Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-09-27
aAnd what had the wolf done to Won.

HE had seized our little Minka and
would have eaten her up" Iyanka
drew sharp breath.
How terrible!" exclaimed the
prince. But YOU midget! How did
you dare to tackle such foe? 1t is
incredible! Come, tell me all about
IT. Begin at the beginning, Ivanka.
iyanka gazed at the ground in 81
lence. He twisted one leg around the
other and cracked all his knuckles in
succession, but the words would not
come.
Speak, Ivanka, do" came wo-
mans coaxing voice from the gloom.
Tell his high nobility how 1t happen
ed.y
Another pause. and at length, in a
shy, hesitating voice, 1yanka began:
Mother had gone to the town in
the sledge, and father lay asleep on
the Top of the stove. 1t was afternoon.
l was minding Minka, and we played
at having n shop with bits of pot from
the mug Minka broke. Then remem-
bered it was time to cut the fodder and
feed the beasts, which / can do as
well as father now. So took the fod-
der knife and stole out. left the door
open bit not enough to let the cold
In on father, but enough to hear Mlnka
If she cried. had fed the cows in the
byre and had got to the corner of the
house coming back, when heard
Alinka scream"
AS Ivanka uttered the last word his
breath came fast. He tossed back his
locks with sudden jerk of the head.
Like n gladiator preparing for COM
bat he threw out his chest, setting his
teeth, while his small, muscular fingers
contracting. doubling in like claws of
a falcon. Forgotten was the princely
presence with that plteous appeal
shifting his ears.
II sprang forward" he continued,
"and saw Minka. She was on the
ground just outside the door, and over
her hung a monster grim and terrible.
His wicked eyes cleaned red, and his
cruel teeth were long and sharp.
saw them as he lifted his bristling lip
to seize her in his jowl."
A dry sob arose in Ivanka's throat
and made him pause. He coughed 1t
impatiently away.
1T seemed to me then-just for n
moment of horror-as though my limbs
were bound and could not move, I'M
tilthe besat began to drag NIinka away.
At the sight strength came to me, and,
with a yell, threw myself upon him. !"
You We're not afrafd?" put in the
prince, who had never taken his eyes
Off the boy since he began to speak.
Il did not think of fear" replied
1vanka. II though of my poor little
Minka. and, oh, how fiercely hated
that monster! Hate kills fear" he
added reflectively.
And theny inquired the prince.
"Oh, then he dropped Minka, and
over and over we rolled In the snow.
he snarling and worrying my sheep
skin. He would have made an end of
me but for my sheepskin.' And the
boy patted his breast and looked him
self over complacently.
After that he shook me until my
bones ratified in my skin. Then 1
was under him, and my mouth was
full of his hair, and was so spent
that would have let him finish me,
but Minka cried, Ivanla, Ivanka!
and 1t seemed too hard to leave her.
1t was that moment remembered
that still grasped the knife.
How struggled round between his
mighty paws until my arm was free
to plunge the weapon in his throat 1
know not. but l felt the blood gush
out over my face. And then-and then
Minka's voice went farther and far
Their away, and seemed to be falling
as n star falls through the air.
AS Iyanka ceased speaking n half
stitied sob was heard from the inter
Tor of the room. The prince had COW
cred his eyes with his hand as though
dazzled, yet the sun had gone down
and the place was more gloomy than
ever The peasant stepped forward
out of the shadows and stood before
the prince in the dim light of the win
dow. He took up the tale
1T was the screams of the little one
that awoke me, your high nobility. and
l ran out. All, never shall i forget the
sight that met my eyes. There lay my
little son, dabbled in blood. and be-
side him the wolf on its back. kicking
In death commissions. When I picked
up my lyanka. I thought him dead.
and my heart would have broken had
he not at once opened his eyes.
"Aiinka,' he whispered--.is she
hurtY
My darling, no. answered. She
screams too Justify to be hurt
And the WOLFF He raised his head
from my shoulder and looked wildly
around.
He is dead. You have slain him,
my HERO assured him.
"Then he shut his eyes with a great
sigh.
"Let me sleep, father he muir
INJURED. I am SO tired"
The peasant chuckled. HE was
played out, my little wolf slayer. The
noble prince should have seen how he
lay like sack and slept and slept"
Meanwhile Iyanka had grown shy
again and gazed wistfully toward the
door; but the prince still held him be-
tween his knees. Even when he rose
to go the high noble detained the boy
with hand ON his head.
Give him to me-" he said to the
peasant Let me take him with me
when ! so to Petersburg. will make
a great man of him. He shall be a
soldier and fight for the Car
There was dead silence. The peas
ants face had gone crimson. His eyes
flew to his son and held him in jealous
regard.
"Will YOU go with me. Iyanka, you
wolf slayer, to help keep the human
wolves from invading the dominions
of the Gar? You shall be taught with
the sons of the highest In the land and
shall wear the uniform of an imperial
cadet.'
Ivanka raised solemn eyes to the
face that was bent toward him. 1t
was noble face, handsome and he