Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-11-08

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 a
rough voice:
''Come here to me, girl. you're now my
little woman, and | want you."
Scarcely knowing what she did, with
one bound she reached. the door, and in a
moment more was out in the dark night
and flying across the prairie towards the
barn. She heard her father call to her to
come back, and then lalloo to Ned to run
round the house while he went to the
barn. Mary had intended to take her pony
from the barn and ride she knew not With
er (: but, hearing her fathers voice close be-
hind her, she slipped out Of the stable by
a 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 90? 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 a statue,
gazing down at the gurgling flood Her
purpose is tirnl; one plunge1 and AID will
be over. But hark, what noise is that?
Ii is the dip of paddles; and, as Mary
stands on the very brink of the river, in the
| light of the new-risen moon, a canoe with
four Indians i'm it, round the bend of the
stream within a few rods of her. Why
does the warrior i'm the bow of the boat
| rise, and with a gesture impose silence on
his comrades lie believes this White and
| statue-Eke figure is no human being, and
even the oars cease to dip, while the boat
floats silently by, and the lsavagns pass. on
their way to the settlement to steal stock.
Mary had stood perfectly still, little car
ing what became of her; but the sight of
the Indians had changed her purpose, and
no sooner had they passed than she has
tened from the river. As she turned about,
a great gray wolf rose from the grass With
i'm few feet of her, and skunk away with
an angry growl, while nigllt-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. u. r rl
Mary had been thinking for the past few
minutes of g 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? Perhaps he was not
bad indeed. she had always beliered he
was not so wicked rs they had represented
him to be.
The night-air was chilly, but she felt
not the cold, for her blood was full Of fe-
yer. The wind tossed her brown hair
about so that she took her shawl and put
il over her head, and then ran briskly along
the trail. In an hour she neared the fierce
hunters cabin, and her heart beat wildly
as she knocked upon the door. Again and
again she 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 raped louder
than before, and voice whispered through
the key-hole:
.'Who is it?" ,v
Fora moment she Knew not what TO
say then, summoning courage, she re-
Piled:
sit is MARY Thompson-who want
you to protect me.'' TT \
Cautiously the door was opened, and the
hunter looked out and stared at Mary, to
whom he said: ~ ffS tr3t'
II thought it was Indians or Regula-
tors but come in, girl, and beg pardon
for having kept you out in the cold so
long," s ef., nsstaf,3 .'d
Then he lit a pine-knot, and, handing
Mary chair, drew out his sharp jack
knife, and whitfield some shavings TO kim
die fire. There was soon bright blaze
II
liteness of courtier. he moved up Mary S
stool, and bade her sit close to the burning
embers.
Il heard you," he said, seven before
you knocked. for my ears have become
somewhat practiced to. the sound of ap-
preaching footsteps; but could not make
you out. When / saw your head at the
u, window with that shawl over ii, l thought
it was squaw's head" he added. laugh
ing; and, after a moments pause, in
|. quired q Any Indians down your way =
Mary simply said ''No," and he pressed
her no further. ~ a slh 60
/ / The kettle was boiling, and he made 8
) cup of tea and gave it TO her to drink
Then he said: 1 -
.'Now, young lady, | know not what
brings you here at this time of night, MOI
!, do | wish to know; but something dread.
, ful must have happened to cause any ont
to claim protection from the Wild TrappeI
of the Blue, and, above all others, a young
; girl. There! There!" he added, seeing
Mary was about to speak, . don't say 8
. word; but Just lie down on that bed and
take good sound sleep, while | go out
! side and keep watch over the house. You
/ lean shut the door, and bolt 1t after me, Il
You WISH" taking his gun; 'but you
| need not be afraid, Mary, for L would not
harm hair of your head: and, as for 9th
ers harming you while you are under my
, protection. they must first cross the dead
body of the Wild Hunter. Now, don't fret
; girl. but sleep as soundly as if you We're al
: home and happy; and mind you doiftrry
/ and trouble, or you'll be having spell o
r sickness in the morning after this night
trip, and L can tell you I'm mighty pool
Inurse,n he said closing the door behind
, him, and laughid heartily outside.
) Was this indeed the Wild Hunter of thu
Blue. about whom such terrible tales wer'
1 told. and in whom there was nothing bu
wickedness? Mary thought she had nevel
met more polite or gentlemanlyl person