The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1909-06-17

I Fleyd entered, nolsily stamping the
snow from his feet
Thought I'd come back and have an.
other talk with Lorena," he began.
"Oh, Floyd, she's gone after your
cried the distracted woman, wringlng
her hands. 81 saw her footprints point.
ing toward the bluff. She got sorry
light after you left"
"I1l find her, said Floyd quickly.
Don't worry" And he dashed back
into the storm.
When Lorena softly closed the kltch
en- door she could just see Floyd round
ing the bluff.
"Floydl Oh. Floyd, come back" she
called, all her reserve gone her fierce
pride thrown TO the stormy winds that
blew the fringe of her shawl into her
eyes.
Realizing that he could not hear her,
she started after him, but by the time
she had covered half the distance sea
Of white swept In between and bbtted
him from view.
She hurried on, calling his name re.
peatedly. but the furious wind tore at
her breath and walled her about with
feecy clouds. She never even made the
bluff.
And when she found that she had
missed II and tried to retrace her steps
the drift had filed her tracks If she
could only strike the trail! In despera
ton she turned to the right and turned
TO the left. but one turn Offset the
other
Thus she struggled on and ON and
still on until In spite Of the biting cold
the perspration burst from every pore
This was well enough as long as she
kept moving, but when the time came
that she must stop she would freeze
all the quicker for her present warmth
This. being born and bred Of the
northland, Lorena knew. and the
knowledge kept her toillng tolllng on
until her tired limbs compelled
pause In the shelter Of bluff. She
leaned painting against a rock, all un-
conscious Of pair Of eyes which
glared from willow thicket near by.
While she rested the green lights in
the eyes Gared brighter, long red
tongue licked the grinning jaws hun.
grily, and forth from his covert stole
a lank, gray wolf.
Lorena uttered frightened cry.
This was no coyote. TO be chased with
stick, but wolf OF timber stock, a
great beast. strong as n mastiff. lie
emitted low sDarls as he skunk In half
circles across her front. He was I'M
decided.
SO while he circled, preparing for
spring. drawing little nearer at every
turn, Lorena fell Blackjack toward
the bluff, keeping her white face al.
ways TO the creeping beast
With sudden inspiration she took OF
her heavy shawl and threw 1t. blanket.
wise, over the VOLTS head and then
fed desperately. Once clear OF the
shrub she ran on, plungDg through |
drifts, stumbling, falling, to rise again |
and push her flight
or direction she took no heed. Her
only thought was TO place distance be-
tween herself and the fnmisbed brute |
But when. weary and breathless. she
paused to rest. out OF the drab drift /
stole the lank. gray shadow.
With a terrified shrek Lorena ran
and ran and ran as the tired doe runs
from the hounds. At last she stopped,
spent, unable TO take another step
Looking around. she saw the wolf, Hex
Ing his hungry jaws, croucbng for the
final spring. With bitter cry she fell
upon her knees and closed her eyes.
Just then two shots rang out IN
quick succession. Looking up. she saw
Floyd Jordan, with bis smoking re
Volycr IN bis hand, standing over the
PROSTATE beast.
"Fioyd. oh, Floydr' she sobbed as
be came 70 her with eyes tender and
anxious. He picked her up from the
snow. wrapped her In bis coat and
held her against bis breast
The storm WAS lifting FarrelI's
,abin could be plainly discerned not
! quarter Of mile distant
I'm dead sure now III build that
,abIn on my claim" Floyd said as they
'tarted homewsrd