The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-08-14

for the cloud now appeared to be NOV
Ing rapidly and in their direction. There
was a sound of galloping, scrunching
Of light footsteps on the snow.
Look, mother! at all those dogs"
called out the eldest child-a boy. do
they want to come and play with us?
they seem to be in hurry to overtake
us. Why do you look so pale, mother =?
1 am not afraid of dogs!'
But l don't like these dogs" said
the eldest girl, leaning out Of the s,edge
to see for herself; they have such long
teeth, and look so hungry. I wish they
would go away"
poor thing, was deficient, having had a
fall On her head as baby. Little OF
tile. the youngest, crouched against
her mother who flung her thick mantle
over her with the hand that held the
refns. With the other she grasped a
pistol
BE quiet. my dear Ones" she whis-
pered; L am going to fire, but do not
stiri"
At that instant, a lean gray form
bounded up to the sledge, fixing a pair
Of hungry eyes upon the children Pras-
covia fired, and the form rolled over in
the snow. But another had galloped up
on her right side, and was already
pulling at the fur covering.
She dealt him blow ON the muzzle
with her empty pistol, and he, too, fell
behind with a loud yelD.
There was a moments respite The
horses, which had reared and dashed
forwards at the report, quieted down
under their mistress firm handling, and
PraScoV1a took a moment to glance be-
hind her.
The danger was even greater than
she had Imagined. The whole pack
was tearing, snarling, galloping, with
In few PAGES. She fired the remain
ing pistol into their midst, and flung
out all the store Of food she had; and
this gave her another few minutes of
grace, as the shot had evidently star
tied the wolves, and one or two turned
and fled UP the hill
All now depended upon the speed of
the small horses, and the possibility of
their reaching Kutsk before the pack
could once more gain, upon them
Vain hope! the gallant little beasts
were nearly exhausted; they relaxed
their speed; three or four cleaning eyes
were already alongside the sledge-
must all perish, great God!
The distracted mother caught
up her imbecile, soul-less little one, for
1t had been the one least loved of the
rather, and let it fall among the howl
ing pack.
Another pause; then advancing
sounds, noisier, more horrible than be-
fore. The eldest girl, screaming and
stretching out her hands to her sister
was seized by gigantic wolf and car
ried off.
And now were only left the pride of
his mothers heart, her handsome, SIX
year-old son. Ivan, and Ottilie, the
three-year-old child, the fathers
hearts delight. She was safe at pres
ent, huddled under the great fur rug.
but Ivan, mad with terror, had flung
himself upon his mothers knees. seiz.
ing the reins and nearly pulling the
| horses UP.
She had to release his hands. Her
husbands life, her little daughters
were at stake. She closed her ewes
and when she opened them, Ivan
her noble boy, had disappeared
For the first time. q
| scream Of mortal agony ESCAPED
from her lips, and she half fiuns
herself from the sledge. Death. fol
| herself, would indeed be an angel OF
deliverance; but what, without her
| would become of her remaining child
| and Of her beloved husband, living he.
tween life and death in a miserable
isba in the heart OF the lonely for.
On they went. The light of the vii
LACE showed not q verst off: couple