The Wyandot pioneer. (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1853-1868, 1868-12-31
stiles. Visions of the future,


that WILDE satisfactoryto to all.
air castles. Visions of the future,
made more enticing by that lovely,
fair haired Rose For her sake he
had ndertaken this perilous jour
ney.
Faster! faster! This turn show
ed him the fierce cleaning eyes,
thai repeated themselves until their
seemed hundreds. Rays of lurid
light flashed out, lolling scarlet
tonguesthat thirsted for for draught
of blood, and a dainty morsel of
flesh. A misstep, a half hidden
hammock of ice to trip the unwary
traveller, moment lost, and be
would be in the power of these ra-
venous beasts. No wonder his pull
ses quivered, and he shrank from so
horrible fate.
More than once he had gone up
and down the river for pleasure.
More than once there had been gay
party, girls in their pretty skating
costumes; but sweetest of all was
Rose, her golden curls blown about
by the wind, her cheeks brilliant,h
purple eyes dilating with enjoyment.
Bright and coquettish, fond of teas
ing until his patience was almost ex-
hausted, but rarely sweet when she
gave OF her rich, warm soul. At
midsummer she was to become his
wife. He had extorted that promise
from her, though he would fain
have taken her long before. And
yet, only the other morning they
had fallen into trif1ins dispute about
this very visit.
Thursday is pay day." he had
said Il never get through until
dark with all those men, and Blake
means to drive over to Windsor to
spend the night. Firefy is lame,so,
if L come must find my own con-
veyance."
You and Mr. Blake thought
skating up the river mere pastime."
Rose Arvedson's tone was a trifle
sharp and naughty.
''In the day time, and with COM
pany, that makes difference"
ooh, very well, if you care so lit
tle;" and she turned away with an
air of superb Indifference"
"Rose it isn't that. I can come
up Friday, and stay until Monday"
"And Thursday night is Nellie's
birth night. I thought of the pleas
ure to her to nave you among her
guests. 1t is only small party, but
we maybe able to amuse ourselves.
Don't put yourself out in the slight
est"
Charley Vance was not a man
likely to be canonized for either
meekness or patience. Now he did
feel a little veNed.
''I'll come if I can" His tone
was cold,and his eyes wandered over
the waste Of snow.
Every WELL Good bye;;' and
kissing the tips Of her dainty fingers
she vanished like spirit.
He strobe down the path, unhitch-
ed his horse with jerk, and made
her spin over the road, never once
glancing back. Perverse Rose was
Watching, hidden from his 81 ight, it
was true, but her qneenship felt the
slight keenly.
San angelic temperp' and she
curled her red lips disdainfully:
And not being in very serene
frame of mind, he half declared he
would not go; but before the event
full Thursday night he found himself
ardently desiring to see Rose. It
was quite late when he was through
but as the night promised to be fine,
he resolved to trust to his own pow
erS.
"Hope there'll be no wolves
abroad, Master Vance, said the
hrawny Englishman, Hugh, one of
his warm admirers. '.Stainsly shot
one over by the bridge, the other
morning. You better take pistol"
"Pu trust to luck and my good
legs" he answered, laugbingly.
Half his journey had been accom-
plished, when he heard shrill sharp
cry echoing from the woods. Then
another, as if in answar, and one at
a distance. For a moment his blood
curdled in his veins. Where were
they? teal ...
Nearer came the cry, as if they
scented their victim. He glided ov-
er the ice like lightning, his strides
quickened by the first click he heard
from his pursuers. On first, as rap
lilly as possible, il a straight line, for
not second was to be lost. Every
nerve and limb was strained to it's
utmost tension. A mile, perhaps,
| and there were two remaining. A
horrible flash of despair almost par
! llvzed him. That was certain death.
Why had he been so needless as to
disregard Hugh's warning? But he
lad never seen a wolf during his So
journ in these Canadian wilds.
Faster, faster! Turns that nearly
doubled his journey, but gave him a
moments respite, for his pursuers
were by this means thrown off their
track, and were sometime in recov-
ering their speed. Now the moon
shone out brightly. Every tree SEEM
ed outlined against the sky with pain
full distinctness; here gnarled old
oak, that had been riven with some
fierce bolt; there clump of gleam-
ing evergreens, that mecked him in
their security. And now the river
widened. Hardly a week before, he
and Rose bad enjoyed a gay frolic
on this very spot. Over yonder was
great, ram bling, low-roofed farm