The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1873-11-26
THE GOLDEN IDOL;
The Enchanted Tree.
CHAPTER /.
A GIRLS DESPAIR.

Union q lonely SuOIS vi lOtlSd-ldDOO
in the island of Tonga-taboo, two persons sat
hidden in dim recess of palms.
They W. re father and daughter.
The former was plain, simple clergyman
of middle age.
The latter was charming girl of seventeen
years, scarcely more remarkable for her love-
illness than for her sterling good sense and a
worldly wisdom far in advance 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 is
land.
Ten years had passed since Mr. Fortescuc
had come to the shores of this lovely harbor,
with the intention of passing his days in the
labor of converting to Christianity their pa
gan idolato.s but the good missionary had,
in some unntentional way, fallen under the
displeasure OF the ruler of he island, and was
now being hunted for his life.
81 am so tired, father,' painted the girl, as
she clasped her hand tightly to her heart.
"We ought net to have run so FAST" re-
sponed Mr.. Fortescue. "But am sure the
savages were near u.s."
.sHush! mere they arer' breathed the girl.
A rush of footsteps was heard, and a mo-
ment later several savages came flying past,
Iending the air with their cries.
They think we have gone IN that direc-
.iol," whispered the missionary. Oh, if they
only knew how near we are still to the settle
ment.' EEn
s'Will they not soon be back this way,
father?" asked Miss Fortescue.
II dare say they will, Ellie. All here comes
another band of them"
A dozen armed warriors traversed the sandy
beach Immediately in front of the hiding place
of the couple.
q 'How terrible they are! how lost to all
pity"
: '.Alas for the poor results of all my tolls p
sighed Mr.. Fortescue. "To see these savage
pursuels, and hear their yells, one would it,
lie imagine tire sacrifices We have made on
their account. All the benefits they have re-
ceived from us are forgotten. They are de-
termined to kill us if they can find us.''
At this point Ellie started violently, half
arising to her feet.
ooh, look, fatherp' she cried.
This was all she could say, but she pointed
far away in the direction from which the fngi-
tives had come
81 see," murmured Mr.. Fortescue. "They
have fired our DWELLING
A lurid fame arose in the air in the dis.
lance.
cit is hard TO see our home perishng,''
sighed the daughter. "What demons they
are 4"
She started again, even more violently than
before-this time at the barking of a dog with
in ten feet Of her.
''The cur will certainly betray usv' cried
the missionary, springing to his feet.
"He has betrayed US already" returned
Ellie. ''See! they are coming"
In the last moment at his residence, Mr..
Fortescue Ii. d seized an old sword he Glanced
to have upon his premises, and he thanked
heaven for the service this weapon now rem
dered him, he being able to cleave the dog in
twain with a single desperate blow.
"Had we not better plunge into the int
rior, father?' asked Ellie.
Il think not. 1t is there that they are
looking for us. They are beating up every
bush, and-Yes! they are certainly coming
nearer to us. See! theyhave torches! Oh,
this is borribler'
perhaps we had better throw ourselves
into boat, and trust ourselves to the winds
and waves.''
81 would have done so. darling, but for the
roughness of the sea-
Il ''It's all up with our halt here" said the
missionary, turning back. 1--WE must fly.
The dog was heard and the savages are has
tening in this direction
Breaking from their covert, hand in hand,
the father and daughter ran along the beach
aud gained temporary shelter behind a
small ledge of rocks which jutted out into
:, the sea in the form OF a small prom 1ntory.
eff we only had boat nowr' sighed the
father. ''possibly we could get off in it.''
Ere Ellie could reply, a solitary savage
came bounding from the bushes, brandishing
his war-club.
s'Alas! alasr' mourned Mr.. Fortescue.
He had realized only too well the mmi-
nence OF the peril-the utter futilty of all his
efforts at escape-but he met the foremost saw
age with the strength of despera' ion, cleav-
lag him in twain nearly as cleverly as be had
dispatched the dog which had discovered the
whereabouts of the couple; but then came
the sharp. loud repor. of musket-and the
good missionary lay weltering in his blood
with bullet throug his vitals.
Il am htp' he cried. 81 cannot 90 on.''
'sNot even to the boat, father?'
''Aas, it is too latep. faltered the dying
missionary, as everything reeled around him
.'To Thee, o God, 1 commend her!'
These were the last words of the devoted
missionary. As he uttered them, he tumbled
into the boat he bad succeeded with his last
desperate efforts in reaching, and in that same
instant his senses left him forever
''Off demorsy' cried Ellie. still welding
her sword with the strength of despair.
By the last desperate effort of her exhausted
powers the brave girl succeeded in pushing
off the boat and in breaking clear of the pur-
suer with it.