Year: 1879

A charming view Of the romantic valley
of v in the western part of Norway.
can be obtained at the highest point Of
the road, leading from the seacoast over
the barren mountains, that on all sides,
towering up towards the sky, seem to
form an insurmountable barrier between
this quiet spot and the. rest of the world.
Especially is the scene impressive in
early spring, when the genial rays Of the
May sun have called to life the green vel
vet covering of the hills and the fresh
leaves Of the birch has charged the atmos-
phere with delicious perfume, while a
true picture of the stern, snowclad peaks
above and the cherry farms and thickets
below, is traced in the rippleless waters
of the little lake IN the center of the val
ley.


AS the stranger who just low COM
menced the descent, looked upon the
lovely landscape, Illuminated by the
evening sun, tear was visible in his
blue eye, and ordering the driver to await
his return, he retired to an elevated spot
at some distance from the road in order
to enjoy the pleasure of this longed-for
moment unobserved. Not before the
sun threatened TO disappear behind the
western ranges he proceeded downward
to the valley where he drew up in front
of the inn.


Four years previous to this occurrence,
every inhabitant of the vale ycculd have
told you all about young Harold Thrond-
son. Everybody knew MIN. rybody
spoke we'll OF him, and what was more,
everybody liked him. And no wonder.
Great muscular strength, combined with
SURPRISING agility in his truly command
ing person, his blue eyes full of life and
Kindness, he was conscious of his superi-
ority, but also kind and courteous to all.
He generally took the first premium at
the shooting matches; he had gained the
well-merited reputation of being the
champion runner on snow-shoes on that
side Of the mountains, for no ravine was
too rough, no hillside too steep for him; +;
with lightning speed he would slide
down over rocks and precipices, and with
body erect arrive on the plain below; he
was first at everything but never spoke
boastfully about it. No wonder then,
that he, at the age of twenty, found HIM
self the favorite of the valley. As the
only son of the representative, Thrond
Haraldson, the most influential man in
the neighbOrhood. Harold had enjoyed
the privilege of receiving good cduca-
ton at the gymnasium in Bergen, and
old Thrond delighted in assuring his con-
fidential friends, that one day the young
upstart Gas he commonly called Harold)
would be selected member of the Stor-
thing (national assembly, in his place.
Of all his fair admirers Harold cared
for no one but Sigrid, the daughter oi
Aslack Norgard, the richest and most
avarlcious man in the district; how much
he cared for her will soon be seen, for un.
expected circumstances should soon call
him from his dreams of happiness
and glory to life of action better suited
to bring to light true manhood.


When Harold was about twenty -one
his father died, and much as it surprised
I all it was no less true that he wa:
left without penny in the world
He was even obliged to sell the
farm, for centuries the property
of lis forefathers, to pay his father
debts. True, he could redeem the farm
at his option according to the laws of th'
country, but how was he to obtain ths
money! At FIRST he seemed thunderstrucl
at the sudden change of his fortune, bu
soon he gathered his thoughts and ener
gies to remedy the evil. Shortly after


wards Harold left the valley. No on
knew why or where he went. But ther
was rumor that Aslack Norgard, wh
had bought his fathers farm, without
ceremony informed him that he need no
come to see Sigrid any more, as sh
would not be allowed to have any thin;
to do with a poor, homeless vagabon'
like him. Still, no one knew for certain
what had passed between Aslack and tn


young man before his departure; onl


this much was apparent to everybody
that Sigrid from that time grew pale AM


thin; she did not 60 to the gatherings 0
the young folks in the neighborhood, a
she used to do when Harold was around


and when she occasionally came t.
church she seldom spoke to any one bu
, the kind, gray haired minister, who seem
ed in some degree to be able to consol
her in her sorrow. AS time rolled o


one suitor after another tried to gal
Harold's place in her heart, but to n


~r.r,oen Nh m affar how cavoro1v nj