The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-04-16

Tie udlBeTS Ol NtbueIH lle, pOlltclJ
assented. The sun was far i'll the west
when the last adieu was spoken, the
last invitation exchanged, and the ride
for home commenced i'll the sledge and
pair.
Before they had gone two miles, the
day was entirely gone, and the moon
shone brightly over the wide expanse
of snow. Maggie closed her eyes with o
thrill of terror as they passed rapidly
through the first stretch of woods.
Nothing appeared to confirm her fears,
and she began to hope they might reach
home in safety.
Tracy broke the silence by exclaiming,
"This is the best part of the ride, isn't
it, Miss Maggie?" bending glance of
admiration on her fresh blonde beauty.
Startled from her reverie, she joined
in his merry conversation, while her
thoughts made an undue accompaniment
to the sledge music i'll the words of her
father, the evening previous" These
clear cold nights are just the ones for
the wolves" Suddenly to badinage and
repartee came fearful interlude, long,
low cry-at first howl, then dying away
into a prolonged mourning wail-a
sound once heard, never forgotten.
Maggie had repeatedly heard it when
the wolves, pressed by sore hunger, ven
tIlred within the limits of the settlement.
At such times she would cover her head
and, trembling with fear, pray that she,
or any loved one might not be exposed
to such DEATH
And now faint moan of anguish es-
capped her lips. Tracy turned to her in
surprise.
"Why what is the matterl" he cried,
seeing her pale and affrighted features.
She endeavored to speak, but her voice
failed her. Then, as the death-cry arose
on the shrill night air, with the strength
of desperation she almost shrieked,
Drive faster! faster. Don't you hear
them2 The wolves"
But, as if III doubt, he reined III the
horses to listen.
"And that is the wolves, is it!" he
asked quietly.
Maggie bowed slightly.
His face grew as white as the snow
about him in an instant, and, grasping
her arm sternly, his politeness vanishing,
with only the instinct of self-preserva-
ton remaining, he cried, "And you
knew of this danger, and yet persuaded
me to remain 50 long i'll that cursed vii
lage Now listen" he continued, with
tiendish deliberation; :" 1OW drive fast
make every effort to escape; but If it
comes TO the worst, and it's impossible
for both to be saved, you shall go, and
rightly, too, for not warming me !"
He grasped the reins and urged the
hnpcac ot,1 90 fl,axr c,Nal ,llxy
the snow, Maggie sat dumb and motion
less with terror.
Only the sledge bells-a bitter mock
ery-now broke the stiffness. She be-
gan to hope they had been deceived or
the wolves had lost the scent, when a
quick, loud cry, bursting from the whole
pack, scarcely hundred yards away,
reused her from her apathy and drove
Tracy almost into a frenzy. He cast the
reins violently from him, and sprang
from the sledge, giving the horses, as he
did so, heavy lash with the whip, that
sent them yards away from where he was
standing.
Maggie comprehended dimly that he
would take to tree for safety. Then
her own dangerous situation required all
her attention.
And ROW the courage of Western
woman, Injured to hardships and dangers
of all kinds, asserted its existence. She
wound the reins tightly around her slen-
der hands, and drew the horses in for q
brief and much needed rest, snEd to cal
culate upon her chances for liie, without
giving another thought to her cowardly
cavalier.
a faint sound, resembling the firss
pattering of rain-drops on foCest leaves,
warned her that her time was limited
with an encouraging wCgd to the
horses, she touched therl with the
whip. Away they dashed with the
speed of the wind. On ON J guiding
them with steady hand, the wide-opesl
plain was soon left far behind, and Mag
gle held her breath hard, rs they dashed
with lightning speed under the boughs
of the second stretch of woodland
Faster and faster through the thick
woods, thanking God that the faint glim-
mer of moonbeams through the dark
trees enabled her to keep ia a straight
road. A faint light ahead she bent for
ward to look, and once more they dashed
out on an open plain, the only one that
lay between herself and the viIlage-and
safety The first house was passed.
another, and another For the first time
relaxing her firm hold, she drew n sigl
OF intense relief, and ventrred glance
behind her.
A cry of horror burst from her lips.
Never abating their speed in the least,
the whole pack of famished animals,
with loud cries, poured into the road
toward the village, and surrounded the
sledge ; she felt them dash by her, then
hot breath tanning hcr face. and with a
muttered prayer for Iercy frozen on he1
lips, she sank lifele,,s to the bottom OF
the vehicle.
When her father lifted her out, and
carried her to a house near at hand,
friendly neighbors rubbed down the
painting and trembling animals, giving
them their due praise, in having so nobly
saved their fair charge and themselves
from fearful death.
Harry and Mr.. Martyr came ont of the
village in time to see the danger, and the
poor girls terror and deafened her tc
the shots fired in her defence. How.
ever, she soon rallied sufficiently to tel
of bor oxv1, fbouObflaooOoaa tLot loI a.,