Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1864-03-12

ting satisfaction, and was away over the
ice with fierce dash. as though ! would
drive off my annoyance by speed of mo
tion
Up the river I went, over and back, now
dashing off at angles and now rushing up
10 the face Of the wind to cool my heated
head. The night was beautiful, @ clear,
cold, braciDg night, with moon that al.
most seemed as though il were hung in the
sky as an object Of alteration. On / went,
right up in the face OF the wind, the miles
seeming TO slip from under my feet like SO
many yards, until l was far out of sight Of
the house, or Of any sign of civilization,
and still / kept on. As far as have been
able TO tell, think l must have been at
least eight miles from home, when sudden'
ly heard sound that perfectly paralized
my limbs, and left me gliding over the ice
without any effort on my part at propu.
sion. .r
! did not know what 1t was, had no
power TO think, but when the sound came
with fearful distinctness, and the last eli.
ding motion of my body ceased, until
| stood still in the center of the CLASSY
stream, aud gezed with a concentrated
vision about me, / began to realize what
heard. Then saw, here and there, along
tie dark shore, darker objects creeping
slowly ont from among the trees, and on
the ice, and from these darker objects came
the fearful half grosn, half scream, that
had so frozen my blood, and taken from me
the power of motion. 1 had never seen
any of the terrible creatures with which
was that night destined 10 become acquain.
ted, but | knew in an instant that what
saw coming FROM the woods in at least o
dozen directions, we're nothing less than
wolves. ! had, as | say, had no chance of
seeing any Of those inhabitants, but | had
heard several from up the country say that
they were troublesome, and expressed the
belief that before the winter was over we
should have them down our way.
! don't know how lOug ! stood gazing
upon these objects Of terror, bat as they
neared knew that speed wouli only save
me from terrible death, and turned to fly.
l was Doiuoyice on the skates, and then !
put forth with al the swiftness ever had
learned. Away l sped over the ice. the
terrible cry coming on behind me with a
aistinctuess that curded my blood, but yet
put more force ip every limb, thought Of
Marion waiting at home, by this time re.
penting the little folly that had made her
treat me slightly, and gazing from the win.
dow to see me come from the ice; thought
of my mother in New York, and the death.
ly heart sickness that would strike her
when she would hear Of my terrible death,
ard | struck ont ONCE more for life.
On they came with their long, yelping
cry, and | could NOT resist turning my
head to see. There they were. at least
score of them, not forty rods away. /
pushed on, but ! knew that they gained. l
knew it by the howls, by their very exul,.
jug note as they supposed they were neaI-
log their prey. IT was happy thought
just then. that ! struck off suddenly to the
left, for half turn of my head allowed me
to see at least dozen of the beasts, with
lost footing, sliding, some upon their
sides, some upon their backs, and some with
sprawling legs, away out upon the right
had led them straightforward race
and they had gained; now saw that every
turn / made they would lose, for it would
be impossible for them to keep their feet
aud turn sufficiently quick upon the smooth
ice to keep pace with my movements. l
pro6ted by the discovery, and each time as
they recovered their feet and gained upon
me, made sudden dash to the right or
left, and threw more than one half of them
sliding away upon the ice. 1t was no time
to laugh, but conld not help it; and each
turn as ! executed this movement con-
vulsive Ghuckle burst from me. Every
muscle of my body was in play, aud the
perspiration rolled down my face as though
it was day in midsummer. At the next
tarn relieved myself by throwing off my
coat, and on I sped the lighter without it..
At the next away went my vest, and just
then l turned the bend of the river, and
the white walls Of my home came in sight.
This gave fresh life to me, and on went.
shall never forget that last mile. 1t was
the most desperate physical exertion of my
life, and the most terrible mental strain. l
hardly believe was over twenty minutes in
doing the whole dstsnce from the time /
first espied the wolves until ] reached my
home, but to me it seemed like twenty
hours. / came rushing on towards the
house, with the pack not less than fifty
yards behind me, and as struck the shore
and spraug, with skate bound feet. over
the fence towards the housa. there was q
desperation 10 my moyemeuts beyond de-
scription.
AS thought, Marion was watching and
saw me coming, but, not seeing the cause
Of my terror, the haste was ipexpicable to
her. She sprang to the door as l rushed
up the path, and opened it. i threw my.
self 10, aud with quick turn slammed IL.
not moment TO soon, for almost With its
closing three or four Of the fends we're
bowling within few yards of it. In an
instant the bolts we're dra u and Maron's
arms were around me. She understood i,
all without word, and only one quick
embrace, she brought me the rife, with
which, within the next few minutes. had
the satisfaction Of sending two Of the
wretches to their last account, and after
wards of watching the retreat of the pack
across the leo until they disappeared in
the woods on the opposite side.
That night, after my relation Of tn,
terrible half hour through which ! hst
ma ssed all the storv | had wishad 10 tal