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removed from the mountains； and they were again separated。
Bjarne Blakstad looked long and wistfully at his daughter that morning；
when he came to bring her home。 She wore no more rings and brooches；
and it was this which excited Bjarne's suspicion that everything was not
right with her。 Formerly he was displeased because she wore too many；
now he grumbled because she wore none。
II。
The winter was half gone； and in all this time Brita had hardly once
seen Halvard。 Yes； once；it was Christmas…day；she had ventured to
peep over to his pew in the church； and had seen him； sitting at his father's
side； and gazing vacantly out into the empty space； but as he had caught
her glance； he had blushed； and began eagerly to turn the leaves of his
hymn… book。 It troubled her that he made no effort to see her； many an
evening she had walked alone down at the river…side； hoping that he might
come； but it was all in vain。 She could not but believe that his father
must have made some discovery； and that he was watched。 In the mean
time the black cloud thickened over her head； for a secret gnawed at the
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
very roots of her heart。 It was a time of terrible suspense and suffering
such as a man never knows； such as only a woman can endure。 It was
almost a relief when the cloud burst； and the storm broke loose； as
presently it did。
One Sunday； early in April； Bjarne did not return at the usual hour
from church。 His daughters waited in vain for him with the dinner； and
at last began to grow uneasy。 It was not his habit to keep irregular hours。
There was a great excitement in the valley just then； the America…fever
had broken out。 A large vessel was lying out in the fjord； ready to take
the emigrants away； and there was hardly a family that did not mourn the
loss of some brave…hearted son； or of some fair and cherished daughter。
The old folks； of course； had to remain behind； and when the children
were gone； what was there left for them but to lie down and die？
America was to them as distant as if it were on another planet。 The
family feeling； too； has ever been strong in the Norseman's breast； he lives
for his children； and seems to live his life over again in them。 It is his
greatest pride to be able to trace his blood back into the days of Sverre and
St。 Olaf； and with the same confidence he expects to see his race spread
into the future in the same soil where once it has struck root。 Then
comes the storm from the Western seas； wrestles with the sturdy trunk； and
breaks it； and the shattered branches fly to all the four corners of the
heavens。 No wonder； then； like a tree that has lost its crown； his strength
is broken and he expects but to smoulder into the earth and die。
Bjarne Blakstad； like the sturdy old patriot that he was； had always
fiercely denounced the America rage； and it was now the hope of his
daughters that； perhaps； he had stayed behind to remind the restless ones
among the youth of their duty toward their land； or to frighten some bold
emigration agent who might have been too loud in his declamations。 But
it was already eight o'clock and Bjarne was not yet to be seen。 The night
was dark and stormy； a cold sleet fiercely lashed the window…panes； and
the wind roared in the chimney。 Grimhild； the younger sister； ran
restlessly out and in and slammed the doors after her。 Brita sat tightly
pressed up against the wall in the darkest corner of the room。 Every time
the wind shook the house she started up； then again seated herself and
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TALES FROM TWO HEMISPHERES。
shuddered。 Dark forebodings filled her soul。
At last；the clock had just struck ten；there was a noise heard in the
outer hall。 Grimhild sprang to the door and tore it open。 A tall；
stooping figure entered； and by the dress she at once recognized her father。
〃Good God；〃 cried she； and ran up to him。
〃Go away； child；〃 muttered he； in a voice that sounded strangely
unfamiliar； and he pushed her roughly away。 For a moment he stood still；
then stalked up to the table； and； with a heavy thump； dropped down into a
chair。 There he remained with his elbows resting on his knees； and
absently staring on the floor。 His long hair hung in wet tangles down
over his face； and the wrinkles about his mouth seemed deeper and fiercer
than usual。 Now and then he sighed； or gave vent to a deep groan。 In a
while his eyes began to wander uneasily about the room； and as they
reached the corner where Brita was sitting； he suddenly darted up； as if
stung by something poisonous； seized a brand from the hearth； and rushed
toward her。
〃Tell me I did not see it；〃 he broke forth； in a hoarse whisper； seizing
her by the arm and thrusting the burning brand close up to her face。 〃Tell
me it is a liea black； poisonous lie。〃
She raised her eyes slowly to his and gazed steadfastly into his face。
〃Ah；〃 he continued in the same terrible voice； 〃it was what I told them
down there at the churcha liean infernal lie。 And I drew bloodblood；
I sayI didfrom the slanderer。 Ha； ha； ha！ What a lusty sprawl that
was！〃
The color came and departed from Brita's cheeks。 And still she was
strangely self possessed。 She even wondered at her own calmness。
Alas； she did not know that it was a calmness that is more terrible than
pain； the corpse of a forlorn and hopeless heart。
〃Child；〃 continued Bjarne； and his voice assumed a more natural tone；
〃why dost thou not speak？ They have lied about thee； child； because
thou art fair； they have envied thee。〃 Then； almost imploringly； 〃Open
thy mouth； Brita； and tell thy father that thou art pure pure as the snow；
childmy ownmy beautiful child。〃
There was a long and pa