Connecticut western news., 1871-10-06
CHASED BY WOLVES.

GnASEU D1 WOLVESs
 It was a race for life. Following hard upon the fleet skater were a troop of wolves as fleet. Charles Vance heard their breath ing, the short impatient snifs, the regular batter ot sharp feet upon the ice like click. The scene lay in Canada. The moon sailed through drifting clouds, now partially obscured. then bursting forth in flood of silvery light At one side was the dense pine forest, broken by clumps of leaf less oak or hickory, and winding in and out as it followed the course of the river; on the other, the wide, snow covered plain. 4 mile yet before house would be reached, and in that time
 Brave as he was, MT. 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 1t was that he had undertaken this perilous journey.
 Faster! faster! This turn showed him the fierce cleaning eyes that repeated themselves until there seemed to be hun dreds. Rays of lurid light flashed out lol- ling scarlet tongues, that thirsted for draught of blood, and dainty morsel of flesh. A mis-step, half-hidden hillock of ice to trip the unwary traveller, moment lost, and he would be in the power of these rayenous animals. No wonder his pulses quivered, or that he shrank from so horrible 6 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 1t. At midsummer she was to be his wife. He had extorted that promise from her, though he would fain have taken her long before. And yet, only the other morning they had fallen into trifiing dis pute about this very visit. She wanted him to go up for this Thursday evening; he did not sec his way clear to do it conven- iently. .- ...
 "Thursdny is payday" he had said, al- ludlugto his works and workmen. q ney- CT can get away on Thursday nights until dark. My horse has fallen lame, too, Rose l cannot ride him after to day"
 ''You once thought skating up the river mere pastime," replied Miss Ardley; and her tone was tri1e sharp and naughty.
 "ln the daytime, and with company. That makes difference"
 "Oh, very well: if you care so 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 is Eleanor's birth night thought of the pleasure to her, to have you among her guests. Don't put yourself out, however"
 Charles Vance was not man likely to be canonized for either meekness or pa- tience; and she was purposely trying him. He felt yexed.
 "Pll come if can," concluded MT. Vance shortly. His tone was cold, and his eyes wandered over the waste of snow.
 ''Very well," she gaily said. "I 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 jerk, and went riding over the road, never once glancing back. Perverse Rose Ardley was privately peeping after him, rather enjoying than not the seml- quarrel.
 "l'll not go; she shall not get me there on Thursday evening"" he answered to himself in his annoy ance. But ere Thurs day evening came his resolve was broken after the manner of lovers, and he meant to go.
 'I must skate up," he said, ''The nights clear and frosty" ..-......'
 Hope there'll be no wolves abroad, Mas ter Vance," said the brawny Englishman Hugh, one of his workmen and warm ad- mirers. "Stainsly shot one over by the bridge, the other morning. You'd better take pistol"
 s'l'll trust to luck and my good skates, . answered MT. Vance, laughingly, rather ridiculing the notion of evolves. :" -
 He started. The night, as he had ob. served, was clear and frosty; very bright and cold. Half hls journey had been ac. complished, when he heard shrill, sharE cry echoing from the woods. Then anoth, CT, as if in answer, and one at distance For moment his blood curdled in hi: veins. What were these cries ? An what what but the wolves?
 Nearer came the cry; and nearer as i the dreadful animals scented their victim He glided over the ice like lightning, hi. strides quickened by the first click ht heard from his pursuers. At first, as rap idly as possible, in a straight line; for not second was to be lost Every nerve ant limb was strained to its utmost tension A mile, perhaps :; and if he had to double A horrible flash of despair almost paralyset him. That was certain death. Why hat he been so needless as to disregard sag Hugh's warning2 But he had never seer wolf during his sojourn in these Canadian wilds.
 Faster, faster! Turns that frightfully heightened his journey, but gave him mo ment's respite, for his pursuers were b this means thrown off their track, and wer some time in recovering their speed. Tn moon shone out brightly Every tre seemed outlined against the sky with pain ful distinctness; here gnarled old oak that had been riven withSsome fierce bolt