Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-04-16
A PERILous wooISG.

From The time that Asang was quite
grown up there was no longer any peace
or quiet at Husaby In fact, all the hand
soonest you0g fellows in the village did
nothing bat fight and quarrel, night after
night, and it was always worse on Satur.
day nights. Aslang's father, old Canute
Husaby, never went to bed on those
nights without keeping on at least his
leather brooches and laying good stout
birch stick on the bed beside him. IF |
have such pretty daughter, said old
Canute, II must know how to take care
of her.
Thor Nesset was only the son of a poor
cottager, and yet folks said that it was he
who went oftenest to visit the farmers
daughter at Husaby. OF course, old Can
ute was not pleased to hear this. He said
it was not true; that, at any rate, he had
never seen him there. Still they smiled
and whispered at each other that If he
only had thoroughly searched the hay loft,
hither Aslaug had many an errand, he
would have found Thor there.
Spring came and a lang went mp the
mountain with the cattle And now,
when the heat of the day hung over the
valley, the rocks rise cool and clear
through the suns misty rays, the cow
bells tiHcklek the shepherds dog barked.
Aslang sang her jodei" song 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 first Satur-
day evening one after another they crep up
the hill. But they came down again
quicker than they had gone up, for at the
top stood a man who kept guard, receiv-
| ing each one who came up with such a
warm reception that he ali 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 young fellows could arrive ut but one
conclusion, that there was only one man in
the whole parish who had such fists, and
that man was Thor Nessett. All the rich
farmers daughters thought 1t was too bad
that the cottager's son should stand high
est in Aslang Husaby' favor.
Old Canute thought the same when he
heard about it all, and said that is there
was no one else who could check him he
would DO it himself Now, Canute was
certainly getting on in years; still, al
though he was past sixty, he often enjoy
ed a good wrestling match with his eldest
son whenever time indoors fell heavily on
his hands.
There was but one path up to the noun.
tain belonging to Husaby, and it went
straight through the farm garden Next
Saturday evening, as Thor was on his way
to the mountain, creeping carefully across
the yard, hurrying as 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 stars 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
Asang's brother.
And here's the hired man, said old
Canute, and attacked MIN also.
The greater the danger the greatea was
Thor's strength. He was supple as q will
low, and hit out right manfuily; he diyed
and he ducked; whenever blow fell 1t
missed him, and when meme expected it
he would deal a good one lie stopped
down, he sprang on one side, but for that
he got a terrible thrsshing. Old Canute
said afterward that she had never fought
with drawer fellow. Tney Kept II up
till blood began to flow, then Canute cried
out. Stop Then he added in a crOak-
ing tone, "lf you can get up here next
Saturday, in spite Of Canute Husaby and
his men, the girl shall be yours
Thor dragged himself home as best he
could, ana when he reached tho cottage
went straight to bed. There was q great
deal Of talk about the fight upon Husaby
hill, but every one said, "Wby did he 90
o "a 1910
and that was Aslang. She had been ex.
pecting 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 her
self, IF | may not have Thor ! shall
never have a happy day again in this
world.
Thor stayed in his bed all Sunday, and
when Monday came be felt be must stay
on where he was Tuesday eame and il
was "A lovely day. 1t had rained in the
night the bills looked so fresh and green,
the window was open, sweet odors were
waited in, the COW bells were tinkliux on
the mountain, and far up above some one
was 'jodling Truly, if it had not been
for bis u tner, who was sitting In the
came. and still he stayed IN bed On
Thursday, though, be began to think about
the possibility Of being well again By Sat /
u4,say, and FRIDAY found him on his legs /
again. Then he thought Of what Aslang's |
father had said, If you can get up here |
next Saturday without being stopped by I
Canute and his men the girl shall be /
yours" Over ami oven again be looked I
up at Huslby farm. Il shall never see
another Christmas" thought Thor
As before mentioned, there was but one /
path up to Husaby hill; but surely any
strong, able fellow must be able TO get it, /
even though The direct way were barred to |
him. For instance, Is be were to row
round the point yonder and fasten bis
boat at the ons side. it might be possible |
to climb up there although it was so very