New-York tribune., 1910-05-08
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR MAY .. ISIO

| A Nh CO at last they came to his cabin. stark
n against the stark landscape, 1nettaDiy 81,
lent Lars lifted Petronilla from the se1gn ana
led her to the door. which he opened; WITHIN III
| Matthews lay on the bed IN a heaVy Steep @ l.-S
coat and cap were bundled on the cnair LaIS
| had been carving for PetrOnilla- Lars thrG"
them on the bench and then pointed 70 the
chair -, o.
| be your chair ,,.L
He helped her take off her wraps: And then
| for the first time she spoke. and her voice
| sounded strange in both their ears
He" she said. pointing to Matthew'S
| why is he here? He's sick
shade of contempt. and his eyes rested on
brandy bottle on the floor by the bed
He went over TO the sleeper and shook MN
| heartily Slowly Matthews raised on his elbow
| He stared at Lars, and then ne sa" feIrOIiiiia
and 1eaped to his feet
You'll he cried. and came to her.
But Petronilla put her hands over her tace; E;
Let me alone. both of youl" she said. and fell
| to sobbing- m. =
Matthews rushed at Lars - You devil! ne
shouted What have you done to her,
His ewes were wild and staring. his face un-
shaven. his hair matted. 1t was no wonder.
| Lars thought that Petronilla had turned from
| him. Lars thrust him on the bench
| Listen TO me- YOU twoi said Lars
He sat down heavily at the table and looked
about him. There were the rough walls ne
| had MANNED TO cover with precious furS for
PetrOnilla after they were married There was
| the bed which had been made soft tor her-
There was the floor to be made warm with
| skins-and he cur1ed his mouth with dlStaSte
| as he saw its untidyness- The stove too. IT was
choked and he rose as if to care for 1t: then he
sat down again and looked at the two before
| him.
Listen to me- you twol" he repeated
| Matthews stared noodily at the floor; Pc
tronilla looked f1utteringly. first at HIM and
then at Lars
DON'T know what meant TO do with them
both at first" Lars said slowly; kill them.
think But he was helpless. | could have
killed him as easily as Id shoot squirrel. and
he had taken my salt besides And she. she
was helpless too. little | could break her
waist with my hands
1t was not as if he spoke to them at all. but
| to some silent powerful Judge who would I'M
derstand him better than he could understand
| himself
so then it came to me to leave him here and
go TO her think at first meant to see if what
he said was true; for he seems such weakIng
| to me He steals my brandy that keep for
sickness; he eats my salt; and will not even
clean my floor in return. Why shouldn't he
lie? So | went to face her. l meant 70 speak
to her, TO say. Can you love that weakling5
Or do YOU not love me still?' | thought she
| might be light enough to say. No, not you and
| not him; still another Then | should have
she would not be fit to breed sons for the North
She would be just big enough TO trip up and
down paved streets and gaze into shop win
dowS and laugh with little minds"
Petronilla. crouched back. was staring at
him terrified; her fingers fumbled with the
carving on the arms of her chair. Matthews
stirred uneaSiy on the bench.
When | saw her. went on Lars. then 1t
came to me what to do. She must come here.
The ultimate place. ne called this once. II is
a bleak ultimate place. | have learned here
without book or teacher all the truths man can
learn in a lifetime There is nothing here-no
priest, marriage. no men. no streetS-nOth-
ing but the silence and God. the stars and the
| winds and the SHOWS All these are my brothers
and my teachers
He paused a long time; then his tone lost
gentlenesS and he said Sternly - So shall YOU
two learn! Let the man here show what stuff
is in himl Let the woman find if she has soul.
You two shall live here and serve each other
and mel
Petronlla covered her face with her hands.
while Matthews spoke.
You will not" he began.
- Kill YOU in the dark" finished Lars con-
tcmDtuOuStV. No: YOU shall STAY here m