Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-06-26

Sonia had brought a revolver with
her. Its chambers being loaded, she
took the reins In her left hand and,
drawing the weapon with her right,
fired, and the wolf. releasing its
clutch on the horse, rolled down into
the road. His carcass took OF num-
Der of the wolves following.
The yelping and the shots awakened
little Peter, who threw OF the cover
ing from his face and, realizing that
something was wrong. added his own
tiny voice to the din. But neither his
father nor his mother could spare any
time to attend to him, for the former
was now forced by the pressing wolves
to fire more rapidly, while the latter
was emptying the chambers Of her re-
volver upon those. that were appearing
in the road in front Of the sleigh.
Though Peter husbanded his shots
as best he could, all were gone at last.
Some of the wolves had been killed
by him, some had Jagged behind, and
some had dropped out Of the chase al
together. There were now only half
dozen wolves in pursuit, but they
were the largest, the strongest and the
fiercest Of the pack. The leader made
q spring for Peter, who Drained 1t
with the barrel of his rife. But In
doing so the weapon slipped out Of Pc
ter's hand and fell In the road.
While the body Of the wolf he had
killed was being devoured Peter turn
ed to his wife, put his arms about her
and kissed her.
"Goodby, sweetheart" he said.
What are you going to dor?
1.-The wolves must have another VIC
tim"
"0h, Peter"
ut is for you and the child. When
the next one springs at me he will
take me. but there will be food enough
for all of them in my body, and you
may escape.
mo; we will die together"
II will go first. If they require more
food 1t will be your turn next. God
grant that may save you both"
He bent down and kissed his little
son; then, standing on the rear seat.
was about to jump down into the road
when a shot was heard and the fore
most wolf fell dead: The rest scatter
ed under shots fired from an unseen
enemy.
Pull up!" cried Peter to his wife.
Sonia drew rein and at the same time
several men emerged from the wood OH
one side Of the road.
1--WE are just In time," said one Of
them.
But Peter did not hear him; he was
locked in an embrace with his wife,
while the horse stood painting Then
the mother took little Peter in her
arms, while tears Of relief flowed fast.
A party of woodsmen working near
the road had heard the yelping and the
shots and, surmising the cause, had
ran toward the approaching din. Hav-
ing guns and ammunition, the driving
of of the remaining wolves was an
easy matter.
There was thankfulness In the hearts
of Peter and his wife while completing
their journey, and as soon as they had
reached their home and put little Peter
In his crib they fell on their knees side
by side and with their arms about
each other.
Peter Nichialief's farm was besieged
by his neighbors to hear about the
war waged so far from them that
they got no news Of it except when
some discharged soldier came home,
usually broken down in body and some
times in mind, to tell them about 1t.
Peters accounts were listened to In
wrapt attention, but on telling OF his
adventures he always wound up by
SAYING that under the most murderous
fire he had never encountered anything
10 appalling as when the only remain
ing defense for his wife and boy was
his own body thrown as meat to the
wolves.
Not long after Peters return another
discharged soldier brought the news
that the Little Father had abdicated
the throne, and new era had opened
for the Russian empire.
By this time Peter, having become
strong again, was seized with q desire
to go back to the firing line. That Is
the singular feature Of soldiers life.
While incurring danger many a man
pines for safety and the comforts OF
home, but let him remain inactive for
a short period and an irresistible de-
sire comes upon him to get back into
those very dangers that had been 30
tntolerable.
Peter would have gone back at once
had not Sonia begged him not to leave
her, not to tear himself away from
their little boy.
Peter listened to her appeals till the
import of the stirring events came over
him. In the deposition Of the czar, the
entering Of the United States into the
contest, he saw a struggle between i'm
perialism and democracy. He believed
In the rule Of the people, and as one OF
the people he deemed 1t his duty to 80
on fighting for their cause. Then he
went back.
The Hen.
The hen is nowhere noticed In the
Old Testament. 1t is mentioned In the
New Testament, however. IN Matthew