Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-02-11
CHASED By WOLVES.

Wool Over His Sweetheart's Eyes
A Cleveland Reporters Romance o.
Mutton and MAtrimOny.
"Your speaking of being chased b!
wolves in the Canada woods, recalls SINH
lar experience l once had in Ohio" saiC
the old pioneer, as he shook with suppress
ed emotion, but whether of sad or pleas
ant nature, could not be ascertained in tn,
dim light of the fireplace.
"let US hear the yarn" we suggested
with Teportorial eye to an item foriconsid
Grafton in dull season.
COB, it amt any yarn, l assure you," saiC
the old man, as he chuckled and grinned
until glacial movement of tobacco juice
started from each corner of his mouth and
pushed its way slowly down the wrinkles
that led to his stubble-covered chin below
s'Shut the door there-so that mother can't
hear what is going on, and l will tell you
how l came to get married"
We complied with his request, and after
storing away fresh deposit of the weed
''that CHI ers, but don't inebriate," he drew
his chair closer to ours and commenced:
1t was in the year 1850 that came to
Cleveland, and became employed in hard
ware store on Superior street. had spent
all my previous life on farm, and had be-
come tired of tramping around over the pas
lures, fOddeTing sheep and cattle in winter,
and working still harder in the summer. !
won't say anything about the difficulties !
experienced in getting employment upon
my arrival in the city, nor how tried every
place in town before l could find boarding
place that suited me, until l became &C
quainted with widow lady who kept few
bOarders on what is now known as Euclid
avenue.
My landlady was accomplished and had
evidently seen better days, but the death of
her husband left her in reduced circum-
stances, hence her taking boarders as a
means of subsistence. She had two daugh-
tiers, both lively, intelligent, and possessing
the graces that only come from association
with the better class of society. They were
of extremely gay disposition, and had not
been at the house a month before l was
hOpelessly in love with Fanny, the eldest,
and though at times her manner toward me
was tender and encouraging, she carefully
avoided giving me an opportunity to be
alone with her long enough to declare my
passion.
The winter had nearly passed without
finding me any farther advanced in my suit,
until one night in February after a heavy
fall Ofsnow, asked Fanny to take sleigh
ride with me, to which she consented, and
after tea l procured as housekeeping pair
of horses as could be found in the city,
drove up to the house of my affinity, and
in few minutes we were whirling away
out on the old Cleveland and Medina turn
pike. l had taken this road partly because
it led toward my old home, and also owing
to its being less Travelled at night than the
other thOroUghfares leading from the city,
and we were not likely to be interrupted in
our ride or conversation. The night was
Just cold enough to make it necessary to
place my arm around my companion, the
horses were frisky, and the moon shone
with that peculiar mellow light which is
preferred by lovers to all others, unless it
be that of a parlor lamp turned down so
low, that as an illumination it is nearly use
less.
Through Brooklyn township we whirled
out into the country, where the lights from
the farmhouse became more scattered, and
the baying OF watch dog was the only
sound heard. Fanny, who had previously
sang, laughed, and chatted merrily on our
ride, now became quiet and as we came to
a rise in the road that disclosed level strip
two or three miles in length before us, l
said 10 myself, "Before we have travelled the
road now in view, l will settle my fate, and
60 home a happier or more miserable
man"
Hardly had I come to this conclusion be-
fore l heard peculiar rushing sound be-
hind US, and looking around could see
flock Of sheep coming at full speed toward
us, and behind them were two or three
dogs, which accounted for the fright of the
sheep, who would doubtless run for several
miles before stopping, and give their owner
much trouble in hunting them up the next
day. But brighter thought came to me.
Fanny was city girl, and had never seen
a sheep save in the shape of outlets, or roast
at her mothers table. l would indulge in
a little strategy of the kind which is cOnsid-
cred fair in love or war. Lowering my
voice to the tone of the stage Jibbenainosay
where he speaks of the death of his parents,
wife and friends, said: "Fanny, my girl,
are you brave-can you bear terrible
news?" "Why, Henry, what is the matter
what makes you so pale?" Assuming a
more tragic voice, l replied: "Be firm,
dearest-rely on me. We are followed by
wolves Look behind you, and you can
see the monsters who are already thirsting
for our blood"
She gave a hurried glance backward,
heard the running sound of many feet, the
deep breathing which, when heard in the
forests Of the north, causes the widest dis
may; then drawing nearer to me said: 81
did not know there were any wolves so
near the city, Henry ?" ''Neither did l
think there any," replied "but it seems
we were mistaken, for these behind us are
Ofthe gray species, and the most dangerous
of any to meet. Driven by hunger they
have approached the settlements, and I'M
less our horses can get to the old Stone
Tavern in Parma before we are overtaken,
we are lost"
At this iuncture the old curly-horned
leader, tired, and out of wind from the long
run, gave vent to a prolonged bleat which
was fearful enough to scare a less timid
girl than Fanny. / sawed on the horses
bits, flOurished my whip frantically around
them until they were excited and apparent
ly doing their best to escape the fate be-
hind them, but was secretly holding them
back, TO allow the wolves % to get closer.
On came the bloody horde, painting for
breath, nearer and nearer, until began
throwing out the buffalo robes and blan-
kets. These will keep them busy chew
ing few minutes" l said, "and we may
escape But the sheep had no appetite for
the robes, and were close behind us.
l arose in the sleigh, gave the reins to
Fanny saying, "Drive for your life-I will
sacrifice myselffor yOu,' and made move
ment as if to jump out of the sleigh.
''Never. NeveT.' she screamed, ''We will die
together" and she pulled me down beside
her to await our fate. While thus employ
ed l succeeded in obtaining a hasty avowal
of affection from Fanny, at the same time
l was holding back the horses so as to let
our pursuers go by. They came-the mon
sters separated and passed US on either side,
while held my hat over Fanny's face, that
she might not see the dreadful-deception
l had played upon her.
She tainted the moment we were over
taken by the wolves, and without trying to
revive her, l turned the horses homeward,
and only stopped to pick upthe robes which