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thy mouth； Brita； and tell thy father that thou art pure pure as the snow；
childmy ownmy beautiful child。〃
There was a long and painful pause； in which the crackling of the
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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 handand 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 fledonward 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 cloudsamong 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
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
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
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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
fell