Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-22

CHASED By WOLVES.

|
wolves as fleet. Charles Vance heard
their breathing, the short, impatient snuffs,
the regular patter of sharp feet upon the
ice like click. The scene lay in Cana
da. The moon sailed through the drift
ing clouds, now partially obscured, then
bursting forth in a flood of silver light
At one side the dense pine forest, broken
by clumps of leafless oak or hickory. and
winding in and out as it followed the
course of the river; on the other, the
wide, snow-covered plain. A mile yet
| before house would be reached, and in
that time
Brave as he was, Mr.. Vance shuddered.
At twenty-eight there was so much OF
life before him. He had reached point
where fortune began to smile upon him;
and for the past six months his leisure
hours had been bright with glowing air.
castles, which all had Rose Ardley for
their day dream For her sake it was
that he had undertaken this perilous jour-
| ney.
| Faster! -faster This turn showed him
the fierce, cleaning eyes, that repeated
themselves until there seemed to be hum
dreds. Rays of lurid light flashed out;
lolling scarlet tongues, that thirsted for
draught of blood, and a dainty morsel Of
flesh. A mis-step, half hidden hillock
of ice to trip the unwary travller. mo-
ment lost, and he would be IN the power
of these ravenous animals. No wonder
his pulses quivered. or that 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 sweet
est of all was Rose, her golden curls blown
about by the wind. her cheeks brilliant,
her purple eyes dilating with enjoyment.
Bright and coquetish was she. fond Of
teasing him until his patience was almost
exhausted; but sweet, loving girl in the
midst of it. At midsummer she was to be
his wife, He had extorted that promise
from her, though he would have fain taken
her long before. And yet only the other
morning they had fallen into a trifing dis
pute about this very visit. She wanted
him to go up for this Thursday evening;
he did not see his way clear to do it con-
veniently.
Thursday is payday" he had said, al
luding to his works and workmen. II
never can get away Thursday nights until
dark. My horse has fallen, too, Rose;
cannot ride him after to-day"
"You once thought skating up the river
mere pastime, d" replied Miss Ardley, and
her tone was trife sharp and naughty.
''In the day time, and with company.
That makes a difference"
"Oh, very well if you care so little to-
come, there's no more to be said" And
she turned away with an air of superb in.
difference.
"Rose, it is not that. / can come up
Friday, and stay till Monday"
'But Thursday night is Eleanor's birth
night. l thought of the pleasure to her,
to have you among her guests. Don't put
yourself out, however"
! Charles Vance was not a man likely to
be canonized for either meekness or pa
| tience; and she was purposely trying him.
He felt vexed.
''I'll come if I can," concluded Mr..
| Vance shortly. His tone was cold. and
his eyes wandered over the waste of snow.
Every WE'LL" she gaily said; II shall
expect you, mind. Good-by." And she
kissed to him the tips of her dainty fin
| gers.
He strobe down the path, unhitched his
horse with jerk, and went riding over the
road never once glancing back. Perverse
Rose Ardley was privately peeping after
him, rather enjoying than not the semi
quarrel.
''I'll not go; she shall not get me there
on Thursday evening"" he answered to
himself in his annoyance. But ere Thurs
day evening came his resolve was broken,
after the manner Of lovers, and he meant
to go.
81 must skate up" he said; 1.-THE night
is clear and frosty"
"Hope there'll be no wolves abroad
Master Vance," said the brawny English
man, Hugh, one of his workmen and
warm admirers. You'd better take pis-
tol."
''I1l trust to luck and my good skates"
answered Vance, laughingly, rather ridi-
culing the notion of wolves
He started. The night. as he observed.
was clear and frosty, very bright and cold.
Half his journey had been accomplished,
when he heard a shril sharp echoing from
the woods. Then another, as in answer,
and one at distance. For moment his
blood curdled in his veins. What were
these cries? All, what-what but the
wolves?
Nearer came the cry, and nearer, as if
the dreaded animals scented their victim.
He glided over the ice like lightning, his
strides quickened by the first click he heard
from his pursuers-at first, as rapidly as
possible in a straight line; for not Sec
ond was to be lost Every nerve and
limb was Strengthened to its utmost ten
sion. A mile. perhaps; and if he had to
double. A horrible flash of despair almost
paralyzed him. That was certain death.
Why had he been so needless as to disre-
gard sage Hugh's warning? But he had
never seen wolf during his sojourn in
the Canadian wilds.
Faster. faster! Turns that frightfully
heightened his journey. but gave him a
moments respite. for his pursuers were
by this means thrown off their track. and
were sometime in recovering their speed.
The moon shone out brightly. Every tree
seemed outlined against the sky with pain
full distinctness; here gnarled old oak.
that had been riven with some fierce bolt.
there a clump of cleaning evergreens,
that Knocked him in their security. And
now the river widened Hardly a week
before he and Rose Ardley had enjoyed
- 81, IL.