n, and in the same instant the huge brown bulk rolled in the
snow, gave a gasp, and was dead! The spell was broken! The silver bullet
had pierced his heart. There was a curious unreality about the whole
thing to Lars. He scarcely knew whether he was really himself or the
hero of the fairy-tale.

All that was left for him to do now was to go home and marry Stella, the
delivered princess.

The noises about him seemed to come nearer and nearer; and now they
sounded like human voices. He looked about him, and to his amazement
saw his father and Marit, followed by two wood-cutters, who, with
raised axes, were running toward him. Then he did not know exactly what
happened; but he felt himself lifted up by two strong arms, and tears
fell hot and fast upon his face.

"My boy! my boy!" said the voice in his ears, "I expected to find you
dead."

"No, but the bear is dead," said Lars, innocently.

"I didn't mean to tell on you, Lars," cried Marit, "but I was so afraid,
and then I had to."

The rumor soon filled the whole valley that the great Gausdale Bruin was
dead, and that the boy Lars Tomlevold had killed him. It is needless to
say that Lars Tomlevold became the parish hero from that day. He did not
dare to confess in the presence of all this praise and wonder that at
heart he was bitterly disappointed; for when he came home, throbbing
with wild expectancy, there stood Stella before the kitchen door,
munching a piece of bread; and when she hailed him with a low whinny, he
burst into tears. But he dared not tell any one why he was weeping.

This story might have ended here, but it has a little sequel. The $1,750
which Bruin had to his credit in the bank had increased to $2,290;
and it was all paid to Lars. A few years later, Martin Janson, who had
inherited the estate of Moe from old Lars, failed in consequence of his
daring forest speculations, and young Lars was enabled to buy the farm
at auction at less than half its value. Thus he had the happiness to
bring his mother back to the place of her birth, of which she had been
wrongfully deprived; and Stella, who was now twenty-one years old,
occupied once more her handsome box-stall, as in the days of her glory.
And although she never proved to be a princess, she was treated as if
she were one, during the few years that remained to her.

[Footnote 1: In Norway confirmation is always preceded by a public examination of
the candidates in the aisle of the church. T