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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
〃have pity on me； and do not despise me。 I love youohif you would
but allow me to die for you； I should be the happiest of men。〃
Again he shuddered； and stood long gazing at her with a mute； pitiful
appeal。 A tear stole into Edith's eye and trickled down over her cheek。
〃Ah； Mr。 Birch；〃 she murmured； while a sigh shook her bosom； 〃I am
sorryvery sorry that this misfortune has happened to you。 You have
deserved a better fate than to love meto love a woman who can never
give you anything in return for what you give her。〃
〃Never？〃 he repeated mournfully； 〃never？〃
〃No； never！ You have been a good friend to me； and as such I value
you highly； and I had hoped that you would always remain so。 But I see
that it cannot be。 It will perhaps be best for you henceforth not to see me；
at least not untilpardon the expressionyou have out… lived this generous
folly。 And now； you know； you will need me no more。 You have made
a splendid reputation； and if you choose to avail yourself of it； your
fortune is already made。 I shall always rejoice to hear of your success；
and and if you should ever need a FRIEND； you must come to no one
but me。 I know that these are feeble words； Mr。 Birch； and if they seem
cold to you； you must pardon me。 I can say nothing more。〃
They were indeed feeble words； although most cordially spoken。 He
tried to weigh them； to measure their meaning； but his mind was as if
benumbed； and utterly incapable of thought。 He walked across the floor；
perhaps only to do something； not feeling where he trod； but still with an
absurd sensation that he was taking immoderately long steps。 Then he
stopped abruptly； wrung his hands； and gazed at Edith。 And suddenly；
like a flash in a vacuum； the thought shot through his brain that he had
seen this very scene somewherein a dream； in a remote childhood； in a
previous existence； he did not know when or where。 It seemed strangely
familiar； and in the next instant strangely mean… ingless and unreal。 The
walls； the floor everything began to move； to whirl about him； he struck
his hands against his forehead； and sank down into a damask…covered
easy…chair。 With a faint cry of alarm； Edith sprang up； seized a bottle of
cologne which happened to be within reach； and knelt down at his side。
She put her arm around his neck； and raised his head。
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
〃Mr。 Birch； dear Mr。 Birch；〃 she cried； in a frightened whisper； 〃for
God's sake come to yourself！ O God； what have I done？〃
She blew the eau…de…cologne into his face； and； as he languidly opened
his eyes； he felt the touch of her warm hand upon his cheeks and his
forehead。
〃Thank heaven！ he is better；〃 she murmured； still continuing to bathe
his temples。 〃How do you feel now； Mr。 Birch？〃 she added； in a tone of
anxious inquiry。
〃Thank you； it was an unpardonable weakness；〃 he muttered； without
changing his attitude。 〃Do not trouble yourself about me。 I shall soon
be well。〃
It was so sweet to be conscious of her gentle ministry； that it required a
great effort； an effort of conscience； to rouse him once more； as his
strength returned。
〃Had you not better stay？〃 she asked； as he rose to put on his overcoat。
〃I will call one of the servants and have him show you a room。 We will
say to…morrow morning that you were taken ill； and nobody will wonder。〃
〃No； no；〃 he responded； energetically。 〃I am perfectly strong now。〃
But he still had to lean on a chair； and his face was deathly pale。
〃Farewell； Miss Edith；〃 he said； and a tender sadness trembled in his
voice。 〃Farewell。 We shallprobablynever meet again。〃
〃Do not speak so；〃 she answered； seizing his hand。 〃You will try to
forget this； and you will still be great and happy。 And when fortune shall
again smile upon you； andand you will be content to be my friend； then
we shall see each other as before。〃
〃No； no；〃 he broke forth； with a sudden hoarseness。 〃It will never
be。〃
He walked toward the door with the motions of one who feels death in
his limbs； then stopped once more and his eyes lingered with inexpressible
sadness on the wonderful； beloved form which stood dimly outlined
before him in the twilight。 Then Edith's measure of misery； too； seemed
full。 With the divine heedlessness which belongs to her sex； she rushed
up toward him； and remembering only that he was weak and unhappy； and
that he suffered for her sake； she took his face between her hands and
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
kissed him。 He was too generous a man to misinterpret the act； so he
whispered but once more： 〃Farewell；〃 and hastened away。
VII。
After that eventful December night； America was no more what it had
been to Halfdan Bjerk。 A strange torpidity had come over him； every
rising day gazed into his eyes with a fierce unmeaning glare。 The noise
of the street annoyed him and made him childishly fretful； and the solitude
of his own room seemed still more dreary and depressing。 He went
mechanically through the daily routine of his duties as if the soul had been
taken out of his work； and left his life all barrenness and desolation。 He
moved restlessly from place to place； roamed at all times of the day and
night through the city and its suburbs； trying vainly to exhaust his physical
strength； gradually； as his lethargy deepened into a numb； helpless despair；
it seemed somehow to impart a certain toughness to his otherwise delicate
frame。 Olson； who was now a junior partner in the firm of Remsen； Van
Kirk and Co。； stood by him faithfully in these days of sorrow。 He was
never effusive in his sympathy； but was patiently forbearing with his
friend's whims and moods； and humored him as if he had been a sick child
intrusted to his custody。 That Edith might be the moving cause of
Olson's