The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1872-04-25

way about in darkness, she, after {
feH moments delaY, succeeded il
finding it. aud taking Il on her. arm
she approached heaiadder, and wa:
about to descend when she caHghi
sight of an object IN the room thai
seemed to turn her blood to ice, and
for a moment rendered her incapable
of thought or action.
Standing in the center of the room,
with its head upfnrned, its fierce eyes
glaring around in every direction, its
long red tongue partly protrudins
from Its half open mouth in which the
white fangs were visible, was huge
lank wolf that despite the timidlfy oi
its race had ventured in through the
half-open doorin search of food, AZ
tracted by the odof of the meat that
was cooking upon the fire, as it had
enprowling around the cabin, as
was frequently the case at this season
of.the year. a<s =
For a minute, Mrs. Sloey was so par
alyzed with horror that for her life or
her ehild's shesceald not have moved
or uttered word, and the wolf also
remained stationary, shifting the air,
and then moving cautiously toward
the fire, to the momeHtary relief of the
mother, as she saw that he was far
ther from the bed upon which her
boy was sleeping, yet whom it seem
ed as If 40 power on earth epuId savt
Slowly and shyly the wolf approach-
ed the fire, shifting the air as it did SO,
but not fancying' the light thrown
out by the embers, or the heat that as
it approached began to be rather un-
comfortable and as the monster would
dart back new pang of horror would
assail the heart of the mother, who
with feelings that cannot be described,
was watching any motion ON which
depended the Efeof her child.
Suddenly one Of those wild, fitful
gusts of Winds~that sometimes pre-
cede storm, came whirling down the
chimney, and scattered sparks about
the faRm, to tfieyisible terror and dis
gust eE the woIf who sided toward
the Gpor, and just as MrS, Sloey was
experiencing delightful hope that
the monster would go away the fierce
gust Slammed the, door with loud
bang,and the heart OF the mother sank
within her as she, saw thar the wolf
was q prisoner within the Acabin. ~
Hofror-stricken at the snaation of
affairs, Mira. Sloey watched /withp
sinking heart, the movements of the
wolf who finding himself fhus Gagged,
began 10 move anxiously about the
room, no longer seeking SO much for
food as for chance to escape, but. at
his moment what was the horror Of
he mother to seesher boy, awakened,
no doubt, by the noise made by. the
OF the door, rise up in bed
md call her toeome to him.
AT the soundofthe childis voices ,fhe
Rolfpaused near the center of the
-ooin, and fixed his, eyes upon the lit
lie fellow, who, all unconscious OF
Ian ger, was calling forshis mother.
fhe red tongue still 'protruded, and
he white teeth still glistened in the
ire-light, as the monster half fearing
o spring, crept-nearer the bed to take
. betterl look athis prey. IL
Half frenzied with the terrible dan
ser Of her child, the mother determin-
ID to Sacrifice her own life, if need be,
or that of her boy. A plan had siig-
.ested itself to her, mere hope as it
we're, aud she grasped it with ALI the
agerness that only those thus situated
an know.
Urrfelalng the. quilt and la, ing it
cross her arm she prepared to de-
cend the ladder.sThe wolf was al
most at lis foot, and the bed but
hort distance away. The monster
aw her coming, and withdrew his
-aze from the child and fixed it upon
lis new victim.
When halfway down the ladder, the /
volf made a spring at her; this was
he moment for her to execute her
lastify. formed plan, and throwing the
Iuilt, she enveloped the wolf in its
olds, who not faifcying this covering,
ommenced backing toward the 9TH
r side of the cabin, striving to get rid
# it, but in vain. Now was her mo-
nent for action and springing to the |
ed she clasped her child in her arms |
nd sprang up the ladder, unharmed !
y the wolf, who was still struggling |
n vain endeavors to rid itself from |
he quilt. With one hand she threw |
he ladder back into the room, and |
hen o cry of thankfulness fell from
ralips at the success fhat had aftcifd- /
d her efforts to save her child.
The boy not knowing the meaning |
1other, and somewhat frightened |
5ithal, began to cry; and while she I
ried to hush him into silence again, +
be did not take her eyes from the
solf. who completely blindf0lded, was
about The room IN the most +
ccentFic manner. aFAckf
ftwas more by its subsequent ac-
ion than by the fortunate throwing
f the quilt by Mrs. Sloey that the
rolf became, entangled so hopelessly
4 it. At first she watched his actions
nth, satisfaction, but as each circle
rought the wolf nearer the fire. a
ew terror took possession of her
cart. Should it blunder therein, as
seemed fated to do, would not the
abin be set on fire thereby and q
cath. as horrible as the one from
7hich she had just rescued her child
9 tlieif fate. Trembling with feai.
be watched every motion, and at last
nat which she feared occurred.
Each circle, as the wolf frantically /
ndeavored to fl ee itself from the COW
ring, had brought it .nesrer to- the.
replace, under the nass OF glowing
mbers- A heWI OF rage and pain fol-
owed as it sprang out again upon the
oor, its covering sheet of fire. An
tller bound and it landed upon the
ed, where by frantic =. effort, it.
lre W off its fiery cover, and uttering1
clips of pain it sprang again to the
cor and rushed around the room for
chance to escape.
The bed was all afire in a moment,
nd Mrs. 6loey uttered a cry ~df dssl i
air as the flames caught in every df--l
ection and a dense volume of smoke
oiled up through the aperture in the
)ft.
Father in Heaven, must we perish
reclaimed the mother as she pressed
he child to her breast. aHusband,
usband why do you not come and
ave your wife and child from. this
orribfe fate?Y a f I
No answer to the frantic ejaculation
anne to the ear of the distracted wo-
IAN save the cracking of the flames
s they caught upon the drv wood of
he cabin, and sent their forked
ongues up to the spot where she
TODD, while her ears were filed with