Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1905-03-23
THE MILK
WHITE DOE

| Ahe sounO was so 1alnt That only
the ears of the skilled huntsmar
might hear it.
1t came from hundreds of tiny
hoofs, mufied by the grass in the
mountain park.
"Antelopep
Together we lay face downward,
! and my Indian guide, with our
long rifles at easy rest, and awaited
the coming Of the band. It dashed
over hogsback and into full view,
wildly leaping, struggling, undu-
lating mass of reddish brown, white
tufted bodies stretched to the fullest
speed.
Nervousi Yes, for in a moment
more the band would pass US within
easy range.
We lay with forefngers on the
triggers as the timid animals, wild
with fear, SKINNED along as if watt
ed by the spirit Of the wind. Now
they are directly opposite. We will
never have such another shot.
Onward they dash and pass 90
closely by that it seems we can hear
their heartbeats. Their great, liquid
eyes are wild with terror.
Another moment and the herd
has swept by us. Only the hinder
most are in view. Now they are out
Of hearing and presently are lost to
sight.
looked at Pablo. His dark face
seemed almost pale. His eyes be-
trayed excitement, not the excite
ment of anger or fear, but of q ten
der sympathy.
The same power that had staid
my finger when it would have press
ed the trigger had like effect upon
him.
"Senor," he said, ct is the milk
white doe that none may slay."
1t was overpowering curiosity
that had rendered my forefnger in
flexible, for at the head Of the band
was the most beautiful animal I had
ever seen-a milk white doe. She
seemed feeter, more timid and of
more graceful contour than any of
the herd. She was the perfection
of animal grace and heantsr-I Co.
cied heard soft, sad moan ~ she
passed before the muzzle of my ri
fie. 1 was lost briefly in pathetic
contemplation, and the herd was
gone.
"Come, Pablo, it IL almost dusk,
but we must follow. Come, stir
yourself, you unenthusiastic SON Of
Montezuma, and let Us be gone"
"Senor," said Pablo in his calm
and imperturbable manner, yet with
q solemn impressiveness, sit is death
to all who follow the milk white
doe"
Nonsense! l must have her.
Let us follow quick"
"Have patience, senior, and to-
night when we smoke by the camp
fire 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 a western continent, before the
Spaniards came, even before the
rein of the ancient Quetzalcoatl,
the lord of the Seven Caves Of Ma
vstlaques and king of the Seven
Nations, out of which arose the
splendor of the Montezuman en-
pire, 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 numbers
Of their arrows were greater than
the twigs in the forest.
Their queen was Maxtella.
Her skin was as white 90 the snow
on yonder mountain peak, her lips
ware as scarlet as the flaming loco
blossom, her eyes were as blue as
the chalchuites in the Minas de Las
Perdidas, and from their liquid
depths beamed truth and purity Of
soul.
She was q virgin queen. Her
courtiers wooed her in vain. The
richest of them all laid his wealth
of chalchuites 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 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 q
great country beyond to 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 q vsssal
chief, Azul, Of lowly birth and evil
ways. he saw the beautiful Max
tella, and the sight of her touched