The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-03-19
A PERILOUS WOOING.

From the time that Aslang was quite
grown up there was no longer any peace
or quiet at Husaby. In fact, all the
handsomest young fellows in the village
did nothing but fight and quarrel night
after night, and it was always worse on
Saturday nights. Aslang's father, old
Canute Husaby, never went to bed on
those nights without keeping on at least
his leather breeches and laying good
stout birch stick on the bed beside him.
If ] have such pretty daughter. = said
old Canute, Il must know how to take
care of her.
Thor Nesset was only the son of poor
cottager, and yet folks said that it was
he who went oftenest to visit the farm
er's daughter at Husaby. OF course, old
Canute 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 to each other that
if he only had thoroughly searched the
hayloft, whittier Aslang had many an
errand, he would have,found Thor there.
Spring came, and Aslang went up the
mountain with the cattle. And now,
when the heat Of the day hung over the
valley, the rocks rose cool and clear
through the 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 first
Saturday evening one after the other
they crept up the hill. But they came
down again quicker than they had como
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
heard about it all, and said that If there
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 it
went straight through the farm garden.
Next Saturday evening, as Thor was on
his way to the mountain. creeping care
fully across the yard, hurrying as soon
as he was well past the farm buildings,
a man suddenly rushed at him.
What do you want with mel? 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 a
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
willow, and hit out right manfully; he
Owed and he ducked; whenever a blow
fell it 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 a terrible thrash
ing. Old Canute said afterward that
"he'had never fought with drawer fell
low" They kept it up till blood began
to flow, then Canute cried out. "Stopw
Then he added in . croaking tone, eff
you can get up here next Saturday, in
spite Of Canute Husaby and his men, the
the girl shall be yoursr
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 fight up on Hus-
ably hill, but every one said, "Why did
he 20 there?' Only one persons 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. It had rained
in the night: the hills looked SO fresh
and green, the window was open, sweet
odors were waited in, the cowbells were
tinkling on the mountain, and far up
above some one was ''jodling.' Truly,
If it had not been for his mother, who
was sitting in the room. he could have
cried. Wednesday came and still he
staid in bed; on Thursday, though, he
begin to think about the possibility Of