Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1894-10-31

with subtle and silent iusinuation,
long, cleaning claws, a. bright as
polished horn, protruded from the
massive paws under her chin.
"Aha! you treacherous beauty"
said to myself, then suddenly paused
to think of the revolver under ths
blanket, and wonder if. after all, che
we're not quite as honorable about il
as /.
1t was long time before she moved
at all. Then very deliberately, and
with the most evident sstisfaction, she
began to lick her bewhiskered bps and
those two great paws. With q shud-
der of horror noticed that they were
covered with blood; but second
thought brought certain amount o.
relief That blood indicated that she
had recently eaten a hearty meal, and
accounted for any lack Of appel tie. SO
far as I was concerned-s state OF
things which I earnestly prayed might
continue for some time to come
Slowly and sedately she accomplished
a limited toilet, then, with q hong,
deep sigh she pushed her fore paws out
at least foot nearer to me, lifted her
launches from the ground, and in
iulged in one grand stretch, goueing
her claws deep into the hard bed of the
cave, precisely as had seen cats 90
the same thing over and over again.
Che closed the operation by sitting
arect, and felt justified in doing the
same.
A comical look of surprise crept over
her face as she watched me. She hung
ner head on one side, partially Closing
one eye, then hung it on the other
side in scrutiny that under some cir
,umstances would have been ludicrously
amusing.
Her curiosity WAS evidently aroused.
Cautiously she came . little nearer,
making my blood run cold She shifted
the blanket, poking it gently with her
paw. Another step and the handsome
head was within reach OF my hand.
Evidently she was not hungry. but
from pure curiosity bent upon investi
CATION, and if 1 could only have in
iuced myself to let the morrow take
thought for the things of itself could
have enjoyed the most remarkable OPP
portunity ever offered to mortal man.
But the nose was shifting the saddle.
The jaws were within six inches of my
ribs. My heart was banging away
furiously What would she do next?
! dared not fire, for if I did and failed
to kill her should certainly be much
worse off than at present. 1t was an
excellent opportunity, however, to test
the thickness of that fur upon her head,
and without moving my hand moro
than three inches touched it.
For an instant every muscle tight
ened and she stood stock still, evidently
IN doubt. /, too; was very seriously
in doubt, but the next moment she
,eer1ed to realize that the sensat :on
was agreeable, and she began to purr
N a gigantic way that sounded like the
irst thunder of An August afternoon.
Seeing that she enjoyed it 1 rubbed
l little harder, and when ceased she
:olled her head under my hand, just
after the fashion of large cat-a most
amiable companion of my boyhood.
began to scratch in right good earnest,
and in less than ten minutes had almost
forgotten my fear, while the revolver
.ay upon the ground and with both
hands was giving that huge head a Wig
orous dry shampoo. The fur was beauti-
ful, thick and soft, and as clean as
ihough she had come from q Turkish
bath.
Her eyes were soft and brown now
. real velvet brown, The heavy lids
began to CrOop over them, AID rae
looked up at me in the most gentle,
loving way imaginable.
Slowly she sank upon the ground
beside me, and lower and lower the
shaggy head fell till it actually rested
upon my knee. For an instant cold
chill crept over me as I realized the
situation, and my hands involuntarily
drew back. The great eyes opened.
The purring ceased, and. giving the
gentle poke with her nose, she warned
me to begin again.
At last she was sound asleep, and by
the slowest degrees ceased the man
ipulatlon, and leaning back upon the
saddle watching that sleeping beauty
with her head resting upon my knee.
Oh, she was magnificent She was
simply superbl I forgot that she was
n tiger. / saw only royal Bengal
beauty, and with strange thrill OF
realized that she had fallen in
love with me. She began to dream OF
the forest. There was danger at hand.
A shiver shook her handsome coat.
+ er tail swayed from side to side. A
deep, low growl sounded in her throat,
nd from the paws that almost touched |
mo those cleaning claws protruded. |
Aye! she was tiger after all. If she |
was hungry when she awoke I should |
be her lunch. I took my revolver in
my right hand and put my left upon
her head to quiet her till could fire. |
Drowsily she opened her eyes, looked
into mine, and with O sigh of relief |
fell asleep again.
1t was too much. I laid the pistol |
down and in horror confessed to my
self that could not do it !; for I, too,
had fallen in love with the tiger.
Again she dreamed. She moved un.
EASILY, opened her eyes, pricked up her
=ars, and showed her teeth in o way
hat made me wish that had fired the
pistol when I could.
Suddenly she rose, sank back on her
turned half about, and with
me sharp yell and bound disappeared
n the shadows far down the cave A
moment later I saw the two balls Of
Fellow fire flashing there, and while I
waited, wondering what was coming
,ext, caught the tramp of the Brit
sh troops who were to pass that way,
md bidding farewell to the beautiful
iger, 1 left her my saddle. my blan-
RET, and my love.-Frank Leslie's
Weekly.