The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-11-19
Perl0uS WOoing
How . Lover Was Put to q
Severe Test to Win His
Sweetheart.
BY BJoRNSTJERNE BJORNSON.

severe rest 20 WIN Ills
Z Sweetheart.
+ BIT BJ0RNSTJERNE BJORNSON. !
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From the time that Aslang was quite
grown up there was no longer any
peace or quiet at Husaby. In fact, all
the handsomest young fellows in the
village did nothing but fight and quar-
rel night after night, and It was always
worse 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 lay
beside him. "If 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
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 never seen.
him there Still. they smiled and whis-
pered to each other that II he only had
thoroughly searched the hayloft, whith-
er 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 cool and clear
through the suns misty rays. the COW
bells tinkled. the shepherds dog bark
ed. Aslang sang her '.1oder' songs and
blew the COW horn. 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
the other they crept up the hill, but they
came down again quicker than they
had gone up, for at the top stood man
who kept guard, receiving each one
who came up with such a warm recep-
ton that he all his life long remember
ed the words that accompanied the ac-
tion. "Come up here again and there
will be still more in store for your
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
Nesset. All the rich farmers daugh-
ters thought It was too bad that this
cottager's son should stand highest in
Aslang Husaby's favor.
Old Canute thought the same when
he heard about 1t all and said that If
there were no one else who could check
him he would do it himself. Now.
Canute was certainly getting on in
years. Still. although he was past
sixty, he often enjoyed a good wres-
Ting match with his eldest son when
ever time indoors fell heavy on his
hands.
There was but one path up to the
mountain belonging to Husaby. and il
went straight through the farm garden
Next Saturday evening. as Thor was
on his way to the mountain, creeping
carefully 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 a blow in the
face that sparks danced before his
| eyes.
"You will soon learn that" said some
one else behind him and gave him 9
great blow in the back Of his neck
That was Aslang's brother.
"And here's the hired man." said ole
| 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 man
fully. He dived and he ducked. When
ever q blow fell it missed him, and
when none expected 1t be would deal 9
good one. He stopped down. he sprane
on one side. but for all that he got 8
terrible thrashing. Old Canute SAID
afterward that he had never fought
with q braver fellow. They kept 1t NJ
till blood began to how. Then Canut,
cried out. "Stopr' Then he added in {
croaking tone. 'If you can get up herr
next Saturday, in spite Of Canute Hu
saby and his men, the girl shall bs
yours"
Thor dragged himself home as bes
he could and when he reached the cot
tage went straight to bed. There wa!
a great deal of talk about the fight W
on Husaby hill. but every one said
"why did he go there" Only on'
person did not say so. and that wa
Aslang. She had been expecting Tho
that Saturday evening. but when sh'
heard what had happened between hin
and her father she sat down and criet
bitterly and said to herself, III / ma.
not have Thor. L shall never have ;
happy day again in this world"
Thor stayed in his bed all Sunday
and when Monday came he felt he mus
stay on where he was. Tuesday came
and it was lovely day. The hills look
ed so fresh and green. The windoy
was open, sweet odors were waited In
the cowbells were tinkling on th
mountain. and far up above some on
was 'jodling." Truly, If it had no
been for his mother, who was sittin
in the room. he could have cried
Wednesday came, and still he stayed il
bed. On Thursday. though. he begal
10 think about the possibility Of bein