Why the Chimes Rang | Page 4

both children
and the three stand looking out. At this moment something stirs in the

dim shadows that shroud the corner up above the fire-place. Suddenly
out of the dark the_ OLD WOMAN _emerges. A tall figure, if she were
not so bent, wrapped in a black cloak. There is nothing grotesque or
sinister in her appearance, she might have stood for a statue of old age,
impressive in its pathos. As she sits on the stool near the fire she throws
back the cloak disclosing the plain straight dress of gray beneath. The
light of the fire reveals her crouched, swaying back and forth praying
silently, her face still shaded by the heavy hood of her cloak. The others
gazing intently out at the church do not see her._ BERTEL _continues
speaking_) Surely thou hast heard of the Miracle of the Chimes?
HOLGER. I've heard folks speak of it,--but I never knew just what
happened.
STEEN. Oh, tell us, Uncle Bertel.
BERTEL. Aye, listen then!--You see the great tower there?--(_Both
children nod emphatically_) It goes so high into the clouds that no one
can see it's top!--No one even knows how high it is for the men who
built it have been dead for hundreds of years.
STEEN. But what has that to do with the chimes?
HOLGER. Hush, Steen, let uncle speak!
BERTEL. The chimes are up at the top of the tower--and they are holy
bells,--miraculous bells, placed there by sainted hands,--and when they
rang 'twas said that angels' voices echoed through them.
STEEN. Why doesn't someone ring them _now_?
BERTEL. Ah, that is not so easy!--They are said to ring on Christmas
Eve when the gifts are laid on the altar for the Christ-child,--but not
every offering will ring them, it must be a perfect gift. And for all these
years not one thing has been laid upon the altar good enough to make
the chimes ring out.
HOLGER. Oh, that's what the priest was talking about to mother, then.
He said it mustn't be just a fine gift for show but something full of love
for the Christ-child.
STEEN. Oh, I want to hear them!
BERTEL. _We shall!_--The very air is full of holy mystery! The Spirit
of Christ will be there in the church to-night! (To HOLGER) Thy cap,
boy!
(HOLGER _stands wrapt in thought gazing out at the cathedral._)
STEEN. (Taking the cap and cloak from the peg near the door and

bringing them down and piling them into HOLGER'S _arms_) Here
they are, old dreamer!--(_He turns back up toward the door in such a
way that he does not see the silent figure in the corner_) _And hurry!_
(BERTEL _too turns toward his left hand and does not see the
woman._)
HOLGER. (_In a tone of bright happiness, roused from his dreaming_)
I'm coming!--Nothing can happen to stop us now, can it? (_As he says
this he wheels to his right in a way that brings the chimney corner in
his line of vision. He starts, bends forward staring as the others open
the door, then he speaks in a tone that is little more than a gasp_)
_Steen!_
(_The others stop and stare at him, then in the direction of his look._)
STEEN. Oh!--The Old Woman!
BERTEL. (Looking to STEEN) When did she come in?
STEEN. I didn't see her!
(HOLGER _crosses timidly towards her. As he approaches the_ OLD
WOMAN _turns her eyes on him and holds out her hands in pitiful
appeal._)
HOLGER. What dost thou want, dame?
OLD WOMAN. (_In a voice that is harsh and broken_) Refuge--from
the storm of the world!
HOLGER. Surely thou shalt rest here.
OLD WOMAN. (Half rises stiffly as HOLGER _draws nearer_) Oh,
son, I am so weary and so heavy laden. (She sways and HOLGER
_runs forward, catching her in his arms and supporting her on the stool.
The others stand watching. She sits huddled forward in a position that
suggests collapse_)
HOLGER. She's faint! (_He touches her hands_) She's so cold! Quick,
Steen, build up the fire! (STEEN _goes to the fire and puts on another
log, the flames blase up_. HOLGER _busies himself chafing the
woman's hands and covering her with the old cloak that has dropped
back from her shoulders_) She must have lost her way in the forest.
BERTEL. (_Stands watching the woman rather suspiciously, now
comes to_ HOLGER _taps him on the arm and draws him a little apart,
speaking in an undertone_) We have scant time to lose with that old
beggar.
HOLGER. What'll I do with her?

BERTEL. Leave her and come on.
STEEN. And _come_--before it is to-morrow! (_He is back by the door,
his hand on the latch_)
HOLGER. (Turns and looks at the old woman and then back to
BERTEL) Oh, I--ought we to