The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-08-27

it 81 tl.cir next meeting.
Tic Earct homlc, as stated above,
wa; siluaicd rear large forest, which
has now gwen Place 20 a pO?rlous and
Gor.ishiug neighborhood. This forest
lad once been famous 'sr the terrible
wolves which h9uniel II in the winter
season. or late yeas they had disap-
reared. bit nov, a. the winter set fairly
in. thcy came again. or course, popu-
ar prciudice ct once declared that these
monsters trcrc ROT real wolves, but wehr-
wolves. or. in other words. the Nagots
who inhai ted tlc hamlet. and this was
The occasion 81 renewed prosecutions.
..aric and Alfred continued TO meet in
Tie forest, and if they knew that the
wolves were there aid no attention to
them.
Late one afternoon Marie started out
20 cut some wood for her hut. Taking
Ter ha:chct. she set out, and, although 1t
was late and the distance long, bent her
stcps toward that part of the wood where
she usually met her oyer, hoping she
micht see bin there Arriving at the
SPOT. she saw nothing Of hl.a. and as The
Garkrcss nas coming on. fell 81 once to
chorrirg Ecr wood
She soon obtained a sufficient entity
and was abOut 90 return home, WH.n she
saw him coming toward the forest
When he Joined her hc said IL was 50 late
that lie would walk with her portion oil
the way toward her home lie told her
be was ready 20 90 with her TO some dis
tant part Cf The country ard get married,
as soon rs the spring should SET IN, and
tia: shc must make her preparations TO
90 with him. This she readily promised
90 90. bat willie she was speaking loot
falls were heard, and Alfred turncdaway
and plunged into The gloom of the woods
TO escape recognition. Marie fell at
once o choppmg wood but she was 80
nervous and excited that she cat her
hand badly with her Ratchet. and while
she was trying 10 bind it up man came
up With her. and in a harsh tone aaid.
What are you doing here, giri, at
this hour
She glanced at him in alarm, fof she
recognized his voice IL was Dcl, Thayer,
who had been the chief Of her perse-
cutors on the day she was rescued 10y
Uncle E0en.
"Whnt are sou here for, l say?' lie
continued, Gercely BY ST. Peter, |
think YOU are lying in wait for some
honest fellow who may chance 20 pass
this way after niShtfall But III put
stop to that. v
With these words he sprang at her,
and v1enching her hatchet from her
hand aimed a terrible blow at her.
She eluded it, and after a desperate
effort managed to escape. and fed into
the woods, pursued by Thayer. 1t was
dark and gloomy III among the trees. and
she paused few yards from where she
had started. aud her blood froze with
horror as she bcheld two bright eyes
shining before her IN the darlness. Dick
Thaycr saw them, too, and paused for q
moment in dismay; md 6iarie, taking
advantage Of this, slipped by him un-
observed. and. regoiiing the path, fled
hOmcward.
Well might Dick Thaycr pause and
utter aa exclamation e dismay. Straight
before him stood q large she wolf, with
her bright eyes glaring iierce!y at him
and her huge gray form standing out
boldly amid the gloom. Dick was not a
coward. AID in this case he saw that bis
onl, safety lay in making 4 good, bold
fight for life So he grasped the Ratchet
firmly and breathed short prayer. As
he did so tie animal uttered a savage
growl and sprang at his throat
4 sharp, short struggle followed, il
which Dick was sorely put to it to defend
himself At last, however, he gave the
wolf deep cut in the fore paw, and,
with a yell of baflled rage, the animal
I turned and fled from him, leaving him a
/ little scratched and bruised, bat in no
wise badly hurt
Now, as he had come 50 suddenly upon
| the wolf while in pursuit OF the young
Nacot girl. and as he was firm believer
in the wehrwolf superstition, Dick
Thayer did not for instant doubt that
the wolf lie had fought was no other than
Marie il her lupine form.
When Dick, upon his return TO the
village, had told his story, the people
went wild with excitement.
Down with the Nagots!" was the cry
that went up.
Yes" said Dick, down not only
with this Nagot but with the whole
race
Not so fast. my friends, cried one
of the crowd. LET us go TO the she
wolf's den and take vengeance upon her,
and burn the den over her head. We
have nothing rs yet to punish the rest
for, but we can rid ourselves Of this one.
But" be added, turning to Dick. did
you not say that YOU wounded the wolf
IN the fore pawI'
Most undoubtedly l did, replied
Dick. sin the left fore paw.
Then, said another. "if this girl Is
guilty OF the charge you bring against
her, she will have the mark of the wound
on the left arm or hand Let us so to
the she VOLTS den."
With an angry shout the crowd
rushed madly toward the Nagot hamlet
As they neared the locality their cries
and shouts reused the poor wretches
from their slumbers, and caused them to
tremble with dread, for they thought
their hour had como But the mob