Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-02-26
NO. 49,.
Tales aud Sketehes.
HARD PRESSED.


HAkD PkkEEFD.
CONCLUDED FROM THURsDAY.1
"There is but one thing to be done"
muttered Edgar Marston, with groan, 40
he cast despairing glance along the road,
and noted that already two of the gaunt
pursuers were nearly abreast Of the
sledge; "Vasilkof, as ! reckon, is but
three versts from this, but unless we cover
the TWO miles that lie between us and safety
yonder yelling brutes will drag down our
horses and have us at their mercy. At
any cost Annette must be saved, and the
wolves delayed"
lie rose to his feet as he spoke, and
looked to the right and left. Close TO the
roadside on the left grew mighty beech
tree. Could he set his back to that tree.
kill or cripple the first of the furious
wolves. and swing himself up among the
lower branches, out of reach of the others
he might have yet chance of life, while
the sledge would gain SO much vantage
ground that it could not easily be over
taken. Yes, the desperate venture must
be risked.
Hastily the young man kissed Anniette's
cold cheek, and bidding her be of good
cheer. since he had devised q strataQem
that would outwit the wolves. he struck
the straining horses sharply with the whip,
and with his hunting-knife between his
teeth. took a clear leap over the low
brushwood. and fell on his hands and
knees at the foot of beech-tree.
Edgar! Edgar!' cried the agonized
girl. as vainly she expended her strength
in the effort to rein in the terrified horses.
On they went like the wind, while the clam
Or OF the exulting wolves told that they had
desisted from the chase to crowd around
an easy prey.
Goaded by terror, the horses flew along
the narrow road. which fortunately at this
part of its course became straighter than
it had hitherto been, and the light sledge
was hurried along as If it had been feath-
er weight over the frozen snow. A whirl
of confused thoughts passed through the
girls brain as with relentless speed the
sledge darted on, farther and farther from
the spot where Edgar Marston had sprung
out to confront what appeared to be inev-
table death.
''For me for me y Annette murmured.
as, after last despairing effort to rein in
the unmanagable steeds, she cast q glance
back at the white road, now cleaning, as
the sledge emerged from the woodland
into the open country, in the first rays of
the newly-risen moon.
OF the dread pursuers she now saw and
heard nothing, but she shuddered as the
remembrance forced itself upon her of the
probable cause of the disappearance of
the wolves. Her lover-could she doubt
lt?-had purchased her safety with his
own blood. Their four footed foes had
been too many for mortal valor to have pre-
vailed in the unequal contest against their
numbers. She was safe-safe-for now
she was among fields and cultivated lands
again, out of the gloomy forest, and there
before her lay Vasilkof, the moon beams
cleaning on the FURNISHED copper
domes of its churches; but she scarcely
realized the fact OF her own escape, 80
bnsy was her fancy with the peril Of him
whom she loved.
The scared horses needed no urging to
strain every sinew in the race as; snorting
and gasping for breath, they dashed into
the wide, struggling main street of Vasil-
kof.
In the spacious market-place of the public
square of the town crowd had collected,
in the midst of which the light of num-
Der of torches fell on glistening bayonets
of steel and the bright brass mounting Of
military accoutrements. A column Of the
tlat-capped. gray-coated infantry of the
Russian line was prepared to march.
while cavalry escort encompassed two
or three carriages mounted on sledge-run-
ners, and to each of which three or more
horses had been harnessed. Sundry per-
sons in authority. as their civil or military
uniforms denoted, were bustling to and
fro, some mounted and others on foot,
while the drums rolled and the trumpets
of the Cossacks sent their shrill summons
through the streets as though to call the
'aggards who yet fingered to the muster.
Halt, there halt, say! !" called out a
sentinel roughly, as the sledge that bore
Annette swept like whirlwind across
the market-place, scattering to right and
left in dismay all who barred its frantic
And then followed q Babel of
loud outcries of surprise, alarm and pity,
tor the picture that Was then presented to
the gazers. in the ruddy glare of the torch
light, was not one readily to be forgotten.
In the sledge. still mechanically grasping
the reins, sat the terror-stricken girl, her
dark hair streaming loose, for the furred
hood of her mantle had fallen back, and
her beautiful head was uncovered.
Among those who had been present
when the sledge crossed the square had
been the old Count and Countess Galitzin.
They had recognized their daughters pal
lid face as she hurried past, and within q
few moments the half-fainting girl was in
the arms of her parents. and surrounded
by friends and well-wishers, who seemed
to welcome her rs one risen from
the dead.
1--WE were about to set out for Czerngo-
rod," the Count explained, when Annette
to be sensible TO her mothers
caresses and endearing words. "with the
escort which the kindness of His Ex-
cellency the Governor had provided, hop
ing-but hardly daring to hope, my lamb
that you would have been spared in the
first outbreak Of the fury Of those serfs, OF
which the news reached US but an hour
ago. Troops are about to march for the
scene of the revolt, but. since you are safe
though through what marvellous piece
OF good fortune l cannot conjecture
ut was through no such fortune" inter-
rupted Annette. piteously; 1T was his
life--his gallant, noble life, dearer to me
L.