But tell me, he looked at me appealingly, itsnot true?
Dearest child, I
consoled her, I will find you and come to you, nomatter how far you may travel.
Whereupon they heard a couple of smart blows, as when onereceives a slap on the
mouth. Do you remember what my unhappy father said whenyou placed it on my
finger?
Ah, Thou mercifulHeaven, what a shock was in store for me!
I cannot
tell yet whether what hashappened is of great importance one way or the other.
I had hoped,once, to give her in thy bosom.
At this she was exceeding happy,
and kissed me many times. Godforgive you, Morten, he groaned, God forgive you
and me, but it wasnone of my doing.
Would that I might pass over the border
aheadof him whom stern duty forces me to send thither. Bruus turned to the
spectators, and said, That helpedthe parsons memory, didnt it? Morten Bruus led
the way to the hedge over toward the east. Then, said Morten, well givethe
parson a fright that he wont recover from in a fortnight. Morten Bruus led the
way to the hedge over toward the east.
I would fain change places with one of
the talesmen! Tell me, dear child, do you yourself believe your fatherto be
innocent? Farewell, God bless you and preserve you.
Tomorrow, too, the first
witnesses will be heard.
She must have read thedeath sentence in my face, for
she paled and seized my arm.
If this trial is concluded, then weboth know that
your fathers life is forfeited. Wait, brother Niels,youll soon have your
revenge. Would to God I might havelain down beside her and neither of us ever
awakened again!
They had uncovered a hand stretching up at them throughthe
earth. If this trial is concluded, then weboth know that your fathers life is
forfeited. Almighty God, he said, Thou art my witness that I am innocentof this
crime. And now, my friend, it must all be plain to you.
And send at once for
Pastor Jens in Aalsoe, for I want him to ministerthe last sacrament to me.
Jens
Larsen had been standing with folded hands looking at the work. We drove off to
Grennaae, the pastor in the cart with the jailor and theclerk, and I on
horseback. They had uncovered a hand stretching up at them throughthe earth.
She must have read thedeath sentence in my face, for she paled and seized my
arm. She dropped what she hadin her hands, rushed over to her father, and flung
her arms around hisneck. At this they heard Niels Bruus revile thepastor,
calling him a hangman and a scoundrel.
He was given a chair andsat down
heavily. Niels had suffered much in foreign lands.
We turned quickly, and I saw
that it was my betrothedwho had swooned and lay prone on the ground.
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