The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1895-07-20
THE MILK WHITE DOE.

Ii came fire hundreds of tiny hoofs,
mullled by the grass in the mountain
pnk.
"Antelope /
Together we lay face downward, and
my Indian guide, with our long rifles at
easy rest. and awaited the coming of the
bind 1t dashed over 4 hog's-bacll and
mo full view. II wildly leaping, struggling
undulatinp mass of reddish brown, white
tufted bodies stretched to the fullest
speed.
Nervous? Yes, for'in a moment more
of lie band would pass us within easy
range.
We lay with forelingers on the trig-
gers as the timid animals, wild with fear,
skinned along as if waited by the spirit
of the wind, Now they are directly oppo-
site. We will never have such anothe,
shot.
Onward they dash and pass so closely
by that it seems we can hear their heart
beats. Their great, liquid eyes are wild
with terror.
Another moment and the herd was
swept by us only the hindermost are il
view. Now they are out of hearing and
presently.-are lost to sight.
Absolute silence, save for the rustic OF
the brown grass as the cooling autumn,
wind stirs it.
Not shot was fired. My finger wa,
upon the trigger my aim certain, but !
lacked the power even for the gentle pres
sure necessary to send a bullet straight
into the herd. was under spell.
| looked at Pablo. His dark face seemed
almost pale; his eyes betrayed excitement.
not the excitement of anger or fear, but o
tender sympathy.
The same power that had stayed my
| finger when it would have pressed til,
trigger had like effect on him
''Senor, he said, it is the milk whit,
doe that none may STAY"
1t was overpowering curiosity that had
rendered my foreiinger inllcXible, for al
he head of the band was the most bcaut
tul animal had ever seen-a milk whit
loe. She seemed ilecter, more tmid and
of more graceful contour than any of tho
herd She was the perfection of animal
grace and beauty. fancied heard a soft
sad moan as she passed before the muzzl,
of my rifle. was lost briefly in pathetic
contemplation, and the herd was gone.
''Senor," said Pablo in his calm and
nperturbable manner, yet with solemn
inpressiveness. lit is death to all who fol
low the milk white doe"
Nonsense; l must have her. Let II.
follow quick"
Have patience, senior, and to night
when we smoke by the campfire will tell
you the legend of the milk white doe"
And this is the legend he told me:
Before the white man knew there was Il
western continent, before the Spaniar,ls
came, even before the reign of the ancient
Quetzalcoatl lord of the Seven Caves Of!
Navatlaques and king of the Seven Nations
out of which arose the spl,ndor of the
Nontezuman empire, the powerful tribes
lived in the north. They were as the sands
of the'..shore washed by the great ocean Of
arrows were greater than the twigs in tie
forest.
Their queen was MaXtclla.
Her skin was as white as the snow on
yonder mountain peak, her lips were as
scarlet as the flaming loco blossom, her
eyes were as blue as the chalchutes in the
Minas de las Perdidas, and from THEN
liquid depths heamed truth and purity of
soul
She was virgin queen. Here courtier,
wooed her in vain. The richest of them
all laid, his wealth of chalcuites and beau
tiful shells at her feet The mightiest
hunter brought her trophies of the chase
To all she spoke words of wisdom and
beauty, but her love was for no one man
it was for all her people. Her virtue
and her beauty were maWes of those
days.
Her counselors were wise beyond their
generation. Many things they knew that
were unknown to the subjects of Queen
MaXtella They knew Of the eastern ocean
of a great country beyond which their
ancestors had gone years before.
The northern hordes were at peace So
powerful were they that the tribes in the
south did not dare to make war with them,
nor would the queen suffer her subjects to
make war upon those weaker hordes who
dwelt in rocks and caves, high up in the
cliffs that bordered on the green canyons
There was a vassal chief, Azul of Lowry
birth and evil ways. He saw the beauti-
full MaNtella, and the sight of her touched
his black heart. He loved Maxtella not
for her virtue or her wisdom. He loved
her that he might rule the land, and that
from his blood and hers might come IA race
of savage kings, and that the northern
hordes might make war upon the tribes Of
the south and despoil them of their
treasure.
Azul knew the black magic art He
brought his richest treasure to MaXtela' s
court. He used his black art that he