Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1908-09-04
The Stranger Girl.
tOriGinai

s1earest railway station There was 5p her face none of that free from .eare look natural to girls of her age, out serious. rcsoutc expression as ShoMgi she were intent upon some great purpose She had no baggage except leather travelling bag. which Was noticeable for she was not Of the peasant class. who are often too poor ts have any clothes except those on fbeir backs, but ono of an intermediate people between peasant and noble.
 It happened that there had been 4yedding in the village. and the groom SyaS about to take his bride to his rarm some versts away, The journey Say im the direction of the railway. and il was agreed that the stranger girl should be permitted to accompany che bridal party and be driven on be- yond the groomS farm to the station. Several friends of the young couple syere going to see the bridal couple to dheir new home Just as they were about to start a man entered the stedge without an invitation. The groom objected, whcreupon the man tRuOWeu LHc DJuSt oi SoN VI IT Vi- Sc5a, which slcnccd any further re- fusal.
 It was in the splingtine. but the asnow had not yet melted. The air was cold and penetrating. and the travel. CTS were all wrapped in fur robes. But they were a gay party. cracking Gfeir jokes and challing the newly mar gied couple Only two persons sat fnute-the government official and the stranger girl though their rigid de- eneanor had no effect in dampenng fhe spirits of the others But present. 9y, on coming to q wild tract that they were obliged to cross. they suddenly ceased their merrimcnl From the forest came q sound untitled by dis iancc. but none the less terrible "a sound known only too well io the oc cnparAS of t,e sled%" as the distant e,ayiug of wolves The lors"s threw up their heads in fright then set off a, Il "ullop The Sroum req he'd down under lhc seat aud not tinln" what lac locked for, ii1rncI .;sle.
 '.The a"nl>.. tc exclaimed Where are l'le?:'
 He lel.ed at his youn" men frir.,d : :sncees$iVrly. Nonr had put in tilr weapons. Iach hH l eXn1= led &e91!a one else to do SO. They had been Jeff behind.
 Presently from Che right and rear q dark mass came through the trees li.le black water pouring ill before a rising side. There it joined on the road aMA became a pack of wolves. There was hut one weapon in the party, and that belonged to the government official | Was Il revolver with six shots ill it's chambers. It's possession could not be considered q chancc-it was hardly even q hope It's owner drew it. cooked it and when the wolves came within range fired at tue leader and rolled him over. A few of the pack Yoounced upon the dead wolf while inc rest came on. The official fired the six shots at intervals. with each shot killing wolf, and when he had done this he had finished his defense The party were at the mercy of the wolves Though Che horses were tearing along at frantic speed. the wolves were drawing nearer every moment. When they had come to a distance of about sifty feet the stranger girl rose from t}er seat, opened her satchel took out a steel ball the size of an orange and, poising it in her right hand said:
 Il give my life to save yours. This man. referring to the government of ticial, will see that l disappear from sL hn ..tr i,,fn c. a syrant heaven wills shall go only to \ pack of wolves,'
 She threw the ball deliberately. and it came down near tue center of the pack. There was a flash. an explosion. and where the wolves had been was a vacant spot around which carcaSseS and bits of carca>SeS were spread on the snow as if hullered with Il huge knife. X few lay moaning in agony. while q few more lmped or dragged themselves away.
 The party had been saved
 All turned to the stranger @irl. the bride and her girl companions throw ing their arms about her. the nsva seiz- ing her hands and covering them with kisses. Then, when they had given full expression 10 their gratitude they turned to the government official. Who sat mute.
 What is your intention with regard to our preserver:" asked the @reom.
 She is my prisoner
 Inform on her at your peril.'
 ''1f ! don't inform oil her 1 will be at 4 peril equal to any you can intlict She was reported as being in corrcH'ond- ence with reyolutionists at the ,ital. 1 was sent by the minister of tsH in Gerior to shadow her. If l fai' ;r re- port her l will be arrested, ta rn to St. Petersburg and executed
 Friends" said the gro ',t 'i &irl has given us our lives by l A'ns .rTtrk of wolves. Is it not our ,t.. to give Der hers by killing this man whose life means her deatht'