The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-04-09
THE 18th OF MAY.
BY W. W. WRAAMAN.

BY w. w. WRAAMAN.
A charming view of the romantic valley
of v in the western part of Norway.
can be obtained at the highest point of
the road. leading from the seacoast over
the barren mountains, that on all sides,
towering up towards the sky, seem to
form an surmOuntable barrier between
this quiet spot and the rest of the world.
Especially is the scene impressive in
early spring, when the genial rays of the
May sun have called to life the green vel
vet covering Of the hills and the fresh
leaves of the birch has charged the atmos-
phere with delicious perfume, while
true picture of the stern, snowclad peaks
above and the cherry farms and thickets
below, is traced in the rippleless waters
of the little lake IN the ceuter of the val
ley.
AS the stranger who just now COM
meneed the descent, looked upon the
lovely landscape, illuminated by the
evening sun, a tear was visible in his
blue eye, and ordering the driver to await
his return, he retired to an elevated spot
at some distance from the road in order
to enjoy the pleasure of this longed-for
moment unobserved. Not before the
sun threatened TO disappear behind the
western anges he proceeded downward
to the valley where he drew up in front
of the inn.
-Four years previous to this occurrence,
every inhabitant of the vale ycould have
told you all about young Harold Ihrond-
son. Everybody knew him. everybody
spoke we'll OF him, and what was more,
everybody liked him. And no wonder.
Great muscular strength, combined with
SURPRISING agility in his truly command
ing person, ms blue eyes full of life and
kindness, he was conscious of his superb
ority, but also kind and courteous to all.
He generally took the first premium at
the shooting matches; he had gained the
well-merited reputation of being the
champion runner on snow-shoes on that
side of the mountains, for no ravine was
too rough, no hillside too steep for him;
with lightning speed he would slide
down over rocks and precipices, and with
body erect arrive on the plain below; he
was first at everything but never spoke
boastfuily about it. No wonder then,
that he, at the age of twenty, found him.
self the favorite of the valley. As the
only son of the representative, Thrond
Haraldson, the most influential ,nan in
the neighborhood, Harold had enjoyed
the privilege of receiving a good educa-
ton at the gymnasium in Bergen, and
old Thrond delighted in assuring his con-
fdential friends, tina: one day the young
upstart Gas he commonly called HARDLY
would be selected member Of the Stor-
thing (national assembly, in his place.
OF all his fair admirers Harold cared
for no one but Sigrid, the daughter of
Aslack Norgard, the richest and most
avar1cious man in the district; how much
he cared for her will soon be seen, for un-
expected circumstances should soon call
him from his dreams of happiness
and glory to life of action better suited
to bring to light true manhood.
When Harold was about twenty-one
his father died, and much as it surprised
all it was no less true that he was
left without penny in the world.
He was even obliged to sell the
farm, for centuries the property
of his forefathers, to pay his fathers
debts. True, he could redeem the farm
at his option according to the laws of the
country, but how was he to obtain the
money! At first he seemed thunderstruck
at the sudden change of his fortune, but
soon he gathered his thoughts and ener-
gies to remedy the evil. Shortly after.
wards Harold left the valley. No one
knew why or where he went. But there
was rumor that Aslack Norgard, who
had bought his fathers farm, without
ceremony informed him that he need not
come to see Sigrid any more, as she
would not be allowed to have any thing
to do with a poor, homeless vagabond
like him. Still, no one knew for certain
what had passed between Aslack and the
young man before his departure; only
this much was apparent to everybody,
that Sigrid from that time grew pale and
thin; she did not 60 to the gatherings of
the young folks in tho neighborhood, as
she used to do when Harold was around
and when she occasionally came to
church she seldom spoke to any one but
the kind, gray haired minister, who SEEM
ed in some degree to be able to console
her in her sorrow. AS time rolled on
one sutton after another tried to gain
Harold's place in her heart, but to no
purpose. No matter how severely old
Aslack scolded, no matter how he coaxed
and what he promised, sigrid remained
steadfast.
One Sunday in early spring about four
years after Thrond Haroldson's death
Sigrid, when coming home from church
where she had as usual cenversed with
the kind pastor, appeared more cheerful
than before and as her father again in
sisted that she should choose one Of he1
numerous suitors for husband, she
laughingly answered that she would make
bargain with him. Unused to find his
daughter so cheerful and ta)kative, the
old gentleman eagerly asked her to ex-
plain. She frankly told him that if Har-
old did not return before midsummer,
and ii he was not then able to redeem his
fathers farm, she would do as her father