The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-12-01
TEE GOLDEN IDOL
OR.
The Enchanted Tree.
CHAPTER L.
A GIRLS DESPAIR.

GIRLS DESPAIR.
Upon a lonely shore of Tonga-taboo har-
Dor, in the island of Tonga-taboo. two
persons sat hidden in dim recess of
palms.
They were father and daughter
The former was plain, simple clergy
man of middle age.
The latter was a charming girl of seven
teen years, scarcely more remarkable for
her loneliness than for her sterling good
sense and worldly wisdom far in adj
vance of her years.
AS to the wife and mother of this couple,
she had long been sleeping her last sleep in
one of the lonely hooks of this far Pacific
island.
Ten years had passed since Mr.. Fortcscue
had come to the shores of this lovely har-
Dor, with the intention Of passing his days
in the labor of converting to Christianity
their pagan ldolatOrs but the good mis-
sionary had, in some unntentiona way
fallen under the displeasurc of the ruler of
the island, and was now being hunted for
his life.
Il am so tired. father" painted the girl
as she clasped her hand tightly to her
heart
'Wc ought not to have run so fast" re-
spondcd Mr.. FOrtescuc. "I}ut | am sure
the savagcs were near u.s."
''lIush here they are - brcathcd the
girl
"a rush of footsteps was heard, and Il
moment later several sayages came flying
past, rending the air with their cries.
They think we have gone in that direc-
ton" whispered the missionary "Oh, if
they only knew how near we are still to
the settlement
"Will they not soon be back this way,
father :" asked Miss Fortescue.
Il dare say they will, Ellie. All here
comes another band of them"
y dozen armed warriors trayerscd the
sandy beach Immediately in front of the
/ hiding-pacc of the couple.
"llow terrible they are how lost to all
pity y
ALAS. for the poor results of all my
/ tolls - sighed Mr.. Fortescuc. ''Io see
these savage pursuers, and hear their yells,
! one would little imagine the sacrifices we
/ have made on their account. All the ben
ctits they have received from us are forgot
ten. They are determined to kill us if they
can find us.
At this point Ellie started violently, half
arising to her feet
ION. look, father she cried
This was all she could say, but she
pointed far away in the direction from
which the fugitivcs had come.
II see, murmured Mr. Fortcscuc "Thcy
have fired our dwelling"
y lurid flame arose in the air in the dis
lance.
1T is hard to see our home perishing,
sighed the daughter. what demons they
are"
She started again, even more violently
than belore-ihis time at the barking of Il
dog within ten feet of her
The cur will certainly betray lis :" cried
the missionary, sprnging to his feet.
"llc has betrayed us already" returned
Ellie ''Sec they are coming"
In the last moment mt his residence, Mr..
Fortescuc has seized an old sword he
CHANGED to have upon the premises, and he
thanked heaven for the service this weapon
now rendered him, he being able to cleaye
the dog in twain with II single desperate
blow.
Had we better not plunge into the nte-
rior. father -
81 think not. 1t is there that they are
looking for us. They are beating up every
bush and-Ies they are certainly com
ing nearer to us. See they have torches
Oh, this is horrible =
Perhaps we had better throw ourselves
winds and waves
Il would have done SO. darling. but for
the roughness of the sea.
Its all up with our halt here said the
missionary, turning back. 1--WE must fly.
The dog was heard, and the savages are
Fastening in this direction"
breaking from their covert hand in hand,
the father and daughter ran along the beach
and gained Il temporary shelter behind a
small ledge of rocks which jutted out into
the sea in the form of small promontory.
IF we only had a boat now ~ sighed
the father possibly we could get off in
it,"
Ere Ellie could reply, solitary savage
came bounding from the bushes, brandish-
ing his war-club.
ALAS! alas - mourned Mr. Fortcscuc.
He had realized only too well the immi-
hence of the peril the utter futlity of all
his efforts at escape--but he met the fore
most savage with the strength of despera-
ton, clcaying him in twain nearly as clever
ly as he had dispatched the dog which had
discovered the whereabouts of the couple
but then came the sharp, loud report of a
musket-and the good missionary lay wei
tering in his blood, with a bullet through
his vitals.
Il am hit !" he cried Il cannot 90 on. u
Not even to the boat, father"
ALAS it is too late - faltered the dying
missionary. as everything recled around
him.
ITO Thee, O God, | commend her"
These were the last words of the devoted
missionary. AS he uttered them, he tum-
bled into the boat he had succeeded with his
last desperate efforts in reaching, and in
that same instant his senses left him for
ever.
"OH, demons !" cried Ellie, still WELD
ing her sword with the strength of despair.
BY the last desperate effort of her eX-
hausted powers the brave girl succeeded in
pushing off the boat and in breaking clear
Of the pursucrs with it.