The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-02-12
FOR DEAR LIFE.

EOh UEAh LAEEo
New Year eve some thirty years ago
and we we're keeping it night merrily
at the old manor house of Stor Aswan,
the home of my childhood, as it had
been that of my forefathers for many
generations. The pleasantest spot in
all the world, I thought, and still think,
that quaint Norwegian homestead, with
its bluff walls and birchbark ROOT,
which succeeding summers had rem
dered verdant with an evergreen thatch
of moss and hchens. Just now, howev-
er, this was not visible, for snow lay
thickly upon it, as it had lain 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 folks
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. ], Ella Bieorn,
daughter of the house, was the widest
of the mad circle who had assembled at
Stor Aswan that Christmas tide to do
honor to my betrothal to 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
home for q new one !; SO now, sur
rounded by kinsfolk and neighbors,
we were keeping this last anniver-
sary of my spinsterhood in goodly fash
ion.
So in dancing, feasting and merry
making the week sped, until a few
hours more would see us all scattered
in various directions, to meet again we
knew not when or where. For the last
r.. Al.
chief pleasure, the crowning point of
all our enjoyment-a sIeighing and
skating party to Stor Aswan, noun
tain encircled lake some ten miles
further north, the same from which our
homestead derived its quaint Runic
name. This was to be cur hail or greet
ing to the New Year-our welcome to
the incoming guest.
Brightly dawned the incom ing morn
ing, clear as ones heart could desire.
Blue was the sky as sapphire, whilst
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 gavly caparisoned
horses paved and shsok their heads,
impatient as their owner to be off. 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 Het speak; we
were all young and In wild spirits, and
some of us in love- I, blue-eyed, gol-
den-haired Ella Bieorn, was the ac-
knowledged belle and queen of the
party, and Eric, my lover, the most
stalwart youth of the countryside.
But all things, even the pleasantest,
must come 70 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 jour
ney homeward. Tired out with my ex-
ertions, as soon as we started nestled
down among the soft furs ia the sleigh,
and. rocked by its easy motion, soon
fell fast asleep How long l slept /
knew not. but when awoke it was
showing fast, and the darkness so in
tense that we could not see hands
breadth before us-I called to Eric,
who was driving, and asked If all was
well. To which the answer came back,
half deadened by the thick atmosphere.
''A1l well, but for Gods sake try to
keep awake.
knowing that sleep in that bitter night
air might mean death. OF any other
fear ~ had no thought, when suddenly
I heard another sound come up with the
wind-a long-drawn hollow moan.
Twice or thrice it came at intervals,
the weird noise, each time nearer ana
mere distinct. The third time the
ponies also heard it, for they sprang
forward with an impetus that almost
shook me out of the carriage. fngAs-
ened, said to Eric, g What, on what
is that % And the answer came & PACK,
short and stern, Ihe Saleen
wolves -
Then began that terrible chase : for
dear life ~ which, though We should
both live for twice our allotted span,
we could never forget. Swiftly we sped
along, our steeds impelIed BY terror
as great as our own, until sney ap-
peared almost to fly. Breathiessiy VIC
harkened, hoping even yet 10 ieaVe Is Tug
enemy behind But no. they Travelled
with Us, gained upon Ms, nearer ana yeo
nearer-their cry growing percePssiay,ay a,lg
from an uncertain vague voice " III sno
darkness into the unmistakaD!y Won.
like note. We knew from the dIrectiOn
from whence It came that they were
tracking us by scent; 80 now our -. u1at
poor chance lay In the darkness OF sne
night and our nearness to Btor AsWan:
Eric still held the reins, and coWere1
down at the bottom of the sleigh, and
prayed more earnestly than I had ever 3
yet done in my life ss for an increase OF
the snow-drift or aught, even mira
Gle, ii it might only save MS.
On and on, for time that seemed m
serminable, yet might in truth have
Deen but q few moments. Then tne
storm ceased, the moon emerged from
her shelter, and we saw half mile 70 9
our rear dark line coming swiftly ana
stead1ly down upon MS. In the middle
0! white plain, with no nook or corner
visible wherein we could take refuge
nc stiH nearly league from home
our case looked hopeless enough. 20