Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-11-17


Copyright, 1900: Daily Story Pub. Coz
Since Aslaug, Knut Husaby's pretty
daughter, had grown into a young and
charming woman, there was little peace
in the village of Husaby. Day and
night the hardy lads of the neighbour
hood engaged in wordy ana tistic quar-
rels on her account. The climax was
reached in the inn on Saturday night,
WIN some OF the boys had imbibed too
much.
knut Husaby would not think in
those days of going to sleep on Satur-
day night without keeping his big
leather boots on. He was also sure to
have a heavy oak cane next to his bed
for emergency, as he called it. 'Since
God has bestowed u pretty daughter on
me, it will be my duty to keep her from
HARM" he would say.
Thore Naesset was the son of the
butcher, a %strapping young fellow, full
Of grit and daring. Gossiper said that
Thore visited Aslaug more frequently
han did any of the other young men
Of the village. This rumor did not
please Knut In fact. he denied it,
saying that he had never seen Thore
and Aslaug together. Eut the people
laughed n winked at this. They in
sisted that Thore was a sly lover and
that Aslaug knew how to hoodwink her
father.
The spring came and Aslaug drove
the cattle to the top of the Aim. noun
ain AS the sun slowly descended in
the horizon and far above the steep,
cool rocks of the mountain, the bel
lowing of the cows, the barking of
the dog. and the yodel of Aslaug re-
sounded over the valley, the lads. who
were working in the ado felt as
If they would like to cast away their
scythes and pitch forks and rush up
the steep paths to our the fair singer.
When Saturday night came there was
a race between them to reach the
mountain top, but they descended much
more rapidly. for behind the door of the
cattle shed a stalwart man was hidden,
who gave each and every caller a pugi-
listic reception. and told them that if
they wanted a more severe drumming
at another time to call again.
The wooers knew that there was
only n man in all Husaby who could
boast of the possession of such a
strong fist as that possessed by Thore
Naesset. Some Of the rich peasants
sons of the n~eighborhood thought that
it vas a shame that this common
butcher was permitted to lord it thus
on top of the ountai and to keep
all wooers ava from the beautiful AS
laug.
Old Knut was of the same opinion
when he was told of the bold doings of
Thore and he boosted everywhere that
If there was no one in Husaby who
could conquer Aslaug's favorite. he
could do if in short order.
knut, it is true, was beginning to
age visibly. He was 60 years old, but
despite this he would now and Ahen
engage in a bou with his son in the
barn yard, and prove a formidable an
tagonist.
Only one path led to the top of the
Aim, and it wended it's way across
Knut's farm. On the following Satur-
day night when Thore wanted to ascend
The mountain n was passing by the
side of the barn, he suddenly felt the
grip of a strong arm around his throat.
What do you want of me?'' asked
Thore. He swung himself around
d~extrously and threw his assailant
into the thicket.
you will know soon enough what we
want of you," said another, who dealt
him a severe blow on his breast. This
was Aslaug's brother.
Here comes the third one,,' re-
Joined Old Knut, who had meanwhile
managed to extricate himself from the
bushes, inc with these words Thore re-
ceived another telling blow.
In the face of danger There's strength
was doubled. His prowess came him
to stead, for two muscular giants had
attacked. In the end, however, de-
spite his agility and power, Thore got
a hard beating n when blood began
to flow freely Knut called a halt and
added:
"Now, Thore, if you can best my
brother, Wolf Husaby, and his son next
Saturday night, then my lass will be
yours"
Thore was SO badly injured that he
had to remain in bed over Sunday. On
Monday also he was so worn out from
the fight that he was not able to go to
work in his father shop. Tuesday
came. 1t was a balmy day. The sun
shine frightened his room. He heard
beloved warbled her pretty Morse songs
and yodels till he thought his heart
would break.
Wednesday came and he still Ian
guished on his couch. He did not be-
come cOnvalescent until Saturday
morning, n then he was not well
enough to meet Knut's challenge to
battle with his big brother and nephew.
He looked longingly toward the narrow
path which led to the side. of Aslaug,
His sweetheart's yodel again trilled
through the silent valley. He knew
hat if he would attempt to make his
way to her that evening he would re-
ceive another drubbing that would send
him to bed for some time to come.
II must climb the Aim some other
way" reasoned Thore. Toward dawn
he unmOored his boat and rowed along
the shore of the almost perpendicula,
rock, hoping against hope to find some
foothold and some way of ascending
the Aim from the water side.
After the days work Aslaug sat or
the summit of the ounta She die
not anticipate la Thore would be
-k -s-AA H.