The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-01-21
FOR DEAR LIFE.


80
NEw-YEAR's eve some thirty years ago
and we were keeping il right mcrrily al
the old manor-house Of StOr AswaH, the
home ofmv childhood. as it had been that
of my forefathers for many generations
The pleasantest spot in the world,
thought. and still think. that quaint Nor.
wegian homestead. with IFS buff walls and
birch-hark roof, which succeeding sum.
mers had rendered verdant with an ever
green thatch of moss and itchens. Just
now. However. this was not visible, for
snow Law thickly upon it, as it had lain
for weeks past. not only there, but upon
all the cOun ry round. %
1t was the hardest winter there had been
for fifty years-sO the old folks said-and
they fOretold its continuance 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. /, Ella Bleorn, daugh-
ter of the house, was the widest of that
mad circle who had assembled at Stor
Aswan that ChTistmastide TO do honor to
my betrothal 10 Eric 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 neigh
bors, we were keeping this last anniver-
sary OF NV spinsterhOOd in goodly fashion.
So in dancing. feaSting. and merry
making, the week sped, until few hours
more would see MS all scattered i'm various
directions, to meet again we all knew not
when or where. For the last day, there
fore. we had reserved the chief pleasure.
the crowning point Ofall our enjoyment
Sleighing and skating party to Stor As
wan, mountain-encircled lake some ten
miles further north, the same from which
our homestead derived its quaint Runic
name. This was to be our vail or greet
ing TO the New Year-our welcome to the
incoming guest.
Brightly dawned the eventful morning,
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 ad-
vent of another wear. and one alre5 dy so
full of ,romise. Without, the sleigh bells
tinkled and chimed merrily, making the
frosty air ring again as the gaily capar-
isOned horses paved and shook their
heads. Impatient as their owner to be off.
At length, we started. Eric and as hosts
being the last of the party for, Of course,
he was my ,hariotepr.
OF that day. shall not speak; we were
all young and in high spirits. and some of
us in love. /. blue eyed, golden haired.
Ella BleOrn, was acknowledged the belle
and queen of the party, and Eric, my lover,
the most Stalwart youth of the country
side. Bat all things, even the pleaSantest.
must come to an end. So, when the
shades of evening began to fall heavily,
merging earth, sky and water. into one
gray leaden cloud, we began our journey
homeward. Tired out with my exertion,
as soon rs we Started | nestled down
amongst the soft furs in the sleigh, and,
rocked by its easy motion, soon fell fast
asleep. How long slept know not. but
when | awoke it was showing fast, and the
darkness so intense that we could not see
hand before us. called to Eric-he was
driving-and asked if all was well. 70
which the answer came back, half dead
ened nv the thick atmosphere. "All well,
but for Gods sake, try to keep awake"
SO | reused myself and sat up, knowing
that sleep in that bitter night air might
mean death. OF any other fear had no
thought, when suddenly heard another
s und come up with the wind-a long
drawn hollow moan. Twice or thrice it
came at intervals, this weird noise, each
time nearer and more distinct. The third
sprang forward with an impetus that al
most shook me out of the carriage.
Frightened, ] said to Eric, 'What, oh
what is that" And the answer came
back. short and stern, "The Salten
wolves!''
Then began that terrible chase " for dear
life which. though we should live for
twice our allotted time, we could never
forget. Swiftly we sped along, ou" steeds
impelled by terror as great as our own,
until they appeared almost to fly. Breath
lesSly We hearkened, hOpirg yet to leave
our enemy behind. But no, they travelled
with Us, ined upon us, nearer and yet
nearer-theirJ cry growing perceptibly
from an uncertain vague voice of the dark
ne s into the Enthusiastically wolf-like note.
We knew from the direction from whence
il came that they were racking us by
scent; so now our last poor chance lay in
the darkness Of the night and our nearness
TO ) or ASwan. Eric sill held the reins,
and covered down in the bottom of the
sleigh. and prayed more earnestly than |
had ever yet d ne in my life for an in
crease of the snow-drift, or aught. even
miracle, if it might only save U.S."
On and on. for a time that seemed inter-
minable. yet might in truth have been but
a few moments. Then the storm ceased,
.
saw half mile in our rear a dark line
coming swiftly and steadily down upon us.
In the middle of a white plain, with no
nook or corner visible wherein we could
take refuge. and still nearly league from
home, our case looked hopeless enough.
So our purSuers seemed TO think as they
caught sight of us for the first time, and
lifting their black muZZles from the ground
gave vent to a howl of savage eXultation.
| could have screamed, too, when l heard
it, for fright was driving me half wild; IL
was so unutterably horrible to perish thus.
But a glance at Eric. so calm and steadiast,
gave me new courage. [ felt that, come
what might, we should at least die to-
gether.
Faster and faster we flew, Ike hunted
animals, d ath behind us coming on apace
"a few yards more and he would claim
us for his own. Already could hear the
rapid breathing of our foes. see their fierce
eyes and snow-white teeth, glittering and
cleaning in the moonlight. Prompted
hy Eric, | threw out the bearskin rug
which protected me from the cold. For a
moment they pauSt d, smelt at it, then on
with fresh fury after their old prey. One
nv one cushions, wraps. all went over to
the hungry pack, each gaining us an in
staut's precious delay. As the last Iel
from nv hand the foremost wolf bounded
forward, Just missing my arm, while his
strong. cruel jaws met with painfully
audible snap.
Then Eric turned and looked at me-a
long. loving glance-and began knotting
tn" reins to the iron side of the driving
seat. InsTiuctively divining his purpose
of giving his life TO save mine, sprang
forward and, clinging to him frantically,
rulai=narad