Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1900-03-30
HISTORICAL LOVE STORY.
HARALD AND GUYDA.
A Romance OF Norway.

Long ago the peninsula northwest
of Europe, which is now divided into
Norway and Sweden, contained great
number of small kingdoms. In the
ninth century all of Sweden was
brought under one King, whose name
was Erik.
At that time, in one of the small
States of Norway, there reigned
young King called Harald the Fair
haired. He was fond of riding. and
outdoor sports. but cared little for the
affairs of his kingdom.
One day, while hunting, he became
separated from his courtiers. He stop
ped at a farmhouse to ask the way.
The door was opened by the most
bewitchingly beautiful young girl he
had ever seen. She was simply attired
in peasant costume, but her loneliness
could not be concealed.
Strangely enough, though Harald
was very handsome and richly clad.
the peasant maid seemed not in the
least impressed. She answered his
questions civilly, but coolly. Beyond
that she had nothing to say.
Her beauty and refinement amazed
him. Her hands were small and ex-
Quisitely shaped. her bearing stately
and graceful, her voice clear and
sweet. her manner gentle, but digni-
fed. she is a marvel for a peasant.
She would grace a palace" he often
thought.
1t, however. happened that Guyda
was no peasant girl, as the King sup
posed, but a Princess. She was the
daughter of King of Hoerland. Two
years before an enemy had conquered
her father and driven him and his
daughter from his own land. They
had taken shelter with the farmer and
there the King had died. The Prin-
cess still remained, but was hoping
for time to come when she could re-
turn to her own country.
So Harald's proposals did not over
whelm her. Indeed, she despised the
King of small country. She admired
King Erik. who had conquered all
Sweden.
To the messengers she replied:
''Tell your master / will not honor
with my hand King who has only a
few counties to rule over. Strange 1t
seems to me that there is no King here
who can conquer all Norway as King
Erik has conquered Sweden"
The messengers were amazed at the
peasant girl who dared tosrefuse or
criticise the King.
BE careful" they said. You
should send no such message to a
King. You should be humble and glad
to be so honored."
Your mission is not to dictate or
advise" she replied, haughtily. Take
this message to King Harald; 1 will
promise to be his welded wife when
he shall have conquered all Norway,
and not before. Then only will he be
King of a people"
The indignant messengers returned
to the King and told him what the
maid had said.
Il would humble her PRIDE" said
one.
II would carry her off by force"
said another
But the King was thoughtful for a
time. Then he spoke.
The maids words are not ILL.," said
he. Rather has she Weakened me to
a great thought which never yet had
come to me. / would thank her, not
chide her. AS we'll may there be one
Norway as one Sweden. She is right.
L vow now that | shall be the first
King of Norway and she shall be the
Queen"
~ A1aic Ills armies
and set out for conquest. One king
dom after another fell before him. At
every conquest he would go to Guyda
and plead with her to marry him.
is it not yet enough?" he would
say. Always she would answer: LESS
than all is not enough"
When Harald conquered her own
country, Hoerland, she felt almost
tempted to yield Instead she told
Harald who she was and that she was
of royal birth and equal to himself.
so far" she said, you have fought
for love of me, thinking me Just a
peasant girl. Well now do 1 know
that your love is true. So will tell
you that / am in truth a princess, and
the throne of Hoerland, which you
have just captured, is my rightful in
heritance"
At length, after many years of hard
fighting, Harald. in S72, was acknowl-
edged King of all Norway.
Then he came to Guyda to claim
his reward, and in great pomp and
state they were married.
Harald the Fairhaired was the first
or the Kings of Norway whose deeds
were written in the poems called Sa-
gas.
Inc story OF the grandson of Har-
ald and Guyda is told in Longfellow's
saga OF King Olaf" which the mn
stefan relates in the Tales of a Way-
side Inn. Lydia Kingsmiu Com
mander, in New York Evening Jour
nal.
The day of heavy refreshments has
passed away, perhaps never to retnrn
Cultured people live more simply and