tales from two hemispheres[1].(两个半球的故事)-第16章
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！
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；
60
… Page 61…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
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
61
… Page 62…
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。〃
62
… Page 63…
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
63
… Page 64…
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 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。
64
… Page 65…
TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
A GOOD…FOR…NOTHING。
I
RALPH GRIM was born a gentleman。 He had the
