The Song of the Blood-Red Flower Part 3

"Look, look!" cried the rest. It was like running down a hare.

A glimpse of a red stocking up on the crest of the mound, and the hunted creature vanished on the farther side, the hunter after her.

The final heat was but short. The girl was wearying already, and had made for the shelter of the hill on purpose to avoid being caught in sight of the rest. Olof tore madly down the slope. The girl gave one glance round, turned vaguely with an instinct of defence; next moment she felt Olof's two hands grasping her waist.

"You--gazelle!" he shouted triumphantly. But the pace was too hot for a sudden stop; they lost their balance, and came down together, breast to breast and eye to eye, rolling over on the slope.

It was all like a dream to Olof--he hardly knew what had happened.

Only that the girl was lying there across his breast, with her loosened hair streaming over his face. It was like a caress in payment for his exertions, and it almost stifled him. Still holding her, he looked into her flushed face, into her wonderful eyes--Gazelle! He felt like sinking off to sleep, to dream it over again, the charm and wonder of it all....

"Oh, but come! The others...."

They looked at each other in confusion, and loosed their hold, but were still so agitated they could hardly rise. Olof handed her the shoe.

"Quick--put it on, and we'll go back."

She put on her shoe, but stood still, as if unable to move.

Olof flushed angrily. He was vexed at his own confusion, and with the girl as well.

"Come!" he said commandingly, and gave her his hand. "We must run."

Shouts of applause greeted them as they appeared hand in hand in sight of the rest.

As they came up, Olof felt his senses in a whirl once more, and clenched his teeth in an effort to appear unconcerned.

"Well run, well run!" cried the others.

"Ha ha, Olof, you got the shoe, and the owner, too--but it's made you fine and red."

"Enough to make anyone red," gasped Olof shortly.

"Now, on again! Last man out...."

"No, no--don't spoil it now. We shan't get another run like that."

"Yes, that's enough for to-day." Olof's eyes shone, and he stole a glance at the gazelle.

"But we must have a dance before we go," cried the girls.

"A dance, then."

"What do they mean, the two little stars, That s.h.i.+ne in the sky so clearly?

That a boy and a girl, a youth and a maid, They love each other dearly."

"'Tis a pretty song," thought Olof, and pressed the girl's hand unconsciously, and she did not loose her hold. Then someone led Olof into the ring.

"What do they mean, the four little stars, That s.h.i.+ne so bright in the sky?

That I give my hand to my own true love, And bid the rest good-bye."

"I've never given a thought to the words before," thought Olof again, and offered his hand to Gazelle.

"What do they mean, the bright little stars, That s.h.i.+ne and sparkle above?

That hope and longing are part of life, And the rest of life is love."

"All very well," said someone, with a laugh, "but we must be getting home. Some of us have a long way to go."

"Don't break up the party. We'll all go together. One more round first--the last."

"Never shall I leave my love, Never shall we part.

Rocks may fall, and trees may fall, And the dark sea come and cover all, But never shall we part."

"Well, we must part some time--you can cry if you like. Good-bye, good-bye."

And they shook hands all round.

Olof turned toward the girls, where they stood in a group, but was checked by a glance from two deep, honest blue eyes--the fairy of the forest! Her glance was clear and serene as before, but there was something in it that pierced him like a steel. He felt suddenly guilty, and turned pale. He could not move, but stood there fixed by the glance of those blue eyes.

He could not stand there like that. He raised his head to look at the fairy girl, but his glance turned aside, and met another's eyes. These two looked at him, questioning, wondering. And they sent forth such a stream of clear and sparkling light that all else seemed to vanish, and the blood rushed to his cheeks.

"Good-night." He raised his hat to the girls, and turned his back.

The party broke up, all going their several ways.

"Never shall I leave my love, Never shall we part...."

Some of the young men had crossed the stream already, and were singing as they went. Olof walked up the hill towards his home.

"Never shall we part...."

--he took up the words half aloud, and his face was set in a strange expression of resolution and eager, almost fierce, delight.

A MOTHER'S EYES

The warm, soft twilight of a spring night filled the room. And all was still.

"Oh, I have waited for you so!" whispered the girl, flinging her arms round her lover's neck. "I was so afraid you would not come--that something might have happened...."

"And what could happen, and who could keep me from coming to you? But I could not come before--I don't know what it was made mother stay up so late to-night."

"Do you think she ..." began the girl. But a pa.s.sionate kiss closed her lips.

"If you only knew how I have been longing for you," said he. "All day I've been waiting for the evening to come. I've thought of nothing else since I first looked into your eyes--Gazelle!"

"Do you mean it, Olof?" She nestled closer to him as she spoke.