Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1892-01-23
A PERILOUS WOOING.
zEE STORY OF A DARING LOVER AND hIs
FIGHT FOR HIS BRIDE.

From the time that Aslang was quito
grown up there was no longer any peace
or quiet at Husaby. In fact, all the hand
soonest young fellows in the village did
nothing but fight and quarrel night af
ter 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 a good
stout birch stick on ths 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 poor
cottager, aud yet folks said that it was
he who went oftenest to visit the farm
er's daughter at Husaby. or course, old
Canute was not pleased to hear this. He
said IL WIS not true; that, at any rate.
he had never seen him there. Still they
smiled, and whispered to each other that
il he only had thoroughly searched the
hayloft, whittier AsIang had many an er.
rand. 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 cowhorn, 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 gone up, for at the top stood a
man who kept guard, receiving each one
who came up with such warm recep.
tion 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 youl"
All the young fellows could arrive but
at ons conclusion, that there was only one
man in the whole parish who had such
fists, and that man was Thor Nesset. All
the rich farmers daughters thought il
was too bad that this cottager's son should
stand highest in Aslang Husaby's favor.
Old Canuts 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, Canuts was
certainly getting on in years; still, al-
though he was past 80, he often enjoyed
good wrestling match with his elda';
son whenever time indoors fell heavy oH
his hands.
There was but one path up the mount
ain 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, mar
suddenly rushed at him.
what do you want with me?" asked
Thor, and hit him such q blow in the
face that sparks danced before his eyes.
"You will soon learn that, said soma
one else behind him, and gave him
great blow on the back Of the 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
Thors strength. He was supple as
willow, and hit out right manfully; he
dived aud 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 terrible thrashing.
Old Canute said afterward that "he
had never fought with braver fellow. /"
They kept it up till blood began to flow.
then Canute cried out: "Stopi" Then he
added in a croaking tone: %f you can
get up here next Saturday, in spite OF
Canute Husaby and his men, the girl
shall be yoursl"
Thor dragged himself home as best as
he could, and when he reached the cot
tage went straight to bed. There was q
great deal Of talk about the fight on
Husaby Hill. but everyone said, why
did he go there?" Only one person die
not say 80, and that was AsIang. 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
70 herself, -If may not have Thor
shall never have happy day again in
this world.
Thor stayed in his bed ali day Sunday.
and when Monday came he must stay on
where he was. Tuesday came, and twas
q lovely day. IL had rained in the night;
the hills looked 90 fresh and green, the
window was open, sweet odors were
waited in, the cowbells were tinkling OF
tl,e mountain. and far nm above someone
was -jodIing." Truly, IL il had not been
for his mother, who was sitting in the
room. ne could have cried.
"Wednesday came, and still he stayed
IN bed; on Thursday, though, he began
70 think about the possibility of being
well by Saturday, and Friday found him
on his legs again. Then he thought Of
what Aslangs father had said, II you
can get up to her next Saturday without