remodeled this old and + obstinate world of ours, never doubting that, if + each united his faith and strength with the + other's, they could together lift its burden.</p> +<p>That night was the happiest and most memorable + night in the history of the Gran Parsonage. + The pastor walked up and down on the floor, + rubbing his hands in quiet contentment. Inga, + to whom an engagement was essentially a sol- + emn affair, sat in a corner and gazed at her + sister and Strand with tearful radiance. Arnfinn + gave vent to his joy by bestowing embraces + promiscuously upon whomsoever chanced to + come in his way.</p> +<p>This story, however, has a brief but not + unimportant sequel. It was not many weeks after + this happy evening that Arnfinn and the maiden + with the "amusingly unclassical nose" presented + themselves in the pastor's study and asked for + his paternal and unofficial blessing. But the + pastor, I am told, grew very wroth, and + demanded that his nephew should first take his + second and third degrees, attaching, besides, + some very odious stipulations regarding average + in study and college standing, before there could + be any talk about engagement or matrimony. + So, at present, Arnfinn is still studying, and the + fair-haired Inga is still waiting.</p> +<p></p> +<p>TRULS, THE NAMELESS.</p> +<p>HE was born in the houseman's lodge; + she in the great mansion. He did not + know who his father was; she was + the daughter of Grim of Skogli, and + she was the only daughter he had. They were + carried to baptism on the same day, and he was + called Truls, because they had to call him something; + she received the name of Borghild, because + that had been the name of every eldest + born daughter in the family for thirty + generations. They both cried when the pastor poured + the water on their heads; his mother hushed + him, blushed, and looked timidly around her; + but the woman who carried Borghild lifted her + high up in her arms so that everybody could + see her, and the pastor smiled benignly, and the + parishioners said that they had never seen so + beautiful a child. That was the way in which + they began life--he as a child of sin, she as the + daughter of a mighty race.</p> +<p>They grew up together. She had round + cheeks and merry eyes, and her lips were redder + than the red rose. He was of slender + growth, his face was thin and pale, and his eyes + had a strange, benumbed gaze, as if they were + puzzling themselves with some sad, life-long + riddle which they never hoped to solve. On + the strand where they played the billows came + and went, and they murmured faintly with a + sound of infinite remoteness. Borghild laughed + aloud, clapped her hands and threw stones out + into the water, while he sat pale and silent, and + saw the great white-winged sea-birds sailing + through the blue ocean of the sky.</p> +<p>"How would you like to live down there in + the deep green water?" she asked him one day, + as they sat watching the eider-ducks which + swam and dived, and stood on their heads + among the sea-weeds.</p> +<p>"I should like it very well," he answered, "if + you would follow me."</p> +<p>"No, I won't follow you," she cried. "It is + cold and wet down in the water. And I should + spoil the ribbons on my new bodice. But + when I grow up and get big and can braid my + hair, then I shall row with the young lads to the + church yonder on the headland, and there the + old pastor will marry me, and I shall wear the + big silver crown which my mother wore when + she was married."</p> +<p>"And may I go with you?" asked he, timidly.</p> +<p>"Yes, you may steer my boat and be my + helmsman, or--you may be my bridegroom, if + you would like that better."</p> +<p>"Yes, I think I should rather be your + bridegroom," and he gave her a long, strange look + which almost frightened her.</p> +<p>The years slipped by, and before Borghild + knew it, she had grown into womanhood. The + down on Truls's cheeks became rougher, and he, + too, began to suspect that he was no longer a + boy. When the sun was late and the breeze + murmured in the great, dark-crowned pines, + they often met by chance, at the well, on the + strand, or on the saeter-green. And the oftener + they met the more they found to talk about; to + be sure, it was she who did the talking, and he + looked at her with his large wondering eyes and + listened. She told him of the lamb which had + tumbled down over a steep precipice and still + was unhurt, of the baby who pulled the pastor's + hair last Sunday during the baptismal ceremony, + or of the lumberman, Lars, who drank the kero- + sene his wife gave him for brandy, and never + knew the difference. But, when the milkmaids + passed by, she would suddenly forget what she + had been saying, and then they sat gazing at + each other in silence. Once she told him of the + lads who danced with her at the party at Houg; + and she thought she noticed a deeper color on + his face, and that he clinched both his fists and + --thrust them into his pockets. That set her + thinking, and the more she thought, the more + curious she grew. He played the violin well; + suppose she should ask him to come and fiddle + at the party her father was to give at the end + of the harvest. She resolved to do it, and he, + not knowing what moved her, gave his promise + eagerly. It struck her, afterward, that she had + done a wicked thing, but, like most girls, she + had not the heart to wrestle with an uncomfortable + thought; she shook it off and began to hum + a snatch of an old song.</p> +<blockquote> + <p> "O'er the billows the fleet-footed storm-wind rode,<br> + The billows blue are the merman's abode,<br> + So strangely that harp was sounding."</p> +</blockquote> +<p> + The memory of old times came back to her, + the memory of the morning long years ago, + when they sat together on the strand, and he + said; "I think I would rather be your bride- + groom, Borghild." The memory was sweet + but it was bitter too; and the bitterness rose + and filled her heart. She threw her head back + proudly, and laughed a strange, hollow laugh. + "A bastard's bride, ha, ha! A fine tale were + that for the parish gossips." A yellow butterfly + lighted on her arm, and with a fierce frown on + her face she caught it between her fingers. + Then she looked pityingly on the dead wings, + as they lay in her hand, and murmured between + her teeth: "Poor thing! Why did you come + in my way, unbidden?"</p> +<p>The harvest was rich, and the harvest party + was to keep pace with the harvest. The broad + Skogli mansion was festively lighted (for it was + already late in September); the tall, straight + tallow candles, stuck in many-armed candlesticks, + shone dimly through a sort of misty halo, + and only suffused the dusk with a faint glimmering + of light. And every time a guest entered, + the flames of the candles flickered and + twisted themselves with the wind, struggling + to keep erect. And Borghild's courage, too, + rose and fell with the flickering motion of a + flame which wrestles with the wind. Whenever + the latch clicked she lifted her eyes and looked + for Truls, and one moment she wished that she + might never see his face again, and in the next + she sent an eager glance toward the door. Presently + he came, threw his fiddle on a bench, and + with a reckless air walked up to her and held + out his hand. She hesitated to return his greeting, + but when she saw the deep lines of suffering + in his face, her heart went forward with a + great tenderness toward him, a tenderness such + as one feels for a child who is sick, and suffers + without hope of healing. She laid her hand in + his, and there it lay for a while listlessly; for + neither dared trust the joy which the sight of + the other enkindled. But when she tried to + draw her hand away, he caught it quickly, and + with a sudden fervor of voice he said:</p> +<p>"The sight of you, Borghild, stills the hunger + which is raging in my soul. Beware that you + do not play with a life, Borghild, even though + it be a worthless one."</p> +<p>There was something so hopelessly sad in his + words, that they stung her to the quick. They + laid bare a hidden deep in her heart, and she + shrank back st the sight of her own vileness. + How could she repair the injury she had done + him? How could she heal the wound she had + inflicted? A number of guests came up to greet + her and among them Syvert Stein, a bold-look- + ing young man, who, during that summer, had + led her frequently in the dance. He had a + square face, strong features, and a huge crop of + towy hair. His race was far-famed for wit and + daring.</p> +<p>"Tardy is your welcome, Borghild of Skogli," quoth he. "But + what a faint heart does not give a bold hand can grasp, and what I am not offered + I take unbidden." </p> +<p>So saying, he flung his arm about her waist, + lifted her from the floor and put her down in + the middle of the room. Truls stood and gazed + at them with large, bewildered eyes. He tried + hard to despise the braggart, but ended with + envying him.</p> +<p>"Ha, fiddler, strike up a tune that shall ring + through marrow and bone," shouted Syvert + Stein, who struck the floor with his heels and + moved his body to the measure of a spring-dance.</p> +<p>Truls still followed them with his eyes; + suddenly he leaped up, and a wild thought burned + in his breast. But with an effort he checked + himself, grasped his violin, and struck a wailing + chord of lament. Then he laid his ear close + to the instrument, as if he were listening to + some living voice hidden there within, ran wa- + rily with the bow over the strings, and warbled, + and caroled, and sang with maddening glee, and + still with a shivering undercurrent of woe. And + the dusk which slept upon the black rafters was + quickened and shook with the weird sound; + every pulse in the wide hall beat more rapidly, + and every eye kindled with a bolder fire. + Pressently{sic} a Strong male voice sang out to the + measure of the violin:</p> +<p> + "Come, fairest maid, tread the dance with me; + O heigh ho!"</p> +<p>And a clear, tremulous treble answered:</p> +<p>"So gladly tread I the dance with thee; + O heigh ho!"</p> +<p> + Truls knew the voices only too well; it was Syvert Stein + and Borghild who were singing a stave.[8]</p> +<p> + [8] A stave is an improvised responsive song. It is an ancient pastime + in Norway, and is kept up until this day, especially among the peasantry. + The students, also, at their social gatherings, throw improvised + rhymes to each other across the table, and the rest of the company + repeat the refrain.</p> +<blockquote> + <p> Syvert--Like brier-roses thy red cheeks blush,<br> + Borghild--And thine are rough like the thorny bush;<br> + Both--An' a heigho!</p> + <p>Syvert--So fresh and green is the sunny lea;<br> + O heigh ho!<br> + Borghild--The fiddle twangeth so merrily;<br> + O heigh ho!<br> + Syvert--So lightly goeth the lusty reel,<br> + Borghild--And round we whirl like a spinning-wheel;<br> + Both--An' a heigho!</p> + <p>Syvert--Thine eyes are bright like the sunny fjord;<br> + O heigh ho!<br> + Borghild--And thine do flash like a Viking's sword;<br> + O heigh ho!<br> + Syvert--So lightly trippeth thy foot along,<br> + Borghild--The air is teeming with joyful song;<br> + Both--An' a heigh ho!</p> + <p>Syvert--Then fairest maid, while the woods are green,<br> + O heigh ho!<br> + Borghild--And thrushes sing the fresh leaves between;<br> + O heigh ho!<br> + Syvert--Come, let us dance in the gladsome day,<br> + Borghild--Dance hate, and sorrow, and care away;<br> + Both--An' a heigh ho!</p> +</blockquote> +<p> + The stave was at an end. The hot and flushed + dancers straggled over the floor by twos and + threes, and the big beer-horns were passed from + hand to hand. Truls sat in his corner hugging + his violin tightly to his bosom, only to do + something, for he was vaguely afraid of himself-- + afraid of the thoughts that might rise--afraid + of the deed they might prompt. He ran his + fingers over his forehead, but he hardly felt the + touch of his own hand. It was as if something + was dead within him--as if a string had + snapped in his breast, and left it benumbed and + voiceless.</p> +<p>Presently he looked up and saw Borghild + standing before him; she held her arms akimbo, + her eyes shone with a strange light, and her + features wore an air of recklessness mingled + with pity.</p> +<p>"Ah, Borghild, is it you?" said he, in a hoarse + voice. "What do you want with me? I + thought you had done with me now."</p> +<p>"You are a very unwitty fellow," answered + she, with a forced laugh. "The branch that + does not bend must break."</p> +<p>She turned quickly on her heel and was lost + in the crowd. He sat long pondering on her + words, but their meaning remained hidden to + him. The branch that does not bend must + break. Was he the branch, and must he bend + or break? By-and-by he put his hands on his + knees, rose with a slow, uncertain motion, and + stalked heavily toward the door. The fresh + night air would do him good. The thought + breathes more briskly in God's free nature, + under the broad canopy of heaven. The white + mist rose from the fields, and made the valley + below appear like a white sea whose nearness + you feel, even though you do not see it. And + out of the mist the dark pines stretched their + warning hands against the sky, and the moon + was swimming, large and placid, between silvery + islands of cloud. Truls began to beat his arms + against his sides, and felt the warm blood + spreading from his heart and thawing the numbness + of his limbs. Not caring whither he went, + he struck the path leading upward to the + mountains. He took to humming an old air + which happened to come into his head, only to + try if there was life enough left in him to sing. + It was the ballad of Young Kirsten and the + Merman:</p> +<blockquote> + <p> "The billows fall and the billows swell,<br> + In the night so lone,<br> + In the billows blue doth the merman dwell,<br> + And strangely that harp was sounding."</p> +</blockquote> +<p> + He walked on briskly for a while, and, looking + back upon the pain he had endured but a + moment ago, he found it quite foolish and + irrational. An absurd merriment took possession + of him; but all the while he did not know where + his foot stepped; his head swam, and his pulse + beat feverishly. About midway between the + forest and the mansion, where the field sloped + more steeply, grew a clump of birch-trees, + whose slender stems glimmered ghostly white in + the moonlight. Something drove Truls to leave + the beaten road, and, obeying the impulse, he + steered toward the birches. A strange sound + fell upon his ear, like the moan of one in + distress. It did not startle him; indeed, he was in + a mood when nothing could have caused him + wonder. If the sky had suddenly tumbled + down upon him, with moon and all, he would + have taken it as a matter of course. Peering + for a moment through the mist, he discerned + the outline of a human figure. With three + great strides he reached the birch-tree; at his + feet sat Borghild rocking herself to and fro and + weeping piteously. Without a word he seated + himself at her side and tried to catch a glimpse + of her face; but she hid it from him and went + on sobbing. Still there could be no doubt that + it was Borghild--one hour ago so merry, reckless, + and defiant, now cowering at his feet and + weeping like a broken-hearted child.</p> +<p>"Borghild," he said, at last, putting his arm + gently about her waist, "you and I, I think, + played together when we were children."</p> +<p>"So we did, Truls," answered she, struggling + with her tears.</p> +<p>"And as we grew up, we spent many a pleasant + hour with each other."</p> +<p>"Many a pleasant hour."</p> +<p>She raised her head, and he drew her more + closely to him.</p> +<p>"But since then I have done you a great + wrong," began she, after a while.</p> +<p>"Nothing done that cannot yet be undone," + he took heart to answer.</p> +<p>It was long before her thoughts took shape, + and, when at length they did, she dared not + give them utterance. Nevertheless, she was all + the time conscious of one strong desire, from + which her conscience shrank as from a crime; + and she wrestled ineffectually with her weakness + until her weakness prevailed.</p> +<p>"I am glad you came," she faltered. "I + knew you would come. There was something I + wished to say to you."</p> +<p>"And what was it, Borghild?"</p> +<p>"I wanted to ask you to forgive me--"</p> +<p>"Forgive you--"</p> +<p>He sprang up as if something had stung him.</p> +<p>"And why not?" she pleaded, piteously.</p> +<p>"Ah, girl, you know not what you ask," + cried he, with a sternness which startled her. + "If I had more than one life to waste--but you + caress with one hand and stab with the other. + Fare thee well, Borghild, for here our paths + separate."</p> +<p>He turned his back upon her and began to + descend the slope.</p> +<p>"For God's sake, stay, Truls," implored she, + and stretched her arms appealingly toward him; + "tell me, oh, tell me all."</p> +<p>With a leap he was again at her side, stooped + down over her, and, in a hoarse, passionate + whisper, spoke the secret of his life in her ear. + She gazed for a moment steadily into his face, + then, in a few hurried words, she pledged him + her love, her faith, her all. And in the stillness + of that summer night they planned together + their flight to a greater and freer land, where no + world-old prejudice frowned upon the union of + two kindred souls. They would wait in patience + and silence until spring; then come the fresh + winds from the ocean, and, with them, the birds + of passage which awake the longings in the + Norsernen's breasts, and the American vessels + which give courage to many a sinking spirit, + strength to the wearied arm, hope to the hopeless heart.</p> +<p>During that winter Truls and Borghild seldom saw each other. The parish was + filled with rumors, and after the Christmas holiday it was told for certain + that the proud maiden of Skogli had been promised in marriage to Syvert Stein. + It was the general belief that the families had made the match, and that Borghild, + at least, had hardly had any voice in the matter. Another report was that she + had flatly refused to listen to any proposal from that quarter, and that, when + she found that resistance was vain, she had cried three days and three nights, + and refused to take any food. When this rumor reached the pastor's ear, he pronounced + it an idle tale; "for," said he, "Borghild has always been a + proper and well-behaved maiden, and she knows that she must honor father and + mother, that it may be well with her, and she live long upon the land." +</p> +<p>But Borghild sat alone in her gable window + and looked longingly toward the ocean. The + glaciers glittered, the rivers swelled, the buds of + the forest burst, and great white sails began to + glimmer on the far western horizon.</p> +<p>If Truls, the Nameless, as scoffers were wont + to call him, had been a greater personage in the + valley, it would, no doubt, have shocked the + gossips to know that one fine morning he sold + his cow, his gun and his dog, and wrapped sixty + silver dollars in a leathern bag, which he sewed + fast to the girdle he wore about his waist. That + same night some one was heard playing wildly + up in the birch copse above the Skogli mansion; + now it sounded like a wail of distress, then like a + fierce, defiant laugh, and now again the music + seemed to hush itself into a heart-broken, sorrowful + moan, and the people crossed themselves, and + whispered: "Our Father;" but Borghild sat at + her gable window and listened long to the weird + strain. The midnight came, but she stirred not. + With the hour of midnight the music ceased. + From the windows of hall and kitchen the light + streamed out into the damp air, and the darkness + stood like a wall on either side; within, + maids and lads were busy brewing, baking, and + washing, for in a week there was to be a + wedding on the farm.</p> +<p>The week went and the wedding came. + Truls had not closed his eyes all that night, + and before daybreak he sauntered down along + the beach and gazed out upon the calm fjord, + where the white-winged sea-birds whirled in + great airy surges around the bare crags. Far + up above the noisy throng an ospray sailed on + the blue expanse of the sky, and quick as + thought swooped down upon a halibut which + had ventured to take a peep at the rising sun. + The huge fish struggled for a moment at the + water's edge, then, with a powerful stroke of + its tail, which sent the spray hissing through + the air, dived below the surface. The bird of + prey gave a loud scream, flapped fiercely with + its broad wings, and for several minutes a + thickening cloud of applauding ducks and seagulls + and showers of spray hid the combat from + the observer's eye. When the birds scattered, + the ospray had vanished, and the waters again + glittered calmly in the morning sun. Truls + stood long, vacantly staring out upon the scene + of the conflict, and many strange thoughts + whirled through his head.</p> +<p>"Halloo, fiddler!" cried a couple of lads who + had come to clear the wedding boats, "you are + early on foot to-day. Here is a scoop. Come + on and help us bail the boats."</p> +<p>Truls took the scoop, and looked at it as if he + had never seen such a thing before; he moved + about heavily, hardly knowing what he did, but + conscious all the while of his own great misery. + His limbs seemed half frozen, and a dull pain + gathered about his head and in his breast--in + fact, everywhere and nowhere.</p> +<p>About ten o'clock the bridal procession + descended the slope to the fjord. Syvert Stein, + the bridegroom, trod the earth with a firm, + springy step, and spoke many a cheery word to + tho bride, who walked, silent and with downcast + eyes, at his side. She wore the ancestral + bridal crown on her head, and the little silver + disks around its edge tinkled and shook as she + walked. They hailed her with firing of guns + and loud hurrahs as she stepped into the boat; + still she did not raise her eyes, but remained + silent. A small cannon, also an heir-loom in the + family, was placed amidships, and Truls, with + his violin, took his seat in the prow. A large + solitary cloud, gold-rimmed but with thunder + in its breast, sailed across the sky and threw its + shadow over the bridal boat as it was pushed + out from the shore, and the shadow fell upon + the bride's countenance too; and when she + lifted it, the mother of the bridegroom, who sat + opposite her, shrank back, for the countenance + looked hard, as if carved in stone--in the eyes + a mute, hopeless appeal; on the lips a frozen + prayer. The shadow of thunder upon a life + that was opening--it was an ill omen, and its + gloom sank into the hearts of the wedding + guests. They spoke in undertones and threw + pitying glances at the bride. Then at length + Syvert Stein lost his patience.</p> +<p>"In sooth," cried he, springing up from his + seat, "where is to-day the cheer that is wont to + abide in the Norseman's breast? Methinks I + see but sullen airs and ill-boding glances. Ha, + fiddler, now move your strings lustily! None + of your funeral airs, my lad, but a merry tune + that shall sing through marrow and bone, and + make the heart leap in the bosom."</p> +<p>Truls heard the words, and in a slow, + mechanical way he took the violin out of its case and + raised it to his chin. Syvert in the mean while + put a huge silver beer-jug to his mouth, and, + pledging his guests, emptied it even to the + dregs. But the bride's cheek was pale; and it + was so still in the boat that every man could + hear his own breathing.</p> +<p>"Ha, to-day is Syvert Stein's wedding-day!" + shouted the bridegroom, growing hot with + wrath. "Let us try if the iron voice of the + cannon can wake my guests from their slumber."</p> +<p>He struck a match and put it to the touch- + hole of the cannon; a long boom rolled away + over the surface of the waters and startled the + echoes of the distant glaciers. A faint hurrah + sounded from the nearest craft, but there came + no response from the bridal boat. Syvert pulled + the powder-horn from his pocket, laughed a + wild laugh, and poured the whole contents of + the horn into the mouth of the cannon.</p> +<p>"Now may the devil care for his own," roared + he, and sprang up upon the row-bench. Then + there came a low murmuring strain as of wavelets + that ripple against a sandy shore. Borghild + lifted her eyes, and they met those of the fiddler.</p> +<p>"Ah, I think I should rather be your + bridegroom," whispered she, and a ray of life stole + into her stony visage.</p> +<p>And she saw herself as a little rosy-cheeked + girl sitting at his side on the beach fifteen years + ago. But the music gathered strength from + her glance, and onward it rushed through the + noisy years of boyhood, shouting with wanton + voice in the lonely glen, lowing with the cattle + on the mountain pastures, and leaping like the + trout at eventide in the brawling rapids; but + through it all there ran a warm strain of boyish + loyalty and strong devotion, and it thawed her + frozen heart; for she knew that it was all for + her and for her only. And it seemed such a + beautiful thing, this long faithful life, which + through sorrow and joy, through sunshine and + gloom, for better for worse, had clung so fast + to her. The wedding guests raised their heads, + and a murmur of applause ran over the waters.</p> +<p>"Bravo!" cried the bridegroom. "Now at + last the tongues are loosed."</p> +<p>Truls's gaze dwelt with tender sadness on the + bride. Then came from the strings some airy + quivering chords, faintly flushed like the petals + of the rose, and fragrant like lilies of the valley; + and they swelled with a strong, awakening + life, and rose with a stormy fullness until they + seemed on the point of bursting, when again + they hushed themselves and sank into a low, + disconsolate whisper. Once more the tones + stretched out their arms imploringly, and again + they wrestled despairingly with themselves, fled + with a stern voice of warning, returned once + more, wept, shuddered, and were silent.</p> +<p>"Beware that thou dost not play with a life!" + sighed the bride, "even though it be a worthless one."</p> +<p>The wedding guests clapped their hands and + shouted wildly against the sky. The bride's + countenance burned with a strange feverish + glow. The fiddler arose in the prow of the + boat, his eyes flamed, he struck the strings + madly, and the air trembled with melodious + rapture. The voice of that music no living + tongue can interpret. But the bride fathomed + its meaning; her bosom labored vehemently, + her lips quivered for an instant convulsively, + and she burst into tears. A dark + suspicion shot through the bridegroom's mind. + He stared intently upon the weeping Borghild + then turned his gaze to the fiddler, who, still + regarding her, stood playing, with a half-frenzied + look and motion.</p> +<p>"You cursed wretch!" shrieked Syvert, and + made a leap over two benches to where Truls was + standing. It came so unexpectedly that Truls + had no time to prepare for defense; so he merely + stretched out the hand in which he held the + violin to ward off the blow which he saw was + coming; but Syvert tore the instrument from + his grasp and dashed it against the cannon, and, + as it happened, just against the touch-hole. + With a tremendous crash something black + darted through the air and a white smoke + brooded over the bridal boat. The bridegroom + stood pale and stunned. At his feet lay Borghild-- + lay for a moment still, as if lifeless, then + rose on her elbows, and a dark red current + broke from her breast. The smoke scattered. + No one saw how it was done; but a moment + later Truls, the Nameless, lay kneeling at + Borghild's side.</p> +<p>"It WAS a worthless life, beloved," whispered + he, tenderly. "Now it is at an end."</p> +<p>And he lifted her up in his arms as one lifts + a beloved child, pressed a kiss on her pale lips, + and leaped into the water. Like lead they fell + into the sea. A throng of white bubbles whirled + up to the surface. A loud wail rose from + the bridal fleet, and before the day was at an + end it filled the valley; but the wail did not + recall Truls, the Nameless, or Borghild his + bride.</p> +<p>What life denied them, would to God that + death may yield them!</p> +<p></p> +<p>ASATHOR'S VENGEANCE.</p> +<p>I.</p> +<p>IT was right up under the steel mountain + wall where the farm of Kvaerk + lay. How any man of common sense + could have hit upon the idea of building + a house there, where none but the goat and + the hawk had easy access, had been, and I am + afraid would ever be, a matter of wonder to the + parish people. However, it was not Lage Kvaerk + who had built the house, so he could hardly be + made responsible for its situation. Moreover, + to move from a place where one's life has once + struck deep root, even if it be in the chinks and + crevices of stones and rocks, is about the same + as to destroy it. An old tree grows but poorly + in a new soil. So Lage Kvaerk thought, and so + he said, too, whenever his wife Elsie spoke of + her sunny home at the river.</p> +<p>Gloomy as Lage usually was, he had his + brighter moments, and people noticed that these + were most likely to occur when Aasa, his daughter, + was near. Lage was probably also the only + being whom Aasa's presence could cheer; on + other people it seemed to have the very opposite + effect; for Aasa was--according to the testimony + of those who knew her--the most peculiar creature + that ever was born. But perhaps no one + did know her; if her father was right, no one + really did--at least no one but himself.</p> +<p>Aasa was all to her father; she was his past and she was his future, his hope + and his life; and withal it must be admitted that those who judged her without + knowing her had at least in one respect as just an opinion of her as he; for + there was no denying that she was strange, very strange. She spoke when she + ought to be silent, and was silent when it was proper to speak; wept when she + ought to laugh, and laughed when it was proper to weep; but her laughter as + well as her tears, her speech like her silence, seemed to have their source + from within her own soul, to be occasioned, as it were, by something which no + one else could see or hear. It made little difference where she was; if the + tears came, she yielded to them as if they were something she had long desired + in vain. Few could weep like her, and "weep like Aasa Kvaerk," was + soon also added to the stock of parish proverbs. And then her laugh! Tears may + be inopportune enough, when they come out of time, but laughter is far worse; + and when poor Aasa once burst out into a ringing laughter in church, and that + while the minister was pronouncing the benediction, it was only with the greatest + difficulty that her father could prevent the indignant congregation from seizing + her and carrying her before the sheriff for violation of the church-peace. Had + she been poor and homely, then of course nothing could have saved her; but she + happened to be both rich and beautiful, and to wealth and beauty much is pardoned. + Aasa's beauty, however, was also of a very unusual kind; not the tame sweetness + so common in her sex, but something of the beauty of the falcon, when it swoops + down upon the unwatchful sparrow or soars round the lonely crags; something + of the mystic depth of the dark tarn, when with bodeful trembling you gaze down + into it, and see its weird traditions rise from its depth and hover over the + pine-tops in the morning fog. Yet, Aasa was not dark; her hair was as fair and + yellow as a wheat-field in August, her forehead high and clear, and her mouth + and chin as if cut with a chisel; only her eyes were perhaps somewhat deeper + than is common in the North, and the longer you looked at them the deeper they + grew, just like the tarn, which, if you stare long enough into it, you will + find is as deep as the heavens above, that is, whose depth only faith and fancy + can fathom. But however long you looked at Aasa, you could never be quite sure + that she looked at you; she seemed but to half notice whatever went on around + her; the look of her eye was always more than half inward, and when it shone + the brightest, it might well happen that she could not have told you how many + years she had lived, or the name her father gave her in baptism.</p> +<p>Now Aasa was eighteen years old, and could + knit, weave, and spin, and it was full time that + wooers should come. "But that is the consequence + of living in such an out-of-the-way + place," said her mother; "who will risk his + limbs to climb that neck-breaking rock? and the + round-about way over the forest is rather too + long for a wooer." Besides handling the loom + and the spinning-wheel, Aasa had also learned + to churn and make cheese to perfection, and + whenever Elsie grieved at her strange behavior + she always in the end consoled herself with the + reflection that after all Aasa would make the + man who should get her an excellent housewife.</p> +<p>The farm of Kvaerk was indeed most singularly + situated. About a hundred feet from the + house the rough wall of the mountain rose steep + and threatening; and the most remarkable part + of it was that the rock itself caved inward and + formed a lofty arch overhead, which looked like + a huge door leading into the mountain. Some + short distance below, the slope of the fields + ended in an abrupt precipice; far underneath + lay the other farm-houses of the valley, scattered + like small red or gray dots, and the river wound + onward like a white silver stripe in the shelter + of the dusky forest. There was a path down + along the rock, which a goat or a brisk lad + might be induced to climb, if the prize of the + experiment were great enough to justify the + hazard. The common road to Kvaerk made a + large circuit around the forest, and reached the + valley far up at its northern end.</p> +<p>It was difficult to get anything to grow at + Kvaerk. In the spring all the valley lay bare + and green, before the snow had begun to think + of melting up there; and the night-frost would + be sure to make a visit there, while the fields + along the river lay silently drinking the summer + dew. On such occasions the whole family at + Kvaerk would have to stay up during all the + night and walk back and forth on either side of + the wheat-fields, carrying a long rope between + them and dragging it slowly over the heads of + the rye, to prevent the frost from settling; for + as long as the ears could be kept in motion, + they could not freeze. But what did thrive at + Kvaerk in spite of both snow and night-frost was + legends, and they throve perhaps the better for + the very sterility of its material soil. Aasa of + course had heard them all and knew them by + heart; they had been her friends from childhood, + and her only companions. All the servants, + however, also knew them and many others + besides, and if they were asked how the mansion + of Kvaerk happened to be built like an eagle's + nest on the brink of a precipice, they would tell + you the following:</p> +<p>Saint Olaf, Norway's holy king, in the time of + his youth had sailed as a Viking over the wide + ocean, and in foreign lands had learned the + doctrine of Christ the White. When he came + home to claim the throne of his hereditary + kingdom, he brought with him tapers and black + priests, and commanded the people to overthrow + the altars of Odin and Thor and to believe alone + in Christ the White. If any still dared to + slaughter a horse to the old gods, he cut off + their ears, burned their farms, and drove them + houseless from the smoking ruins. Here in the + valley old Thor, or, as they called him, Asathor, + had always helped us to vengeance and victory, + and gentle Frey for many years had given us + fair and fertile summers. Therefore the peasants + paid little heed to King Olaf's god, and + continued to bring their offerings to Odin and + Asathor. This reached the king's ear, and he + summoned his bishop and five black priests, and + set out to visit our valley. Having arrived + here, he called the peasants together, stood up + on the Ting-stone, told them of the great things + that the White Christ had done, and bade them + choose between him and the old gods. Some + were scared, and received baptism from the + king's priests; others bit their lips and were + silent; others again stood forth and told Saint + Olaf that Odin and Asathor had always served + them well, and that they were not going to give + them up for Christ the White, whom they had + never seen and of whom they knew nothing. + The next night the red cock crew[9] over ten + farms in the valley, and it happened to he theirs + who had spoken against King Olaf's god. Then + the peasants flocked to the Ting-stone and + received the baptism of Christ the White. Some + few, who had mighty kinsmen in the North, + fled and spread the evil tidings. Only one + neither fled nor was baptized, and that one was + Lage Ulfson Kvaerk, the ancestor of the present + Lage. He slew his best steed before Asathor's + altar, and promised to give him whatever he + should ask, even to his own life, if he would + save him from the vengeance of the king. Asathor + heard his prayer. As the sun set, a storm + sprung up with thick darkness and gloom, the + earth shook, Asathor drove his chariot over the + heavens with deafening thunder and swung his + hammer right and left, and the crackling lightning + flew through the air like a hail-storm of + fire. Then the peasants trembled, for they knew + that Asathor was wroth. Only the king sat + calm and fearless with his bishop and priests, + quaffing the nut-brown mead. The tempest + raged until morn. When the sun rose, Saint + Olaf called his hundred swains, sprang into the + saddle and rode down toward the river. Few + men who saw the angry fire in his eye, and the + frown on his royal brow, doubted whither he + was bound. But having reached the ford, a + wondrous sight met his eye. Where on the day + before the highway had wound itself up the + slope toward Lage Kvaerk's mansion, lay now a + wild ravine; the rock was shattered into a + thousand pieces, and a deep gorge, as if made + by a single stroke of a huge hammer, separated + the king from his enemy. Then Saint Olaf + made the sign of the cross, and mumbled the + name of Christ the White; but his hundred + swains made the sign of the hammer under their + cloaks, and thought, Still is Asathor alive.</p> +<p> + [9] "The red cock crew" is the expression used + in the old Norwegian Fagas for incendiary fire.</p> +<p> + That same night Lage Ulfson Kvaerk slew a + black ram, and thanked Asathor for his deliverance; + and the Saga tells that while he was + sprinkling the blood on the altar, the thundering + god himself appeared to him, and wilder he + looked than the fiercest wild Turk. Rams, said + he, were every-day fare; they could redeem no + promise. Brynhild, his daughter, was the + reward Asathor demanded. Lage prayed and + besought him to ask for something else. He + would gladly give him one of his sons; for he + had three sons, but only one daughter. Asathor + was immovable; but so long Lage continued to + beg, that at last he consented to come back in a + year, when Lage perchance would be better + reconciled to the thought of Brynhild's loss.</p> +<p>In the mean time King Olaf built a church to + Christ the White on the headland at the river, + where it stands until this day. Every evening, + when the huge bell rumbled between the mountains, + the parishioners thought they heard heavy, + half-choked sighs over in the rocks at Kvaerk; + and on Sunday mornings, when the clear-voiced + chimes called them to high-mass, a suppressed + moan would mingle with the sound of the bells, + and die away with the last echo. Lage Ulfson + was not the man to be afraid; yet the church- + bells many a time drove the blood from his cheeks; + for he also heard the moan from the mountain.</p> +<p>The year went, and Asathor returned. If he + had not told his name, however, Lage would not + have recognized him. That a year could work + so great a change in a god, he would hardly + have believed, if his own eyes had not testified + to it. Asathor's cheeks were pale and bloodless, + the lustre of his eye more than half + quenched, and his gray hair hung in disorder + down over his forehead.</p> +<p>"Methinks thou lookest rather poorly to-day," + said Lage.</p> +<p>"It is only those cursed church-bells," answered + the god; "they leave me no rest day or night."</p> +<p>"Aha," thought Lage, "if the king's bells are + mightier than thou, then there is still hope of + safety for my daughter."</p> +<p>"Where is Brynhild, thy daughter?" asked Asathor.</p> +<p>"I know not where she is," answered the + father; and straightway he turned his eyes + toward the golden cross that shone over the + valley from Saint Olaf's steeple, and he called + aloud on the White Christ's name. Then the + god gave a fearful roar, fell on the ground, + writhed and foamed and vanished into the + mountain. In the next moment Lage heard a + hoarse voice crying from within, "I shall return, + Lage Ulfson, when thou shalt least expect me!"</p> +<p>Lage Ulfson then set to work clearing a way + through the forest; and when that was done, he + called all his household together, and told them + of the power of Christ the White. Not long + after he took his sons and his daughter, and + hastened with them southward, until he found + King Olaf. And, so the Saga relates, they all + fell down on their knees before him, prayed for + his forgiveness, and received baptism from the + king's own bishop.</p> +<p>So ends the Saga of Lage Ulfson Kvaerk.</p> +<p> + II.</p> +<p> + Aasa Kvaerk loved her father well, but + especially in the winter. Then, while she sat + turning her spinning-wheel in the light of the + crackling logs, his silent presence always had a + wonderfully soothing and calming effect upon + her. She never laughed then, and seldom wept; + when she felt his eyes resting on her, her + thoughts, her senses, and her whole being + seemed by degrees to be lured from their hiding- + place and concentrate on him; and from him + they ventured again, first timidly, then more + boldly, to grasp the objects around him. At + such times Aasa could talk and jest almost like + other girls, and her mother, to whom "other + girls" represented the ideal of womanly perfection, + would send significant glances, full of hope + and encouragement, over to Lage, and he would + quietly nod in return, as if to say that he + entirely agreed with her. Then Elsie had bright + visions of wooers and thrifty housewives, and + even Lage dreamed of seeing the ancient honor + of the family re-established. All depended on + Aasa. She was the last of the mighty race. + But when summer came, the bright visions fled; + and the spring winds, which to others bring life + and joy, to Kvaerk brought nothing but sorrow. + No sooner had the mountain brooks begun to + swell, than Aasa began to laugh and to weep; + and when the first birches budded up in the + glens, she could no longer be kept at home. + Prayers and threats were equally useless. From + early dawn until evening she would roam about + in forests and fields, and when late at night she + stole into the room and slipped away into some + corner, Lage drew a deep sigh and thought of + the old tradition.</p> +<p>Aasa was nineteen years old before she had a + single wooer. But when she was least expecting it, + the wooer came to her.</p> +<p>It was late one summer night; the young maiden was sitting on the brink of + the ravine, pondering on the old legend and peering down into the deep below. + It was not the first time she had found her way hither, where but seldom a human + foot had dared to tread. To her every alder and bramble-bush, that clothed the + naked wall of the rock, were as familiar as were the knots and veins in the + ceiling of the chamber where from her childhood she had slept; and as she sat + there on the brink of the precipice, the late summer sun threw its red lustre + upon her and upon the fogs that came drifting up from the deep. With her eyes + she followed the drifting masses of fog, and wondered, as they rose higher and + higher, when they would reach her; in her fancy she saw herself dancing over + the wide expanse of heaven, clad in the sun-gilded evening fogs; and Saint Olaf, + the great and holy king, came riding to meet her, mounted on a flaming steed + made of the glory of a thousand sunsets; then Saint Olaf took her hand and lifted + her up, and she sat with him on the flaming steed: but the fog lingered in the + deep below, and as it rose it spread like a thin, half-invisible gauze over + the forests and the fields, and at last vanished into the infinite space. But + hark! a huge stone rolls down over the mountain-side, then another, and another; + the noise grows, the birches down there in the gorge tremble and shake. Aasa + leaned out over the brink of the ravine, and, as far as she could distinguish + anything from her dizzying height, thought she saw something gray creeping slowly + up the neck-breaking mountain path; she watched it for a while, but as it seemed + to advance no farther she again took refuge in her reveries. An hour might have + passed, or perhaps more, when suddenly she heard a noise only a few feet distant, + and, again stooping out over the brink, saw the figure of a man strug- gling + desperately to climb the last great ledge of the rock. With both his hands he + clung to a little birch-tree which stretched its slender arms down over the + black wall, but with every moment that passed seemed less likely to accomplish + the feat. The girl for a while stood watching him with unfeigned curiosity, + then, suddenly reminding herself that the situation to him must be a dangerous + one, seized hold of a tree that grew near the brink, and leaned out over the + rock to give him her assistance. He eagerly grasped her extended hand, and with + a vigorous pull she flung him up on the grassy level, where he remained lying + for a minute or two, apparently utterly unable to account for his sudden ascent, + and gazing around him with a half-frightened, half-bewildered look. Aasa, to + whom his appearance was no less strange than his demeanor, unluckily hit upon + the idea that perhaps her rather violent treatment had momentarily stunned him, + and when, as answer to her sympathizing question if he was hurt, the stranger + abruptly rose to his feet and towered up before her to the formidable height + of six feet four or five, she could no longer master her mirth, but burst out + into a most vehement fit of laughter. He stood calm and silent, and looked at + her with a timid but strangely bitter smile. He was so very different from any + man she had ever seen before; therefore she laughed, not necessarily because + he amused her, but because his whole person was a surprise to her; and there + he stood, tall and gaunt and timid, and said not a word, only gazed and gazed. + His dress was not the national costume of the valley, neither was it like anything + that Aasa had ever known. On his head he wore a cap that hung all on one side, + and was decorated with a long, heavy silk tassel. A threadbare coat, which seemed + to be made expressly not to fit him, hung loosely on his sloping shoulders, + and a pair of gray pantaloons, which were narrow where they ought to have been + wide, and wide where it was their duty to be narrow, extended their service + to a little more than the upper half of the limb, and, by a kind of compromise + with the tops of the boots, managed to protect also the lower half. His features + were delicate, and would have been called handsome had they belonged to a proportionately + delicate body; in his eyes hovered a dreamy vagueness which seemed to come and + vanish, and to flit from one feature to another, suggesting the idea of remoteness, + and a feeling of hopeless strangeness to the world and all its concerns.</p> +<p>"Do I inconvenience you, madam?" were the + first words he uttered, as Aasa in her usual + abrupt manner stayed her laughter, turned her + back on him, and hastily started for the house.</p> +<p>"Inconvenience?" said she, surprised, and + again slowly turned on her heel; "no, not that + I know."</p> +<p>"Then tell me if there are people living here + in the neighborhood, or if the light deceived + me, which I saw from the other side of the river."</p> +<p>"Follow me," answered Aasa, and she na<i:>vely + reached him her hand; "my father's name is + Lage Ulfson Kvaerk; he lives in the large house + you see straight before you, there on the hill; + and my mother lives there too."</p> +<p>And hand in hand they walked together, + where a path had been made between two + adjoining rye-fields; his serious smile seemed to + grow milder and happier, the longer he lingered + at her side, and her eye caught a ray of more + human intelligence, as it rested on him.</p> +<p>"What do you do up here in the long winter?" + asked he, after a pause.</p> +<p>"We sing," answered she, as it were at ran- + dom, because the word came into her mind; + "and what do you do, where you come from?"</p> +<p>"I gather song."</p> +<p>"Have you ever heard the forest sing?" + asked she, curiously.</p> +<p>"That is why I came here."</p> +<p>And again they walked on in silence.</p> +<p>It was near midnight when they entered the + large hall at Kvaerk. Aasa went before, still + leading the young man by the hand. In the + twilight which filled the house, the space + between the black, smoky rafters opened a vague + vista into the region of the fabulous, and every + object in the room loomed forth from the dusk + with exaggerated form and dimensions. The + room appeared at first to be but the haunt of + the spirits of the past; no human voice, no human + footstep, was heard; and the stranger + instinctively pressed the hand he held more + tightly; for he was not sure but that he was + standing on the boundary of dream-land, and some + elfin maiden had reached him her hand to lure + him into her mountain, where he should live + with her forever. But the illusion was of brief + duration; for Aasa's thoughts had taken a + widely different course; it was but seldom she + had found herself under the necessity of making + a decision; and now it evidently devolved upon + her to find the stranger a place of rest for the + night; so instead of an elf-maid's kiss and a + silver palace, he soon found himself huddled into + a dark little alcove in the wall, where he was + told to go to sleep, while Aasa wandered over + to the empty cow-stables, and threw herself down + in the hay by the side of two sleeping milkmaids.</p> +<p> + III.</p> +<p> + There was not a little astonishment manifested + among the servant-maids at Kvaerk the + next morning, when the huge, gaunt figure + of a man was seen to launch forth from Aasa's + alcove, and the strangest of all was, that Aasa + herself appeared to be as much astonished as + the rest. And there they stood, all gazing at + the bewildered traveler, who indeed was no less + startled than they, and as utterly unable to + account for his own sudden apparition. After a + long pause, he summoned all his courage, fixed + his eyes intently on the group of the girls, and + with a few rapid steps advanced toward Aasa, + whom he seized by the hand and asked, "Are + you not my maiden of yester-eve?"</p> +<p>She met his gaze firmly, and laid her hand on + her forehead as if to clear her thoughts; as the + memory of the night flashed through her mind, + a bright smile lit up her features, and she + answered, "You are the man who gathers song. + Forgive me, I was not sure but it was all a + dream; for I dream so much."</p> +<p>Then one of the maids ran out to call Lage + Ulfson, who had gone to the stables to harness + the horses; and he came and greeted the unknown + man, and thanked him for last meeting, + as is the wont of Norse peasants, although they + had never seen each other until that morning. + But when the stranger had eaten two meals in + Lage's house, Lage asked him his name and his + father's occupation; for old Norwegian + hospitality forbids the host to learn the guest's + name before he has slept and eaten under his + roof. It was that same afternoon, when they + sat together smoking their pipes under the huge + old pine in the yard,--it was then Lage inquired + about the young man's name and family; and + the young man said that his name was Trond + Vigfusson, that he had graduated at the + University of Christiania, and that his father had + been a lieutenant in the army; but both he and + Trond's mother had died, when Trond was only + a few years old. Lage then told his guest + Vigfusson something about his family, but of + the legend of Asathor and Saint Olaf he spoke + not a word. And while they were sitting there + talking together, Aasa came and sat down at + Vigfusson's feet; her long golden hair flowed in + a waving stream down over her back and + shoulders, there was a fresh, healthful glow on + her cheeks, and her blue, fathomless eyes had a + strangely joyous, almost triumphant expression. + The father's gaze dwelt fondly upon her, and + the collegian was but conscious of one thought: + that she was wondrously beautiful. And still + so great was his natural timidity and awkwardness + in the presence of women, that it was only + with the greatest difficulty he could master his + first impulse to find some excuse for leaving + her. She, however, was aware of no such restraint.</p> +<p>"You said you came to gather song," she + said; "where do you find it? for I too should + like to find some new melody for my old + thoughts; I have searched so long."</p> +<p>"I find my songs on the lips of the people," + answered he, "and I write them down as the + maidens or the old men sing them."</p> +<p>She did not seem quite to comprehend that. + "Do you hear maidens sing them?" asked she, + astonished. "Do you mean the troll-virgins + and the elf-maidens?"</p> +<p>"By troll-virgins and elf-maidens, or what the + legends call so, I understand the hidden and still + audible voices of nature, of the dark pine forests, + the legend-haunted glades, and the silent + tarns; and this was what I referred to when I + answered your question if I had ever heard the + forest sing."</p> +<p>"Oh, oh!" cried she, delighted, and clapped + her hands like a child; but in another moment + she as suddenly grew serious again, and sat + steadfastly gazing into his eye, as if she were + trying to look into his very soul and there to + find something kindred to her own lonely heart. + A minute ago her presence had embarrassed + him; now, strange to say, he met her eye, and + smiled happily as he met it.</p> +<p>"Do you mean to say that you make your + living by writing songs?" asked Lage.</p> +<p>"The trouble is," answered Vigfusson, "that I make no living + at all; but I have invested a large capital, which is to yield its interest + in the future. There is a treasure of song hidden in every nook and corner of + our mountains and forests, and in our nation's heart. I am one of the miners + who have come to dig it out before time and oblivion shall have buried every + trace of it, and there shall not be even the will-o'-the- wisp of a legend to + hover over the spot, and keep alive the sad fact of our loss and our blamable + negligence."</p> +<p>Here the young man paused; his eyes gleamed, + his pale cheeks flushed, and there was a + warmth and an enthusiasm in his words which + alarmed Lage, while on Aasa it worked like the + most potent charm of the ancient mystic runes; + she hardly comprehended more than half of the + speaker's meaning, but his fire and eloquence + were on this account none the less powerful.</p> +<p>"If that is your object," remarked Lage, "I + think you have hit upon the right place in + coming here. You will be able to pick up many an + odd bit of a story from the servants and others + hereabouts, and you are welcome to stay here + with us as long as you choose."</p> +<p>Lage could not but attribute to Vigfusson the + merit of having kept Aasa at home a whole day, + and that in the month of midsummer. And + while he sat there listening to their conversation, + while he contemplated the delight that + beamed from his daughter's countenance and, as + he thought, the really intelligent expression of + her eyes, could he conceal from himself the pa- + ternal hopes that swelled his heart? She was + all that was left him, the life or the death of his + mighty race. And here was one who was likely + to understand her, and to whom she seemed + willing to yield all the affection of her warm + but wayward heart. Thus ran Lage Ulfson's + reflections; and at night he had a little consultation + with Elsie, his wife, who, it is needless to + add, was no less sanguine than he.</p> +<p>"And then Aasa will make an excellent housewife, + you know," observed Elsie. "I will speak + to the girl about it to-morrow."</p> +<p>"No, for Heaven's sake, Elsie!" exclaimed + Lage, "don't you know your daughter better + than that? Promise me, Elsie, that you will + not say a single word; it would be a cruel thing, + Elsie, to mention anything to her. She is not + like other girls, you know."</p> +<p>"Very well, Lage, I shall not say a single + word. Alas, you are right, she is not like other + girls." And Elsie again sighed at her husband's + sad ignorance of a woman's nature, and at the + still sadder fact of her daughter's inferiority to + the accepted standard of womanhood.</p> +<p></p> +<p>IV.</p> +<p> + Trond Vigfusson must have made a rich + harvest of legends at Kvaerk, at least judging by + the time he stayed there; for days and weeks + passed, and he had yet said nothing of going. + Not that anybody wished him to go; no, on the + contrary, the longer he stayed the more + indispensable he seemed to all; and Lage Ulfson + could hardly think without a shudder of the + possibility of his ever having to leave them. + For Aasa, his only child, was like another being + in the presence of this stranger; all that weird, + forest-like intensity, that wild, half supernatural + tinge in her character which in a measure + excluded her from the blissful feeling of fellowship + with other men, and made her the strange, + lonely creature she was,--all this seemed to vanish + as dew in the morning sun when Vigfusson's + eyes rested upon her; and with every day that + passed, her human and womanly nature gained + a stronger hold upon her. She followed him + like his shadow on all his wanderings, and when + they sat down together by the wayside, she + would sing, in a clear, soft voice, an ancient lay + or ballad, and he would catch her words on his + paper, and smile at the happy prospect of + perpetuating what otherwise would have been lost. + Aasa's love, whether conscious or not, was to + him an everlasting source of strength, was a + revelation of himself to himself, and a clearing + and widening power which brought ever more + and more of the universe within the scope of + his vision. So they lived on from day to day + and from week to week, and, as old Lage + remarked, never had Kvaerk been the scene of so + much happiness. Not a single time during + Vigfusson's stay had Aasa fled to the forest, not a + meal had she missed, and at the hours for + family devotion she had taken her seat at the + big table with the rest and apparently listened + with as much attention and interest. Indeed, + all this time Aasa seemed purposely to avoid the + dark haunts of the woods, and, whenever she + could, chose the open highway; not even + Vigfusson's entreaties could induce her to tread the + tempting paths that led into the forest's gloom.</p> +<p>"And why not, Aasa?" he would say; "summer + is ten times summer there when the drowsy + noonday spreads its trembling maze of shadows + between those huge, venerable trunks. You can + feel the summer creeping into your very heart + and soul, there!"</p> +<p>"Oh, Vigfusson," she would answer, shaking + her head mournfully, "for a hundred paths that + lead in, there is only one that leads out again, + and sometimes even that one is nowhere to be found."</p> +<p>He understood her not, but fearing to ask, he + remained silent.</p> +<p>His words and his eyes always drew her nearer + and nearer to him; and the forest and its + strange voices seemed a dark, opposing influence, + which strove to take possession of her + heart and to wrest her away from him forever; + she helplessly clung to him; every thought and + emotion of her soul clustered about him, and every + hope of life and happiness was staked on him.</p> +<p>One evening Vigfusson and old Lage Ulfson + had been walking about the fields to look at the + crop, both smoking their evening pipes. But + as they came down toward the brink whence + the path leads between the two adjoining rye- + fields, they heard a sweet, sad voice crooning + some old ditty down between the birch-trees at + the precipice; they stopped to listen, and soon + recognized Aasa's yellow hair over the tops + the rye; the shadow as of a painful emotion + flitted over the father's countenance, and he + turned his back on his guest and started to go; + then again paused, and said, imploringly, "Try + to get her home if you can, friend Vigfusson.'</p> +<p>Vigfusson nodded, and Lage went; the song had ceased for a moment, now it began + again:</p> +<p>"Ye twittering birdlings, in forest and glen <br> +<p>I have heard you so gladly before; <br> +<p>But a bold knight hath come to woo me, <br> +<p>I dare listen to you no more. <br> +<p>For it is so dark, so dark in the forest. <br> +<p>"And the knight who hath come a-wooing to me, <br> +<p>He calls me his love and his own; <br> +<p>Why then should I stray through the darksome woods, <br> +<p>Or dream in the glades alone? <br> +<p>For it is so dark, so dark in the forest." +<p><br> +<p>Her voice fell to a low unintelligible murmur; then it rose, and the last verses + came, clear, soft, and low, drifting on the evening breeze:</p> +<p> "Yon beckoning world, that shimmering lay <br> +<p>O'er the woods where the old pines grow, <br> +<p>That gleamed through the moods of the summer day <br> +<p>When the breezes were murmuring low <br> +<p>(And it is so dark, so dark in the forest);<br> +<p> "Oh let me no more in the sunshine hear <br> +<p>Its quivering noonday call; <br> +<p>The bold knight's love is the sun of my heart-- <br> +<p>Is my life, and my all in all. <br> +<p>But it is so dark, so dark in the forest." +<p><br> +<p>The young man felt the blood rushing to his + face--his heart beat violently. There was a + keen sense of guilt in the blush on his cheek, a + loud accusation in the throbbing pulse and the + swelling heart-beat. Had he not stood there behind + the maiden's back and cunningly peered + into her soul's holy of holies? True, he loved + Aasa; at least he thought he did, and the + conviction was growing stronger with every day + that passed. And now he had no doubt that he + had gained her heart. It was not so much the + words of the ballad which had betrayed the + secret; he hardly knew what it was, but somehow + the truth had flashed upon him, and he could + no longer doubt.</p> +<p>Vigfusson sat down on the moss-grown rock + and pondered. How long he sat there he did + not know, but when he rose and looked around, + Aasa was gone. Then remembering her father's + request to bring her home, he hastened up the + hill-side toward the mansion, and searched for + her in all directions. It was near midnight + when he returned to Kvaerk, where Aasa sat in + her high gable window, still humming the weird + melody of the old ballad.</p> +<p>By what reasoning Vigfusson arrived at his + final conclusion is difficult to tell. If he had + acted according to his first and perhaps most + generous impulse, the matter would soon have + been decided; but he was all the time possessed + of a vague fear of acting dishonorably, and it + was probably this very fear which made him do + what, to the minds of those whose friendship + and hospitality he had accepted, had something + of the appearance he wished so carefully to + avoid. Aasa was rich; he had nothing; it was + a reason for delay, but hardly a conclusive one. + They did not know him; he must go out in the + world and prove himself worthy of her. He + would come back when he should have compelled + the world to respect him; for as yet he had done + nothing. In fact, his arguments were good and + honorable enough, and there would have been + no fault to find with him, had the object of his + love been as capable of reasoning as he was + himself. But Aasa, poor thing, could do nothing + by halves; a nature like hers brooks no delay; + to her love was life or it was death.</p> +<p>The next morning he appeared at breakfast + with his knapsack on his back, and otherwise + equipped for his journey. It was of no use that + Elsie cried and begged him to stay, that Lage + joined his prayers to hers, and that Aasa stood + staring at him with a bewildered gaze. Vigfusson + shook hands with them all, thanked them for their + kindness to him, and promised to return; + he held Aasa's hand long in his, but when + he released it, it dropped helplessly at her side.</p> +<p> + V.</p> +<p> + Far up in the glen, about a mile from Kvaerk, + ran a little brook; that is, it was little in summer + and winter, but in the spring, while the snow + was melting up in the mountains, it overflowed + the nearest land and turned the whole glen into + a broad and shallow river. It was easy to cross, + however; a light foot might jump from stone to + stone, and be over in a minute. Not the hind + herself could be lighter on her foot than Aasa + was; and even in the spring-flood it was her + wont to cross and recross the brook, and to sit + dreaming on a large stone against which the + water broke incessantly, rushing in white + torrents over its edges.</p> +<p>Here she sat one fair summer day--the day after Vigfusson's departure. It was + noon, and the sun stood high over the forest. The water murmured and murmured, + babbled and whispered, until at length there came a sudden unceasing tone into + its murmur, then another, and it sounded like a faint whispering song of small + airy beings. And as she tried to listen, to fix the air in her mind, it all + ceased again, and she heard but the monotonous murmuring of the brook. Everything + seemed so empty and worthless, as if that faint melody had been the world of + the moment. But there it was again; it sung and sung, and the birch overhead + took up the melody and rustled it with its leaves, and the grasshopper over + in the grass caught it and whirred it with her wings. The water, the trees, + the air, were full of it. What a strange melody! </p> +<p>Aasa well knew that every brook and river + has its Neck, besides hosts of little water-sprites. + She had heard also that in the moonlight at + midsummer, one might chance to see them + rocking in bright little shells, playing among + the pebbles, or dancing on the large leaves of + the water-lily. And that they could sing also, + she doubted not; it was their voices she heard + through the murmuring of the brook. Aasa + eagerly bent forward and gazed down into the + water: the faint song grew louder, paused + suddenly, and sprang into life again; and its sound + was so sweet, so wonderfully alluring! Down + there in the water, where a stubborn pebble + kept chafing a precipitous little side current, + clear tiny pearl-drops would leap up from the + stream, and float half-wonderingly downward + from rapid to rapid, until they lost themselves + in the whirl of some stronger current. Thus + sat Aasa and gazed and gazed, and in one moment + she seemed to see what in the next moment + she saw not. Then a sudden great hush stole + through the forest, and in the hush she could + hear the silence calling her name. It was so + long since she had been in the forest, it seemed + ages and ages ago. She hardly knew herself; + the light seemed to be shining into her eyes as + with a will and purpose, perhaps to obliterate + something, some old dream or memory, or to + impart some new power--the power of seeing + the unseen. And this very thought, this fear of + some possible loss, brought the fading memory + back, and she pressed her hands against her + throbbing temples as if to bind and chain it + there forever; and it was he to whom her + thought returned. She heard his voice, saw + him beckoning to her to follow him, and she + rose to obey, but her limbs were as petrified, + and the stone on which she was sitting held her + with the power of a hundred strong arms. The + sunshine smote upon her eyelids, and his name + was blotted out from her life; there was nothing + but emptiness all around her. Gradually + the forest drew nearer and nearer, the water + bubbled and rippled, and the huge, bare- + stemmed pines stretched their long gnarled + arms toward her. The birches waved their + heads with a wistful nod, and the profile of the + rock grew into a face with a long, hooked nose, + and a mouth half open as if to speak. And the + word that trembled on his lips was, "Come." + She felt no fear nor reluctance, but rose to obey. + Then and not until then she saw an old man + standing at her side; his face was the face of + the rock, his white beard flowed to his girdle, + and his mouth was half open, but no word + came from his lips. There was something in + the wistful look of his eye which she knew so + well, which she had seen so often, although she + could not tell when or where. The old man + extended his hand; Aasa took it, and fearlessly + or rather spontaneously followed. They + approached the steep, rocky wall; as they drew + near, a wild, fierce laugh rang through the + forest. The features of the old man were twisted + as it were into a grin; so also were the features + of the rock; but the laugh blew like a mighty + blast through the forest.</p> +<p>Aasa clung to the old man's hand and followed + him--she knew not whither.</p> +<p>At home in the large sitting-room at Kvaerk + sat Lage, brooding over the wreck of his hopes + and his happiness. Aasa had gone to the woods + again the very first day after Vigfusson's + departure. What would be the end of all this? + It was already late in the evening, and she had + not returned. The father cast anxious glances + toward the door, every time he heard the latch + moving. At last, when it was near midnight, he + roused all his men from their sleep, and + commanded them to follow him. Soon the dusky + forests resounded far and near with the blast + of horns, the report of guns, and the calling and + shouting of men. The affrighted stag crossed + and recrossed the path of the hunters, but not a + rifle was leveled at its head. Toward morning-- + it was before the sun had yet risen--Lage, + weary and stunned, stood leaning up against a + huge fir. Then suddenly a fierce, wild laugh + rang through the forest. Lage shuddered, + raised his hand slowly and pressed it hard + against his forehead, vainly struggling to clear + his thoughts. The men clung fearfully + together; a few of the more courageous ones drew + their knives and made the sign of the cross with + them in the air. Again the same mad laugh + shook the air, and swept over the crowns of the + pine-trees. Then Lage lifted his eyes toward + heaven and wrung his hands: for the awful + truth stood before him. He remained a long + while leaning against that old fir as in a dead + stupor; and no one dared to arouse him. A + suppressed murmur reached the men's ears. + "But deliver us from evil" were the last words + they heard.</p> +<p>When Lage and his servants came home to + Kvaerk with the mournful tidings of Aasa's + disappearance, no one knew what to do or say. + There could be no doubt that Aasa was "mountain- + taken," as they call it; for there were Trolds + and dwarfs in all the rocks and forests round + about, and they would hardly let slip the chance + of alluring so fair a maiden as Aasa was into + their castles in the mountains. Elsie, her + mother, knew a good deal about the Trolds, + their tricks, and their way of living, and when + she had wept her fill, she fell to thinking of + the possibility of regaining her daughter from + their power. If Aasa had not yet tasted of food + or drink in the mountain, she was still out of + danger; and if the pastor would allow the + church-bell to be brought up into the forest and + rung near the rock where the laugh had been + heard, the Trolds could be compelled to give + her back. No sooner had this been suggested + to Lage, than the command was given to muster + the whole force of men and horses, and before + evening on the same day the sturdy swains of + Kvaerk were seen climbing the tower of the + venerable church, whence soon the huge old bell + descended, to the astonishment of the throng + of curious women and children who had flocked + together to see the extraordinary sight. It was + laid upon four large wagons, which had been + joined together with ropes and planks, and + drawn away by twelve strong horses. Long + after the strange caravan had vanished in the + twilight, the children stood gazing up into the + empty bell-tower.</p> +<p>It was near midnight, when Lage stood at the + steep, rocky wall in the forest; the men were + laboring to hoist the church-bell up to a staunch + cross-beam between two mighty fir-trees, and + in the weird light of their torches, the wild + surroundings looked wilder and more fantastic. + Anon, the muffled noise and bustle of the work + being at an end, the laborers withdrew, and a + strange, feverish silence seemed to brood over + the forest. Lage took a step forward, and + seized the bell-rope; the clear, conquering toll + of the metal rung solemnly through the silence, + and from the rocks, the earth, and the tree- + tops, rose a fierce chorus of howls, groans, and + screams. All night the ringing continued; the + old trees swayed to and fro, creaked, and + groaned, the roots loosened their holds in the + fissures of the rock, and the bushy crowns + bowed low under their unwonted burden.</p> +<p>It was well-nigh morn, but the dense fog still + brooded over the woods, and it was dark as + night. Lage was sitting on the ground, his + head leaning on both his elbows; at his side lay + the flickering torch, and the huge bell hung + dumb overhead. In the dark he felt a hand + touch his shoulder; had it happened only a few + hours before, he would have shuddered; now + the physical sensation hardly communicated + itself to his mind, or, if it did, had no power to + rouse him from his dead, hopeless apathy. + Suddenly--could he trust his own ears?--the + church-bell gave a slow, solemn, quivering + stroke, and the fogs rolled in thick masses to + the east and to the west, as if blown by the + breath of the sound. Lage seized his torch, + sprang to his feet, and saw--Vigfusson. He + stretched his arm with the blazing torch closer + to the young man's face, stared at him with + large eyes, and his lip quivered; but he could + not utter a word.</p> +<p>"Vigfusson?" faltered he at last.</p> +<p>"It is I;" and the second stroke followed, + stronger and more solemn than the first. The + same fierce, angry voices chorused forth from + every nook of the rock and the woods. Then + came the third--the noise grew; fourth--and it + sounded like a hoarse, angry hiss; when the + twelfth stroke fell, silence reigned again in the + forest. Vigfusson dropped the bell-rope, and + with a loud voice called Lage Kvaerk and his + men. He lit a torch, held it aloft over his head, + and peered through the dusky night. The men + spread through the highlands to search for the + lost maiden; Lage followed close in Vigfusson's + footsteps. They had not walked far when they + heard the babbling of the brook only a few feet + away. Thither they directed their steps. On + a large stone in the middle of the stream the + youth thought he saw something white, like a + large kerchief. Quick as thought he was at + its side, bowed down with his torch, and--fell + backward. It was Aasa, his beloved, cold and + dead; but as the father stooped over his dead + child the same mad laugh echoed wildly throughout + the wide woods, but madder and louder + than ever before, and from the rocky wall came + a fierce, broken voice:</p> +<p>"I came at last."</p> +<p> + When, after an hour of vain search, the men + returned to the place whence they had started, + they saw a faint light flickering between the + birches not fifty feet away; they formed a firm + column, and with fearful hearts drew nearer. + There lay Lage Kvaerk, their master, still + bending down over his child's pale features, and + staring into her sunken eyes as if he could not + believe that she were really dead. And at his + side stood Vigfusson, pale and aghast, with the + burning torch in his hand. The footsteps of + the men awakened the father, but when he + turned his face on them they shuddered and + started back. Then Lage rose, lifted the maiden + from the stone, and silently laid her in + Vigfusson's arms; her rich yellow hair flowed down + over his shoulder. The youth let his torch fall + into the waters, and with a sharp, serpent-like + hiss its flame was quenched. He crossed the + brook; the men followed, and the dark pine-trees + closed over the last descendant of Lage Ulfson's + mighty race.</p> +<p></p> +<p></p> +<p>End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Tales From Two Hemispheres</p> +<p> +</p> +<pre> +***The Project Gutenberg Etext of Tales From Two Hemispheres** +*****This file should be named twohe10h.htm or twohe10h.zip***** + +Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, twohe11.htm +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, twohe10ha.htm + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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