Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1875-04-08


les and shows Of all kinds-and lion
isn't half so nice in some positions as
in cage. For instance, suppose you
are fool enough to join party of mad
men who track these animals to de-
file in the mountains, and attack them,
as you might say, with their foot upon
their native heath, and get just a lit
tie simple tap with one of their claws
that breaks your collarb bone, lays open
your cheek, pulls down the skin of
your forehead over your eyes, and
smashes your right arm in two places.
1t seems to me natural to prefer look
ing at them from behind a good stout
railing, with the decentralization of cap
tivity on their side.
At all events, poor Phil had to nurse
me for many a long month after that
lion hunt, and it was we'll into the fol-
lowing year when we at last found our,
selves on an Atlantic Steamer, bound
for home.
Phil and were old travellers by this
time, and the wild freshness of enthu-
siasna that seized upon some of our
fellow voyagers as they neared their
native shores was with us toned down
to calm but profound conviction that
America was the only country in the
world worth the rational affection
of an experienced and cultivated
mind.
had been looking through the glass
a while. and was about handing it over
to fellow passenger, who had eyed
ME with devouring envy the while,
when big steamer, outward bound,
glided close by our side, and / could
see the faces of the party nearest
me.
One last, fleeing glance ofmine con-
tanned revelation. I glued my eyes
to the glass again. Right opposite me
there shown two soft, glowing orbs,
wonderfully familiar. The face was
one not easily forgotten, the form full,
shapely, with peculiar serpentine grace
about it.
"Phil," 1 said, putting the glass in
his hand, clock over there at that
group of ladies'"
He took it languidly, but having
looked a quick, eager gasp escaped him
he dropped the glass into the hand of
our envious fellow passenger, and
seized my arm with sudden frenzy.
'sShe is going out !" he said.
"While we, alas! are going in" /
added.
"But this is monstrous,' he cried, in
dismay. awe cart go in; We must
follow her.
Here again was the absurdity of a
foolish passion. 1t would have been
useless to relate TO the captain that my
friend, seeing person he was interes-
ted in on the passing steamer, would
like to join her. Itwas impossible to
throw plank across the ocean; besides,
she was already out Of sight and Phil
rushed below like a mailman. All we
could do was to engage passage for
the other side again and sail as scen as
possible.
I confess it began to wear the
aspect of chase to me, and appeal to
my taste for hunting. Then, I sup
pose, beauty such as hers, seen through
a strong glass, had an effect of
nearness upon me. At all events, l
began to take keen interest IN the
passion of my friend. When we
reached the other side all trace of the
fair fugitive was lost. All we could do
was to travel about the continent in
the hope Of encountering her or hear
ing about her party. One fine
autumn morning we fingered on the
heights of mountain resort in Saxony.
We leaned owe the railing that en-
closes the plateau on the top Of the
mountain, and looked admiringly
down on the stretch Of country
beneath. Upon the river Elbe. that
looked to our American eyes like
little trout stream, we saw one of those
little Dutch steamers that continually
paddle up and down, and suddenly the
view became intensely interesting. l
looked through the glass again; yes,
there she was, without doubt, more
graceful and enchanting than ever,
upon the deck of that numbering little
tug, fathoms below us! l called to
Phil. He bent, he looked, and,
stretching over with yearning, un-
steady movement, he lost his balance
| and fell.
Fell down the sheer edge of the
rock, grasping as he went at every tuft
of lichen and grass, at every shrub
that rapidly shot out of ibis reach. ]
watched him with agonized suspense,
when suddenly his coat caught upon
the jagged wall Of the precipice, and
held him suspended over the chasm be-
meath He was partly supported by