River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1878-02-21

strength of desperation she almost
shrieked Drive faster fasterl Don't
you hear .Gheml The wolves!"
But as Ii in doubt, he refined in the
horses to listen.
s," And that is the wolves, is itlp he
asked Quietly.
Mag le bowed slightly.
His taesgrew as white as the snow about
him in All instant, and grasping her arm
sternly, bis politeness vanishing, with
only the instinct of self-preservation re-
naming, he cried, = Ard you knew of
this danger. and vet persuaded Inc 20 re-
main so long in that cursed village.
Now listen,n he continued, with ficndish
deliberatisn, I" I will drive fast-make
every effort to escape; but if it comes to
the worst, and it's impossible for both
be saved, you shall 60, and rightly, too,
for not warning me-
He gr,sped the reins and urged the
horses Ell, and as they sped rapidly over
the snow, Maggie sat dumb and motion
less with horror.
Only Che sledge- BELLS. bitter mock
ery-nosv broke the stiffness. She began to
hope they had been deceived, or the
wolves bad lost the scent when quick,
loud cr' bursting from the whole pack,
scarcelya hundred yards away, reused
her FROM her apathy, and drove Tracy al
most into afrenZy. He cast the reins vio-
lently from him and sprang from the
sledge, living the horses as he did so
heavy lash with the whip that sent them
yards away from where he was standing.
Maggie comprehended dimly that he
would take to tree for safety. Then her
ewn dangerous situation aquired all her
attention.
And low the courage OF IA western
woman, inured to hardships and dangers
of ali klnds, asserted its existence. She
wound the reins tightly around her slend-
er hands and drew the horses in for
brief ana much-needed rest, and to calcu-
late upon her chances of life, without Civ
ing another thought to her cowardly cav
aler.
A faint sound, resembling the first pat
tering of rain-drops on forest leaves, warn
ed her that her time was limited with an
encouraging word To the horses, she
touched them with the whip. Away they
dashed with the speed Of the wind On!
on guiding them with steady hand,
the wide open plain was soon left far be-
hind, and Maggie held her breath hard,
as they dashed with lightning speed un-
der the boughs Of the seconed stretch of
woodlaad. Faster and faster through the
thick woods, thanking God that the faint
glimmnr of moonbeams through the dark
trees enabled her TO keep in straigh
road A faint light ahead she bent for
ward to look, and once more they dashed
out on an open plain, the only one that
lay between herself and the yillagc-and
safety The first house was passed an
other, and another. For the first time re-
laxing her firm hold, she drew sigh OF
intense relief, and vcntured glance be
hind her.
A cry of horror. burst from her lips
Never abating their speed in the least,
the whole pack of iamished animals, with
loud cries, poured into the road towards
the villsge, and surrounded the sledge
she fel$ them dash by her, their hot
breath tanning her face, and, with NUT
tered prayer for mercy frozen on her lips,
she sank lifeless 20 the bottom of the
vehicle
Wheh her father lifted her out and car
ried her to house near at hand, friendly
neighb0rs rubbed down the painting and
lTeinDhHp dulludIs, giving theiH tHell
due praise, in having so nobly saved their
fair charge and themselves from fearful
death.
| Harry and Mr.. Martin came out of the
village in time TO see the danger, and the
poor girls terror had deafened her to the
shots fired in her defense. However she
soon rallied sufficiently to tell OF her own
thougA3lessness, that had so nearly cost
her her life, and of Tracy's desertion.
Mere than one brow grew dark at its
recital, and hard hands were clinched in
rage.
They had no opportunity to avenge it,
however, for Arthur Tracy was never
seen in the neighborhood again, and only
note, sent to the inn, requesting the re-
turn Of his trunk, told Of his safety.
This adventure cffectually cleared the
''dazAai of gold' from Maggie's eyes; and
when the roses over the little low house
opened their first buds in the early sum
mer. Maggie became MIS-. Henry Nelson;
and if lhere is any person of whom she
thoroughly dislikcs being reminded, it is
the "brave" companion of her ride for life