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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
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
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。
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
〃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；
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