The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1897-01-16
And-wcll, I asked no permission OF


in Richland County, Ohio. too long to
stand on ceremony. The hotel in
which / had engaged room was a
quarter OF mile from the depot, but
Helen preferred to walk. and just then
l could have carried all her sstchels
and her into the bargain, if it had
been necessary.
l at once noticed that she seemed
very reticent, and the more I tried to
| engage her, explaining how glad and
| happy I was, how long the days had
been, how beautiful she looked to me,
the less she said. My heart began to
sink as thought she might already be
sorry she came. could not see her
face for there was heavy veil oven
it, but could feel her hand treuble
| in mine.
We had scarcely entered our room
when she put her hands to her face
and began to sob as though her heart
was breaking. I was alarmed. She
had taken chair, and, the cold sweat
oozing from my face. / knelt beside
her to speak consollng word, trying
at the same time to master my own
feelings. could say but little, and
only to make her sob the more. AT
last raising her eyes-her head had
been resting on my shoulder, and l
could see she made superhuman
effort to calm herself-she said: lob,
Will, you-you are frightened, for
give me. bnt you would not DE ii you
knew how happy I am. IL"
But in my mad delight at that mo-
ment, / checked her attempt to say
more. I could read the truth in her
face and / was satisfied. There was a
simple wedding at the manse that
evening. There was one sentence that
old man of God, who united US, uttered
| that is fresh in my memory yet:
civilian, I give to you this beautiful
virgin bride, who freely commits her.
self and the priceless treasures true
woman possesses, into your care; may
she never have reasons to regret it. T"
And the steel in his eyes seemed to
pierce my very soul as he measured
| the words.
The next morning, seated upon the
bottom of the big sleigh, with our
backs to large box and snugly
tucked about by robes and blankets,
we set our faces toward the rolling
prairie. II was two hours after noon
when we halted before the log tavern
in Martinsburg, village Of half a
dozen houses on the Wapsie. After
seeing that Jane and Sue, my faithful
horses, were we'll cared Tor, We sat
down to a steaming dinner of corn
bread, venison and potatoes. Helen
was as hungry as she seemed happy.
"They stare at me SO, she whis-
pered, glancing toward group OF men
seated around big heater.
''l'd feel like thrashing the whole
lot of them il they didn't" / ex-
claimed in an undertone.
1t was four O'Clock before We were
ready to resume our ride. ''You had
better remain over night" observed
the old innkeeper as started for my
team. "Fifteen miles is u long dis
lance to make this time of day and the
road is heavy over the divide"
az am anxious to reach home to.
night" said. fastening.
"Perhaps you are, bat you had bet
ter listen to me; I don't like to see
yon set out with that pretty young
wife in this cold; besides, we'd like to
make you little party"
What reason I had for cursing my
self that did not heed his advice, was
soon to be wildly demonstrated; bat
knew what jingle there would be
all night If remained.
Scarcely half the distance was made
before darkness set IN. A mild wind
from the south had drifted the snow
and made travelling for the horses
somewhat heavy. When We had
reached q small quaking asp grove,
through which the track ran, stopped
to examine the load, harness, etc., to
see that all was right for the drive In
the dark.
To my horror. / discovered that a
large ham had been dragging. no tell
ing how far, by the rope with which
it had been, as supposed, securely
fastened. The few yelps I had heard
behind us before we stopped now viz.
idly came to mind. hatilY jumped
into the sleigh, at the same time cluck.
ing sharply to the horses. We had
not covered mile before huge
chorus of barks, familiar enough to
me, became distinctly audible to US.
"Are those wolves we hear, WHIP
questioned Helen eagerly, as the noise
drew nearer. J answered her with az
effort at indifference, at the same time
pressing her lips; but know she must
have felt my arm about her tremble.
The barking wss now without inter
walls, and some of the brutes were al
ready ABOUT the sleigh. I knew the
chances against us, should the wolves
attack the horses, which they were al.
most certain to do and there was also
imminent danger of toe team getting
loose from the sleigh, or the sleigh
Ecapsizing.
"rake the lines moment, Helen,
/ said, quickly rising; ''wrap them
about your hands go, and pull steadily
on them; be sure you don't let them
drop; the horses are little excited,
you sse," / then threw off nv heavy
coat and mi!tens that my limbs AMI
hands might be free, and reaching for-
ward over the dash into long, mar
row boz, where kept few tools to
use in cases OF emergency, ! grasped "a