Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1896-07-25

Ladies anu gentlemen, SlSnor Far.
relli will now perform feat OF dar ng
hitherto uninterrupted by any tanner
in Europe or America. In the cage
to the left you see specimen OF the
fierce black panther, or jaguar, nm
animal which. in its native state, roams
the tangled forests of South America
in search of its prey. Signor Farrelli
will enter the panther's cage In your
presence, and thereby demonstrate
the dominion which man ia capable OF
exercising over the most ferocious OF
the brute creation"
The assembly cheered; Signor Far.
relll bowed. He whispered few
words to the manager, and moved
away towards the cage. The panther
was proving up and down, watching
the crowd with sort Of wondering in
terest As Fsrrelli approached. the
beast paused in the midst OF stride
and glared at him detiantly. The tam.
er mounted the steps fearlesslv, the
spring lock of the wicket clicked and
the next second lie had slipped into
the cage.
With savage growl the panther
whisked round and crouched against
the opposite wall. At one s'de stood
the man, erect, motioniess. undnunt.
ed, in the full consciousness of his
mighty strength and indomitable will;
at the other the Infatuated beast cow
cred, its body quivering with rage, the
small ears laid fat with the head, and
the tail Tapping against the floor.
The spectators kept perfectly still,
and looked on with bated breath. 1t
almost seemed as if sound-a motion
would break the spell which held
man and beast apart. The tension was
80 great that even a stified exclama-
ton might cause it to snap.
Suddenly there was n slight move
ment in the center OF the crowd, and
woman pushed her way to the front
Those who were closest to the cage saw
a strange look appear Mt that instant
upon Farrelli's face; he grew deathly
pale; his features twitohel convul-
sively, and for one.half second his
eyes were Withdrawn from his enemy.
It was enough! The spell was broken;
with terrific roar the panther shot
into the air!
Farrelli saw it coming; saw the
great jaws extended, and the CLEAN OF
the fierce white teeth. On the spur
of the moment he trust his left
hand into the the gaping mouth, while
with his right he gripped the brute by
the throat. The panther struck him
full ON the chest, the savage ol@ws
we're dug into his flesh; then, with a
crash, man and beast went down, and
rolled together on the floor.
A shudder ran through the Mortified
crowd; the women screamed and
tainted; the men pressed forward
towards the ropes with white, agitated
faces, as if fascinated by that deadly
encounter. Two attendants came run.
ming up with heavy iron bars, sprang
into the cage, and rained blow after
blow upon the panther's head. They
succeeded in separating the COM
batants; the beast, dazed and half
strapgled by that awful grip, was
driven back ipto a corner while the
man rose from the floor and staggered
out Of the cage.
That Farrell had come in for Sc.
we're maullng was only too evident
His clothes were torn into shreds, his
mangled arm hung by his side, the
blood flowed freely from the numer-
GUS gashes in his chest; hut, standing
erect. no faced the crowd with
fierce and determined aspect His
angry eyes swept through the swaying
throng, fitting from one white face to
the other as if in search of that relent-
less enemy OF his.
Rnt the wnman WAS gone. From
that hour she passed out OF his life,
never to trouble him again. When he
failed to discover her in the crowd, his
head suddenly dropped, and he leaned
heavily upon his friend Radford, who
had fastened to his assistance.
"Well, Mark" he whispered, grim
ly, as he lmped away, ''she has had
her revenge, you see. We are quits
now; and forgive her!"-Strand
Magazine.