The Song of the Blood-Red Flower Part 13

"If you had just gone by...."

"I thought of going by--seeing I'm one that has no right ever to stay.... I couldn't see if it was right to stop and look at you."

"Now I don't quite understand."

"You can't understand it at all--'twas only something I was trying to think out myself.... But I did stop and look--and 'tis thanks to that I've had this lovely autumn, after all."

"And I, too," whispered the girl.

"Yes, thanks to you, I have learned that autumn can be beautiful as well; lovelier even than the spring--for the autumn is cooler, calmer, and gentler than the spring. And it was then I learned for the first time what it is that makes life beautiful--what it is that human beings seek."

The girl has slipped down to the ground, and sat now looking up at him, resting her arms on his knees.

"Tell me more--more about that. It's so pretty to hear, and I understand it all, though I could never say it that way myself."

"Yes, you know, and all know, that there is nothing beautiful in life but that one thing--and all of us live for that, and nothing else.

Without that we have only our hands and work for them, our teeth and food for them; but, when that comes, all is changed. You have seen yourself, and felt, how it changes everything."

"Oh, have I not! How could I help it?"

"How sad faces learn to smile, and eyes to speak, and how we learn a new tongue altogether. Even the voice is changed, to a silvery ring.

All the world is changed, to something lovelier--and we ourselves grow beautiful beyond words."

"Yes, yes--Olof, how wonderful of you! It is all like a beautiful dream."

"Do you remember the time when you first began to care for me?"

"I shall always remember that time--always."

"It was pretty to watch--how you blushed and paled, and blushed again, and never knew which way to turn your eyes, and your heart throbbed, and you never dared confess even to yourself what made it so. I watched you then, and I found myself wishing you might not see me at all, only that I might watch you for ever from some secret place."

"Oh, but you don't know how it hurt, all the same--how anxious I was all the time--I could not have borne it long, I know."

"Yes--I understand.... And you were more beautiful still when you opened your heart to me. I read in your eyes as in an open book, and it made life bright and beautiful again for me."

"I--I have done nothing at all ..." said the girl, blushing, and looking down. But she raised her head again, laid one hand on his knee, and looked questioningly at him.

He laughed in reply.

Slowly she drew herself up into his embrace, and put her arms about his neck.

"May I sit here like this?"

"Yes, you may--like this," said he, slipping an arm round her waist.

The girl's face drew nearer to his own, still questioning.

"No, no," he murmured, and laid one hand gently on her shoulder, as if seeking tenderly to hold her back.

"Why not?" asked the girl earnestly.

"Because it is better so. It would only hurt you more when we had to say good-bye--after."

"Oh, but that's just why!" she cried pa.s.sionately.

"No, no--I ask it of you," said he. And, taking the girl's head in his two hands, he kissed her softly on the brow.

A gleam of infinite tenderness shone in her eyes, but she did not speak, only bowed her head and nestled close to his breast.

A strange joy thrilled him--he felt he had won a victory over himself.

Through his thin shirt he could feel the girl's warm breath like a wave of summer sunshine, and, smiling with happiness, he stroked her hair.

It was in his mind to ask her if she did not think herself it was best as he said, when suddenly, ere he could speak, a burning gasp struck him like a flame; the girl's hot lips were pressing fiery kisses on his breast; her arms slipped from his neck and twined themselves close about his waist.

"G.o.d in heaven--be careful, child!" He took her arms and tried to draw himself away. But, ere he could loosen her hold, he felt his body thrill in answer to her pa.s.sionate caress--a torrent of pa.s.sion rose within him: all thought of self-restraint was whirled away.

"Love, love!" he gasped, his voice almost breaking in tears. He drew her up to him, and closed her thirsting lips with his own, crushing her body against his own till both lay breathless....

THE FIRST SNOWFALL

This year, it came later than usual--not until just before Christmas.

And when it did come, it was like a rain of silver.

The children greeted it with joyful shouts and a wild throwing of s...o...b..a.l.l.s; the women carried shovelfuls of snow into the rooms and spread it on the floor before sweeping; the men hung tinkling bells to their horses' harness.

Men hurried briskly along the forest tracks, and the great high road to the town was packed with an unbroken throng of pilgrims. All coming and going exchanged greetings, even with strangers--a gay wave of the hand and a few words about the snow.

Twilight was falling.

Olof had just come in from his work in the forest, and was sitting in his little room in the peasant's hut where he was quartered. An elderly man stepped in--a farmer from the same village.

"Evening--and greetings from the town."

"Evening," said Olof heartily. "Come in and sit down."

"I've little time to sit. I'd a message for you, that was all. Stopped at Valimaki on the way out, and someone gave me this for you."

He took out a small packet and handed it across.

Olof blushed up to the eyes, and stammered a word of thanks.

The messenger pretended not to notice his confusion, and went on, smiling: