Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1850-07-03

I Of their new condition, there wa
, little cause To regret the ENJOY
ments Of the place they had forsaken
? The settlement near them was gradual,
enlargins, and could boast church
while, on still morning, its bell might b
distinctly heard at The farmhouse, callln!
TO the house of prayer. There was as'
a school, were the children could be laugh
all that was deemed necessary for them L
know and a public house, where Allan
could while away few hours much tt
his satisfaction. lie was not what j;
siy led a drinking character but he was
very social in his disposition, and coule
enjoy a joke with The best. Coming from
"across the WATER" and having seen
good deal of the world, he was looked up
on with respect and there was degree
of Difference paid to the opinions he chose
10 express, which was highly Aa,tering.
On the evening in which the occurrence
took place with which we have headed our
little story, Peter had larried, with somt
acquainta noes. in the landlords bar. room
until after ten o'clock, when, knowing that
Debby would "sit up' for him, and the
idea of curtain lecture, perhaps, looming
out indis,inc,y in his mind, he then started
for home in considerable Of a hurry. The
night was bright and beautiful one. for
the moon was full and, as he could see
every object distinctly. he determined to
take nearer cut. The distance BY the
highway was two miles but, by going
through the fields, he could shorten it half
Il mile and. as the ground was frozen,
and there were openings through each
fence, left for the sake Of convenience in
hauling in grain, this route was quite as
agreeable as the other. He started, as We
have before said, a, brisk pace and had
proceeded nearly or quite half way, when
he heard howl, accompanied by crash
ing sound, on the side of the field nearest
the forest. 1t was but a moment more,
when an enormous panther, with tail erect
and glowing eyebalIs, sPrang into view.
Peter hazarded but one glance Of terror at
the ferocious brute, which. doubtless, half
maddened by hunger, was now in full Pur-
suit and, giving the reins TO his horse, he
started at the top Of his speed. As it
chanced. he was riding an English mare of
uncommon strength and action. She was,
as " Jenny Joyce" would express it,
= every inch Tartar" Seeming, with
unerring instinct, to comprehend the stale
Of the case, and bristling with terror, the
animal put forth its utmost powers. She
dashed onward with her terrified rider
and, as there was no time to look for the
openings, cleared the first fence in a style
which would have brought down thunders
of applause On any steeple chase in the
United Kingdom. But there were yet
three fields, with two fences to surmount:
the last of these was the orchard, separated,
by lane of fifteen or twenty feet, from
the paIng which inclosed the yard. Allan,
who had recovered his presence Of mind,
now cheered his gallant horse, and sped
onward with the rapidity Of the wind: but
The panther was close behind he could
hear his quick bounds, and plainly distin-
guish the angry snarl which seemed 10 in.
dicate fear that bis prey would escape
him. Another fence was gained, and
nothing but the orchard remained 10 be
crossed. Peter knew that his horse was
taxed to the utmost; yet the brute was
evidently gaining on him. and one moments
tagging in their headlong course, or one
false step, and horrible death was inevi
table. Happily. no such accident occur
red. In frantic haste, he reached the last
barrier. 1t was high and difficult but,
with glorious effort, his mare surmounled
it ; and she was in the yard at the moment
The monster in their rear leaped the en-
closure of the orchard. In the twinkling Of
an eye. Peter had thrown the rcins over
The neck of his horse and, leaving it TO
shift for itself, dashed into the house. Here
he found the family awaiting his arrival !;
and, taking down two rifles. he with the
hired man, sailed forth to see to the fate Of
the bonnie gray" which had carried him
so bravely. They found The trembling an.
imal had escaped to the barn.yard E; but
the panther, doubtless alarmed by the light
emitted from the opening Of the door, had
taken itself off. The next morning, OF
examining the tracks made by its feet ill
the sandy soil OF the lane. they discovered
it TO have been one Of the largest size.
Peter had been so thoroughly frightened.
that you may be sure DebHy did not have
te lecture him soon again for staying away
so late at night. As for the mare-he
always declared he owed his life TO her
ma,chIess speed-she roamed the greenes'
of pastures, and continued the rarest o.