The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-11-06

the old man. When she returned to
the outer room, she found her mother
had fallen into swoon, and her father,
who had been asleep in the chair, was
now sitting up, apparently quite sober,
and talking to Ned. Mary ran to her
mother, and, raising her in her arms,
placed her upon the bed, where she
sprinkled water in her face until she
recovered, and began to sob bitterly.
Her father now called her to his side,
and said
"Mary, we have lost everything
this gentleman has won all, and he
wants you for his wife. have promised
him your hand. Go to him."
The surprised and confused girl ran
to her mother but Ned called to her,
in rough voice
"Come here to me, girl yos're now
my little woman. and / want you"
Scarcely knowing what she did, with
one bound she reached the door, and
in moment more was out in the dark
night and flying across the prairie to-
wards the barn. She heard her father
call to her to come back, and then hal
loo to Ned &c run round the house while
he went to the barn. Mary had intend
ed to take her pony from the barn and
ride she knew not whittier but, hear
ing her fathers voice close behind her,
she slipped out of the stable by back
door and ran across the prairie. For
an hour she ran on, and then sank
down completely exhausted. Long and
bitterly she wept, lying prone upon the
cold, damp ground. Then, startled by
the howl of wolf, she sprang up and
tried to think. Where should she go
What should she do? 1t was not far
TO the river, and she would cast herself
in, and beneath its dark waters end her
troubles. Arrived upon the bank, she
stands like statue, gazing down at the
gurgling food. Her purpose is firm
one plunge, and all will be over. But
bark what noise is that 1t is the dip
Of paddles and, as Mary stands on the
very brink of the river, in the light of
the new risen moon, conoe, with four
Indians in it, round the bend of the
stream within few rods of her. Why
loes the warrior in the bow of the boat
rise, and with gesture, impose silence
On his comrades? He believes this
white and statue-like figure is no hu-
man being, and even the oars cease to
lip while the boat floats silently by and
the savages pass on their way to the
settlement to steal stock.
Mary had stood perfectly still, little
caring what became of her ; but the
sight of the Indians had changed her
purpose, and no sooner had they passed
than she hastened from the river. AS
she turned about, great gray wolf rose
from the grass within few feet of her,
and skunk away with an angry growl,
while pight-owl, perched on the limb
of tree over her head, tapped his
great wings and uttered dismal cries as
he flew affrighted up the river.
Mary had been thinking for the past
few minutes of "the Wild Trapper of
the Blue" and she had now determined
to go to him. She knew she was not
far from his cabin, and why should she
not go and claim his protection Per-
haps he was not bad indeed, she had
always believed he was not so wicked
rs they had represented him to be.
The night mir was chilly, but she
felt not the cold, for her blood was full
of fever. The wind tossed her brown
hair around so that she took her shawl
and put it over her head, and then ran
briskly along the trail. In an hour she
neared the fierce hunters cabin, and
her heart beat wildly rs she knocked
knocked, but still no response, and
then she went to the little window and
peered into the cabin. She listened
but all was dark and silent within.
Returning to the door she wrapped
louder than before, and voice whis-
pered through the key-hole
Who is it ?"
For q moment she knew not what to
say, then, summoning courage, she
replied
at is MARY Thompson-who wants
you to protect me-"
Cautiously the door was opened, and
the hunter looked out and stared at
Mary, to whom he said
~ thought it was Indians or Regula-
tors ; but come in, girl, and beg par.
don for having kept you out in the cold
50 long"
Then he lit a pine-knot, and, handing
Mary chair, drew out his shsrp jack
knife and whitfield some shavings to
kindle fire. There was soon bright
blaze roaring on the hearth, and, with
all the politeness of courtier, he NOV
ed up Mary's stool and bade her sit
close to the burning embers.
81 heard you," he said, even be-
fore you knocked, for my ears have be-
come somewhat practiced to the sound
Of approaching footsteps ; but 1 could
not make you out. When 1 saw your
head at the window with that shawl
over it, thought it was a squaw's
head" he added, laughing, and after a
moments pause, inquired, "Any In
dians down your way ?"
Mary simply said "No," aud he
pressed her no further.
The kettle was boiling, and he made
a cup of tea and gave it to her to drink.
Then he said:
"Now, young lady, know not what
brings you here at this time of night,
nor do wish to know but something
dreadful must have happened to cause
any one to claim protection from the
Wild Trapper of the Blue, and, above
all others, young girl. There
There + he added, seeing Mary was
about to speak, "don't say word, but
just lie down on that bed and take q
good sound sleer, while I go outside
and keen watch over the house. You