The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1873-10-31

A Tl-tfi lA4t4}Al. CsllOt- " III 4OuI 4A4AAIAAs
in il, round the bend Of the stream with,
in few rods of her. Why does the
warrior in the bow of the boat rise and
with gesture, impose silence On the
comrades? He believes this white and
statue-l;ke figure is no human being
and even the oars cease to dip while the
boats floats silently by and the savage.
pass on their way to the settlement tc
steal stock
Mary had stood perfectly sill, I;.tle
caring what became Of her; bat the sight
Of the Indians had changed her pur.
pose, and no sooner had they passed
than she hast.u.d from the river. A,
she turned about, a great gray wolf rose
from the grass within 4 few feet of her
and skunk away with an angry growl
while a night-owl, perched on the limb
of tree over her head, tapped his
great wings ard uttered dismal cries as
he few 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 tc
/ go TO HIM. She knew she was not far
( from his cabin, and why should she moi
go and claim his protection? Perhaps
he was not bad; indeed, she had always
believed he was not so wicked as they
! had represented him to be.
The night air was chilly, but she felt
not the cold, for her blood was full OF
/ fever. The wind tossed her brown haiI
around so that she took her shawl and
put ii over her head, and then ran
/ briskly along the trail. In an hour she
neared the fierce hunters cabin, aud hel
heart beat wildly as she knocked upon
the door. Again and again she knock
ed, but still no response, and then she
went to the little window and peered
into the cabin She listened, but all
J 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 moment she knew not what tc
say, then, summoning courage, she re-
piled:
at is MARY Thompson-who wants
you t. protect me-"
Cautiously the door was opened, and
the hunter looked out and stared al
/ Mary, to whom he said:
81 thought it was Indians or Regula-
tors; but come in, girl, and beg pardon
for having kept you out in the cold 81
long"
Then he lit a pine-knot, and, handing
Mary chair, drew out his sharp jack
knife and whitfield some shavings Il
kindle fire. There was soon bright
blaze roaring on the hearth, and, will
all the politeness Of a courtier, lie NOV.
/ ed up Mary's stool and bade her 20 si
close to the burning ernbers.
81 heald you," he said, even before
you knocked, for my ears have become
eonew hat pracsised to the sound Of ap.
preaching footsteps; but I could no.
make you out. When ! saw your head
at the window with that shawl over it
I thought ii vas squaw's head, - he ad-
ded. laughing, and, after moment,
pause, inquired, "Any Indians down
your way!'
Mary simply said NO." and he press.
ed her no further.
The kettle was boiling, and he made {
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 I 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, a young girl. Therel Therep
he added, seeing Mary was about tc
speak, ''don't say word, but just lie
down on that bed and take a good sound
sleep, while l go outside and keep watch
over the house. You can shut the door
and bolt it after me, if you wish," tax
ing his gun, "but you need not be afraid
Mary, for 1 would not harm hair ot
your head; and, as for others 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 were al
home and happy: and, mind you, don't
cry and trouble, or you'll be having a
spell of sickness in the morning after
this night trip, and I can tell you Pm a
mighty poor nurse" he said, closing the
door behind him, and laughing heartily
outside.
Was this, indeed, the Wild Hunter o.
the Blue, about whom such terrible tales
were told, and in whom there was moth
ing but wickedness? Mary thought she
had never met more polite or gentle.
manly person; somehow her fears had
all disappeared, and she felt singularly
safe and happy. She did not lock the
door, for she felt not the slightest uneas-
iness; but she peeped from little win
dow, and saw the tall hunter, with his
gun across his shoulder, walking up anG
down before the cabin like a sentinel
and then she laid down on the bed, anC
soon fell into deep sleep.
Next morning when she awoke the
sun was shining brightly, and, spring
ing up, for she had not removed any O
her clothing, she ran to the little window
and looked out. There was the hunter
pacing up and down, just as he hac
been doing the night before. "Hov
polite in him." thought Mary, ''not t.
disturb me; and how considerate of my
comfort and safety he has been evel
since / entered his humble abode" Sht
made haste to open the door, and tn,
hunter babe her good morning, and hop
ed she had rested WE'LL Then he mad,
up the fire, and, bringing Mary som,
water in basin, with comb and brush
said he would cook the breakfast Will,
she made her toilet. To this Mary oh
jeeted, saying she would do the cookin,