The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1896-12-09

hair as long as young kittens and
with legs as thick as slate pencils. II
you have ever met this gentleman,
alive and ready to pay his respects to
ycu, you have met satan in person.
Give me by preference the rattlesnake.
He at least is fair enemy, and warns
before he strikes. The hooded cobra
will not attack without what he re-
CARDS as provocation. But the hideous
tarantula seems inspired by inveterate
malignancy and hatred. He will per-
severingly search for his victim. A
tnrantula in the same room with you
will not seek to escape; ON the con.
trary, he will never be satisfied until
he has found you, and leaping upon
you, perhaps from the distance of two
yards, fixed his fangs in your flesh.
Then the sooner you make your will.
pay your debts and forgive your
enemies, the better, for you have only
twelve hours to live, and there is nc
remedy known to science that can save
you. You are booked, let us hope III
all cases, for heaven, and by an express
train.
l tell you this by way of preface to
an experience which might have beer
q tragedy had it not turned out to be
a comedy; and let me assure you that
in this curious life of ours, the two
are never very far apart, when, in
deed, they are twins.
AS the only American in the little
Costa Rican city OF Alaiuela was g
marked figure at the fiesta by the jefe,
or mayor, in honor of his election tc
office. was the resident manager o.
the mahogany and dye.wood mills re-
Gently established on the Chagres
River, near the coast, whence l haG
been driven by an attack of fever to
the purer air of tho upland region.
had been living in my small hut, just
outside the town, some three months
ut the date of my story.
was young man then, scarcely
twenty-seven, and disposed to com
pensate myself for the limitations anG
discomforts of my situation with sucl
amusements as might fall in my way
The Central Americans, more particu
larly the Costa Ricans, regard DANCING
as an essential portion of existence
Every night, during the dry season
they dance out of doors, usually in the
plaza, or open square, provided for tn,
purpose in every town, or in som,
space or glade among the woods out
side the village.
had taken my share in these opeI
air balls at Alaiuela, aud among tn,
pretty senoritas who dance, as the,
love and hate, with fury, my favoritt
partner had been NaniEa Majas,
handsome mestizo. Tall for her race
and 1.-THE as puma, she was a mer
bundle of nerves-a human eleotri
battery, shooting sparks of living FIR
from her grand, black eyes. Voice
smile, touch, motion -everythinl
canic emotions of her i'll regulated ma
ture.
Ignorant and superstitious past be
lief, proud as a peeress, jealous an,
revengeful to the verge OF sheer insan
ity, she was altogether a characte
moro picturesque than pleasant. Blu
Nanita Majas could dance like a bac
chante. To whirl with her in the fan
dango, or the Spanish waltz, to tn
clang of the marimbas and guitarros
was intoxication. There was a oharI
as irresistible as unwholesome in In
savage energy with which she fun
herself into the rhythm of the bar
baric music. 1t was-I can think O
no better simile-like dancing wit
something compounded of flame an,
poison.
1t was not difficult TO understand
how she had won her namo among tn
villagers of 'Ia Tarantola You hay
read of tho ancient superstition tina
one bitten by that hateful spider mus
dance doliriously until relieved b.
death.
Being q young man, consequent,
moro or less Of fool, had paid con
siderable attention to La TarAntola.
Was ilattered by her evident prefer
epce for me, aud [ had not stinte,
compliments. | had assured her tina
l had mover met so perfect o dancer
that she was beautiful, and that
thought Of her constantly, nll thre
statements being quito true. l fame,
| also told her that she was the ligh
of my eyes and the object of my soul
assertions not at all truthful, but no
more extravagant than any Costa Rical
Ial IL