Stories by Foreign Authors

. The management of the farm and house had to go on as it would, while a multitude of letters were passing to and fro between Hogstad and the parish, Hogstad and the capital; for he

time there were bitter articles in the papers, which according to report were by him, and were the cause of great strife in the parish, setting neighbor against neighbor. Sometimes

Hogstad's influence had proved stronger. This was what his absence meant, this was his work! It was involuntary on the part of the people that admiration of the man and his dogged persistency should lessen dissatisfaction at their own defeat;

old came driving up in four carriages. Two years had passed since he was last there. He alighted and walked through the crowd, when involuntarily all lifted their hats to him like one man; but he looked neither to the right nor the left, nor returned a single salutation. His little wife, pale as death, walked behi

es hollow and bloodshot, and the giant neck presented wrinkles and cords. At a glance he perceived what this man had endured, and was as suddenly seized with a feeling of strong pity, yes, even with a touch of the old love

t of gratitude: keep away from him until possibly he can in s

On the contrary, he devoted himself to his farm and other business with an earnestness which showed a determ

. Lars stood on the platform of his house to hear the first signal, and see the first column of smoke; all the hands on the farm were gathered around him. He looked out over the parish, lying in the setting sun, and felt that he was to be remembered so long as a train should roar through the fruitful valley. A feeling of forgiveness crept into his soul. He looked toward the churchyard, of which a part remained, with crosses bowing toward the

en lost, but forward he had pushed, nevertheless. His faults were those of his time; they were to be found on the uncertain borders of the moral conceptions of that period, and are of no consideration now. Honor to him in his grave, for he suffered an

e two great eyes of fire? This hissing, roaring, is no longer the locomotive, for see! it comes from the churchyard directly toward the house: an immense procession! The eyes of fire are his grandfather's, and the train behind are all the dead. It advances cont

t: for daily in all these years it has sounded through his soul, and now it becomes his own requiem; for this was death and its visions. The perspiration started out over his whole body, for nearer and nearer,-and see there, on the window-pane there, there they are now; and he heard his name. Overpowered with dread he s

rning, Lars, we'

Canut

ouse; around him grazed, bellowed, bleated, and neighed his stock; the sheep huddled together in a terrified flock; the furniture recklessly scattered

ming forward and seating herself, or rather falling down bef

wall. He remained sitting, silent and thoughtful; his wife dared say no more, but was trying to find clothes for him: the things with which she had covered him, as he lay unconscious, having fallen off. He r

e only frie

o matter, they made her happy; she gathered courag

e no one else u

his people, sent the girls out through the parish, while he himself hastened with men and horses to the spot where all were sleeping. He had taken charge of extinguis

was Canute, who had been home after his church-wagon; the one in which so many times they had ridden together to and from the

elped in: Canute seated himself by his side. What they talked about as they rode, or afterward in the little chamber

hemselves to rebuild Lars Hogstad's houses, larger and handsomer than any others in the valley

FR

DER KI

Countries." Transla

FR

DER KI

the person who marvelled most at the dashing and luxuriou

ormer partner; on the contrary, it arose simply from the fact that Charles was the more capable man of the two. And as Alphonse had now to work on his own account, it was soon clear

p by step with his sharp eyes; every blunder, every extravagance, every loss-h

near each other in the same street; and in a city like Paris proximity is as important a

differences which originally marked their characters, until at last their idiosyncrasies fitted into

wo young men; for they did not understand friendship as binding the one to bear everything a

considerateness, he himself was ignorant of it; and if any one had told him

fetter him was the last thing that could enter his head. That Charles was his best friend seemed to him as entirely natur

verything without effort; existence fitted him like an elegant dress, and h

him from his earliest days, his vanity was of a cheerful, good-natured sort, which, after all, was not so offensive. He was exceedingly fond of his friend. He amused himself and sometimes others by teasing him and making fun of

was small and insignificant, quiet and shy. His friend's brilliant qualit

ys is a real blessing for my poor Charles, for without

was proud of his friend. He wrote his exercises, prompted him at examina

es worked for Alphonse, and Alphonse rewarded him with

same banker's office, it happened one day that the principal sa

harles, "both on my own a

emains unaltered," replied th

d it was his commercial capacity, the quality which, as a young man of business, he valued most, that had procured hi

s friend. He told Alphonse nothing of the occurrence; on the contrary, he p

he dark offices in the Rue Bergere. So they removed to the Credit Lyonnais on the first of May. But as they were in the chief's office taking their l

r labor as soon attracted to him the attention of his superiors. That he was far ahead of his friend in business capacity was soon manifest; but every time he received a new

lly a smart fellow, Charlie! You're getting ahead of everybo

and now he learned that his friend not only did not grudge him his advancement, but was even proud o

body's darling? The very promotions and marks of appreciation which he had won for himself by hard work were accorded him in a d

reath of life and freshness followed ever in the wake of his handsome person and joyous nature. Charles, on the other

t of rare sensitiveness, with no

ated, but they flashed around and glittered. When he laughed the corners of his mouth turned upward, and many a time, when his heart was full of joy and good-will, he had seen people draw back, half-frigh

for-intimate and cordial intercourse and friendliness which should answer to the warmth pent up within him? Why shoul

is daily work. He had been placed in the easiest and most interesting branch of the business, and,

set store by his acquaintance, and he was a

until he was seized by a misgiving that he was invited

together, Alphonse had answered: "It is too good of you

would draw Alphonse out of the circles which Charles could not now endure, and

ether he was jealous of all the people who flocked around Alphonse

ss prudently and energe

represented the solid, confidence-inspiring element, while the handsome and elegant A

emarked his handsome figure, and thus it seemed quit

be spokesman. When Alphonse asked him about anything

t that Charles was a co

the real head

hought little about

life into which ero

s exhilarating amiability came into play, and when he leaned back at supper and hel

soft, half-curling hair looked as if it were negligently arr

cks; for Alphonse had not only the gift of being loved by w

es. He kept no account of his own love-affairs, far less of those of his friend. So it might ea

men can scarcely accustom themselves. He seldom went with Alphonse to his suppers, and it was a

of all; he would sing loudly with his harsh voice, laugh and gesticulate so that his stiff black hair

t night, as if something were rustling under his feet. It is the enemy, who has undermined the outworks, and

strange thoughts rustling within him. But he would not hear-he ha

e day i

e clerks had all left the outer office,

g a letter which he wishe

ad brushed his hat until it shone, and now he was walking up and d

nner in a cafe on the great Boulevard, and Alp

nished that letter?" he

hat he could do it better? Did he not know which of them was really the man of business?" And now the words str

xpressions, upbraidings, and recriminations; and through

d hair, Charles looked like a little wiry-haired terrier barking at a

was once more silence in the room, it seemed as though the air was still quivering with

he two?" Yes, assuredly! he had never den

thing to himself with his smooth face." Alphonse was not

r your cocottes"

d only had the faintest suspicion of such a thing he would never have looked at h

s to-morrow comes, I wi

eets until he met an acquaintance. That put other thoughts into his head; but all day he had a feeli

of the apology he had expected, only a coldly-worded request to M. Alphonse to attend at the counting-house early t

he scene in the counting-house had been more than a passing outb

ry with his friend, nor was he precisely angry even now. But as he repeated to himself all the insults Charles had heaped

and industriously. There they sat, each on his side of the desk; they spoke only the most indispensab

re busily than the other-until twelv

d in their office, and when the old housekeeper announced that lunch was ready, they w

the warm, comfortable office. Alphonse had always some piquant stories

servi" they both remained sitting. She opened her eyes wide

s in his hand, and looked round the dear old office where they had spent so many pleasant hours, and then thought that they were to lose all this an

ways used to make Charles laugh, "it will really be too absurd to advertise:

Charles, quietly, "that we will pu

ut down his glass, and the cut

refore he could not tell; but he thought that Charles was hard

he business of dissolution w

he great Paris. They met at the Bourse, but never did business with each other. Charles nev

hat now and then he did a good stroke of business, but the steady industry he had learned f

s extravagances in check. Now, on the contrary, his life became more and more dissipated. He made fresh acquaintances on ev

orm a pretty good estimate of the other's earnings. His expenses were even easier to ascertain, and

nsive mode of life and rash prodigality. He sought the same cafes and restaurants as Alphonse, but at different times; he even had his clo

s of a grasping usurer. But it would be a great injustice to suppose that Charles for a moment contemplated doing suc

harles became pale and sallow

ve their eyes opened, and see how little the brilliant and idolized Alphonse was really f

ulate; for at this point feelings stirred

d been his own lot in life; and every time the least thought in defence of Alphonse arose in his

he bought more clothes in these

, here is the very stuff for you. Monsieur Alphonse has had a whole suit

e was one of your favorite customers,"

rancs. It was very stupid of me to speak so. Monsieur Alphonse has not only paid me the trifle he was owing, but I know that he has also sati

ulous tailor. He soon left the shop, and went up the stree

ny a brilliant business opening, and make plenty of money without a word of it reaching Charles's ears. Perhaps, after all, he was getting on well.

gless, as if he had lost all that he had ever possessed-or had he himself cast it from him? Just then some one ran against him wit

long since we met. Odd, too, that I should meet y

?" said Charles

r forty thousand francs-bearing both your name and that of Monsieur Alphonse

done with each other ye

and asked, in as natural a tone as he could command,

, who was a hard-worked business man, and was already in

ot manage to let ME redeem the bill to-morrow

the bank to-morrow afternoon. I will arrange it; nothing easie

e waiting for the messenger who had gone

folded blue paper by his princ

oom, and open it. He stared for a second or two at his name, then lay back in his c

at, gazing at his own name, and obse

is mind was so disturbed, and his feelings so strangely conflicting, that it was some time

se began to tickle a little, and, before he

chief, and carefully wiped the wet place on the bill.

what had he lost? Nothing, for did he not hate his former friend? No one could say it was

the refined, delicate Alphonse had sunk so low, he must have come to a jutting hea

ous horror which follows the suicide. Thus Charles would lose his revenge, and it would be all to no purpose that he had gone and nursed his hatred until he himself had become

es knew the cafe in which he would find Alphonse at

sign from Charles should suddenly advance into the middle of the cafe where Alphonse was always

se, you are char

to rain. It was not a downpour-the water did not fall from the clouds in regular drops-but the clouds them

sides. The moisture slid down the back of your neck, laid itself like a wet

e hour in the omnibus stations. But most of the stronger sex hurried along under their umbrellas; only a few had been sensible enou

o'clock. A few gas-jets lighted in the narrowest streets, and in

's umbrellas. All the cabs were taken up; they splashed along and bespattered the foot passengers to

ther in their hurry. Ever and anon, amid the confusion, could be heard the sharp little ting of the bell on th

on the Boulevard Sebastopol. She was widely k

parted in the middle of her forehead in natural curls. Her eyes were

which she wrote elegant figures in her cashbook, and now and then a little note. Madame Virginie could converse with the young dandies who were alwa

ever left him; she got a fresher color, her mouth was always trembling into a smile, and her movements became somewhat nervous. That was the only t

ought that she had form

d even have it that she

or twenty others; that she had lost him-nay, that he had never really been hers. And yet her eyes besought a friendly look, and when he left the cafe with

streamed past. Seen through the great plate-glass windows, the busy forms gliding past one another in the dense, wet, rainy air looked like f

had long noticed how Alphonse was growing paler day by day, had-ha

ith a poor joke and

suppers! How ill he had been looking these last few weeks! He had grown quite thin, and the great gentle eyes had acquired a piercing, restless look. What wou

ped his feet, and shut his wet umbrella. All bowed to Mada

ed shortly and took a seat in

s the door every time any one came in; and when Charles appe

not in the vein to-d

d up from his paper and nodded slightly; the stranger

his cue o

," said he, "permit me to leave off. Waiter, bring me a bottle

Alphonse, but rather keep to a sensible diet," said

MUSANT, and began to make merry remarks upon the illustrations. A little circle quic

ured out a glass of seltzer-water and took from his pocket a l

re was a little cigar-ash on the floor in front of his chair; he whipped it o

m. Charles had risen and hurried across

e. At first he let his eyes travel furtively over his old friend's figure; then

well-known face and now for the first time saw how it had altered of late

xpression of imploring helplessness which Charles knew so well from the old school-days

URNAL AMUSANT?" asked Char

im the paper, and at the same time got hold of Charles's thumb.

stranger who sat by the

eed our assi

tha

r, handing Charles a folded blue paper

with a little shriek:

Alphons

and his head fell on one side. He remained sitti

en he looked in Alphonse's face he started a little. He took his hand as if to feel his p

t it fell on the floor and was smashed. Then he laid down t

and what had happened. "Dead? Is he

se," answere

gar. Amid laughter and noise, the balls could

; and the silence spread in wider and wider circ

d a hand," sa

him on a sofa in a corner of the room,

and pressed against her breast. They carried him right past the buffet. The doctor had seized h

supple limbs she knew so well, and con

from the street; a waiter ran towards them and said a few words. They glanced

nearest friends stood in a group and whispered. The doctor was

. One of them knelt and gathered up the fragments of the glass on a tray. He

til by and by," sa

ed at the dead man. He slowly tore the folded p

O

RIKA

ation by M

O

RIKA

he autumn; upon the spring, in spring upon the autumn; from this year to the next, and this amid mere hopes, I had passed through nearly thirty years of my life, without, of all my privations, painfully perceiving the want of anything but whole boots. Nevertheless, I consoled mysel

lance upon the rolling wheel of fortune, and with the phil

gentleman and the daughters of the house, who, with high shoulders and turned-in toes, went from morning to night paying visits, I felt a peculiarly strange emotion of tenderness and joy as one of my acq

now allowed himself to be shaken up hill and down hill, upon an uncommonly uncomfo

self a little-only a very little breakfast,-a

chatted. "Nay, that I must say," said the fat gentleman, "this Me

riend" (to the waiter), "could not you get me a bit of venison, or some other soli

housand dollars, and they banko! Nobody in the who

ere thirty then-; and give me here banko-no give me here a glass of wine, I mean;" and from head to heart the

edit and five thousand dollars for champagne. And now all his creditors stand there prettily and open their mouths; all th

ar you, observe well, that I have not eaten a morsel of all this. How could I, indeed; I, that ever since I opened my eyes this morning have done noth

red it," replied the waiter

ot my fault that a rich heir, for whom I ordered the breakfast, is all at once become poor,-yes, poorer than many a poor devil, because he has lost more than the half of his present means upon the future. If he, under these circumstances, as you

rt and a watering mouth, that dear breakfast, and wandered forth into the city, with my little bun

ellow complexion, a deeply-wrinkled brow, and above his eyebrows an intelligible trace of ill-humour; when I saw a young count, with whom I had become acquainted in the University of Upsala, walking along as if he were abou

which was more suited to my gloomy prospects than to

ds in the lap and look up to heaven, not much better. "The sun breaks forth when one least expects it," thought I, as heavy autumn clouds descended upon the city. I determined to use all the means I could to obtain for myself a decen

cupation of writing out fairly the empty productions of empty heads, with my dinners becoming more and more sc

t on the following day, if I did not prefer (the politeness is French) to march fort

revived with this affectionate salutation on my return from a visit to a sick p

nced around the little dark chamber, for the further use

and rain were not contented to stop outside. At that moment my eye fell upon a brilliantly blazing fire in a kit

hat fire-tending game, I contemplated the well-fed dame, amid iron pots and stewpans, standing there like an empres

us curtain, the view into a brightly lighted room, where a numerous fami

Ah, the enviable mortal! But no, it is quite impossible; he is at least forty years older than she. See, that indeed must be his wife-an elderly lady, who sits near him on the sofa, and who offers rusks to the young lady. The old lady seems very dignified; but to whom does she go now? I cannot see the person. An ear and a piece of a shoulder are all that peep forth near the window. I cannot exactly take it amiss that the respectable person turns his back to me; but that he keeps the young lady a quarter of an hour standing before him, lets her courtesy and offer her good things, does thoroughly provoke me. It must be a lady-a man could not be so unpolite towards th

her knock against the tea-table, whereby the poor lady, who was just about springing up from the sofa, is pushed down again-the children hop about and clap their hands-the door flies open-a young officer enters-the

ndow? That is what one get

in an ill-humor; perhaps, too, I felt some little heartache. But for all that, true to my resolution, not to give myself up to anxious thoughts when they could do no good, I seized the pen with stiff fingers, and, in order to dissipate my vexation, wished to attempt a description of domestic happiness, of a happiness wh

, or solitarily rejoices! No look, no smile, remains unanswered; and where the friends say daily,

ng on his staff, the strong man, the affectionate wife, and happy children, who, shouting and exulting, hop about in their earthly heaven, and closing a day spent in the pastimes of innocence,

le angels

und abou

l guard u

tle child

ething resembling a drop of rain come forth from my

melancholy turn-"how many are there who must, to their sorrow, do

ing:-"Unhappy, indeed, may the forlorn one be called, who, in the anxious and cool moments of life (which, indeed, come so often), is pr

him; he comes, nobody goes to meet him; he rests, nobody watches over him. He is lonely. Oh, how unfortunate

ders he, the lonesome one; why waits he; why flies he not, the shadow, to the land of shades? Ah, he still hopes,

it upon his heart, in order henceforth not so lonesom

ion which I describe

possibility. For some time, however, alas! it had been otherwise with me; I felt, and especially this evening, more than ever an inexpressible desire to have somebody to love,-to have some one about me who would cleave to me-who would be a friend to me;-in short, to have (for me the highest felicity on earth) a wife-a beloved, devoted wife! Oh, she would comfort me, she would cheer me! her affection, even in the poorest hut, would make of me a king. That the love-fire of my heart would not insure the faithful being at my side f

de. Yes, even if an inhabitant of the world of spirits opened the door, he would be welcome to me! What was that? Three blows on the door! I will not, however, believe it-again three!" I went and opened; there was nobody there; only the wind went howling up and down the stairs. I hastily shut the door agai

he door my light was blown out. A gigantic white figure glimmered opposite to me, and I felt myself suddenly embraced by two strong arms. I cried for help, and struggled so actively to get loose that both myself and my adversary fell to the ground, but so that I lay uppermost. Like an arrow I sprang again upright, and was

hed. I lay upon a sofa, and-no, I really did not deceive myself,-that charming girl, who on this evening had so incessantly floated before my thoughts, stood actually beside me, and with a heavenly expression of sympathy bathed my head with vinegar. A young man whose countenance seemed known to me held my hand

sciousness, the young man embraced me

-, whose life a short time since you saved at the peril of your own? whom you so handsomely fished up, with danger to yourself

ou have saved my son's life, and because you are such a downright honest and good fellow, and have suffered hunger yourself-that you might g

; and before all had been cleared up by a thousand explanations, I could understand n

scue him from a danger, into which youthful heat and excess of spirit had thrown him. I had not seen him again since this occurrence; earlie

his son, to raise me from the lap of poverty to the summit of good fortune. August would in his rapture announce to me my good luck instantly, and in order, at the same time, to gratify his passion for merry jokes, made himself known upon my stairs in a way which occasioned me a severe, although not dangerous, contusion on the temples, and the unexpected re

ed so horribly upon the contents of the rusk basket, and over whom I had poured out my gall belonged to nobod

. The old people treated me like a child of the house, the young ones as a br

ore rusks than my excellent patron, I rose up to take my leave. They insisted absolutely upon my passing the night there; but I a

elmina also, although not without having gracious permission first. "I might as well have left that

e up to his ear, on the other it crept for vexation down to his double chin; the eyes followed the same direction, and the whole had a look of a combat, till the tone in which August

ho would take money for such a hole. I was obliged to satisfy him with the most holy assurances, that on the following day I would remov

" interrupted I, "be quiet

and cows, what pleasure grounds, with flowers, fruits, and vegetables, I saw in spirit surrounding my new paradise, where my Eve walked by my side, and supported on my arm; and especially what an innumerable

l, especially to whom unexpectedly a long-cherished wish ha

ed them. I wished to embrace my wife, but could not separate her from a great turnip, which increased every moment, and at last grew over both our heads. I endeavored to climb up a ladder to heaven, whose stars beckoned kindly and brightly to me; but potatoes, grass, vetches, and peas, entangled my feet unmercifully, and hindered every step. At last I s

nd no dream, I could only convince myself with difficulty, till

ure which beamed from the bright sun of the present, all surprised me

ich opened to me, with the firm determination that, let happen w

rom which I promised myself much edification, as well for her as for the assembled congregation. Whilst I was turning over the leaves, a loose paper fell out. It was the paper upon which, on that evening two years before, in a very different situa

ould stand in perfect contrast to that which he once, in a dark

ts him with smiles; his tears flow not unobserved, they are dried by her hand, and his smiles beam again in hers; for him she gathers flowers, to wreathe around his brow, to strew in his path.

which are gay and delicious as the beams of the spring sun, I will now, a

and disturb my rest. I know my Wilhelmina, and believe also that I know myself sufficiently, to hope with certainty that I may always make her happy. The sweet angel has given me hope that we may soon be able to add a little creature to our little happy

r for my sermons. I hope to live

me, to be able to dry a great many tears, and to shed as fe

to survive

green earth vanish before the clear light of eternal certainty, then we hope that the All