The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1875-04-29

| flown by, bun still no cleW ol missing Eva
Mother was taken i'll, The physician
was summoned, and pronounced her in a
d'r gerous state, She grew rapidly worse
and he doctor finally gave up all hopes
uI ner recovery.
The uncertainty of her daughters fate
is killing herr was his decision.
One day, at dusk, as | was wandering
aimless,y through the woods, near where
Eva disappeared, low cry suddenly
brought me to standstill. ! listened.
The cry was reneated. Good heavens !
was ! dreaming The cry was Eva's
But from whence didit Gomez ! glanc-
| ed around. Nothing met my gaze but q
forest of trees and few birds and squir-
rels skipping about OH the branches
Again listened; then, as the cry was re-
peated, gave Il start of surprise. 1t
seemed to come from directly under my
feet
Here was plenty of room for thought
Where was Eva that should near the
sound of her voice under the earth on
which was then standing2
While | was thus deliberating, shag-
gy head was suddenly thrust up out of
the earth short distance away, and the
next instant the shoulders and body of u
! rye gray wolf ollowed, The animal
p used moment to shake itself, and
then trotted lesurely off through the
forest. 1t did not observe me, as ! was
standing in the shadow of large oak
No sooner was the wolf out of sight
than ] ran forward to the spot where it
l., 4In nnpth
A large black hole, fringed at the
mouth with some bushes and heavy
growth of grass, was what | saw; and,
while | knelt besiGe it, a low, faint cry
reach my ears. Like lightning the whole
truth in regard to Eva and her myste-
rious disappearance burst upon me. She
was at the bottom of the hole, in the den
of the wolf
His wolEhip had doubtless found her
lying on the ground the night she was
lost, and taken her to his den to adopt
ler as one Of his cubs. Wolves frequent
y do such things especially when they
have lost their own young,
Now the question arose, how shall |
get her out? 70 be sure, | might light
one of the luciler matches | carried in
my pocket, and go down for her; but
suppose there was another wolf within?
| had a revolver; but, even with that, it
would be ticklish matter for me--a
youth ofseyentee--to beard wolf in his
den.
"Shall ! 90 down." glanced nervous
ly into the Stygian darkness us | put that
GU ,stion to myself.
! thought of home-of my father-mJ
poor sick mother, whose life might even
now be saved were her child restored to
her The thought gave me courage.
"Yes | will go down, wolf or no wolf"
l concluded, resoutelv, drawing my re-
volrer and matches from my pocket.
One of the matches lighted, and then
with my cooked revolver in my hand, |
ocean crawling into the cave, Once l
paused irresolute, nv knees beginning to
tremble; but then setting my feet firmly
together, pressed on. A little further,
and my heart gave great bound as ]
saw, curled up on a pile ofleaves at the
bottom of the den, little Eva. No wolf,
or other animal of any kind, was visible
Tenderly | lifted her up, and kissed
her pale checks The soft blue eyes
opened.
Walter!" came in lisping whisper
from between the quivering lips.
Eyes, dear" | said. Hush |! don't
cry until get you out of this horrid
place"
She wound her little chubby arms
around my neck, and nestled closely
against my breast. Turning toward the
opening, l began slowly to crawl out of
| the den.
had nearly reached the mouth, and
was beginning to congratulate myself in
not meeting with the wolf, when. chanC-
ing t lift my head, / saw sight that
fairy froze The blood in my veins with
fear and horror.
Standing at the mouth of the den was
the wolf his lips wide apart, revealing a
double row of long, sharp-looking iangs
his eyes glaring down on me like balls
of fire
For moment | was as one paralyzed.
Tu only fora moment The next, and |
had taken aim with my revolver at the
brute, and pulled the trigger.
A report that fairly stunned me, the
shock of a heavy body falling on me, a
sudden, terrible pain inmy arm, followed
by spurt of blood in my face, and |
knew that the wolf was alta king me-.
Desperately l used my weapon on the
fierce animal. The cave was filled with
hot. suffocating smoke, and the reports
of my revolver were deafening. But the
wolf still clawed, still tore at me in a
| terrible manner.
My strength was going fast. Desper-
ateiy l struggled with the wolf; but,
weakened by loss of blood, stihed by the
suiphurous smoke from my revolver, |
succumbed to his attacks, and fell on the
hard ground in deep swoon.
When Iawoke, was lying in bed in
my own room. The physician stood at
my side, anxiously gazing into my face ;
and close by sat mother with Eva on her
lap.
Two weeks had passed since father and
my brothers had rescued me from the
clutches OF the wolf. During the whole
time had been delirious, they told me,
but was now c)nvaesCent.
Mother was well. The restoration Of
Eva to her had infused new lif, into hCl
VEINS, and raised her from her bed OF
sickness, where the loss of the little one
had placed her.