The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1874-04-09


New Years eve some thirty years ago
and we were keeping it right merrily
at the old manor-hOuse of StOr Aswan,
the home of my childhood, as it had
been that of ny forefathers for many
generations. The pleasantest spot In
all the world, I thought. and still think,
that quaint Norwegian homestead, with
its buff walls and birehbark roof, which
succeeding summers had rendered YER
dant with an evergreen thatch of moss
and lichens Just now, however, this
was not visible, fer snow lay thickly
upon it, as it had laid for weeks past,
not only there, but upon all the country
round.
1t was the hardest winter there had
been for fifty years-so the old felix's
said-and they foretold its continuance
for some weeks longer.
All this, however, did not affect any
of our party, who were all Morse men
and maidens born, used to the cold,
| full of health and spirits. i, Ella
Bieorn, daughter of the house, was the
widest of that mad circle who had as
sembled at Stor Aswan that Christmas
tide to do honor to my betrothal to Erie
Jarl, the lover of my youth, ere long to
be my husband. AS soon as the birch
trees put forth their first green tassels,
in the early springtime, was to leave
my old home for a new one so now,
surrounded by kinsfolk and neighbors,
we were keeping this last anniversary of
my sisterhood in goodly fashion.
So in dancing, feasting and merry
making the week sped, until few hours
more would see us all scattered In vari-
GUS directions, TO meet again we knew
not when and where. For the last day,
/ therefore. we had reserved the chief
pleasure, the browning point of all our
| enjoyment-a sleighing and skating
party to Stor Aswan, a mountain-en-
| circled lake some tea miles further
north, the same from which our home
stead derived its quaint Runic name.
This was to be our vail or greeting to
the New Year-our welcome to the in
coming guest Izt-.-
ing, clear as ones heart could desire.
| Blue was the sky as sapphire, whilst the
freshly-fallen snow sparkled and shone
as though strewn with living gems. All
nature seemed rejoicing like ourselves
at the advent of another year, and one
already so full of promise. Without,
the sleigh bells tinkled and chimed
merrily, making the frosty air ring again
| as the gayly caparisoned horses paved
and shook their heads, impatient as
their owner to be of. At length We
started. Eric and I as hosts being the
last of the party (; for of course he was
my charioteer.
OF that day I shall not speak; we
we're all young and in wild spirits, and
some of us in love. /, blue-eyed, gold
en-haired Ella BieoEn, was the aeknowl-
edged belle and queen of the party,
and Eric, my lover, the most stalwart
youth of the countryside. But ell
things, even the ple6santest, must come
to an end. So when the shades of even
ing began to fall heavily, merging earth,
sky, and water into one gray leaden
cloud, We began our journey home
wards. Tired out with my exertions,
| as soon as we started nestled down
amongst the soft furs in the sleigh, and
rocked by it's easy motion, soon fell fast
asleep. How long I slept know not,
but when awoke it was showing fast,
and the darkness so intense that we
could not see a hands breadth. before MS
II called to Eric, who was driving, and
asked If all was we'll. To which the an
, swer came back, half deadened by the
thick atmosphere. 'sAH well, but foI
Gods sake try to keep awake.
! So I aroused myself and sat up, know
ing that sleep in that bitter night ali
, might mean death. OF any other :feal
had no thought, when suddenly
, heard another sound come up with tbs
; wind-a long drawn hollow moan. Twice
or thrice it came at intervals, this weird
: noise, each time nearer and more dis
, tinct. The third time the ponies alsC
heard it, for they sprang forward witt
an impetus that almost shook me on
8 OF the carriage. Frightened, I said {,
Eric, 60 What, oh what is this ?" AnC
!; the answer came back, short and stern
Q "The Salten wolves T.
3 Then began that terrible chase "fo
d dear life" which, though we shout,
!, both live for twice our allotted g an
; VIC could never forget. Swiftly we spe'
L along, our steeds impelled by a terro
! as great as our own, until they appeared
: almost to fly. Breathlossly we heark
}. ened, hoping even yet to leave the enc
!. my behind. But no, they travelled witt
y us, gained upon us, nearer and yet near
u er-their cry growing perceptibly fror
an uncertain vague voice of the dark
ness into the Enthusiastically wolf-hk
d note. We knew from the direction fror
y whence it came that they were trackin
}, us by scent; so now our last poor chanc
/ lay in the darkness of the night and on
It nearness to Stor Aswan. Eric still he'll
d the reins, and / covered down ut tn
d bottom of the sleigh, and prayed NOR
}. earnestly than had ever yet done j
y my life :" for an increase of the snow
It drift or aught, even a miracle, If
e might only save us. "
u On and on, for time that seemed in
II terminable, yet might in truth hav
n been but a few moments. Then tn
" storm ceased, the moon emerged froI
e her shelter, and we saw half mile i
d our rear a dark line coming swiftly an
NJ / uFao7sl~r Eorrr, rrr,or, n tho rasfT1l
"a of q white plain, with no nook or col
If ner visible wherein we could take re
7. fuge, and still nearly league froI
n home, our case looked hopeless enough
! So our pursuers seemed to think, a
o they now caught sight of us for tn
n first time, and lifting their black muz
q zles from the ground gave vent TO
e howl Of savage exultation. 1 coul
l. have screamed, too, when I heard il
8 for fright was driving me half wild;
!. was so unutterably horrible to perisl
II thus. But glance at Eric, SO calm an,
% steRdfast, gave me new courage. / fel
g that, come what might, we should a
q least die together. ~
r Faster and faster we flew, like hunte,
e animals, death behind us coming o.
apace--a few yards more and he woull
y claim as Tor his own. Already / coul'
J hear the rapid breathing OF our foes
> see their fierce eyes and white teeth
e glittering and cleaning in the moon
light. Prompted by Eric, / threw on
n the bearskin rug which protected N
: from the cold For a moment the
q paused, smelt at il, then on with fres
3 fury after their old prey. One by on
y cushions, wraps, all went over 20 tn
9 hungry pack, each gaining MS an il
g stant's precious delay. AS the last fe
p from my hand the foremost wolf bound
y ed forward, just missing my arm, Will
y his strong, cruel jaws met with pair
a fully audible snap.
e Then Eric turned and looked at me-
q a locg, loving gianee-Rnd began knoi
!, ting the reins to the iron side of Ga
j driving-seat. Instinctively divIning hi
purpose of giving his life to save mine
1 sprang forward and, clinging to hi
It frantically, 1 whispered:
a Dearest, remember, We stand c
o fail together T.
Il s915a,, fbo,r,bk ;nsfifiad nv ON