The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-04-12

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bow and spear, and she had no intention
of spelling him by encouragement. II
he ventured upon anything OF compli.
mentary nature, she adroitly turned it
into something quite the opposite, until
Mr.. Glentheal vainly wondered by what
course of mental gymnastics he had at
tanned the platform on which lie found
himself. But he worshiped on In his
quiet way, and thought Maude East
wood the most dainty and bewidering
piece of flesh and blood it had ever been
his good fortune to encounter.
SO matters stood on one bright, frosty
night when the moon Was at the full,
and nearly all Bellemere was out skat-
ing. 1t was very pretty sight; the
bright, glowing girls faces, and the
ringing peals of girlish laughter, as they
skinned along with the grace of prac-
tical skaters, while mingled in the gay
groups were sturdy six-footers. armed
against the cold with fur caps and gloves,
and shouting. and hallooing with all the
power of strong lungs.
Maude Eastwood was perfectly be-
witching in her closely fitting skating
suit of rich blue cloth trimmed with
swans down, while the most ooquettish
of velvet caps, around which curled q
long white ostrich plume, rested lightly
on her shimmering hair. This was
loosely crimped, and fell unbound to
her waist. The effect was charming.
With her hands in muff that matched
her dress, she foated off with swanlike
motion, laughing at and with the tall
figure that SO persistently followed in
her wake. Alfred Glentheal was resolved,
however, that this night should decido
his fate, and after many skillful eva
sions on the part of the slippery dam
sci, he managed to ask the all-important
question.
Maude was breathless with amazement
and chagrin to find herself thus corner
ed, and her pulse beat unaccountably
fast-too fast for indifference. She
could not find it in her heart to say no
to this earnest pleader, but neither
could she say yes just then; 30 she
compromised matters by replying !:
"Give me ten minutes start, and If you
catch me, I am yours"
This was an Objectionable advantage,
for .Maude skated as though her feet
were winged with lightning; but she was
immovable, and the race began. She
shot like fash toward small island in
the middle of the river, doubled it, and
went down on the other side; while Al
fred, at the end of ten minutes, darted
blindly after her, hesitated moment at
the island, and then dashed down the
side where the lady was not.
Miss Eastwood skated swiftly on, with
a feeling of relief that she was safe for
the present, and wondering why she
cared enough for this man not to refuse
him on the spot. Her cheeks burned
vividly as she thought of his words, and
her eyes shone like diamondsin the clear
winter air. She was a beautiful picture,
but there was no one to see her, only the
stately pine trees on either side, and the
frozen river glttering like frosted silver
in the moonlight. Everything was
clear as day, save where the river mar
rowed; and then the giant trees cast
dark shadows that made the girl shiver
little.
She was just passing one of these
points when queer noise attracted her
attention-a sort of howl-and glancing
around, she saw what looked like large
dog rushing swiftly after her. The next
moment, however, the blood seemed to
curdle at her heart, a cold chill of horror
crept over her, and her limbs almost re.
fused to move. 1t was wolf, that fear.
full scourge of the Canadian wilds; and
shrek after shrek rent the air as she re-
allied the dreadful truth. She skated
for her very life; but the bloodthirsty
animal gained uponher, and her strength
was fast giving ont.
Suddenly the bushes on one sile were
parted, a human figure darted swiftly
out, and the report of firearms quickly
followed. The wolf dropped at once,
for the well directed shot had entered
his brain. Down also dropped our
hxoine, with the conviction that she was
mortally wounded, and fairted dead
away. Her preserver came forward and
lifted her from the ice; but, alas it was
not Alfred. That bewildered Individual
was at least three miles away, and just
making up his mind to turn around and
try the other side.
"Ugh |" grunted the stalwart Indian,
who picked up the insensible girl and
slung her over his shoulder very much
as he might have done the wolf, while
he glanced curiously at the golden hair
that foated around her like ,alo.
"White squaw pretty" muttered this
son of the forest; "but white squaw no
good. Red squaw work-white squaw
smile at We-to-chee.
And with this pleasing programme in
mind, Mr.. We-to-chee, or Big Thunder,
travelled stoldly on in the direction of
his wigwam, to inform Mrs. Veto. chee
of the change in their domestic arrange
ments. To be sure, that lady had hith-
erto done the work; but she had also
done the smiling, what there was of it,
and would probably object to this divi-
sion Of labor. She was large, rough
featured, low.browed female, with half
opened eyes that lad an unpleasantly
lurid glare. and an expression the very
reverse Vi dulAdDlos
She did not smile at all when her lord
and master entered with his burden and
deposited it on the pile Of skins in the
corner thatserved as bed. Had it been
an animal, he would probably have sent
Mrs. We-te. chee to pick it up where it
lay; but being pretty white girl, he
condescended to tote it himself.
Without any unnecessary circumlocu-
ton, he gave Mrs. We-to-chee 10 under
stand that this was to be wife number
two, but in her captor's affections num-
Der one, because of her white skin and
golden hair-and here he actually laid
his paw carcssingly on the shining mass
(not noticing Mrs. W.'s eyes as he did
so)-and he wound mp by saying that,
as he had some shooting business to at
teud to, he would thank Mrs. W. to take
the intruder in hand, and restore her to
her senses without delay. And his ma
jestic figure disappeared in the forest.
When he had gone, the copper color
ed lady sat with drawn.up knees and
bowed head, looking at her fair rival
with an intensity of gaze that seemed to
have the power of bringing back the
suspended life; for presently Maude
opened her eyes, and very naturally
shrieked to find herself in such uncon-
genial society.
Mrs. We-to-chee sniled-but it was
not pleasant smile; and the young lady
demanded to know where she was and
how she got there. To all of which Mrs.