The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-08-02
An Encounter with a Panther.

William Glenn, a young, powerful and
athletic man, left Portsmouth as early us
the year 1904, and with his wife and three
ycar-old daughter. travelled northward un-
til the lofty tower of Mount Washington
shut out the polar star. In a quiet, secu-
dcd dell-now comprised in the township of
Jackson-hc fixed his rough Lighthouse, and
built up his family altar. Broad acres of
rich woodland, yet unmutilatcd by the de-
stroying hand of civilization, stretched out
their green waving pillows far toward FL
lis river, and the morning. sunshine looked
down on the dell with wealth of lfc-giv-
ing power in Its warm beams.
lrtruth, a lovelier spot than Crag Dell
could not be found for leagues; and, al
though the nearest human habitation was
seven miles away, the Glcnns were a happy
family-living, as they did, in little king
dom OF their own, unmolestcd and un-
troubled.
The prcttiest thing about the place was
the bluc-eycd little Maggie, the sweet child
who stood by her mothers side one mag
nificent September morning, and begged to
be allowed to 60 out to a knoll but few
rods from the cabin, for whortleberries
which grew very thick and large there. At
first, Mrs. Glenn demurrcd, for there was
much danger to be apprchcnded from rat
tlcsnakcs, which were quite numerous in
tho vicinity; but at last, won over from
discretion by two round bright tears which
glistencd in Maggle's eyes, she gave her
consent; enjoining 1t upon her child not TO
go out of sight of the cabin.
With mothers pride and care did Mrs.
Glenn watch the little form until she saw
Maggie at the knoll busily engaged in cap
turing the delicious fruit; and thenswith
cheerful face she returned to her spinning.
Ever and anon the busy hum of the wheel
would cease; and the mothers face pressed
the window to see if Maggie still remained
upon the knoll. At last she looked forth,
and frightful change fell upon her as she
lookedl Her cheek became white as ashes
"a deadly collness settled in all her limbs;
she would have shreked, but her lips were
sealed.
There, on the bold rock which ovcrh,lng
the knoll, where Maggie yet knelt in child
ish satisfaction, fast filling the bucket with
blue berries, crouched an immense panther,
evidently preparing for the fatal leap.
Mothers! judge Of tho feelings Of that
mother Far from human aid--her hus-
band at work in the interval two miles be-
low-and a panther about to devour her
only childl The golden hair would be dab
bled in red blood the lips which had 80
often been pressed to hers in the rich kiss Of
holy affection, would be torn and crushed
between the ravenous jaws of the monster.
In that hour Martha Glenn thought only
of her child. She reflected not on the
danger to which she exposed herself, in
venturlng forth In sight of the terrible ami
NAL. She remembered only that her child
---tle child sle had nourislled at her breast,
and who, for six happy years had slept in
her bosom-was In peril Forth she sped,
her hands upraised--hcr eyes fixed in move
less agony upon the horrible ta6leau.
The panther gave q low growl Of delight,
as his restless eyes fell on his new victim !;
his toll lashed the ground in his rage; his
red tongue CLEANED savagely over his white
cleaning teeth, and his glaring eyes seemed
tiving Goals Of fire d q
Unheeding Rll--all but her child -the
distracted mother sped on; the low, sweet
voice OF her darling reached her through
the dead air--f Maggie was singing TO
herself a quaint old ballad Of long ago. In
an instant, Maggie was struggling In her
mothers arms and that mother, with the