The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1870-08-17
me in the werld.?,

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over me for your sake
"rhus did Juan work hard durin
the week for his own and his parent
support, and on Sunday I loved to Sc
them entering my little church, Ger
trude leaning on the, arm of her hand
some boy, and both joining in the pray
Fers with the utmost devotion.
1Two years passed on, and Juan wa
returning from Bagneres, whittier Ii,
had gone to dispose of some game. I
was winter, and the north wind blew
piercingly cold; but the young hunter
stepped on briskly, whistling iyel,
tune. Suddenly a cry of distress struck
his ear, but he knew not whence il
came.
con Casar!' he cried, trusting to
his dogs sagacity; seek it out, boyr
"The docile creature set off in the di-
frection of a thick pine grove, and his
master followed; the cries became
louder, and Juan recognized the voice
of a female in distress. He redoubled
his speed, still preceded by the dog
At length he reached an open space,
and there was Caesar struggling with
a wolf, while on the ground lay wo-
man, with huge she-wolf in the act
OF fastening on her neck. With a shout
Juan rushed forward, and at the sound
the fierce creature raised her head, and
fixed ON him two eyeballs glowing with
rage and hunger. Without mcment's
hesitation, the intrepid hanter seized
her by the throat with one hand, and
thrnsting the other into her mouth,
grasped her tongue, and dragged it as
with an iron vice. After fearful
struggle, he succeeded in dashing the,
strangled beast on the ground. This
done, Juan looked round to see if his
faithful ally had need of assistance.
No; his antagonist also lay dead, and
the hunter had time to attend to the
woman, who lay motionless on the
ground, having tainted from excess of
terror. Her deliverer raised her gent
~ in his arms, put back the rich brown
hair that had fallen over her. face. and
perceived that she was a young and
very lovely girl. Taking handful of
the snow which lay on the ground, he
rubbed it on her temples, and then
succeeded in putting some small bits of
ice into her mouth. BY degrees she
revived, her eyelids Enclosed, and she,
drew Il deep sigh.
"sWhere am p she niuimured.
8. Safe with a friend'
/" 1T was you then, who saved me p
g Rather it was Providence, who was
pleased to employ my hand.'
'3she thanked him with a look far
more'eloquent than words; and then,
with confiding simplicity, as she still
felt weak, asked him to let her lean on
his arm, as far as her home. 4 was
going to the town. she said, TO sell
some milk, when those dreadful wolves
attacked me, upset my pitcher, and,
but for your timely aid and that of
your good dog, would surely have de-
youred me-
"The conversation thus commenced
did not flag. Juan soon learned that
Marguerite lived in the hamlet of Cam
pan; that she was an orphan, and had
no property save small cottage, one
COW, and some hens. She managed to
support herself with the profits of these
animals and of her spinning. Her per-
feet candor and her innocent beauty
charmed the honest heart of Juan; he
thought that, were he possessed of all
the treasures i'll the world, he would
like to lay them at Marguerite's feet
On entering the village, the news of
their adventure spread quickly; and it
was easy to see, by the consequent ex-
element, how much the young girl
was beloved by her neighbors. Both
young and old rushed forth to meet
her; Juan was overwhelmed with
thanks and praises; nor was poor Caesar
by any means forgotten.
"tAdieu, Marguerite said Juan,
when he had accompanied her to her
cottage door. May l sometimes come
H. i