Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-07-01

found abundant food in the desert, thanks
| to the battles waged there, sutlice'it to say
| she respected the Frenchnans life, while
he, seeing her so tame, ceased to distrust
her. He passed great part of his time in
| sleep; but he was obliged to watch like a
spider from the center of her web, go as
not to let the moment OF deliverance escape
if any one should pass within the line de.
scribed by the horizon. He had turned
his shirt into flag, and had hoisted it on
the top OF palm tree des poiled OF it's foil.
age. Taught by necessity, he found way
OF keeping 1t unfurled by stretching it out
with sticks, for no wind had blown since
| the time when he could have expected any
traveller to enter the desert.
During the long hours when the soldier
| abandoned hope he amused himself with
| the panther. he had come to learn the dif.
ferent infections of her voice, the meaning
| of her looks, the variations in all the spots
which shaded the gold of her robe Mig
nome did not scold, even when he took
hold OF the tuft with which the fearful tail
was terminated, In order to count the black
rings, graceful ornaments, which shone afar
in the sunlight like precious stones. He
took pleasure IN contemplating the Wig.
orous and fine lines of her contours, the
! wilderness underneath her body, the grace
| of her head. But it was especially in her
| sportivsness that he looked at her
eomplacently; her agility, the youth
| fu'ness of her movements, continually
| surprised him. He admired her supple
ness, when she bounded, erawled, slid,
pushed, caught, rolled, crouched, ana
sprapg on every side. However sudden
her leaps, on however slippery block of
granite, she would stop short at the name
MignOnne One day when the sun was
seorching hot, large bird lowered in the
air. The Provencal left his panther to ex.
anime his novel guest. After moments
waiting the deserted sultana gave hollow
growl. 81 believe she is jealous cried
the soldier seeing the fixed look in
her eyes. The eagle disappeared in
the air the panther gently raised
her back aud the Frenchman admired
her anew. The yellow fur of her robe was
joined by fine tints to the heavy white
tones, which marked her thighs The light
profusely thrown by the sun made this
living gold, these brown spots shine in
way to give them indefnable attractions.
The Proyencal and the panther looked at
| each other with a look of intelligence, she
quivered when she felt him scratch her
neck, her eyes cleaned with flashes of
light, then she shut them closely "She
has SOUL" said he. studying the tran
quillity of this queen OF the sands" golden
Ike them, white like them, solitary and
burning like them"
Every WE'LL" said my friend, az have
read your plea in favor of animals but
how has it ended between two creatures so
well formed for a mutual understanding
1t has ended, as all great passions end,
by a Misunderstanding Treachery is sus-
pected on both sides, pride prevents expla-
nation, willfuiness makes discord."
Bat sometimes, in the highest mo.
ments, said she, "a look, an explanation
suffices. Bat continue finish your story"
1t is extremely difficult, but you will
understand what the old soldier had al
ready told me, when finishing his bottle of
champagne, ne exclaimed : do not know
how hurt her, but she turned upon me,
as if enraged, and, with her sharp teeth,
bit me gently in the thigh l, fearful that
she would devour me, plunged my poniard
in her neck. She rolled over, uttering a
cry, which pierced me to the heart. I saw
her look at me, while struggling, without
anger. l would have given the world,
even my croas, which / did not have at
that time, to restore her to life. / felt as
if had assassinated human being. Aud
the soldiers who had seen my flag and
FASTENED to my succor found me in tears.
Well, monsieur" he resumed, after a
moments silence, :" l have fought since in
Germany, Spain, Russia, France. 1 have
travelled far, but l have never seen any
thing like the desert An, how beautiful
it is !"
How did you feel there ?" I asked.
"Ah, that cannot be told young man. l
regret my bouquet of palm trees and my
panther. l cannot help feeling sad for
them, In the desert, understand, there is
everything and nothing"
but explain it to me again.
{. BE made gesture of impotence and
replied 1t is God without men. -
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