The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1905-04-14
The Milk White Doe.

/
The sound was so faint that only the
ears of the skilled huntsman might hear
it.
1t came from hundreds of tiny hoofs,
muffied by the grass in the mountain
| park.
"Antelopen'
Together we lay face downward. and
my Indian guide, with our long rifles at
easy rest, and awaited the coming of the
band. 1t dashed over a hogsback and
into full view. a wildly leaping, strug-
Cling, undulating mass of reddish brown,
white tufted bodies stretched to the full
est speed.
Nervous? 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 waited by the spirit
| of the wind. Now they are directly op-
posite. 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 liquid eyes are
wild with terror.
Another moment and the herd has
swept by Us. Only the hindermost are in
view. Now they are out of hearing and
presently are lost to sight.
Hooked at Pablo. His dark face SEEM
ed almost pale. His eyes betrayed excite
ment, not the excitement of anger or fear,
but of a tender sympathy.
The same power that had staid my fin
ger when it would have pressed the trig-
ger had like effect upon him.
"Senor," he said, at is the milk white
doe that none may STAY"
1t was overpowering curiosity that
had rendered my forefnger inflexible, for
at the head of the band was the most
beautiful animal had ever seen-a milk
white doe. She seemed heeter, more
timid and of more graceful contour than
any of the herd. She was the perfection
of animal grace and beauty. fancied
heard a soft, sad moan as she passed be-
fore the muzzle of my rifle. l was lost
briefly in pathetic contemplation, and
the herd was gone.
Come, Pablo, it is 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 a SOL
emn impressiveness, at is death to all
who follow the milk white doe"
Nonsense l must have her. Let US
follow quick"
"Have patience, senior, and tonight
when we smoke by the campfire 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
western continent, before the Spaniards
came, even before the reign of the ancient
Quetzalcoatl, the lord of the Seven Caves
of Navatlaques and king of the Seven
Nations, out of which arose the splendor
of the Montezuman 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
numbers of their arrows were greater
than the twigs in the forest.
Their queen was Maxtella.
| Her skin was as white as the snow on
yonder mountain peak, her lips were as
scarlet as the flaming loco blossoms, her
eyes were as blue as the calculates in the
Minas dc las Peridas, and from their
liquid depths beamed truth and purity OF
soul
She was a virgin queen. Her courtiers
wooed her in vain. The richest of them
all laid his wealth Of calculates and beau
tiful 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 forno one man.
It was for all her people. Her virtue and
her beauty were the marvels of those
days.
Her counseiors were wise beyond their
generation. Many things they knew
that were unknown to the subjects Of
| Queen Maxte1la. They knew of the east,
ern ocean, of great country beyond, to
which their ancestors had gone years be.
fore
The northern hordes were at peace. Sc
powerful were they that the tribes in the
south did not dare to make war with
jects 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 a vassel chief, Azul
of lowly birth and evil ways. He saw
the beautiful Maxtella, and the sight o.
her touched his black heart. He lovcC
Maxtella not for her virtue nor her wis
dom. He loved her that he might rult
the land and that from his blood anc
hers might come race of savage kings
and that the northern hordes mig h
make war upon the tribes of the soutf
and despoil them of their treasure.
Azul knew the black magic art. H,
brought his richest treasure to Maxtella':
court. He used his black art that h.
might appear pleasing in her sight. Hi
arms and throat were bare. On his heat
was a snowy white helmet, and his dres
was of green feathers. His breastplat
of feather work cleaned like jewels whel
the sun shone upon it. Tall and straigh