Year: 1875

at his face yet. sGet me home as
soon as you can, John. And then [
saw his eyes.


Home he said. You'll never
go home again, Tom Fletcher. I
shot you on purpose, and here you
shall lie until the wolves come
back. You thought you'd carry off
the girl I liked, eh. You're build
ing your house, and getting ready
for your wedding. You poor fool
you thought I'd stand by and let
myself be cut out. Here you lie,
and here the wolves shall eat you,
while I go home to Gussie Ring.
She has always liked me, though you
came between us, and I'll have her
yet


"And then he gave me a cruel
blow over the head, and left me,
I suppose for dead; for when I
came to my senses I found that he
had dragged me into the VOLTS den
just where the little cubs lay, and
one of them was nibbling at my coat,
and the other licking my face.
Il could not move, and I was as
weak as q. baby, and it was horrible
then knowing that the wolves would
be around me soon. 7 was young
and life was bright to me. I could
have faced death in another way, but
to meet such an end was terrible. 1
tried to crawl a little way but gave
up the attempt. I screamed but
there was no answer. Then l
thought of how dussie would wait
for me and see me no more, and
how perhaps in the end marry John
Mount. Marry my murderer while
the wolves were gnawing my
bones.


"Ah, it was horrible. It was a
clear, bright day, and I could see
the path along which any one who
passed must have gone, I laid watch
ing it, but all the morning no one
came. I was hungry and thirsty, a
drop of water would have been
worth my whole clearing to me just
then. I felt sure I was dying.


ssOh, Gussie," I said to myself, ':if
I only might die on your bosom,
but you will not even know the
bones they'll find here soon are mine.
Perhaps you'll think I have left you
of my own willard am a rascal.
| John Mount will be sure to make
you think so. Oh, will no one come.


"And then 7 stared at the strip
of road again until at last I saw
man on horseback ride across it.
I tried to call to him but my voice
had failed me. 7 could make no
sound. I could not even whistle,
and while I was longing for him
to pause-while my very life de.
pended on it, he rode past and
out of sight It was the most
terrible moment T had yet ex
perienced, but I had more to
bear. All through that afternoon
figures were constantly passing that
open place. All the people I knew
My nearest neighbor, the clergy
man, who had christened and was
to have married me. A great BLACK
fellow, who, because I had beer
kind to him would have died fol
me. And at last Gussie herself on
her own little horse with her knit
ting basket tied to her waist. Go
ing, as I guessed to see her MARI
ed sister. And I could make nc
sound which they could hear as
lay helpless in the shadow OF th'
cave.


''That last sight was too mucl
for me. Gussie riding past-Gus
sic leaving me-my own little dar
ling who would wonder on the NOR
row why I did not come, and won
der on forever.


"For now the day was CLOSING
and the evening shadows crept Of
apace, and I knew the wolves woul'
be upon me soon. I tried to pray
but could not-I had forgotten tn
good words. Icoud only think hoy
fast the sun was sinking and hoy
the red streaks were fading from tn
sky.


"Soon it was all dusky twilight


and through it I heard the silky fool
step of beast. A pair of brigh
) eyes gleamed-a low cry was uttere
, the mother wolf was there. Sh
/ walked around me-touched me-
! seemed to examine me, and pattel


ed away again, and in two minute
3 more the whole pack were abou
: me. T felt their hot breath-a my