The record-union., 1894-09-15


In heavens name what do saeters
girls do?"
They go there with the herds in the
summer, care for the milk, make the but
ter and cheese, and come back TO the val
Ieys when the winter sets in. Some have
already come down, SIR"
them?"
What for?' replied the landlord look
ing up scornfully from his whiting.
They are needed to gather the grass and
at the work III the fields at home"
DO you mean TO tell ne that young
Women-mere girls-remain up there in
that barren wilderness all summer
alone?'
That is right, sir. They wish to go.
Lars sister, who has been in some foreign
country for years, and has become a
great scholar, came back here this sum-
ner, sir, and is in the furthest saeter on
the field, only for love of the old saeter
And who is Lars, pray?"
you, sir''
why, l must be week or two on the
fields! Where am L to sleep? L can't
take your inn with me!''
ION the snow, or in the saeter, sir.''
In the saetern'
"Yes; the saeter girl will make bed
for you beside her own?''
"Beside her ownv'
"Why not? Is that less comfortable
than the ice and the snow?"
Professor Detrius Moraine did not
reply. but we saw that he had been
shocked.
Abstract science usually takes no ac-
count OF the amenities OF life: but here
was scientist-if he was scientist-wbo
actually recoiled from one of the most
innocent customs of the country
Il think you would win as to his being
an OLD bachelor" said my friend thought
iully. Perhaps l lose as to his vocation.
| ain rather afraid so, for genuine hide
Douhd scientist would sleep without
murnur III pigsty in order to elucidate
pet theory"
The Professor took a turn about the
storhaus and stables and finally came
back to the llnperturOable landlord.
ou can furnish me guide and man
or TWO who could build me temporary
shelter on the field and cook my food
for a few days?"
There are no men at Ormeim."
Can not even have guide?"
Not unless Lars will CO."
And Lars will bring me to his sister
and leave me in the saeter. as you call it,
alone with her?'
$50 it will be.''
"Bah?' he exclaimed, relapsing into
- 1850 1AA-o 10 lnIdulOuS.'
The innkeeper could understand
enough from his infection and gesture
to realize that an objurgation had been
uttered, and he resented it in his sullen
reply:
W cannot change our country or our
people Tor every one who passes by, You
deserve no guide from Ormeim; or, YOU
should be let go TO perish in the autumn
tempests!"
"jnt tutf No oft,o,,, -,
turned the Professor, seeming at last to
realize that his cherished project was at
the mercy OF his own behavior, in land
where hunkeylsm is unknown, where
little profit Is expected, and where
all service TO strangers is given by favor
rather than by command.
Ihe truth is, landlord" he continued
III a conclilatory and almost confidential
manner, Il am a student of-of-things
Ia rather meet the devil than a woman,
when am at work. Indeed quite so at
any time. Blab, CAB, poke, pother, fuss,
muss, litter, Utter! Why, it drives me
madn'
The landlord, with staring eyes, SYM
pathetlcally pressed his own head with
his hand, and nodded rs though he be-
Heved him literally.
"Pve seen nothing but women, women.
women in Norway, and it's unstrung me.
1t worried me TO think of going up there
and being shut up with a woman for two
Weeks-!'i
sit will be under the avalanche it for
so longw interrupted the landlord.
'Shut up with woman for two Weeks.''
continued the Professor, scientist-like
paying no attention whatever to the sim
pleSt and most important facts confront-
ing him, with her fiutter and putter
and her eyeing and prying. Lord! L
come ali this distance TO work QUITO
work out"
1.-The saeter girl will hate you lust as
sufficiently" broke in the landlord
stoutly.
This was a new view Of an old theory
to Professor Detrius Aforaine. He seemed
at first 10 relish it, but it piqued him.
too. He removed his glasses, FURNISHED
them furiously with his handkerchief.
glared at myself and companion, who
endeavored to appear lnnocently uncon-
scious OF his vexations, and finally ex-
claimed rather curtly:
"Umph! W here's Lars?"
At the landlords sturdy call of "Iarsl
Lars!" a noisy shu1fling and grunting.
mingled with CHEEKY cries OF, ''Jeg konl-
mer!'' II am coming) were heard from
the vicinity of the stables, and presently
a typical Norwegian skydsgut, or post
boy, bounded up the steps and into the
inn.
He was one of the jolliest and merriest
of his class we had seen in all Norway,
tow-headed. big-eyed, open-mouthed and
ripping and running over with gurg-
ling and boundless good nature.
"By Jupiter!' exclaimed my friend
enthusiastically, "if Lars sister is as
handsome as Lars, that old glacier will
so melt inside of two weeks time that the
whole OF the Midtfjeld Will come tum bling
into the RomSdal with q commotion
which will be rememberedW
The landlord placed mis- big hand on
Lars shaggy head and said, with a touch
OF fondness:
"He is but I6. He is strong as the OK.
He has kindly ways" And other laud-
atory things as best he might, betoken-
ing that young Lars possessed "a Mark
Tapley sort OF philosophy for all un-
pleasant emergencies and ready back
door out OF every eXasperating difficulty.
'Besides,' concluded the innkeeper
gravely, Lars is widows son, and
widows children are the best and brayest
of the young in Norway"
'Amenn' SAID the Professor solemnly,
and we liked him none the less for the
heartiness OF his response.
But here our curiosity was both piuued
and ba11led by the disappearance OF the
three, after whispered consultation be-
tween the landlord and the Professor.
who meantime gave several well-defined
head-ierkings toward US, within a pri-
vate room.
On emerging from this an hour later,
the landlord was swelling with import