, 1873-10-05


hand OF caria. Nod won, and tho farmer burst
intu tears. Tho ga,nblor mndo light Of tho m IT.
Tor. md nssu,od hiu, II ho had lost q angl.'or.
10 la won = nnn-n-law.. Ay"ln md asaln tIey
tho two got, into iue, wagon an! htartol
for the farmers home: On tl!o road, Ihomrson
drank hcnyiIy from tho bottle, No that, wlIoh
tlloy arrived ut tho turn. tho farmer WIS 40
wna worry late. but tho wifo md daugl,ter wore
atil up waiting for Ills return, mud Mary WINS
clad Ii, mont white muslin droso which. n,aao
her look oharming. They were both much EUR.
si IoooIyed d him I'm kIniy, thinking. no doubt, ho bod
merely como to 300 Nlr. 4. aafe homo. .,..
Nodturned out tho teani,-hia team, aud then
ontorod tho cabin. He was a repulsivo- looking
Pulled f and flushed lis bloatod face, lie looked
perfectly hiaoous. Fixing his blearod eyes on
kIary, ho starod tho girl out Of countonanco,
and caused hor to BLUSH and turn AWAY.
Sf'v'f WIZ s she Tsso ess Ssa fo'lSEfa uSE s s
glrl became 10 nervous and uneasy slo went into
tho room sud waked up tho old man. When aLo
returned to the outor room, sho found hor
mother Ind fallcn Into swoon, and hor fether,
who had boen asleep in tue ohatr, was now sitting
up, apparently quite sober, and talking to Nod.
Mary ran to her mothor, and, raiaing her in llor
arms. placed her upon tho bed, whore ehe
sprinkled water in hor face untilisho recovered,
' aas nessa saor to so now pa esci her to his sao and
"h1ary, We havo lost everything; this gon-
sloman Inns won oil, and ho wants yon for his
wife,, I havo promised him your hand. Go to
Tho surprised and confused girl ran to her
mother; but Nod called to lor, In rough voice !:
"oomo 5 hoEo to nc, gtrl' you're no" my little
Scarcely knowing what shc did, with ono
bound she reaohel tho door, and In moment
moro was out III tho derk night and flying across
tho prairie towards the barn. sho hoard hor
father call to her to come back, aud tlon
hulloo to Nod to run round tho house while lla
| wont to the barn. Mary Ind intonded to take
hor pony from tho barn and rido Bho knew not
| whithor; but. hearing her fathors voice close
behind her. eho slipped out Of tho stable by q
hour she ran on, and thon Bnnk down completely
! exhausted. Long and bitterly sho weps, lying
/ promo upon tho cold, damp ground. Then,
| startled by tho howl Of wolf, she aprang up
! Whit should Bhe do ? It was not far to tho
river, and sho would cast herself In and benoath
| its dark wators ond her troubles. Arrived
upon the bank, she atauds like statue,
| gazing down at tho gurgling flood.
Hvr purpose is firm !; ono plunge ind all will DO
| over. But hark what noiso is that 1t iB the
| dip Of paddles; nnd as Mary stands on tho
very brink Of the river, in tho light Of the new
| round tho bond Of tho stronm within few rods
Of hor. Why does the warrior In the bow Of the
| boat rise, and with o gesture impose silence on
his cornrndes He boiloyca this white and statue.
like figure is no human being, a1ld eyon tie ours
coase 70 din willie tho boat doatu silontly by. and
] tnn navnaas nasa on tholr syay to tie settlement
In Rtnni stocf.
Mary had STOOD perfectly still, little caring
Anu hat1 cl,nncad fer purnoao. md m sonner Ind
tboy passed than She hastonod from
VOL wolf s'su,. roso from on tho W Grass withn fay
| rrowl, while n nirLt-owl porched on tho l,nlb Of
3 tree over her head, happad lts great wings and
uttered dismal cries as lie i1ew aiirighted p tho
| river.
utes Of Ntlo wild Trappor Of tic Dluo," and
she had now determined to 70 to him, Sho
knew sGa was not far from his cabin, and wlv
should % she not 70 and clainl his proteclon7 Pei-
1eIieued @ ho was not 90 wickod ss tLoy lad ropro-
souted him to bo.
The uiglt-air was chilly, but sllo folt not the
cold for Ior blood was full OF foyer, Tho wind
tossed her brown hair t about 50 TINT sho took q
aud then run briskly along tho trail.
| In m hour sho ucared tho fcrco
hunters cabin, and her hears beat wildly % sho
knocked upon tho door. Again aud ugain she
m but a s vpow mo regposs saed aed t sho th
caoiu. Sue listened, but al was dark aud silent
within.
RoLurning to tho door, she raped louder
than bofore, and o voice whispered through the
koy-holo:
"Who ia it7"
For O moment she know not what to aay
then, aummoning courage, she replied:
ut il I,-Mary Thompson,- who want you to
protect mo-"
Cautiously the door WAS opened, aud the hun
ter looked out aud stared at Mary, to whom he
said:
ii thought It was Indians or Regulators; bat
come In. girl, and I beg pardon for having kept
vi hon ua b be lit it sJ and handing Mary
chair drew out his sharp inck-kuifo, ind wilt.
tied some shavings to kindlo q fire. There wae
BOON bright blazo roaring on the hearth. aud
with all tho politeness Of courtior, he moved
burning otnbors.
Ut Hoard you," lie said, "cvon before yor
knocked, for my oars huyo become somewha
practicod to tho sound OF approaching footsteps