Wyandot County Republican. [volume] (Upper Sandusky, Ohio) 1869-1903, 1869-03-11
From the New York Ledger. =.
THE MAN WHO KILLED THE
rTartrR WOLVES. ,.-.4s +.
BY, MARY KYLE DALLAS.

I the tree boughs, and from the water
|spouts long arms of ice reached te
the cutters below. 1t had beer
cold all day, and now that the SUI
was setting, it grew colder still
No one who could remain at home
braved the bleak evening air, an6
all the level distance of field anG
market-garden and scattered village
streets showed only one far away
sleigh, and one solitary pedestrian
making his way over the frozen
road. But within the windows
shone the ruddy CLEANS of freight
and about the hearths of the villags
sat many merry group, discussing
the topic of the day-the prowess oi
the young hunter who had saved
Judge Grantly's wife and child from
the wolves three nights before.
He had fought the whole pack
bravely-fought, so said Mrs. Judge
Grantly, like a lion; and but for
1 him-since the man who had prom
ised to drive the sleigh across the
prairie had been taken ill. and she
had undertaken the task herself, and
was all alone, with q horse that had
fallen lame, and child of four years
old, among the grinning pack-but
for him, she must have perished
miserably, and made . meal fol
those ravenous wild beasts. 1 was
only fair that the Judge should
prove his gratitude by the gift OF
that little house and farm, with
stock and furniture; and that he
should have summoned all the vii
lage to see the brave fellow installed
therein with pomp and ceremony,
and to help him eat the Western
banquet with which he was to eel
ebrate the occasion. Some said
that the hunter was hurt, and some
said that he was not. One knew
that his name was Smith, and one
would have sworn it was Jones
and tongues .wagged over it merrily.
Most of all. did they wag at the
public house kept by the old Ger
man, Hans Clausen, especially in
the bar-room, and in the little back
parlor, where blue eyed Gretchen,
born in those Western wilds, sat
knitting stockings; while her moth
er patched Landlord Clausen's S
trousers as scrupulously as if he
had been the poorest instead of the
richest man in the place. ass 5,sy
ooh, poor Mrs. Grantly! but
think Of her frightn' said the old
woman; "and the wolves upon the
sleigh, and Margery clinging to
her." .,.-.... ..t.s. .s..-s..I.....
"And think of her joy when she
saw that splendid fellow, and heard
him cry, that he would save her, and
saw the foremost wolf drop dead !;
eh, mother? 90 criedlG Gretchen. -
"And again the wolves are upon
her" cried the German woman,
''and crack goes the rifle and again
one drops; and crack again, and
another; and they are mad and
furious, and follow faster, and the
Judges wife prays, kneeling; and
he, this brave fellow, fires again,
and urges on the horse and fires
again; and it is all smoke and dark
ness, and the wolves bowling files
the air; and he is fighting them
close--fighting all together-and
she faints And then her eyes
open, and they are at home; and
the horse has fallen dead, and be
yond lies dead also the last wolf.
and her preserver stands, all cover
ed with blood, and cries to the
Judge, Behold them, they are safe,
and drops as one dead.''
"But he lives, MOTHER cried
Gretchen.
"Yes, he lives,' said the old wo-
man. "Hark p
"They are drinking his health at
the bar" SAID Gretchen. ''Listen !.
Three cheers for tie man who saved
Judge Grantly's wife and child. [
will cheer also Hurrah !! hurrah
Oh, the brave fellow !'' @-
"Hush, Gretchen % cried her
mother; ga stranger" ross e.v....
Gretchen turned. The door had
opened softly, and in it stood a tall
figure, roughly dressed, with q hat
slouched over its forehead. The
light did rot fall upon its face, but
she gave cry and rushed towards
it.
"It's Tom," she cried; ooh,
mother, it's Tomr' anu fell into his
arms, and sobbed upon his bosom.
Mrs. HClausen, however, die not
greet him in the same fashion. She
stood stiff and stern, taking no step
forward; and when Gretchen had
drawn the newcomer to seat,
81 oke c5ldly:
"You come back again, then,
Tom Drapere'
'Back again." he answered. "I
promised to return in two years,
and / never broke a promise yet;
but my heart stood still as tramped
over the frozen road. I didn't
know how Gretty would receive
me-"
MIS-. Clausen made no answer, but
stepped to the door of the store and
called to her husband in a voice by
no means rejoicing one:
CLANS, come; here is Tom
Draper
Hans came at once. The doors
were shut, and. the lamps lighted.
The four stood looking at each
other; the two old people on one
side of the table, ready set for tea,
Che two young people on the other.
AS his wife had spoken, so spoke
uaur CIoucan -