Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-05-16
A MILK-WHITE DOE.

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"Antelope!"
Together we lay face downward
I and my Indian guide-with our long
rifles at easy rest, and awaited the
coming of the band. 1t dashed over q
hogback and into full view-a wildly
leaping, struggling. undulating mass
of reddisl-brown, white-tufted bodies
stretched to the fullest speed.
Nervous? Yes, for a moment more
the band would pass us within easy
range. We lay with foretingers on
the triggers as the timid animals,
wild with fear, skinned along as If
waited by the spirit Of the wind.
Now they are directly opposite; we
will never have such another shot.
Onward they dash, and pass SO
closely by that it seems we can hear
their heartbeats. Their great I'D
uid eyes are wild with terror.
Another moment and the herd has
swept by us, only the hindmost are
in view; now, they are out of nearing
and presently are lost to sight.
Absolute silence, save for the rus
tie of the brown grass as the cooling
autumn wind stirs it.
Not shot was fired. My finger was
upon the trigger, my aim certain, put
l lacked the power even Tor the gen!ie
pressure necessary to send a buiie'
straight into the herd. L was unde1
q spell.
I looked at Pablo. HIS dark face
seemed almost pale. ;his eyes betray
ed excitement, not the excitement OF
anger or fear, but of q tender sym
pathy.
The same power that had stayed
my finger when it would have pressed
the trigger had a like effect upon MN.
"Senor," he said, "it is the milk
white doe that none may slay.
1t was overpowering curiosity tna'
had rendered my forefinger lnheADie,
for at the head of the band was the
most beautiful animal l had ever
seen-a lnilk-wllite doe. She seemeo
fleeter, more timid and Of more grace
full contour than any of the nero;
She was the perfection OF amman
grace and beauty. l fancled l hearo
soft, sad moan as she passed beiore
the muzzle of my rifle. | was los1
briefly in pathetic contemplation, ano
the herd was gone. .
"Come, Pablo, it is almost DUSK
but we must follow; come, stir your
self, you unenthusiastic son OF MOD
tezuma, and let us BECOME"
"Senor," said Pablo, in his calm
and imperturably manner, vet with
solemn impressiveness, ut IS deatn
to all who follow the milk-whlte doe"
"Nonsense, must have her; let us
follow quick.
"Have patience, senior, and to-nlght
when we smoke by the camp hre 1
will tell you the legend OF the mix
white doe"
And this is the legend he told me:
Before the white man knew there
was n western continent, before the
Spaniards 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 splendor of the Mon
tezuman empire. the powerful tribes
lived in the north. They were as the
sands of the shore washed by the
great ocean of the Rising Sun and the
than the twigs in the forest.
Their queen was Maxtella.
Her skin was as white as the snow
on wonder mountain peak, her lips
were as scarlet as the flaming loco
blossom. her eyes We're as blue as the
chalchuites in the Minas de las Perd1-
das. and from their liquid depths
beamed truth and purity OF soul.
She was virgin queen. Her cour-
tiers woed her in vain. The richest
of them all laid his wealth of chal-
chuites and beautiful 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 the marvels OF
those days.
Her counsclors were wise beyond
their generation. Many things they
knew that were unknown to the sub
iects of Queen Maxtella. They knew
of the eastern ocean. of great coun-
trv beyond to which their ancestors
had gone years before.
The northern hordes were at peace.
So powerful We're 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 bor-
dered on the green canons. There
was a vassal chief, Azul, of lowly birth
and evil ways. He saw the beauteous
Maxtella, and the sight of her touched
his black heart. He loved Maxtella,
not for her virtue nor her beauty nor
her wisdom. He loved her that he
might rule the land. and that from his
blood and hers might come Il 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 Max
tella's court. He used his black art
that he might appear pleasing in her
sight. His arms and throat We're
bare. On his head was snowy white
helmet, and his dress was of green
feathers. His breast-plate of feather
work cleaned like jewels when the
SIN Shone unOn IT, Tall and stroirht