had come full of
confidence and joy, rode away home silent and melancholy. Her father,
who thought his daughter delayed her choice only to select, forbore to
interfere, and exulted in her prudence, but when at length the richest
and noblest tried their fortune with as little success as the rest, he
grew angry and called his daughter, and said to her--

"Hitherto I have left you to your free choice, but since I see that you
reject all without any distinction, and the very best of your suitors
seems not good enough for you, I will keep measures no longer with you.
What! shall my family become extinct, and my inheritance pass away into
the hands of strangers? I will break your stubborn spirit. I give you
now till the festival of the great winter-night. Make your choice by
that time, or prepare to accept him whom I shall fix on."

Aslog loved a youth named Orm, handsome as he was brave and noble. She
loved him with her whole soul, and she would sooner die than bestow her
hand on another. But Orm was poor, and poverty compelled him to serve in
the mansion of her father. Aslog's partiality for him was kept a secret,
for her father's pride of power and wealth was such that he would never
have given his consent to a union with so humble a man.

When Aslog saw the darkness of his countenance, and heard his angry
words, she turned pale as death, for she knew his temper, and doubted
not that he would put his threats into execution. Without uttering a
word in reply, she retired to her chamber, and thought deeply but in
vain how to avert the dark storm that hung over her. The great festival
approached nearer and nearer, and her anguish increased every day.

At last the lovers resolved on flight.

"I know," said Orm, "a secure place where we may remain undiscovered
until we find an opportunity of quitting the country."

At night, when all were asleep, Orm led the trembling Aslog over the
snow and ice-fields away to the mountains. The moon and the stars,
sparkling still brighter in the cold winter's night, lighted them on
their way. They had under their arms a few articles of dress and some
skins of animals, which were all they could carry. They ascended the
mountains the whole night long till they reached a lonely spot enclosed
with lofty rocks. Here Orm conducted the weary Aslog into a cave, the
low and narrow entrance to which was hardly perceptible, but it soon
enlarged to a great hall, reaching deep into the mountain. He ki