The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-09-24
HERNIA, the Lion Tanner.

looo "heh the iaLnouS HafsDurg menu
gerie came to Bucharest for the first
time. All the town was in state of
great excitement about the number and
rarity of the animals, the beauty of the
hons, and above all about the tanner, who
performed some remarkable feats of
strength. HeNma Dalstrem was her
name she was young Swodc, bcauti-
full, distinguished, bold and innpproach.
able. 1t is true that she was supposed
to be the mistress of the owner of tho
mcnagerie but the rich Boyarls who
lnvished homage upon her in order to
win her good graces were met only by
u cold politeness and sarcastic haughti-
ness which drove them away. Sho
lived with the Harsbcrg family at the
first hotel III the town, went to the me-
nagerie and returned from it in cnr-
riage, like lady of hlgk degree, received
no visits and was never seen alone either
i'll the street or anywhere else. This
vestal severity puzzled the gallants as
well as the ordinary mortals, 80 that the
Swedish lion tanner soon became as pop
ulsr Mt Bucharest. as La Catalina and
Lola Montez.
One night Prince Maniasko, the spoil
ed child of tlre ladies of Bucharest, who
had just returned from an excursion to
Paris, came to the menagerie. He re-
viewed the different All imnls in company
with some friends, WAS highly amused
by the explanations and by the feeding,
and at last stopped before the lions cage
awaiting the arrival Of the celebrated
Swede with a slseptica l'$mile on his lips.
Suddenly little door opened in the back
wall of the cage and Herma appeared in
the midst of frantic applause. She
threw off with al in ilescrbnblc move
ment Of pride the large silk clonk that
covered her, and advahced into the cage
dressed in n costume of white satin bor-
dered with ermine, whip in her hand
tall, slender, with the noblest face in the
world, to which her golden ourls and
her fresh color impaired an irresistible
grace. The Prince was Mt once fascina-
ted, he followed each of her movements
with feverish agitation. His heart beat
when she placed her pretty head in the
terrible lions mouth. and he tremblcd,
half for pleasure, half for fear,A when she
began to hnrangne the disobedient ami
mails and kick and fog them.
Hardly had HERNIA left the cage when
the Prince Maniasko awas bowling down
before her while shell Ant on her cloak
with the aid Of Edgar, Hafsberg'o oon,
young man of remarkable beauty.
She fixed her blue eyes, astonished and
almost frightened, upon tAat ideal of a
beautiful, almost feminine figure she
did not reply to his questions proudly
and coldly, but with embarrassment
and with smile of indescribable sweet
ness.
The Prince came every night, md
HERNIA received him not only with affa-
bility, but she even looked for him with
rapid glance as soon rs she entered
the cage, and when she left it she stamped
her foot if the Prince was not there to
help her on with her cloak.
But that was all the Prince could
obtain, and the more untractable she
showed herself to his prayers, the more
he urged OH by diabolic desire to pos
cess her. An expected rival came to
his aid. Edgar said to HERNIA one
night with trembling voice before
she entered the cage, Cup till now I
thought you were my fathers mistress,
and have not spoken; now I tell you
l. love you, and I will never consent to
your lowering yourself with that Boyard
who is rlready affianced to princess,
and who is already making sport of
YOU
When the Prince came to see her after
IL performance, she said to him in
whisper, 'Is it true that you have
fiance %
cit is true" he repliod.. "but as soon
as You please will put an ond to that
tiresome romance and prostrate myself
Mt your feet "a your slave"
'Bnt you do not love me-"
"How must prove that l love you ?"
She drew herself up before him.
"Come IN hour before midnight to
WIN h'liS Hiciit3cllc, BIG Sillu Ill Il low
voice and with courageous resolution. :
And he came and when he left tho
menagero in the midst of the shades of
night, two straining arms were round his
neck, and the burning lips were pressed
| against his own.
Soon the talk in the clubs was of no.
thing but the strange liaison of Mani
asko with the beautiful lion tanner, and
the young Princes father, anxious for
the future of his son, hastened rs much
rs possible his marriage with the Prin-
cess Agrafine Slobuda, to whom he had
been affianccd when he was q child. A
violent scene took place between the
father and the son at last tho latter
yielded, and one night he did not appear
| at the menagerio.
HERNIA passed n night of anguish.
Two evenings she again waited in vain
for her lover then she wrote to him and