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

was this vassal CHIEF, and mighty was
his stride. Great blue and blood red
stones shone in the middle of his sword
But the counselors were wise men.
They could see his black heart and read
his evil mind, and they spurned him with
scorn. They would have driven him from
the court. The vassal chief held in his
hand a wand, sharp pointed like knife,
by which he worked his magic art.
When the queen appeared he looked at
her and turned pale. Azuls eyes pierced
her, but his magic was not strong
enough to make her love him. Until then
she knew not fear, but now the evil spirit
was upon her. All of Azuls power was
exerted to subdue her gentle heart.
| When she went to walk a wolf sprang
up in her path, sharp stones cut through
the deerskin and wounded her feet
Nearby was spring of healing water,
but when Maxtella went to drink of it
| foul odor of poisonous gases arose.
She sought her couch, but Azul had
driven sleep away. When she was alone
the black hearted vassal chief would sud-
denly appear and with thongs of the deer
would beat her white body until his saw
| age lashes drew drops of blood.
All things could he make Maxtella do
but love him. False words she spoke to
her counselors and did unholy deeds that
made her courtiers bow their heads in
shame. No more was Maxtella just or
merciful. Cruelty, pitiless cruelty turned
her love of her subjects to hate.
Of her attendants who remained faith
full, none was more so than little page
a boy of not more than a score of years.
These two sat one eve within the palace.
The dusky shadows were gathering with
out, but the night could only bring added
wretchedness to Maxtella The boy sang
to her, and as his song died away black
shape entered the room. 1t was Azul
"Thy song is sad, he said to the page.
"Why do you not weep, Maxtella ?"
The rivers of Maxtella's eyes were
dried up.
NOW l will teach you how to weep"
and he struck her with his cruel thong.
Maxtella turned upon him her timid,
pleading eyes. With a mighty bound the
youth leaped toward the chief and seized
the magic wand. Its possession gave
him the strength of many men. He
struck the wretch blow and pinned him
to the floor. Azul writhed in pain, and
the blood dyed his dress of feathers GRIM
son. None but wizard might ever loose
him. With the blow the spell he had
wrought on Maxtella was broken, and
all her gentleness and purity returned. 1t
was this that caused her to pity the
bleeding wretch squirming in agony, yet
furious with rage. She reached down
her delicate hand to withdraw the wand
if it were possible, when Azul seized her
by the arm and buried his sharp, gleam-
ing teeth into the hand extended in mercy.
Maxtella, unable to release herself,
shrieked in pain. for the bite of the sor-
cerer was as deadly as the poison of the
snake with the castanets in his tail.
"Now is thy blood mingled with mine"
Kissed Azul, land of thy own free will!
Now are we one forever. BY my living
hate and the mingling of our blood 1
have supremest power over thee. Cow
ard thou hast ever been. Coward thou
shalt ever be. The spirit shall pass from
thee in the form of the creature thou most
resemblest-a doe, timid of heart, feet of
foot and spotlessly white. None may
slay thee, yet thou wilt ever long for the
dart that would release the spell. Thy
speed shall shame the feetest Iof the herd,
and thy matchless beauty shall ever lure
the hunter to his death"
And with these words milk white doe
darted from the palace walls, trembling
with fright. 1t hides in brakes and can
yons and fees when no hunter is nigh.
Hundreds have seen it, and many have
been lured to pursue it. The fallen rocks
from canyon walls hide the corpse of
many a hunter who sought to Stay the
milk white doe. None has ever returned
to tell the story of those chases. And
those who escaped the canyons dangers
their bones lie bleaching in eternal
snow.-Chicago Times-Herald.