Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1891-12-02

through tho suns misty rays, the COW
bells tinkled, the shepherds dog barked,
Aslang sang her "jodel" songs and blew
the cow horn, all the young men felt
their hearts grow sore and heavy as they
gazed upon her beauty. And on the hrst
| Saturday evening one after the other
they crept up the hill. But they came
down again quicker than they had gone
up, for at the top stood man who kept
guard, receiving each one who came up
with such warm reception that he all
his life long remembered the words that
accompanied the action, "Come up here
again and there will be still more in store
for you!"
All the young fellows could arrive but
at one conclusion, that there was only
one man in the whole parish who had
such fists, and that man was Thor Mes
set. All the rich farmers daughters
thought it was too bad that this cot
tager's son should stand highest in AS
lang Husaby's favor.
Old Canute thought the same when he
were no one else who could check him
he would do it himself. Now, Canute
was certainly getting on in years; still,
although he was past sixty, he often en-
joyed good wrestling match with his
eldest son whenever time indoors fell
heavy on his hands
There was but one path up to the
mountain belonging to Husaby, and 1t
went straight through the farm garden.
Next Saturday evening. as Thor was op
his way to the mountain, creeping care
fully across the yard, hurrying rs soon
as he was well past the farm buildings,
man suddenly rushed at him.
What do you want with me?" asked
Thor, and hit him such blow in the
face that sparks danced before his eyes.
"You will soon learn that" said some
one else behind him, and gave him \
great blow in the back of his neck.
That was Aslang's brother.
"And here's the hired man. said Old
Canute, and attacked him also.
The greater the danger the greater
was Thor's strength. He was supple as
"a willow, and hit out right manfully; he
divsd and he ducked whenever blow
fell 1t missed him, and when none ex-
pected it he would deal good one He
stopped down, he sprang on one side,
but for all that he got q terrible thrash
ing. Old Canute said afterward that
"he had never fought with braver fel-
low" They kept it up till blood began
to flow, then Canute cried out, stop"
Then he added in a croaking tone, "H
you can get up here next Saturday, in
spite of Canute Husaby and his men, the
the girl shall be yoursp'
Thor dragged himself home as best he
could, and when he reached the cottage
went straight to bed. There was great
deal of talk about the fght up on Hus-
ably hill, but every one said, why did
he go there" Only one person did not
say so, and that was Alsang. She had
been expecting Thor that Saturday
evening, but when she heard what had
happened between him and her father,
she sat down and cried bitterly, and
said to herself, "If may not have Thor
shall never have happy day again in
this world"
Thor staid in his bed all Sunday and
when Monday came he felt he must
stay on where he was. Tuesday came
and it was lovely day. 1t had rained
in the night; the hills looked 80 fresh
and green, the window was open, sweet
odors were waited in, the cowbells were
tinkling on the mountain, aud far up
above some one was "jodling." Truly,
il it had not been for his mother. who
was sitting in the room, he could have
cried. Wednesday came and still be
staid In bed; on Thursday, though, he
Naoin IN think about the possibility. Of
being well again by Saturday, and FIJI
day found him on his legs again. Then he
thought of what Aslang's father had said.
IF you can get up to her next Saturday
without being stopped by Canute and
his men the girl shall be yours" Over
and over again he looked mp at Husaby
farm. ~ shall never see another Christ
has" thought Thor.
AS before mentioned, there was but
one path up to Hussby hill; but surely
any strong, able fellow must be able to
get to it, even though the direct way
were barred TO him. For instance, II he
were to row round the point yonder and
fasten his boat at the one side, 1t might
be possible to climb up there, although
it was so very steep that the goats had
great difficulty in climbing it, and they
are not usually afraid of mountain work
Saturday came. and Thor went out
early in the morning. The day was
most beautiful, the sun shone so bright
ly that tie very bushes seemed alive.
Up on the mountain many voices were
"jodling," and there was much blowing
of horns. When evening came he was
sitting at his cottage door watching the
steaming mist rise up on the hills. He
looked upward-all was quiet; he looked
over toward Hussby farmland then he
jumped into his boat and rowed away
round the point.
Aslang sat before the hut; her days
! work was done; she was thinking Thor
would not come that evening, and that
therefore many others might come in
stead, 80 she unfastened tho dog, and,
without saying anything, walked farther
on. She sat down, so that she could see
across the valley, but the mist was rising
there, and prevented her looking down.
Then she chose another place. and with
out thinking more about IL, sat down -
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