Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-11-29
THE GOLDEN IDOL
THE ENCHANTED TREE
CHAPTER /.
A GIRL s DESPAIR.

barbor. 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
clergyman Of middle age.
The latter was a charming girl of sew
enteeu years, scarcely more remarkable
for her loveliness than for her sterling
good sense aud 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 island.
Ten years had passed since Mr.. For
tescue had come to the shores OF this
lovely harber, with the intention OF pass
ing his days in the labor of converting
10 Christianity their Pagan idolators;
but the good missionary had, in some
unintentional way, fallen under the dis,
pleasure of the ruler of the island, and
was now being hunted for his life.
~ am so tired father" painted the
girl, as she clasped her hand tightly to
J" We ought not to have run so fast,
responded Mr.. Fortescue. But am
sure the savages we're near us.
"Hnshl here they arel +" breathed the
girl.
A rush of footsteps was heard, ana a
moment later several sayages came ny
ing past, rending the cir with their CRIES
They think we have gone in that
direction whispered the missionary
@Oh, if they only knew how near we
are still to the settlement
will they not soon be back this way
father2" asked Miss Fortescue.
~ dare say they viii, Eflie.. An
bera comes another band Of Them
A dozen sSRed warriors traversed the
sandy beach immedietely in front ot the
hiding place Of the couplS,
How terrible they arei how lost to
Alasi for the poor rAsGlts Of all my
toilsr" sighed Mr.. Forteseae. to, see
these savage pursuers, and hear then
vells one would little imagine the sacrl,
fees we have made on their account. AL
the benefits they have received from ui
are forgotten. They are determined to
kill ns if they can find us.
Al this point Ellie started violently
halEarising to her feet.
"Oh. look, father" she cried.
This was al she could say, bnt she
nointed far away in the direction from
which the fugitives had come.
II see" murmured Mr.. Fortescue
"tbev have fred our dwelling.
A iurid flame arose in the air in the
at is hard to see our hope perishing,
sighed the daughter. What demons
they are. 1Ca
The started again even more violently
than before-this time Of the barking o.
a dog within ten feet of her.
"She cur will certainly betray ust
cried the missionary, springing to hi'
feet.
"He has betrayed us already re
turned Ellie. "See, they are coming
In the last moment at his residence
Mr.. Fortescne had seized an old sworC
he chanced TO have upon his premises
and he thanked heaven for the servic'
This weapon now rendered him, he beina
shls to cleave the dog in twain with
single desperate blow.
HAD we better not plunge into thu
interior, father" asked Ellie.
"I think not. 1t is there that they arr
looking for us. They are beating VI
every bush. and-Yes they are certainly
coming nearer to us. Seel they hav'
torehesl Oh, this is horribleI
"Perhaps we had better throw our
selves into boat, Gnd trust ourselves u
the winds aud wsvesf"
81 would have done so, darling, bu
for the roughness Of the sea.
"It's all up with our halt here" SAT-
the missionary, turning back. w
must iy. The dog was heard, and tn
savages are Fastening in this direction.
Breaking from their covert, hand il
hand, the father and daughter ran alonl
The beach and gained a temporary shel
ter behind a small ledge Of rocks whic
iutied out into the sea in the form Of
small promontory.
"If we only had a boat now" sighe
the father, possibly we could get Of Il
Ere Ellie could reply. g solitary say
aee came bounding from the bushes
hraudishing his war-club.
Alasl alasf mourned MI. foi
He had realized only TOO vel the in
minence Of the peril-the utter iutiit
Of al his Efforts AZ eseape-ont pc ne
the foremost savage With the strength Z
desperation, cleaving him N iva
, nearly Is clevcr,y as be had dispatehe
, the dog Which hai discovered the Wher'
: abouts Of he couple but then came n