The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1894-07-09
PERILOUS WOOING.

A PERII1OUS WOOING.
From the time that Aslang WA quite
grown up there was no longer any peace
or quiet at Husaby. I'm fact, all the
handsomest young fellows in the village
did nothing but fight and quarrel night
after night and it was always worst on
Saturday nights Aslang's father, old
Canute Hnsaby, never went to bed ON
hosenights without keeping on at least
his leather breeches and laying . stout
birch stick ON the bed beside him. .sIf
] have such apretty daughter, = said old
Canute. Il must know how TO take
care Of her"
Thor Nesset was only the SON OF q
poor cottager, and yet folks said that 1t
was he who went oftenest to visit the
farmers daughter at Husaby. OF course
old Canute was not pleased tOhear this.
He said liz was not true; that, at any
rate, he had not seen him there. Stiil
they smiled and whispered To each 9th
q that il 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 clear and cool
through the SUMS 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
IS they gazed upon her beauty. And
ON the first Saturday evening, one after
another, they crept mp the hill But
they came down again quicker than
they had gone upyfor at the top stooda
man who kept guard, receiving each
n who came up with such q warm
reception that he all his life long re-
membered the words that accompanied
the action, Come up here again, and
there will be still more i'm store for
youln
All the young fellows could arrive at
but one conclusion-that there was only
nj man in the whole parish who had
such fists, and that man was Thor Mes
set And all the rich farmers daugh-
ters thought it was too bad that this
~cottager's SON should stand highest in
Aslang Husaby's favor.
Old Canute thought the same when
he heard about il all and said that If
there were no one else who could help
him he would do IL himself. Nov,
Canute was certainly getting ON I'm
yearsl Still, although he was past 90,
he often enjoyed . good wrestling match
with his eldest SON whenever time In
doors fell heavily ON his hands.
There was but one path up 10 the
mountain belonging to Hpsaby, and 10
went straight through the farm garden.
Next Saturday evening as Thor was On
his way 60 the mountain, creeping care
fully across the yard, hurrying as soon
IS he was well past the farm buildings,
q man suddenly rushed at him.
What do you want with mes" asked
Thor and hit him such q blow in the
face that sparks danced before his eyes.
"You will soon learn that" said
some one else behind him and gave him
O great blow in the back Of the mech.
That was Aslang's brother.
"And here's the third man, . said old
Canute and attacked him also.
The greater the danger the greater
was Thor's strength. He was supple al
a willow and hit out right manfully.
He dived, and he ducked. Whenever q
blow fell. it missed him, and when none
expected 1t he would deal o good one.
He stopped down, he sprang ON one side,
but for all that he got d terrible thrash
ing. old Cannte said afterward that
The had never fought with d drawer fell
low" They kept il mp until blood be-
gan 10 now. Then Canute cried out,
''Stopr' Then he added In . croaking
tone, sH you d get up here next Sat
nrday in spite Of Canute Husaby and
his men, the girl shall be your&n
Thor dragged himself home a best
he could, and when he reached the cot
tage went straight 10 bed. There was d
great deal Of talk about the fight upon
Hnsaby Hill, but every one said, why
did he go there?' Only one person did
not say 20, and that was Aslang. 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 herselz, III I may not have Thor, Z
shall never have . happy day again fin
this world.
Thor staid i'm his bed all Sunday,
and when Monday came Inc felt No
must stay on where he was. Tuesday
came, and IL was d very lovely day. 1T
had rained In the might. The hills
looked 20 fresh and green, the window
was open. sweet doors were waited II,
the cowbells were linking on the noun
tain, and far up above some one Wa
"jodeling., Truly, II # had not been
for bis mother. who was sitting In the
rnorn ha enu1d have rxfad Wadnnoaaw