Little Wolf - A Tale of the Western Frontier

M. A. Cornelius

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• Publié par: pheal
• Publié le: 08 décembre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 101
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

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The Project Gutenberg EBook of Little Wolf, by M. A. Cornelius This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: Little Wolf A Tale of the Western Frontier Author: M. A. Cornelius Release Date: April 1, 2010 [EBook #31837] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LITTLE WOLF *** Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from scans of public domain material produced by Microsoft for their Live Search Books site.) Little Wolf. A TALE OF THE WESTERN FRONTIER. BY MRS. M. A. CORNELIUS. CINCINNATI: JOURNAL AND MESSENGER, No. 178 ELM STREET. Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1872, by MRS. M. A. CORNELIUS, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. CONTENTS: CHAPTER I. A sad breakfast—The Sherman Family—The Language of Flowers—What a Young Man was sure of—The Parting 5 CHAPTER II. Pendleton—The Revelation at the Saloon—Euphonious names—The Encounter—Our Heroine Appears and Highwaymen Disappear 19 CHAPTER III. A Reign of Confusion—Bloody Jim—Little Wolf's Allies Prepare for Defence—Family Trouble 30 CHAPTER IV. More Troubles—Who was Bloody Jim—His Attempt at Kidnapping Little Wolf—The Cause of His Hatred and the Terror he Inspired 41 CHAPTER V. Dr. Goodrich leaves with Daddy as Guide—Daddy's War-like Preparations—His Testimony to the Curse of Strong Drink—What they Discovered on their way to the Village 53 CHAPTER VI. The Saloon Keeper—Comforting Reflections—The Unwelcome Call—Diabolical Plotting 70 CHAPTER VII. Music—The Warning—Preparations for Winter Interrupted—The Welcome Boat 77 CHAPTER VIII. The Love-letter—Discussion—A Quick Ride—Too Late—Violence and Death 89 CHAPTER IX. Bloody Jim's Advantages—The Fainting Captive—The Tragic Quarrel—Outwitted at Last —The Refuge 100 CHAPTER X. The Kidnapper's Surprise—On the Wrong Track—Bloody Jim's Capture—The Rotten Plank 108 CHAPTER XI. Harmless Conspiracy—The —Misrepresentations Ghost—The Wife Murderer—Tippling and Tattling 119 CHAPTER XII. The Cottage in the Grove—The Disguise—Back to Health—Impatience—Searching the Box —Antoinette La Clair's Story 129 CHAPTER XIII. Twofold Agony—Dr. Goodrich's Promise—Home Again—Lilly Foot—The Convalescent —The Neighborhood Wedding—News from Chimney Rock—The Sherman Family at the West 146 CHAPTER XIV. Rough Roads—The Happy Bridegroom—Jacob Mentor's Experience—Fairy Knoll—A Joyful Meeting 160 CHAPTER XV. Busy Preparations and the Climax—The Lovers—Tom Tinknor's Discovery—General Rejoicings—The Idol Defaced 170 CHAPTER XVI. Painful Recollections—The Last Boat of the Season—Ruffled Plumes—Reconciliation 181 CHAPTER XVII. Winter Sports—The Doctor's Visits—Preparations for New Year's Day—A Discussion 189 CHAPTER XVIII. The New Year's Ball—A Check to Festivity—The Midnight Ride—Death in the Old Brown House 201 CHAPTER XIX. Neighborly Sympathy—Little Wolf's Bosom Friend A Disappointed Lover 215 CHAPTER XX. A Weight of Sorrow—Marrying a Drunkard—Suspense 227 CHAPTER XXI. Daddy's Diplomacy—A Passage at Arms—Fannie Green—A Catastrophe 235 CHAPTER XXII. The Rescue 248 CHAPTER XXIII. An Indian Messenger—Frozen to Death 260 CHAPTER XXIV. A Crisis—Pride and Folly 271 CHAPTER XXV. The Sleighing Party—Clara Hastings—Mother and Son 280 CHAPTER XXVI. Letter Writing—Daddy's Nocturnal Labors and early Walk 294 CHAPTER XXVII. Doing and Getting Good—Wycoff's Reform 308 CHAPTER XXVIII. Daddy's Soliloqy—A Beer-Soaker—A Knock-Down Argument—A Present for Little Wolf 323 CHAPTER XXIX. A Chapter of Accidents and Deliverances 333 CHAPTER XXX. Another Saloon Scene—The Bridal Trousseau—The Lovely Nurse 341 CHAPTER XXXI. Threats—Little Wolf and Black Hawk—Tragic Death of Hank Glutter 354 CHAPTER XXXII. The May Day Weddings—Miss Orrecta Lippincott's Surprise—How Old Lovers Behave 367 CHAPTER XXXIII. The Old Brown House Deserted—The Pearl and Diamond Ring—Mr. and Mrs. Marsden's Conjectures 380 CHAPTER XXXIV. A Trip to California—Jumping Overboard—The Grand Supper and what Came of it—The 393 Captain's Little Daughter 393 CHAPTER XXXV. A Visit to Mrs. Sherman's Room—Daddy and his New Spouse—Ominous Signs 408 CHAPTER XXXVI. More News from Little Wolf—Tom Tinknor's Testimony 415 CHAPTER XXXVII. Another Death in the Old Brown House 423 CHAPTER XXXVIII. Daddy's Temperance Lecture 430 CHAPTER XXXIX. Death in Mid Ocean—Love Making and a Double Wedding 448 LITTLE WOLF. CHAPTER I. A SAD BREAKFAST—T HE SERMAN FMILY—T HE LANGUAGE OF H A FLOWERS—WHAT A YOUNG M AN WAS SURE OF—T HE PARTING. [Pg 5] arly in the morning of a long ago midsummer's day, the inmates of a quiet New England home were making unusual preparations for the approaching repast. The mistress of the house was ostensibly overseeing the table; but there was an uncertainty in her movements, which indicated a contradictory mingling of interest and abstraction, such as agitates the mind, [Pg 6] when trifles intrude on more weighty matters. Not so the maid in attendance, who had served in her present capacity for more than twenty years, and was without dispute an adept in the culinary department, if not in affairs of the heart. She was not so obtuse, however, in the present instance, as not to perceive the uncomfortable state of her mistress, and, notwithstanding the pressure of business in hand, she magnanimously paused a moment to attempt a word of comfort. How to approach a subject which had been continually on the lips of the whole family for weeks, was now the poor girl's difficulty. Every instant was precious. She was in a measure neglecting the smoking viands under her supervision, and her long established reputation as cook was in jeopardy. At this critical juncture she blundered out, "Mrs. Sherman, it's a pity; indeed, it is, that he, that [Pg 7] Edward, is bent on going." "Why, Recta," interrupted a musical voice reproachfully, "ma is already convinced that it is a pity Edward is going. It remains for us to persuade her that he will speedily return." "Bless my heart, is that Miss Louise?" said Recta, turning to the person who had so unceremoniously interrupted her condolements. "Well, now, I declare," she continued, "if I ain't beat. Young girls have great arts of covering up their feelings. There's Miss Louise taking on, and walking her chamber all night, and now she's telling me what to say as unconcerned as if this wasn't the last meal she was going to enjoy with her only brother." "O fie, Recta, haven't I told you that Edward is coming home again soon," said Louise, and, she added with a blush, "You must have heard kitty in your dreams, and magnified her step into mine. You know you have often [Pg 8] said my tread was as light as Tabby's." "But it wasn't, last night," persisted the other, "it was as heavy as lead." The blush deepened on the young lady's cheek; not so much on account of the audacity with which this privileged servant had assailed her veracity, as for other and more private reasons, herein unfolded. It was not indeed, the distress occasioned by her brother's departure, which, as intimated in the preceding conversation, was about to occur, that she desired to hide; but there was one to accompany him, on whom she had bestowed more than a sister's love, and furthermore, this friend, having arrived the day before, had progressed, perhaps farther in his suit than on any former occasion, Such being the state of the case, it was natural, that, with her lover under the same roof, she should be jealous of exhibiting feelings, others than a sister's love would warrant. To cover her confusion, therefore, which Recta secretly exulted in having occasioned, she retorted; "Heavy footsteps! ridiculous! Look at me," and she drew up her slight little figure; "for shame, Recta;