Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-10-28
CHASED BY WOLVES.

An was race Tor lie. Following hard upon
tne meet skater were troop OF wolves a. feet
CHARLES Vance heard their breathing, the short
impatient snuffs, the regular patter of sharp feet
upon the ice like click. The scene lay in
clouds, now partially obscured, then bursting
forth in flood Of siivery light. At one side was
tne dense pine forest, broken by clumps of leaf
less OAK or hickory, and winding in and out as
1t followed the course OF the river; on the
other, the wide, snOw-cOvered plain. A mile
yet before a house would be reached. and in tina
Brave as he was, Mr.. Vance shuddered At
tWenty-eight there was so much of life before
nm, 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-eastles, which all had Rose Ardley
Tor their day-dream. For her sake 1t was that
he had undertaken this peTilOus journey.
FasteTl faster. This turn shove! him the
neree cleaning eyes that repeated themselves
until there seemed to be hundreds. Rays Of
Iurid light flashed out; lOllng scarlet tongues
that thirsted for a draught OF blood and a
dainty mOrsel of flesh. a nis-step, a half
hidden hinoek of ice to trip the unwary trav-
eler, moment lost, and he would be in the
power Of these ravenous animals. No wonder
horrible fate.
More than once he had gone up and down the
r1Ver for pleasure. More than once there had
been gay party-girls i'm their pretty skating
costumes-but sweetest Of all was Rose, her
golden eurs blown about by the wind, her
cheeks brilliant, her purple eyes dilating with
enjoyment. Bright and eoquettish was she, fond
OF teasing him until his patience was almost
exhausted; but sweet, loving girl in the midst
Of At midsummer she was to be his wife. He
nad extOrted that promise from her, though he
would fsin have taken her long before. And yet
only the other morning they had fallen into a
trining dispute about this very visit. She wanted
to go up for this Thursday evening; he did not
see his way clear to do it conveniently.
Thursday Is payday" he had said, abiding
10 his works and wOrkmen. 81 never can get
away Thursday nights until dark. NV horse has
fallen lame, too, Rose; cannot ride him after
"You once thought skating up the river
mere pastime," replied Miss Ardley, and her
tone was tIiie sharp and naughty.
In the daytime, and with company. That
makes a difference"
Oh, very well; if you care 50 little to come,
there's no more TO be said" And she turned
away with an air OF superb indifference.
and stay until Monday"
But Thursday night is Eleanor's birth night
thought OF the pleasure 10 her, to have you
among her guests. Don't put yourself out, how
ever"
Charles Vance was not a man likely 10 be ca
noniZed for eithermeekness OF patience; and she
was purPOsely irving him. He felt vexed.
IN come If can" concluded Mr.. Vance
shorty. His tone was cold, and his eyes wan
dered over the waste snow.
Very WE'LL she gaily said; {" shall expect
you, mind. Goodbye" And she kissed to him
the tips of her dainty fingers
he strobe down the path, unhitched his horse
with jerk, and went riding over the road,
never once glancing back. Perverse Rose Ard
joying than not the semi-quarrel.
"l'n not goi she shall not get me there on
Thursday evening" he answered to himself in
his annoyance. But ere Thursday evening came
his resolve was broken, after the manner of
lovers, and he meant 10 90.
q. must skate up" he said; ''the nights clear
"HOpe theren be no wolves abroad, Master
Vance" said the brswny Englishman, Hugh,
other morning You'd better take a pistoi.
III trust 70 luck and my good skates" an
swered Mr. Vance laughingly, rather ridiculing
the notion of evolves"
He started. The night, as he observed, wa
clear and frosty, very bright and cold. Halrhi
journey bad been accomplished, when he heard
shr1ll, sharp cry echOing from the woods. Then
another, as in answer, and one at a distance
For a moment his blood curdled in his veins.
What were these cries? All, what-what bat the
Nearer came the cry, and nearer, as If the
dreadful animals scented their victim. He
gided over the ice like lightning, his strides
quiekened by the first click he heard from his
pursuers-at first, as rapidly possible, in a
straight line; for not a second was to be lost.
Every nerve and limb was slaughtered to its
utmost tension. A mile, perhaps; and il he had
to dOublei A horrible fash OF despair almost
paraly zed him. That was certain death. Why
had he been 30 needless as TO disregard sage
Hugh's warning? But he had never seen wolf
during his sojOurn in the Canadian wilds.
Faster, faster! Turns that frightfully len 9Th
ened his journey, but gave him q moments re-
spite, for his pursuers were by this means thrown
on their track, and were some time in recover
ing their speed. The moon shone out brightly.
Every tree seemed outlined against the sky with
painful distinctness; here gnarled old oak that
had been riven with some fierce bolt, there a
elumP Of cleaning evergreens, that Knocked him
IN their security. And now the river widened.
Hardly a week before, he and Rose Ardley had
enjoyed gay frOlie of skating on this very spot.
Was she still yexed with him? oh! if she could
but know!
In imagination their red tongues seemed 10
touch him. One of them seemed To hurt him.
self in some way, for there came sharp howl Of
ha rWQG fvRafo
and then they came on the faster. Charles
Nances limbs was weak, his pulse thrOb-
The fiery ewes seemed 10 seorc6 him with sbeir
Iurld glare. and now he could hear the rapid
expeetant breath. So near safety, and-a de-
spairtng cry broke from his lips. Rose ROsei
Farewell To her, 10 happiness, 20 all.
Rose Ardley, the centre Of a gay group of
cousins and friends. was this selfsame evening
doing her utmost 70 be attractive. She was fas-
cinatiDg at all times and seasons; but when she
used little effort, could make herself doubly 90
She had forgiven Charles Vance a dozen times
since that last angry morning. He would be
sure to come early, she c6mplacently told herself
and be duly penitent. After all, Charles Vance
was a brave, noble fellow. She thought she
else The guests all arrived. All but Mr.
Vance. Rose wondered. Had he been really
xexed, and was he staying away 10 punish her?
Well, let him stay. she should not NOPE or wear
surd.
SO Rose Ardiey was the gayest of the CAV.
down 10 cards. DR.. Caltran, a deeply scientific
man, and a great mesmerist, and three OF four
Others, went into a discussion on that wonderful
subject-clairyOyance. The doctor had been
relating certain remarkable incidents when il
was pTOPOsed that test should be given them
Who would Become a subject?
No one appeared inclined at first, but Miss
Caltran finally acqUiesced, and took her seat in
q chair in a small room they adjourned to- The
doctor had succeeded in sending her TO Sleep
when Rose looked in. Her attention was imme-
diately arrested, and she watched the experi-
ment with much eagerness.
Would any one like TO put any questions"
asked DIR. Caltran-
There ensued a silence. Eleanor Ardly broke
"Rose will. Rose Is always ready for any,
thing" And Miss Rose acquiesced az once.
a. don't know what to ask, or what would
most like 10 hear, ," she said, with a gay laugh.
Ask about Charley. Ask what keeps him
away You can tease him well, when you know
that"
Butts there really any truth in &c, DIR.
CAltran?" anJfsose's deep eyes were luminous
with some feeling akin TO curiosity.
a. IL n true that the medium can in many cases
seem 10 enter a persons mind, and answer in a
remarkable fashion," was the reply. "Many
failures are recorded, and mistakes made, but
think they are due TO our imperfect knowledge
OF the science. Suppose you try, Miss Rose; no