ere one. When one makes money there one richly earns it. The equinoctial storms that rage there not unfrequently destroy a whole fishing f

iliarize themselves with the perils of ocean are not wanting; and from time immemorial they have given abundant proofs of their courage. Their ancestors were intrepid mariners at an epoch when the Hanse monopolized the commerce of northern Eur

father, who was the master of a Bergen coasting vessel. His childhood had been spent in that port, which is one of the most frequented in Scandinavia. Before he ventured out upon the open sea he had been an

ears before, his uncle Harald Hansen invited him to become a member of

s he loved; but he made regular voyages upon large fishing vessels, and rose to t

the mountains, and across the highest table-lands of the Telemark. The young sailor seemed as much at ho

better fellow, a more sympathetic nature, a warmer and more devoted heart? With Ole for a husband, Hulda's happiness was assured. So it was with the entire approval of her mother and brother that the young girl followed th

our of them were sitting quietly together,

ccurs to m

t is

me that we ou

ink s

as coolly as if the matter had be

, "and in that case I shall natur

probable that I shall only

very po

your cons

ng would please me b

d, Hulda?" inqui

" replied the

Ole. "I have loved you a long

I you

bout, I really

or

eing you grow more beaut

a little too muc

making you blush, for it is only the truth. Didn't you

ected a

you,

sure

hat you ought to have war

uired Dame Hansen. "Won't they seem in

all not follow the sea an

ot go to se

ould be possible for me to le

to be your l

ll yield me quite a snug little sum of money, for H

ood men," r

, "and well known and highly respe

fter you cease to follow the se

ing. Besides, I have thought of a plan which will not prove a bad one perhaps. Why can't we establish a messenger service between Drammen, Kongsberg and a few ot

wh

t I warn you that I am firmly resolved to make my

lda, offering him her hand. "Am I not that already,

hastily aver

s settled?" aske

repli

led beyon

tain

eel no reg

tever, my

r not to appoint the day for your marriag

than a year to lead Hulda to the church at Moel, where our friend

e marriage of Hulda Hansen and

ut before they parted the lovers were formally betrothed in

erward, but one must not suppose that the betrothal is simply an interchange of vows which depend only upon the honesty of the parties interested. No, the obligat

hamlets. In Norway they have what they call Sunday towns, in which the minister resides, and where the leading families of the parish assemble for worship. They even lease

a chapel, but the pastor cam

he worthy minister was invited to attend the betrothal in the twofold capacity of minister and family friend. The acquaintance was one of long standing. He ha

here in the company of Joel, who had gone half-way to meet him, and it is needless to say that his coming was hailed with delight at Dame Hanse

and neighbors, Ole and Hulda solemnly promised to wed each other when the young sailor should return from the last voyage he inten

rway a few days after the betrothal, he might have profited by the incontestable right it gave him to visit the young girl whenever he pleased, to write to her whenever he ch

king" set sail for the fishing banks of Newfoundland, and Hulda could only look f

voyage was safely accomplished; the fishing proved excellent, and the profits promised to be large. Besides, at the end of each letter, Ole always referred to a certain secret,

reticent than ever, and a circumstance which she did not see fit

e saw-mill, to which place she had gone to order a bag of shavings from the foreman, Lengling

ansen, is it no

not know you,

n. "I arrived here only this morning f

repeated Dame

k, with a certain Monsieur

Dame Hansen, whose face paled

eard that I was coming to Dal, he as

that

le that he would pay you a visit next month. Go