Connecticut western news., 1892-03-03
A FERROUS 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 brooches and laying good stout birch stick on the bed beside him. "If have such pretty daughter" said old Canute, "I 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 late, he had never seen hlm there. Still they smiled, and whispered to each other that if he only had thoroughly searched the hayloft, whither 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 parked, Aslang sang her "jodel" songs and blew the COW horn. all the young men felt their hearts grow sore and heavy as they yazed 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 8 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 your
 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 Nes- set. All the rich farmers daughters thought it was too bad that this cot tagers 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 a 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 we'll past the farm buildings, 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 D WlAOWt hAA nAk O0b AAdh1 uAAy AC dived and he ducked; whenever blow fell it missed him, and when none ex- pected it he would deal good one. He stopped down, he sprang on one side, out for all that he got terrible thrash ing. Old Canute said afterward that "he had never fought with braver fel- low" They kept it up till blood began to fow then Canute cried out. "Stopp' Then he added in croaking tone, 'If you can get up here next Saturday, in spite of Canute Husaby and his men, the the girl shall be yours!' .. ;.
 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- aby hill, but every one said, "Why did he go therey' 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, "H may not have Thor l 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 being well again by Saturday, and Fri 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 up at Husaby farm. II shall never see another Christ nas," thought Thor.
 As before mentioned, there was but one path up to Hus;.by 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. if he were f,o rou ro,1nd tho r,nint vondar and