Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-10-13

CHASED BY WOLVES.
IL was a race for life. Following hard
upon the feet skater were n troop OF wolves
n tieet. Charles Vance heard their breath
Inc, the short impatient sniEiS, the regular
rattcr OF sharp feet upon the ice like a
click. The scene Law i'm Canada. The
moon sailed through drifting clouds, now
partially ohscured. then bursting forth in n
food Of silvery light. At one side was the
dense pine forest, broken by elumps OF leaf
less oak or hickory. and winding in and
out M IL followed the course Of the river
ON the other, the wide, snow-eoverei PLAIN.
A mile vet before house would be reached,
and i'm 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 60 smile upon him and for
the tast six months his leisure hours had
been bright with glowing air-cAstles, which
all bad Rose Ardley for their day-dream.
For her sake il was that he had undertaken
this perilcus journey.
Faster. lasteri This turn showed him
the fierce cleaning eyes that repeated
themselves until there seemed 20 be hun
dreds. Rays of lurid light flashed out /; lol-
ling scarlet tongues, that thirsted for a
draught Of blood, and dainty morscl of
flesh. A mis-step, half-hidden hillock Of
ice TO trip the unwary traveller. a moment
lost, and he would be in the power Of these
ravenoGs animals. No wonder his pulses
Quiyercd, or that he shrank fIom so horrible
g 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 coquettish 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
bis wife. He had extorted that promise
from her, though be would fain have taken
her long before. Ard yet, only the other
morning they had fallen into a trifiing dis
pute about this very visit She wanted
him TO 20 up for this Thursday evening; he
did not see his way clear to do il conyen-
iently.
Thursday is payday he had said. al
luding TO his works and workmen- Il new
er can get away ON Thursday nights until
dark. Nv horse has fallen lame, too, Rose.
cannot ride him after to- day"
"You once thought skating up the river
a mere pastime," replied Miss Ardley and
her tone was trifie sharp and hAughry.
tin the daytime, and with company.
That makes difference"
"Oh, very well: if you care 80 little to
come, there's no more TO be saId.n And
she turned away with an air OF superb in
difference.
'Rose, it is not that. can come up
Friday, and stay until Monday
"But Thursday night il Eleanor's birth
night. | thought Of the pleasure 10 her, TO
have You among her guests. Don't put
yourself out, however
Charles Vance was not man likely to
be canonized for either meekncss or pa
tience; and she was purposely trying him.
He felt vexed.
"Tll come il cam concluded Mr.. Vance
shortly. His tone was cold, and his eyes
wandered over the waste Of snow.
"Very WELL" she gaiIy said. al shall
expect You, mind. Goodbye And she
kissed to him the tips OF her dainty fingers.
He strode down the path, unhitched his
horse with a jerk, and went riding over the
road, neTer once glancing back. Perverse
Rose Ardlcy was privately peering after
him, rather enjoying than not the SENT
quarrel
am not 60; she shall not get me there
on Thursday evening" he answered to
himself In bis annoyance. But ere Thurs
day evening came his resolve was broken.
after the manner Of lovers, and he meant
to 20.
Il must skate up" he said, ''The rights
clear and frostyD
"Hope taere'll be no wolves abroad, Mas
ter Vance," said the brawny Englishmau,
Hugh, one Of his workmen and warm ad-
mirers. "Stainsly shot one over by the
bridge, the other morning. You'd better
take pistol
'1'll trust to luck and my good skates"
answered Mr.. Vance, laughingly, rather
ridiculing the notion OF "Eolves.n
He started. The night, as he had OBJ
served, was clear and frosty; very bright
complished, when he heard sbrill, sharp
cry echoing from the woods. Then anoth-
er, as il in answer, and one at distance
For moment his blood curdled in his
veins. What were these cries2 All what
what but the wolyes2
Nearer came the cry; and nearer: as il
the dreadful animals scented their victim
He glided over the ice like lightning, bis
strides quickened by the first click be
heard from his pursuers. AT first, as rap
idly as possible, in straight line; for not
second was to be lost. Every nerve and
limb was strained to its utmost tension.
A mile, perhaps and if lie had to double
A horrible fash OF despair almost paraIysed
him. That was certain death. Why had
he been SO needless as to disregard sage
Hugh's warning2 But he had never seen
a wolf during his sojourn in these Canadian
wilds.
Faster, faster! Turns that frightfully
heightened his journey, but gave him a mo-
ment's respite, for his pursuers were by
this means thrown off their track, and were
some time in recovering their speed. The
moon shone out brightly. Every tree
seemed outlined against thes sky with pain
full distinctness; here gnarIed old oak,
that had been riven with some fierce bolt
there clunp of cleaning evergreens, that
mocked him In their security And now
the river widened. Hardly week before,
he and Rose Ardley had enjoyedaa "a gay
frolic of skating on this very spot Was
she still vexed with him 2 Oh, If she
could but know!
In imagination their red tongues seemed
to touch him. One OF them seemed 10 hurt
himself in some way, for there came sharp
howl Of pain. The pursuit was stopped for
an instant, and then they came on The fast
er. Charles Vance's limbs were weak. his
pulses throbbing from exhaustion, his very