The Evening critic., 1885-04-30
A CHANGED SKIN.
BY HJALMAR II. BoYEsEN.
AUTHOR OF oUENAR, rDYLs or NORWAY,
ETC.
Copyright 1855.

l.
She followed him all day long like lie.
tic dog. If no ran, she ran; fell aud
scrubbed her knees, cried and was lifted up
again. Thus IL wont from the weeks bo.
ginning to its end. He grew tired of her,
and would have liked to run away from
her. But he did not dare, for she was his
masters daughter, and ho was-woll, there
was the rub-he did not know who he was
He woke up one fine day and found him
self born. The sky was above him, and
there would have been earth beneath his
feet if he had not pointed them in tho
wrong direction. He was christened, In
random way, Ola. and was put on the
parish, as they say. Jens Oestmo took him
as his share of the parish burdens. He was
paid for it, at first, from the ''poor fund.-"
but when no was six years old the boy
could be made useful enough to earn his
food and shelter. Jens Oestmo then
wanted to send him away, bat his little
| daughter Bright was so fond of him that he
decided 10 keep him.
When Ola was twelve years old he
| could kick cap from a nail high above
| his head, and he could spit as far as any
man. Bright practiced this accomplish
ment by the hour, with indifferent sue.
cess. She was so fond Of Ola that every
thing he did seemed admirable Once she
swore, aud Ola was whipped for it.
at Is time now TO send that bad boy
away" said the mother.
"Send him to the mountains" said his
father; "he is big enough now to herd the
cattle"
| So Ola was sent to the mountains. Bare.
footed and bare-headed, with a pair of
| leather. patched knee -breeches hanging upon
one suspender, he roamed with his alpine
horn over the wide mountain plains, ate
berries, caught fish, set traps and was
happy. He hardly thought once Of the lit.
tie girl down in ethe valley, though it
pleased him when the saeter maids told
him that she had cried for him.
| One day late in the summer she came
up to the saeter with her mother. She
was carried up on horseback In a basket.
When she saw him she flung herself down
upon the grass and screamed with delight.
Get up, child" said her mother, don't
act like fool"
She got up a little shame faced and hid
herself behind her mothers skirt. But when
her mother had entered the saeter hut she
ran up to him and Rugged him. While the
cattle were being MIXED he went to look
for his traps. She followed him, proud in
tho thought that ho tolerated her.
Look here" he cried, lifting up brown
hare; "isn't that big fellow"
What is it?' she asked.
at is a hare"
'No, il isn't a hare. hare Ia whte.n
at is brown in summer. 1t changes its
skin"
That made deep impression upon her.
"How does he do it?' she asked after
while.
81 don't know"
HAS he two skins, ono inside of the
| other ?"
Instead of answering, he took his knife
and cut the hare's skin.
mo-" he said, che hasn't got more'n
one"
The time came when he had to go to the
parson to prepare for confirmation. 1t so
happened that she went the same year.
She was tall, fine girl now, and all the
lads in the parish tried to show off before
her. Ola would have liked to do the same,
if he had had anything to show of. But,
though he had a coat now, it was q cast
off one of Jens Oestmos, which was much
too big for him. His boots, too, and his
trousers had seen better days, before they
made his acquaintance He walked aside
from the rest, his ears burning when any
one looked at him. But If any one dared
to mark him, he used pair of fists which
inspired respect. He was handsome
, enough lad, and finely made; but his clothes
and his frowsy hair made him look ugly.
Heavy thoughts came to him, and fierce,
defiant spirit was kindled within him. The
world seemed all out of gear. He longed to
be back to the mountains where he could
be alone with birds and beasts. The girls
giggled when he went by; and when he
head their laughter growing louder, as the
distance increased, he yearned to kill some
body, just to give vent to the tremendou!
wrath within him.
1t was at such time that Bright sought
| him and snnEa kinnlv IN him
"You mustn't mind the girls" she said
"they laugh at everything They dom
mean anything by it, It's just way they
have"
Somebody will come to harm if you ever
do it," he answered fiercely
"That is foolish talk" she gently remon
strated. Il know you too well, Ola. Yol
= wouldn't harm me-"
"Ab, you don't understand me-" he said
"it is no use talking"
. ooh, yes, do understand you, OLA" sh
replied with smile; land l wish yol
would let me say one thing to you befor
!, Igo."
81 wish-I WISH" she stammered, Will
quick blush sprang to her cheeks. "No
think / won't say it, after al, }" she fin
ished, and turned to go.
eyes, say it," he entreated, sezing he
hand.
= well, it is this; 1t seemed so easy to sa,
a moment ago, and now it seems SO hard.
81 want TO hear It,"
well, IL wish you could do as tn
hare-change your skin"
She drew her hand away from him an
ran down the hillside, so that the stone
and dry leaves flew about her.
a, That night he picked a quarrel wit
Thorger Sletten, who was said to be atten
tive to Bright, and he whipped him. Al
the following winter he kept watch of lie
from afar, and picked quarrels with every
body whom she seemed to favor. He got
p bad name in the parish, and people locke
askance at him wherever he went.
: "Change my skim" he pondered. "Chsng
my skin like the hare! How, oh no
can / do it?'
j." This thought followed him day an
night. One day, in the spring. an emi
grant ship bound for America appeared q
the mouth of the river Ola packed to
q gether his few traps and went up to Oes
mos to say good,by. He met Bright in th
birch grove behind the barn. 1t was I'll
time when the buds were bursting and I'll
swallows had just returned
well, Ola, where are you gOiug" ST.
asked as she saw him coming with bund
- and staff in hand.
10 A