The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1898-03-29

but no answer came.
Suddenly she stopped and gazed into
the gloom with straining eyes; then
she pressed her hand TO her heart, reeled
and almost tainted. There, not 80 yards
away. stood BasilI
1t was but for moment that she so
yielded to her conflicting emotions.
Conqueiing her feelings, she rushed
forward AID oiasped the child to her
breast. As tie now oyerjoyed mother
did so, to her horror, looking up into
the tangled foliage. she perceived a
huge panther, stretched, crcuching,
upon an extended bough, apparently
ready to spring. Probably the brute
had only then observed Basil, for now,
upon his mothers approach, il hesitat-
ed to attack. lashing its tawny sides
with its tail, as if to work itself into
state of greater fury.
What was to be done? A weak wom-
an was powerless against the strongest
and fiercest denizen of the New Eng
land woods.
Scarcely knowing what she did, the
poor mother seized her child and turned
to fly. AS she did so, the panther made
it's spring.
Owing to the height and the distance,
it sprang short. barely touching the
rock upon Which the two were stand
ing, and fell backward.
The respite was but brief. Recover
ing itself, the savage beast returned to
the attack. .e4vs----
Mrs. Flanders clasped Basil closer to
her side, being resolved, in her despera-
ton, that the destroyer should only
reach his life through herself.
She could not escape by fight, and
had no means of defense. She could
only wait and pray.
Once more the assailant made its at
tack this time with greater measure
of success. 1t struck the edge of the
rock, and managed to cling to it. Strug-
Cling desperately to recover itself. it
stretched forward until it's jaws seemed
but short yard from its intended vic
tim.
At this moment overweight nature
gave way under the strain. and she
swooned. As for BASIL, he Lad hidden
his face in his mothers gown.
Meanwhile, Reginald Flanders sold
his corn, and expended the proceeds in
-four, sugar, small, priced packet of
tea for his wife, powder and lead, and
other simple necessaries.
Having transacted his business. he
set out on the journey honcward. The
sun rose high in the heavens, and, an
ticipating no evil, he suffered the slow
paced plow-horse to subside into a
walk.
There was JOY in the calm peaceful
ness Of the surrounding wilderness.
The birds were merry, the sea cleaned
behind him like glass, the hills rose on
either side. lie was surrounded by the
pure beauties of nature, and the sweet
ness OF contcntment filed his soul. lie
seemed TO cream, and left the horse TO
wander as it liked.
How it occurred Reginald Flanders
could never tell To his surprise, arous-
ing himself from pleasing reycrie, he
found that Dobbin must have taken the
wrong course, for they were on the up
per instead of the lower side of the
WEST Rock"
This mattered little, excepting that
it made the journey somewhat longer;
for which he was sorry, as he knew his
wife would be looking out for his com
ing; only now he must cross the stream
high up in the woods. So, pressing the
faithful old horse into an apology for a
trot, he pursued his way.
AT length he came to the PERCEPTIONS
bank of the brook, down which with
some difficulty he guided his horse.
Pursuing downward course in the di-
rection of his home, he was suddenly
startled by a shrill, weird cry.
10 sounded as if ii were the voice of
his wife, and yet it was strangely I'M
like. What was it? What couldit por-
tend?
There 1t rang again. Some one must
be in dire peril.
There was no time for delay. The
mystery must be solved at once. For
ward
The old horse numbered heavily on,
over rocks and projecting tree-stumps,
but its best efforts failed to keep pace
with its masters ever-increasing anx-
iety.