Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-07-19
A FERROUS WOOING.

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 brooches and laying a 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 Nessct was only the son of poor cottager, and yet folks said that it was hc who went oftenest to visit the farmers daughter at Husaby. Of course old Canute was not pleased to hear this He said 1t was not true; that, at any rate, he had not seen him there. Still they smiled and whispered to each oth- CT 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 clear and cool through the suns misty rays, the cow bells tinklcd. the shepherds dog parked, 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 Crcpt up the hill But they came down again quicker than they had gone up. for at the top stood q man who kept guard, receiving each one 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 bc still moro in store for youI"
 All the young fellows could arrive at but one conclusion-that there was only one man in the whole parish who had such fists, and that man was Thor Ncs- set. And all the rich farmers daugh- ters thought 1t was too bad that this cOttager's son should stand highest ill Aslang HuSaby's favor.
 Old Canutc thought the same when hc 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 a 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 lao, rl,a I,,,;1 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 ill 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 a willow and hit out right manfully. He dive'l. and he tucked Whenever q blow fell. it missed him, and when none expected it he would deal a good one. He stopped down. he sprang on one side, but for all that he got q terrible thrash ing. Old Canute said afterward that ''he had never fought with brayer fel- low" They kept it up until blood be- gan to flow. Then Canute cried out, ''Stop!' Then he added in a croaking tone, If you can get up here next Sat urday i'll spite of Canutc Husaby and his men, the girl shall be yours
 Thor dragged himself home as best he could, and when he reached the cot tagc 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 thcre:" 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 may not have Thor, I shall never have a 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 0 very 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 noun | ''jOdeling Truly, if it had not been for lis mother. who was sitting in the room. he could have cried Wednesday came, and still he staid in bed On Thursday, though, he began to think about the possibility of being well again by Saturday, and Friday found him on bis legs again Then he thought of what Aslang's father had said, "1f 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 ''I shall never see another Christ mas, :" thought Thor
 As before mentioned, there was but one path up to Husaby 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 to row round the point yondel and fasten his boat at the one side, il might be y-Ossible to climb Cp there, al though it was so very steep that tho goats had great difficulty in climbing ,t, and they arc not usually afraid oi mountain work
 Saturday came, and Thor went oui early in the morning. The day wa: most beautiful; the sun shone so bright ly that the very bushes seemed alive ! Up on the mountain many voices wert "jodeling," and there was much blow ing of horns. When evening came, hs was sitting at his cottage door watching the steaming mist rise up on the hills II Ly L. r..x.t Tw