Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-01

THE GOLDEN IDOL;
OR,
The Enchanted Tree.
CHAPTER |.
A GIRL 5 DESPAIR.

They were father and daughter.
The former was plain, simple clergy
man of middle age.
The latter was a charming girl ofseven-
teen years, scarcely more remarkable for
her loveiness than for her sterling good
sense and u worldly wisdom far in ad-
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 Pa
| cilic island.
Ten years had passed since Mr. Fortes-
cue had come to the shores of this lovely
harbor, with the intention of passing his
days in the labor of converting to Chris
tianity their pagan idoators; but the good
| missionary had, in some unlntentiOnal
way, fallen under the displeasure 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.
I'VE ought not to have run so fast re-
Sponded Mr.. Fortescue. But am sure
the savageS were near us.
"llush here they are breathed the
girl.
\ rush of footsteps was heard. and a
moment later several savages came flying
past, rending the air with their cries.
They think we have gone in that di.
rection," whispered the missionary. "Oh,
if they only knew how near we are still
to the setllement.'
"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 traverScd the
sandy beach Immediately in front of the
hiding place of the couple.
GLOW terrible they are. how lost to all
pity"
ALAS for the poor results of all my
tolls - sighed Mr.. Fortescue. TO see
these savage pursuers, and hear their
ycls, one would little imagine the sacri-
fees we have made on their account. All
the benefits they have received from us
are forgotten. They are determined to
Kill us il they can find us.
At this point Ellie started violently.
halt-arising to her feet.
"Oh, look, father" she cried
This was all she could say, but she
pointed tar away in the direction from
whichkhe fugitives had come.
IL see, murmured Mr.. Fortescue.
They have fired our dwelling"
4 lurid flame arose in the air in the dis
tance.
at is hard to see our home perishing,"
sighed the daughter. What demons they
are"
She started again, even more violently
than before-ths time at the barking of Il
dog within ten feet of her.
..Tha our ,Vil1 oortaiply botrxC us ~
cried the missionary, springing to his
feet.
"IIe has betrayed us already" returned
Ellie. See they alc coming
In the last moment ut his residence, Mr..
Fortescue had seized an old sword he
chanced to have upon his premises, and
he thanked heaven for the service this
weapon now rendered him, he being able
desperate blow.
clad We better not plunge into the
interior, father ?" asked Ellie.
IL think not. 1t is there that they are
looking forus. They are beating up every
bush and-Yes they are certainly coming
nearer to us. See. they have torches .
Oh. this is horrible.'
perhaps we had better throw ourselves
into boat, and trust ourselves to the
winds and waves"
II would have done so. darling, but for
the roughness of the sea-
Its all up with our halt here, said
the missionary, turning back. I'VE 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
be hind small ledge OF rocks which jutted
out into the sea in the form of IA small pro-
mOntOry.
"lf we only had boat now ~ sighed
the father possibly we could get of in it
Ere Ellie could reply. n solitary savage
came bounding from the bushes, brandish-
ing his war-club.
Alas alas = mourned Mr.. ForteScue
He had realized only too well the i'm
nlincnce of the peril-the utter iutiity OF
all his efforts at escape-but he met the
foremost savage with the strength of
desperation. cleaving him in twain nearly
AS cleverly as he had dispatched the dog
which had discovered the whereabouts OF
the couple; but then cane the sharp, loud
report of musket-and the good mission
airy lay weltering in his blood, with a
bullet through his yitals.
Il am hit :" he cried. 81 cannot 90 on. y
"Not even to the bort, tather?"
ALAS, it is too late |! ; f ltered the dying
missionary. as everythin reeled around
him.
40 Thee, o God, commend her.
These were the last words of the de-
voted missionary. AS he uttered them,
he tumbled into the boat he had succeeded
with his last desperate efforts in reaching,
and in that same instant his senses left
him forever.
"On, 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 of the boat and i'll breaking
clear of the pursu,rs with it.
Eli NDISH REVENGE.
At the same lou' when the preceding
oyant wnrn m cu ,rnp n LARGE ton .S.tli