The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-12-21
A RACE FOR LIFE.

the counties of central New York, All was
Wilderness, wild, grand, beautiful. We ldcs
ted Is miles from the farthest pioneer Th
woods were around us the tall trees and III
picturesque mountains.
We had opened space in tho forest. and
cabin of that good old time afforded us shelter
II looked new and comfortable, and its chinne'
smoke curled gracefully up and vanished witt
the shadows of tho forest. The backene,
heaps smoked and crackeled, and deep in thos
wildwood solitudes the wilderness smiled il
tho presence of yellow harvests. happ,
homo was there. The birds sung at earl,
morn. and the deep river near the door mur
INJURED sweetly at nightfall. There were gen
! Ito whisper;ngs IN the old trees as they bowed
their heads in the wind, a holy anthem hoatec
up from tho vast temple where nature breathes
fresh and purc from tho hand of God The
wild flowers boomcd even by tho very door sill
end tho door stepped into the forest to gaze
upon the smoke of the chimney top.
Twas beautiful homo in the wilierness-
The Spring brought us neghbors. Twas a
great day when settler came in and purcha-
sed land across from the river He received
warm welcome from pioneer hearts, and by
agency of pioneer hands, comfortable cabin
peeped oct from the dense woodland OH the
opposite bank. ! watched tho smoke from the
open roof as the sun won't down and eagerly
looked for it the next morning. B1t il was not
the smoke cared so much about. only know
that it cnred up from the fireside where dwelt
as beautiful a creature as ever bloomed away
from the busy world. And so | watched the
smoke, and dreamed as | watched tho river.
until the morning threw down its beautiful
pathway of shining silver, and listened for tho
sounds of familiar footsteps.
Across the river was tho bomn of Crnrv Ma
son. Before the mellow haze of autumn had
dropped his dreary hue on leaf and stream,
had learned to love her, and to tell her so in
tho still moonlight of that hidden home
The leaves faded and the winier winds swept
through tho forest But we little cared for
that.
The snow fell thick and fast but our cabins
were bright, and our hearts were alive with
hope and happiness. When the Spring OPEN
ed and the birds returned we were to bo mar
ried.
winter evening party in new country
Did you ever attend one dear reader: There
are large hearths and open hearts 49, 90 pc
lonnd.
Cary and I were invited to attend the par
ty; rude jumper had been built, and in this
we started. Ten miles werc soon passed. and
we found ourselves in as happy and merry a
ihrong as ever gathered on a frontier. The
huge fire oracklod on tho wide hearth and old
fashioned fun and frolic rang out until late
hour.
The moon had gone down when We started
for home aud the snow began 10 fall: but we
Needed it not for we talked fast as tho horse
sped on the forest path.
Carry grasped my arm and whispered, hist
The wind shrieked over the tops of tho tall
pines and laughed at her fears.
II. III IL, l..
with less glcc. And in spite of all my efforts
n shadow would even creep over my own spir-
its!
The road wound among dense growth of
pines, which sh, upwards and yelled even the
sky from or path. The old pines swaycd and
moaned in the increasing storm. and the snow
fell thick and fast. Itouched the horse with
the whip and hc moved hriskly through the
woods Again Carry grespcd my arm. heard
nothing save the storm. and yet was startled
as tho horse gave quick snort and struck into
a gallop. With heart fIll ofhappincss. | had
not yet dreamed of danger
Again the horse snorted in alarm. There
W. S sound above the storm, felt my cheek
grow white and cold, and the blood ran quick
back 10 my heart.
Clear. wild, terrible. II burst ont in an un-
earthly howl, like a wall from the world of in
Il IL.
chill ne echoes had not died away on the storm
when it was answered ny score Of throa,s.
Mercifn God pack Of hounds were around
us. In those dark woods at night, and the
storm bowling overhead. scoro of hungry
throats were yelling each other on to the feast.
For moment my senses reeled. But felt
Carry leaning heavily on my shoulder and
aroused.
But whnt hope was there; had no weapon
and the maddened devils were in the path be-
fore and behind us. There was but one chance
and that was to push ahead.
This was n slim chance, and | grew sick as
| thought # Garry. The quiet cabin, and the
happy hearth of home flashed swiftly through
my brain.
At that moment dark shadow glldcd up
by the side of our sleigh, and so wild and dew
ilsh veil never heard. My flesh crept on
my bones. A cold shiyor ran to nv heart and
crept over my head as though the hairs were
standing on end. Two orbs glared out like
demon lights and could hear tho painting of
tho eager beast.
Finally grasping the reins and shouting
sharply to tho horse. We shot away.
Tho horse needed no urging. AT the act
that internal chorus again burst out in earnest
and their dark forms leaped into heightened
strides on either side of US. The speed was
fearful, and yet the yelling devils kept paco-
Turning to speak to Carry saw dark form
leap into the path. and as we sped ahead, his
teeth shut with vice-likc snap, missing Garry
and stripping her shawl from her shoulder
With a shrek she clung to me, and with my
arm saved her being dragged out of her seat.
| became maddenod-reckless; l shouted to
the horse, now reeking with foam We went
on at fearful rate. The stumps and roots and
uneven places in the road threatened every in
stant to wreck our sleigh.
Home was threo miles distant. o, for q
world to give for home
AS tho road struck the river bank. it turned
shortly almost on the brink of fearful preci-
pee. Here was a new danger. 1t was diff
ficult place, and there was not only danger of
upseiting, but being hurled into the river.
There was path across this angle of land
where logs had been drawn out 1t was mile
Y,aa this fho Al, h,,f fbs, ,var