Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-23
,,der Two or three followed suit, and

shoulder. Two or three followed SUIT, ana
the rooms were in whirl OF confusion.
..Let me go too" Rose almost shrieked.
INV child, there may be some mistake, u
said DR.. Caltran, soothingly. alarmed at
the consequences of his sisters vision.
do, pray, be calm"
mo, there is no mistake" she answer
ed, Historically. II told him to skate up
his horse was lame-I dared him to
come. Oh, merciful Heaven, forgive
met"
She was in a perfect agony of despair
The horrible vision her cousin George s
words conjured up made a more vivid one
in her brain. Her face, that had been sc
brilliant short time before, was now the
picture of anguish. She could not hell
thinking that if any evil had befallen hin
it was clearly her fault. How many, ma
ny times she had tormented him almost be
yond endurance; been cool, capricious
laughed at his tenderness and love. Ar
raigning her heart for Judgment she found
it had been bitterly cruel TO him. to the
one man to whom she would give her life
if occasion required In the confusion
and crowd she passed quietly up stairs
got her shawl and hood, and stole out I'M
seen. Along she sped like shadowy
wrath. and was on the river as soon as
the men with their rifles.
Hank p What was that ? A sickening,
despairing cry--a wall of mortal agony.
Rose recognized it for his voice--for they
were close upon him now.
Yes, the cry came from Charles Vance.
With that one despairing burst he gave
up hope and turned upon his horrible pur-
suers In the moonlight his eyes glared
back to those fierce balls, and there was
a deathly pause. The suddenness amazed
the unreasoning brutes. but the foremost
crouched to spring.
A ball went whizzing by, SO close that
Mr.. Vance telt the hot air on his cheek.
Then yell ensued, ending with howl
Of maddening pain. Another report; an
other; footsteps, voices; yet he did not
STIR
'Oh, Charles Charles!" and the next
instant Rose lay senseless at his feet.
At first he could not think, could not
speak the utter surprise and sense of de-
liyerance overwhelmed him. He knelt
down on the ice trembling in every limb,
and the rest came thronging around. The
discounted enemy were retiring with
savage cries, leaving two of their number
dead behind them.
''What is it all ?n began Mr.. Vance. II
Il can not imagine"
''Do not try" interrupted George Ard
ley. at is the strangest thing that ever
happened. Can you walk home? I'll see
to Rose. And he picked her up as though
she had been a baby.
They then went home slowly; Mr.
s., nt,a 9TH l,,t ~, oil
Angry muuerings followed them from
afar; but there was no real danger now
Rose, recovering consciousness, struggled
away from her cousin $ protection.
"Let me Walk am quite well now,'
she said, with a touch of her old imperi-
BUSINESS. And she got to Mr.. Vance's side.
'.Oh, Charles I haze been SO selfish
and cruel. VIII you ever forgive meP"
Charles answer was to take her arm
within his and press it to his side. She
broke down with sob.
.Hush, my darling. God has inter-
posed to save me. But still / do not un-
derstand how or why You should all have
come"
"Oh, Charles it is the strangest tale.
You will hardly believe it-you who have
laughed at"
don't spoil the story, Rose" said
George Ardley from behind "We'll have
it ont when we get home."
Was DIR. Caltran surprised when he
heard of the strange escape and saw the
rescued man? He made no sign. Miss
Caltran, the clairvoyant, was herself then
save for an intense, dull headache
"They had gained on me so fast that it
seems as if could not have held out Il
minute longer, said Mr.. Vance to the
doctor. Besides the short distance on
the river there was the dark walk up to
the house, and my courage was utterly
giving way
Rose burst into tears. Charles, as
long as live | will never be capricious
again. she whispered; "no not even
when l am your wife; will tryto be q
blessing to you instead of trouble"
And he kissed the sweet lips for their
fond confession.
So it all ended well. But the wonder
full escape of George Vance from the
peril of the wolves is talked of in Canada
10 this day.