Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1873-11-26
HE GOLDEN IDOL;
THE ENCHANTED TREE.
CHAPTER |.
A GIRL S DESPAIR.

Upon lonely shore OF IOnga-tahOo harhor.
in the island OF Tonga taboo, Two persons sat
hidden IN dim recess OF palms.
They we're father and daughter.
The iurmer was PLAID, simple clergyman OF
middle age.
The latter was charming girl of seventeen
years, scarcely morc remarkable Tor her lowell
ucS> than for her sterling good sense and
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. Forescuc
had come to the shores Of this lovely harbor,
with the intention of passing his days IN the
labor Of converting to Christianity their pagan
idulators but the good missionary had, IN
seine unintentiOnal way, fallen under the dis
pleasure of the ruler of the islaud, and was
now being hunted for his life.
Il aiu so tired, father painted the girl, as
she cIaspcd her hand tightly to her heart.
''Wc ought not to have run so fast, re-
sponIcd llr. FrrtcScuc. But am sure the
savages were near Us.
Hush here they arc ~ brcathcd the
girl
\ rush Of footsteps was heard, and a moment
later several SiNdSCS CauC uS pdSl; i|bui"S
the air with their cries.
they think We have gone in that direc,
,ion," whispered the missionary. "Oh, II
they nuly knew how near we are still to the
settlement
"N'i thcy not soon be back this WY, faith
er p asked Miss Fortrscuc.
Il dare say they will. Ellie. All here
comes another band of them.
4 ,l,y,.r .rp,.1 trnycrSod the sandy
bcach Immediately in front OF the Kidding, place
Of the couple. =
"IIow terrible they arc how lost to all
pity = :, -,
''Aias ! for the poor results OF all my tolls y
siphc,. Mr.. Eortescue "Ho see these saw
age pursucrs, and hear their yclls, one would
Ii,tle imagine the sacrifices we have made on
their account All the benefits they have re
ceiyed from us are forgotten. They are deter
mined to kill US if they eau lind Us:
Al this point Ellie started violently, hall
arising To her feet,
"Oh, lock, father - she cried.
This was all she could say, but she pointed
far away 10 the direction from which the tugl-
lives had come.
Il Sc, uurmprcd Mr.. Fortcscuc. They
have fired ur dwelling,
A lurd fl ;me arose in the air IN the dis
taucc. ;,
1T is hard to see our home perishing,"
sighed the daughter. "What demons they
are.
She started again, cvca more violently than
before this time at the barking OF dog with
in ten feet Of her.
''The Gu will certainly betray u.s. cried the
missionary, springing to his feet.
''He has betrayed US already returned Eli
lie See they are coming
La the last moment at his residence, Mr..
Fortoscue had SEIZED an old sword he CHANGED
to have upon his premises, and he thanked
heaven for the service this weapon now rem
dcred him he being able to ceave the dog IN
twain with single desperate blow.
HID we better not plunge into the interior,
father p asked Ellie.
Il think not. 1t is there that they are look
ing Tor US. They are beating up every bush,
and Yes they are cert.:loly coming nearer
to us. See ! they have torches On, this Is
horrible -
'Perhaps we had better throw ourselves in
to boat, a#d trust ourselves to the wlnds and
waves.
II would have done so, darling, but for the
roughncss Of the sea.
''I;'s all up with our halt here said the
missionary, turning back. I'VE must by.
The dog was heard, and The savages are has
tenng in this direction.
Breaking from their covert, hand IN hand,
the father aud daughter ran along the beach
and gained a temporary shelter behind small
ledge of rocks which jnted out into the sea 10
the form of a small promoutory.
'If We ouy had a boat now sighed the
father. ''possibiy we could get off III it.
.I,. onn q
bounding from the bushes, braudlshlng his
war club
alas alas !" mourncd Mr.. Fortcscue.
He had rcalizcl only too we'll the lmmlnence
cf the pcril--ihe utter fu'illy Of all his efforts
at escupc--but he met the foremost savage
with the strength of desperation, cleavIng him
in twain ocarly as clever y rs he had Dispatch
ed the dog which had discovered the W here,
abouts Of the couple; but then came the sharp,
LOUD report of muskat--. aud the good mission
AIRY lay wclterlng III his blood, with builet
through his vi,as.
IL am hit T. he cried cannot 20 on.
''Not even to the boat. father 2
ALAS, it is too late p taltcred the dying
missionary, as everything rcclcd around him.
"To Thee, 0 Cad, | commend her
These were the last words of the devoted
missionary. As he uttered theu, ne tumDieu
into the boat he had succeeded with his last
desperate efforts in reaching, and in that same
Instant his scuse> left him frever.
of. demons !" cried Ellie, still welding
her sword with the strength of despair.
By the last desperate effort of her exhaust
ed powers the brave girl succeeded 10 pushing
off the boat and in breaking clear OF the pur-
sucrs with it.
A FIESDISH REVENGE
At the same hour when the preceding events
were occurring, large top-sall schooner was
standing on and off the East Passage of Tonga
taboo harbor, waiting to enter the port and