Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1910-01-20
IA QUESTION.
The Story Of a Winter
Nights Ride

All that a skillful, Intelligent physi-
sian could do for his patient you
nave done for me. Herr Professor, and
yet after these many weeks my shat
tereo nerves are no stronger, my
physical condition no better. There
fore. although touch upon the sub
Ject with extreme reluctance, I feel IL
my duty to make q confession which
VIII help you better to understand my
mysterious malady." With a quiet mo-
uon OF the hand the doctor invited fur
tner confidence. and the pale, haggard,
Out stu beautiful woman began:
Il am only - years old, but
strangers would take me for almost
twice that age. Not SO very long ago
l was a blooming, vigorous young crea-
lure In perfect health, unconscious Of
the meaning OF nerves. About three
years ago 1 married; my husband owns
large estates. partly near Vienna.
Partiy In Galicia on the Russian from
uer, from which our ample income
is derived. We lived for a time In
vienna with my husbands parents.
ana Iater at our country house in
Loons,a' where my little daughter was
oorn--a frail. Nny creature whose hold
on life seemed alsrminsly slight"
Here the young woman paused for a
moment. overcome By painful memo
ries.
you can well imagine how We
adored this child; how its every
breath, every motion, claimed our
eager attention We were as one In
our love for our little baby. though II
seemed as II my husband tried
at times to Guido me In tender.
ness. He would even reproach me
though with the soul of gentleness in
his tons-for loving the child less
tnan he did. This was an injustice.
OF course-you well know, doctor. that
no man could love a child as its moth
er loves it-but later this reprcach
assumed an ominous meaning. I
should add that nay husband loved me
as truly and faithfully as loved him ::
ne was the soul OF gentleness and
goodness toward me. and was pos
sessed OF a tact and fneness of feel
ing rare among men.
But to my story. It was winter.
and we were staying at Lodnaja. near
the boundary Of Russia. One day a
telegram came announcing the danger.
Gus illness Of my husbands mother.
ana begging that we, including the
baby, start at once for Vienna. The
probably dying woman yearned to see
all her beloved ones once more be-
Iore the end came It was no trifiing
ordeal for ne. with a delicate child
not yet year old, to make such a
journey In the dspth Of winter. but
who could refuse the last wish of q
beloved mother on her death bed?
We made the necessary prepare.
lions with all possible haste, and a
few hours later were eeated in the
sleigh which was to take us the long,
desolate stretch, three hours across
country to the nearest railway station.
MY husband drove, seated alone on
the front seat; /, behind him, held our
child warmly wrapped In furs; we
took no attendants.
1T grew dark very early; the i'm.
measurable desert OF snow lay before
us In deathlike sleep under the star
strewn heaven. The snow cracked
an Icy frost caught our breath. Our
horses were excellent; IL they held
their pace and no accident occurred
we might hope to reach the station by
IL o'clock that night.
My baby SLEPT calmly In my arms
About ten o'clock the moon rose
behind us-gigantic, red, wavering on
the edge of the ocean of snow.
looked back, awed with the splendos
OF the scene-ths widening circle OF
light which seemed to pour down upor
us like a glistsning icy stream. SUD
denly, quite at the edge OF the white
world, far, far distant, as If evolved
out Of nothing, a small dark mass ap
peared, with changing outline which
seemed to follow in our wake. For &
few moments ! felt no uneasiness. but
as the dark blot drew nearer, o m,
God! I knew thon the awful truth: 4
was the wolves-a great, furious
starving pack!
Fleet, noiseless. ghostlike, they
sped toward US, one stronger and
swifter than the others leading.
Il gripped my husbands shoulder
~ eAC ouAAO Ahbb6AS u WOA uOWlo0
hoarse cry OF menace which fount
echo in a score OF eager, famishet
threats. My husband raised his whit
and struck the horses with full force
like a boat on q high wave the sleisl
lurched as the frightened beast,
dashed forward. Behind us tn,
bowling ceased, but on the frozel
snow we could plainly hear the natter
ing foot-bests of our pursuers.
Dumb with intense fear. 1 heard, Al
If In dream, the strained, Immature
voice OF my husband. muttering: Il
the horses can hold out, II nothin,
breaks, we may pull through: we MAJ
be saved. God, we must arrive II
| time!'
With never q glance behind. b,
leaned forward and struck the horse,
a