Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-03-31

look forward to a night-how horrible
| did not fOrsee, or / could not have
endured il. What follows / could
scarcely credit myself, if ! did not bear
on my hand a tangible proof of it in a
well-defned scar and, even now, ]
could not bear to write of that nights
experience had not my children 5
laughter and loving husbands care long
since bsnished all unnatural gloom from
my life.
While had been sitting alone on
the lakeshore, toward the evening,
had heard distant shot: it scarcely
reused me. A sportsman, ] thought,
had wandered from his encampment
on the opposite shore, had seen some
game in our wild woods, killed it, and
his canoe had long since carried him
away. In the gathering darkness !
grouped my way back through the fa-
mlliar path had reached my own door
l alone should pass tie threshold in the
future; their feet were still; the busy
feet that had toiled Cor me. followed
me, and had been ever near me! | was
TO 20 on my rugged path alone! Heart
sick and overcome, | stopped at the
door, and, leaning my head against it,
sobbed in uncomfortable despair Tired
out at length, ! had grown quiet, and
was just about to lift the latch, when a
faint moan, as of an animal in pain, and
close to me, startled me; then death
like silence reigned.
| knew | had not been mistaken. |
felt that ] must forget myself and help
the poor creature in distress. 1T is
very good for strength to know that
some needs you to be strong No long
er hesltating, | hurried into the little
cabin, struck light, and went in the
direction whence the moan had reached
my ears. ! thought of the shot | had
heard. 1t was quite possible poor,
wounded deer was lying in the bushes.
Yes! | could now see it's skin-un-
mistakably fawn--spotted dun.color.
1t lay quite still--perhaps that moan
had been its dying gasp!--and so |
came quite close to it, leaned over, and,
paral yzed with horror, saw my moth
ers face, only young and very beauti-
ful, as she must have looked when
girl. Deathly pale, dead, possibly, she
lay, clothed in doe skin. Just then
she stirred; it was not death All won,
der ceased with me, every feeling fled
before the thought that this being
whatever, whoever she was, might be
saved to live.
| dragged her few steps into the
house. laid her on my hemlock boughs,
untouched by me since the sickness
visited US. Then found a wound in
the poor creatures side and bound it
up, bathed her head. and, in the quiet,
ew.again felt startled at seeing my
mothers image, young and fair before
me, and when at length her great eyes
opened, ] felt it must be that sister lest
to me till now, and sent back in this
SAD hour to take my mothers place. |
leaned forward in an excess of tender
ness, to welcome her, when look of
fright, an anlmal-like, wild terror took
possession of her face, and in low sort
of snar! broke from her human lips.
The start she gave caused fresh
flow of Blood dimness passed over her
eyes. Again | staunched the wound,
and prepared nourishment in case she
walked. Too busted in these ways for
further speculation, only with strong
weight on my heart and WEAKNESS of
body, suddenly I felt the CLEAN of
eyes watching me. Such strange eyes
No human expression about them a
stealthy look in them now. Gently as
| could | approached her side. She
trembled and tried to hide her head
when | offered her my carefully pre-
pared food. l moved away and studi
ously avoided any appearance of watch.
ing her. Yet was intensely conscious
of her every movement. ! could see
her cycling eagerly with wretched
family look, raw vension steak that
had been forgotten and lay on the table
close beside her. Suddenly, like
beast Of prey, her feeble hand stole to-
ward it, and in moment she had torn
it in pieces and devoured it.
Horror filled my heart Could this
creature be human? | sat sIiIl in the
corner, where, myself unseen, could
watch and restrain her if necessary,
and weakness overcoming her
after this last effort she lay tossing in
an uneasy sleep.
Oh! / was so weary and so very
lonely The dreadful night was al
most at an end. went to her side,
threw myself on the bed beside her.
md put my arms about her neck.
Again her wonderful eyes opened full
n my face. | fixed them with my own.
caressed her, called her by the en-
learing names of old. ! besought her
20 be gentle and to love me- | told
Ter she was my own, the only creature
eft for me to love and care for One
short second it seemed as if a soul
ooked out of her glorious. deer-like
,yes, then, with a groan, as if she gave
he struggle over, and with that low,
earful growl again, she fastened her
white teeth in my hand.
,,,,+l, tbn x,o;,, | fajpfaI