West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1914-12-24
DARED DEATH
TO SAVE LOVER
An Intended Sacrifice Hap
PLY Averted.

vera WoS q young lkuSSlNn girl who
IL she did not belong to the peasant
class was not Tar above L. Alexis De
mldonf. the son OF wealthy gentleman
who lived In the same province as
Vera. met her one day while he was
hunting, and an Intimacy sprnng mp
between the two young people which
ended I'm love When Alexis father
heard of the attachment he forbade his
son ever 10 speak To the girl again un.
der pain of being dlslnherited This
naturally led TO clandestine meetings.
and for fear OF discovery the lovers
met In the heart OF the forest
One afternoon Vera went to the woods
To meet Alexis by appointment She
waited long while at the trysting
place. hut her lover did not come
Fearing some misfortune. she walked
toward the Demidorf home. She had
gone but n short distance when she
saw Alexis horse beside the road
Then her eye rested on his master ly.
Ing near by. The horse had thrown
him. giving him broken arm and
spralned ankle.
As soon as Vera came up the two
consulted as To what should he done
Vera proposed to mount the horse and
ride for help. but the animal refused to
be caught and ran bnck toward the
Demldofr estate.
Presently they heard distant bark
Vera. who was holding her lover I'm her
arms. with his hand In hers. gave
convulsivc clutching OF her fingers
Both knew the sound TO bc the baying
OF wolf.
IL was far distant. but II reminded
them that there were other wolves
scattered through the woods. Indeed, II
was not long before they saw within
stones throw two plarlng eyes.
Vera had had time TO prepare herself
for this She knew that Alexis could
neither stand on his feet nor hold
gun. except with one hand. ana that
the left Dlsengaging herself from
him. she seized his ride. which she had
taken the precnution L. recover. and
waited for the wolf ~ draw nearer
When he had come within proper range
she raised the rifle 10 her shoulder and
hrcd. aiming between the eyes. The
wolf, whose head was only cut by the
ball, gave n yelp and dashed away
Draw the shell quick" said Alexis
"Iie Will be- back presently"
Vern drew the shell and, taking n
cartridge from Alexis belt, fixed II In
the rifle and waited Alexis. who was
splendid shot, begged her if the wolf
returned TO hold the rife for him ana
let him fire with the gun against his
left shoulder Vera consented. and
they took the position required 10 see
how II would work. but Alexis was
Obliged TO SIT up and was so faint that
he did not dare try the experiment
When the wolf came back there were
four pairs OF glaring eyes instead OF
one Vera had lived oil her life I'm n
country infested with wolves and knew
that when one was killed the others
would eat the carcass before pushing
ON. Selecting one pair OF eyes. for she
could see nothing else OF the wolves
she fred and a wolf dropped dead
While its fellows were scrnmbllng
for the carcass Vera drew the shell OF
the exploded cartridge aud inserted
another. But this unequal contest
could not last The four wolves were
Joined by half dozen others, and the
lovers knew that AS soon as the dend
wolf had been devoured there would
be another rush which II was hopeless
that they could withstand Vera to
gain distance took hold OF Alexis under
the arms and dragged him back as far
as she was able. then. taking the rife.
she stood before him. waiting for the
wolves TO finish their meal.
Most OF the carcass was consumed.
She could hear few wolves still pick.
ing at the bones. while one or two, she
fancied, were licking their chops one
pair OF eyes appeared I'm the middle OF
the road glaring NJ her. and In a mo
ment she was sure they were drawing
nearer she raised her rife. aimed aud
pulled the trigger
The cartridge did not explode
Vera realized that thc end was at
hand. Throwing down her rifle. She
deliberately advanced 10 omer herseIf
sacrifice 20 delay o. little longer hoI
lovers death.
At the moment there were clnttes
OF horses hOofs before hor aud n shot
In an instant the wolves had vanished
HOrsemen came up ard found Vera
standing In the road sO're distance be-
fore Alexis IN the darkness they
would have run her down hud hc not
stepped aside. They were - muiy ~
the DcmdOIs Alexis horse hud gone
home without his rider and they hnd
come ont to search for BIN
Alexis was taken homo aud insisted
that Vera should go with him Dcmi
don. the father ~ Alexis. questioned
Vera. who told Tire story, leaving ont
her Intended sacrifice
"Why were you so lar I'm advance
OF my son. unarmed. when you were
fOundF nc asked
Vera hesitatcd. then replied.
ut was plain that one must die
II could delay the wolves there was
\ chance Of help coming for Alexis m
was also possible that their hungpr
would be- appeascd with my boIy mud /.
leave Alexis untouched
Demid0H who was great hunts /
man and q brave man. could not with \
stand this heroic devotion uc con
scnted 10 Alexis nui0n with Vera. ana
never tired Of telling The story or how
she had saved hls son and offered her.
SELF 10 the wolves in bis stead
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