Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1891-11-13


stay cn where he was. Tuesday came.
aud 1t was very lovely day 1t had
rained in the nights the hills looked
so fresh aud green, tile window was
open, sweet odors were waited in,
the cowbells were tinkling on the
mountain and far up above somebody
was "Jodling" Truly, if it had
not been for his mother, who was sit
ting in the room he could have cried.
wednesday came, aud still he stayed
IN bed; Thursday, though, lie began TO
think about the possibility of being
well again by Saturday, and Friday
found him on his legs again. Then
he thought of what Aslang's father
had said "lf 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 up at Husaby farm: al shall
never sec another Christmas" )" thought
Thor
| AS before mentioned, there was but
one path up 10 llusaby hill; but surely
any strong, able fellow must be able
TO get to it, even though the direct
way were barred to him. For in
stance, IL he were TO row around the
point yonder and fasten his boat at
the one side, II might be possible to
climb up there, although il 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 ont
early In the morning. The day was
most beautiful; the sun shone so
brightly that the very bushes seemed
alive. Up on the mountain many
voices were 'j )dling," and there was
much blowing of horns. When even
ing came lie was sitting at his cottage
| door watching The steaming mist rise
up OH the hills. lie looked upward
all was quiet; he looked over toward
Husaby farm and then lie jumped
into his boat and rowcd away around
the point.
Aslang sat before the hut; her days
work was done; she was thinking
Thor would not come that evening,
aud that therefore many others would
come instead, so she unfastend the dog,
I3end. without saving ANYTHING, walked
further 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, without thinking
more about it, sat down so that she
looked toward The side where lay the
ford. 1t seemed to bring peace to her
soul when she could gaze far across
the water.
As she sat there the fancy struck
her that she was inclined to sing, 80
she chose song with ''long drawn
notes. and far and wide it sounded
through The mountains. She liked to
hear herself sing. so she began Over
again when the first verse was ended.
But when she had sung the second It
seemed TO her as though some one
answered from far down beloY.
''Dear me, what can it beW thought
Aslang. She stepped forward TO the
edge and twincd her arms round
slender birch which hung, trembling,
over the precipice, and looked down,
but she could SEQ nothing; the ford
lay there calm and at rest; not q
single bird skinned the water SO
Aslang sat herself down again, and
again she began to sing. Once more
came the answering voice in the same
tones and nearer than the first time.
".That sound was no echo, whatever |
it may be-" Asland jumped to her
feet, and again leaned over the cliff,
and there down below, at the foot of |
rocky wall, she saw boat fastened. |
1t looked like tiny nutshell, for it |
was very far down. She looked again,
and saw fur cap, and under It the |
figure of man, climbing up the steep
barren cliff.
"Who can it be?" Aslang asked her
self, and, letting go the birch, she
stepped back. She dared not answer
her own question, but well sha knew
who it was. She flung herself down
on the greensward, seized the grass |
with both hands as though it were she |
who dared not lose her hold Tor fear |
of falling. But the grass game up by
the roots; she screamed aloud, and |
dug her hands deeper and deeper into
the soil. She prayed to God to help
him; but then il struck her that this
feat ef Thog's waab1 ',o called '.tcapt- +
ing Providence" aud, therefore, he
could not expect help from above.
"only just this oncci" she prayed.
'sIIear my prayer just this one time,
and help him.n Then she threw her
arms round the dog, as though it were
Thor whom she was clasping, and
rolled herself on the grass beside it.
The time seemed TO her quite end
less.
Suddenly the dog began to bark.
''Bow wow' said he to Aslang, and
jumped upon her. Aud again, "Wow,
wow!" then over the edge of the cliff
a coarse, round cap came to view, and
z, L..