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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
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
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
wrongmuch forgiveness。 God help us allmiserable sinners。 He who
hateth not father and motherand 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。〃
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
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 wasmy 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 dayshe 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
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
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
bothmy 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