The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1861-02-07

SnOW, anu sa" Just uctoto nifH
. low shed. one more struggle and he
ell against it. In an instant he OWNED
Is character. With last desperate
.ffort he found the door, threw i. open.
md rushing in. flung himself at full
ength upon the floor. knowing only that
he was in an atmosphere ieeking with
he fumes Of bacon, and warm with the
smoke which rose from a pan OF smoth-
cred GOALS in the center of the place. 1t
was q settlers rude smoke house, left to
care for itself during the long winters
night, and the travellers grateful heart
sent ur tribute to Heaven for this
place Of refuge in the desert OF snow.
In the log cabin in the valley Of the
Milly Dean sat alone. Her
husband had gone to n distant town, and
the young wife was left with her babe.
Accustomed to the solitude, she felt safe,
and sat 10 contentment before the blazing
FIRE: tho flames leaped right josfully up
the chimney, and the green logs sized
and cracked in the heat like things Of
life. Out doors the wind was bowling
dresrily. and the snow falling heavily;
but Milly cared not. for it only made the
FIRE more cheerful.
There came rapping at the door.
How strange! Who can that be at our
door in this wild nigh?' She SAID to her
self, as she rose and went into the little
entry.
The rapping was repeated.
"Who's there" the asked.
"For heavens sake, let me in; am
freezing to death!" was the reply.
Who are you? and how came you in
this lonely place on such an evening a.
tiis?'
Il am a traveller. from below;
lost my way, I am dying with cold
For PHYS sake let me in, or shall per
ish!'
Milly hesitated. She was alone, ano
it was three miles to the nearest neighbors
What should she do? She paused in per
p'exity,
20, save me--save me! am dyingl'
we're the words that met her hearing.
There was heavy fall ag ainst the sill
L.
ture could stand no more; true to the in
stinct Of her being. she unbarred the
door and threw it open. A closely muf.
fed figure reeled by her into the room. aac
shutting the door she followed. On reach
ing the fireplace. the stranger threw of
his disguise. and stood erect and strong
without sign OF Inconvenience from the
effects of the weather. Milly retrea!et
from him in amazcment; but recovering
herself. and putting the beet face on tn
matter:
II am sorry, sir. you are so cold. !
is bitter night to be abroad. Will 20,
not sit by the 6re?' and she pushed
chair forward
The man made no response. but stoop
ing over, ran his fingers through the blaze
Then he turned and stared at her with
look that male her blood rnn cold. /
bright thought came into her head. Sh
would pretend thatthere were others in II
house, for she already felt afraid Of ii
man and bitterly regretted having admit
ted him.
Would you like to see some OF the me
: FOLKS, sir?" she inquired. "If so. I "
e call them from their beds.
' The man laughed boarsely and replie'
a emily Dean, for that believe is yo'
name, you cannot deceive me. You Al
all alone in this house. I took psrticula
y care to ascertain that before l came.
: you may as we'll make yourself easy {
d that point and do as bid you. -
"Do as you bid me-" exclaimed Mil
8 in terror" what do you want Of me?'
= II ant the twelve hundred dollars
: gold your husband received for his pr
;. duce two days ago. You probably kno
where it is.''
MilIy spreng into the entry and wou
: have fled, but the stranger caught her
e the wrist and dragged her roughly bac
"Yo ou cannot escape me, young W
J. man." he said, "You will find it me
y convenient to make clean breast of il
P once. 1t will be better for you."
IS Milly strove to release her arm. T
u rough treatment she received aroused h
~ temper. and indignation overcome
!. other feelings
: Let me go, you scoundrel, let me g
or will call for help she cried.
"CaIl, you fool. said the brutal
- low. "and much. good may it do you
: Keep yourself still and tell me where
). : money is"
" Il will not" she exclaimed, her e
, flashing Ere.