The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-30
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 tho
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 Husaby, never went to bed on
those nights without keeping on at least
his leather breeches and laying u stout
birch stick on the bed beside him. "f
l have such pretty daughter, /" said old
Canute, 81 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
farmer 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 not seen him thore. Still
they smiled and whispered to each 9TH
er that if he only had thoroughly
searched the hayloft, whittier Aslang
had many an errand, he would have
IOuQQ luOr UuSIe.
Spring came, and Aslang went up the
mountain with the cattle. And now,
when the heat OF the day hung over the
valley, tho rocks rose clear and cool
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
another they crept up the hill But
they came down again quicker than
they had gone up, for at tho top stood q
man who kept guard, receiving each
ono who came up with such warm
reception that he all his life long re-
nrembered the words that accompanied
the action, "Come up here again, and
! there will be still more in store for
you'll"
All the young fellows could arrive at
but one conclusion-that there was only
one man i'll the whole parish who had
such fists, and that man was Thor Mes
set. And all the rich farmers daugh-
tiers thought it was too bad that this
cottager's son should stand highest in
Aslang Husaby's favor.
Old Canute thought the same when
no heard about it all and said that if
there were no one else who could help
him he would do it himself. Now,
Canute was certainly getting on in
years. Still, although he was past 60,
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 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 me?" 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
great blow in the back of the neck.
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 as
willow and hit out right manfully
He dived, and he ducked Whenever a
blow fell. it missed him, and when none
expected it be would deal good one
He stopped down, he sprang ON one side,
but for all that he got terrible thrash
ing. Old Canute said afterward that
L. o., @-l.kx Il. f1I
low They kept it up until blood be-
gan to flow. Then Canute cried out,
''Stopr Then he added in a croal1ing
tone, ''If you can get up here next Sat-
urday in spite Of Canute Husaby and
his men, the girl shall be yours -
Thor dragged himself home as best
he could, and when he reached the cot
tage went straight to bed. There was a
great deal Of talk about the fight upon
Husaby hill, but every one said, "Why
did he go there?" Only one person did
not say so, 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 herself, "If I 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 very lovely day 1t
had rained in the night. The hills
looked so fresh and green, the window
was open, sweet odors were waited in,
tho cowbells were thinking ON the noun
tain, and far up above some one was
''jodeling." Truly, il it had not been
for his mother, who was sitting in the
room, Ii could have cried. Wednesday
came, anA stllI he stald in bed. On
Thursday, though, he began to think
about the possibility Of being we'll again
by Saturday, and Friday 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 arain he looked ND at Husaby