The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-21

had pleaded with his daughter that she
might go into the forest and be safe,
sne would not venture from his side"
AT first the cavaliers, for SO they
Icalled themselves, were very courteous
to the lady ~ titled her as princess
But n day a man who had been drink
ing, roughly grasped her arm and
~lstrove to e from It q circlet OF gems.
SO it CHANGED there was a quarrel. A
young man, fair in face and one she
mad not seen before, killed the brawler
for his insult a manly knight he was
and gentle 10 her"
"Afterward he followed her to an ar
Dor Of the gardens, and there laid aside
his weapons Of war because they made
her shudder. His skin was clearly
white, and when the rough cap of metal
was removed, his hair that had been
gathered up within it, fell round mis-
meek in golden rings, all shining in the
sun. And after that, day after day.
there he could be found. The white
men ceased their killing because the
Ichieftain fingered in the arbor. The
princess grew to love this fair faced
and thought his time we'll spent"
The old man paused awhile and gazed
out into the sunlit road.
well, Emilio?" the woman asked.
~motioning with her hand that he go on.
What next?.... Your tale is good....Go
IonI"
THE rest is not so good to hear,
lady" he answered slowly.
Why! I thought it was a love tale?"
And SO it is, but are all low tales
HAPPY ones?" He looked upon her
keenly. thinking of the day whee Benz
to Flores had first brought her there, a
playing girl. He asked himself who
made her father rich?
Mo-" h said, mot all, Emilio.
yet, some are not so clearly bad as 9TH
Iers....Tell me the story!"
"Soon the native chief heard of the
daily visits and set a spy to watching.
The sutton, too, returned from his hid
den refuge in the woods, sorely wound
ed, and they had him sheltered in the
mansion. And one sweet day, when all
the world seemed stilled, the spy saw
her in the white mans arms. When
the lover came again. she was not there
to meet him, lady,"
"Why?" asked the woman innocently.
The man searched and called for her.
He begged the father and at last he
Threatened fiercely. He sought all
Through the tangled woods, and then
before his orders, the whole war ceased
that his soldiers might aid in the hunt.
No one would tell him OF the maiden.
AT last they brought a pair of nosing
dogs from off the ships, and let them
sniff one of her garments. They ound
her quickly. Lying in a black ravine,
where not one day in all the e the
fair sunlight shone, and where there
was not a single bird to sing its song"
why did she hide?" asked the wom-
Ian.
"Strangled. lady" whispered the old
servant.
"~Strangled." cried out the woman.
drawing back, her face becoming white.
Yes. / said at first it was not good
to hear"
"And the man....the stranger? Did
he find another chiefta;n's daughter
for his caress?"
""Tis said he became like a wild
beast. lady. And fire and terror stalk
ed abroad throughout all h province.
The old chief he killed himself n they
threw his body to the dogs, the follow
ers were either slain or driven to the
four winds, the mansion was left one
bed of smoldering ashes in which the
lsuitor's bones were Drowned; and in
the passing of a summers day, a whole
great province these white men plotted
IOut forever"
81 wish you had not told me. Emilio
she said babyishly, pouting her lips. A
tear stole down her cheek.
81 am sorry, lady," said the servant,
picking up his clips. He went slowly
out of sight in the garden.
For quite awhile the woman lay upon
ilC SSoI Alll1hIi VI lin NSN
length she fell asleep. Late in the day,
a bugle's blast rang out upon the quiet
stiffness of the air. and starting up,
she watched through the arches of the
trees to see a band of strange CARRIED
Isoldiers riding down. On they came
towards her, a troop of Sombre color
that did not mingle with the freshness
of the woods; their trappings jingled;
the horses trotted as if tired and hung
their heads. A layer of white dust was
over ali the riders. They talked harsh
lily while passing, and n called to an
other with a laugh. Almost the whole
band had passed the place, when one
refined in his mount and listened.
1T seemed he had heard the foun-
tain's splash. Slowly he got down from
the horse. calling something to another
who waited ne:r him The man rode
on at his biddirg. Running a few steps
forward, the man vaulted the low hedge
and crashed his way thro""h the dense
thicket. stridirg quickly up the little
terrace to the glade. The woma
watched him half in fear, crouching far
back into the seat between the trees.
Swiftly he wa ed to the basin of iun-
ming water. T. ere was nothing to drink
ifrom but his h tnds. Plunging them in,
a long draught he took, splashlng the
cooling water On his face and coat.
"A little lauga surprised him. Quick
lay liz ooSn NAN OPf
the marble coping. Then he saw the
little woman and started up ashamed.
Sweeping off his old discolored hat, he
bowed low before her.
Il am sorry to have startled YOU,
senorita," he faltered with a bright
smile, the words coming slowly in a
strange accent. I'll should not have
Ientered here"
You nave not startled me-" she an
severed with a light ripple of pleased
laughter. Who dropped behind the
basin?"
He blushed as if the act had held him
up to woman's ridicule.
Il did not know it was a lady he re-
piled, THE country is at war.-..1 beg
Iyour pardon, senorita."
You like the water?" she asked.
II have never tasted any on the is
land half so sweet....and now....1 must
be on after the men,"
Come" she invited, glancing at his