The Van Buren press., 1871-11-28
MIS- CELLANY.
Chasc 4 by Wolves.

NAae-N oy WIVES
1t was a race for life. Following har,
upon the feet skater were a troop o
wolves rs fleet, Charles Vance heard
their breathing, theshort impatient shifts
the regular paJteF of claws upon the ic,
like click The scene lay in Canada
The moon sailed through drifting clouds
now partially obscurei, than bursting
forth in a food Of siIvcrY light At on,
side was the dense pine forest broken by
clumps Of leadesS oaKsor hickory and
winding in and oat as it followed the
course Of the river; OF the Other Tho
wide, snow covered plain
A mile yet ucfo.e q house would be
reached and in that time
Brave as lie VAS Mr. Vance shlller.
ed. At twenty eiqat there was so much
ofife before b,m; aud for the past sis
months his leisure hours had been bright
with glowing air-castes, which all had
Rose Ardlcy f1~ thCir day dream For
her sake il WAS tha. he had undertaa en-
this pcrious ioaruer
Faster. Faster! This tnrn showed
him the fierce pn namiug eyes that repeat
ed themselves nntii there seemed to he
hundreds Raea &C Iurid flame flashed
out; lo!ling scarlet tongues, that thirst
ed for q draugLt If Blood, anj dainty
morsel OF flesh a Hisstep a ialr hil
den hiilock oi ice 70 "trip the unwal
traveller, a mouent last, n hetgould bt
in the power Of thcs. rave ous animals.
No wonder his pulsgs qrh,red, or thai
he shranli frori so l,'lrl .e fate
More than once he bad gone up sud
down the river ior letssure. More than
once there ha been goy party; girls
in their pretgt saatlty costumes! but
swec.t.J ofaH = H. hcr%olden curIs
otown abvat - - ysss'',~ sses' ev's-e'l. 5
brilliant her purple eyes d'hjmg with
enjoyment. Bright and coquetish was
she, fond or teasing bim until his pa
uencc was almost eXtieustcd, but aswee,
loving Girl iu the miitt Of IT, At mid
summer she was to le his wife. lie had
extorled that pyumis3 from her, though
he would fain have taken her long before.
And yet only rhc otmrmoruing they bad
fallen into dispute ahout This very visit.
She wanted him TO g up for this Thurs
day evening. be did 40 see bis way clear
to do it conveniently
THURSDAY is pay day,' he had said,
alludiug to his works and workmen
never can get away on Thursday nights
until dark. My hose has fallen lame
too, Rose, cannot ride him after to
day"
+" You once thought skating up the
river mere pastime, replied Miss Ard
ley; and her tone was a trlle sharp and
naughty.
"In the day tirac, and with company.
That makes q difference -
"Oh very well, ityou care so little to
come, there's no more to be said" And
she turned away with an air Of superb
Indifference.
Rose, il is not that can come up
Friday. and stay uull Monday
"But Thursday night is Elcanor's
birth night thought Of the pleasure
10 her to have yoa among her guests
- III I Dlll ' iitllf til 'uNt tIONNNFi'
Charles Vance vas not man likely to
be canonizcd for c,,hcr meekuess or pa
tience; and size was purposeIy trying
him lie felt yexei
"I'll come if can." concluded Mr.
Vance shortly His tone was cold, and
his eyes wandered over the waste OF
snow
"Vcry well, ''sne said gaily 81 shall
expect you, nd,d. Good bye And
she kissed to lin the tips Of her dainty
lingers.
He strobe down the path, unhitched
his horse with 'trk, and went riding
over the road, nevet once glancing back
Perycrsc Rose Ardhy was privately peep.
ing after him, ra,hr enjoying than nos
the semi quarrel
"Tll not 90; sic shall not get me
there on Thurs lay evening" he answer.
Cd to himself in ms mnoyance. But ere
Thursday evening CINE his resolve was
broken, after the manner Of lovers, and
he meant to go
81 must skate Up" he said. "The
nights clear and frosty
:" Hope there II be no wolves aboard
Master Vance" said the 6rawny Eng
lishmau, Hugh, one Of his workmen and
warm admirers " Stainsly sho. one
over by the bridfe The other morning
You'd better tah q pistol.
"I'H trust d lnc'l and my good
skates, "answrrdi slr Vencc, laughing
", rather rdiGling the notion OF
wolves
He started Hc night, as he had oh.
served was clcatfnh frosty; very bright
and cold Half lis journey had been ac-
compished, win he heard a shrill.
sharp cry cchojuE from The woods Then
another. as if in answer and one NJ dis
tancc For m.pent his blood curdled
in his veins. Wnul were these cries
Ah what-what la the wolves.
Nearer came lie cry and nearer; as
II the dreadful a n1l c.n,'d their vic
i'm IIo pli1ed ,vpr the ice ike light