按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 Borghildone hour ago so merry； reckless； and defiant； now cowering
119
… Page 120…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
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 wastebut 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；
120
… Page 121…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
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
121
… Page 122…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
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 breastin 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 walke