The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-08-31
The Stranger Girl.
IorIgInaI.l

in her face none of that free from
care look natural TO girls Of her age,
but serious, resolute expression as
though 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
TO have any clothes except those on
their backs, but one of an intermediate
people between peasant and noble.
II happened that there had been a
wedding In the village. and the groom
was about to take his bride to his
farm some versts away. The journey
lay in the direction of the railway,
and It was agreed that the stranger
girl should be permitted to accompany
the bridal party and be driven on be.
yond the groom's farm to the station.
Several friends OF the young couple
were going TO see the bridal couple to
their new home. Just as they were
about to start man entered the
sledge without an invitation. The
groom objected, whereupon the man
showed the badge of government of.
fetal, which silenced any further re.
fusal.
IL was in the springtime, but the
snow had not yet melted. The air was
cold and penetrating. and the travel.
ers were all wrapped In fur robes.
But they were gay party. cracking
their jokes and chatting the newly mar
ried couple. Only two persons sat
mute-the government official and the
stranger girl-though their rigid de.
meanor had no effect in dampening
the spirits of the others. But present
ly. on coming to wild tract that they
were obliged to cross. they suddenly
ceased their merriment. From the
forest came sound muffled by dis
lance, but none the less terrible-a
sound known only too well to the oc-
cupants of the sledge as the distant
baying Of wolves. The horses threw
up their heads in fright, then set of
at gallop. The groom reached down
under the seat and. not finding what
he looked for. turned pale.
1.-THE armsr he exclaimed. "where
are they?"
He looked at his young men friends
successfully. None had put IN the
weapons. Each had expected some
one else to do so. They had been left
behind.
Presently from the right and rear
dark mass came through the trees like
black water pouring in before rising
tide. There it joined on the road and
but one weapon in the party, and that
belonged to the government official.
1t was revolver with six shots In its
chambers. Its possession could not be
considered chance-it was hardly
even hope. Its owner drew it,
rocked 1t and when the wolves came
within range fired at the leader and
rolled him over. A few of the pack
bounced upon the dead wolf, while
the rest came on. The official fired the
six shots at intervals, with each shot
killing a wolf, and when he had done
this he had finished his defense. The
party were at the mercy of the wolves.
Though the horses were tearing along
at frantic speed. the wolves were
drawing nearer every moment When
they had come to distance Of about
fifty feet the stranger girl rose from
her seat, opened her satchel, took out
n steel ball the size of an orange and.
posing 1t in her right hand said;
II give my life to save yours. This
man." referring to the government Of
ficial, "will see that | disappear from
the world. The stroke intended for
a tyrant heaven Wills shall go only to
n pack Of wolves"
She threw the ball deliberately, and
It came down near the center of the
pack. There was flash. an explosion,
and where the wolves had been was a
vacant spot around which carcasses
and bits of carcasses were spread on
the snow as IL buttered with huge
knife. A few lay moaning in agony,
while few more limped or dragged
themselves away.
Inc party ndu DteH sdNeu.
All turned to the stranger girl, the
bride and her girl companions throw
ing their arms about her, the men seiz-
ing her hands and covering them with
kisses. Then, when they had given
full expression to their gratitude, they
turned to the government official, who
sat mute.
"What is your intention with regard
to our preserver?" asked the groom.
"She is my prisoner
Uniform on her at your perilr
eff / don't inform on her | will be at
peril eqsal to any you can inhict. She
was reported as being in correspond
ence with revolutionists at the capital.
/ was sent by the minister OF the In
terror to shadow her If | fail to re-
mort her | will be arrested, taken to
st. Petersburg and executed"
"Friends," said the groom, "this girl
has given us our lives by killing a pack
of wolves. Is it not our duty to give
her hers by killing this man whose life
means her death?"
III is, responded every foice'
1t was determined to bind the man
10 tree and leave him to the wolves.
but the stranger girl would not con
sent. Then upon consultation 1t was
decided that after leaving the others
at their destination the men Of the
party should take the revolutionist be-
yond the border. They consented to
spare the life of the official on his
agreement to 60 with them. never to
return. He gladly accepted the terms.