The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-07-15

them In traps | consider mean and
lcowardly The man who kills de-
fenseless beast Is no hunter lie Is
only butcher" And when she
remained silent, unable TO understand
his thoughts. he continued: I'm Ger
many even the women, go hunting,
my sister does. ! suppose you would
be too afraid. Maria?'
His words and the tone OF his voice
hurt her. No, she would not be afraid.
she knew that And now, wasn't IL
her sacred duty TO be near him also
when danger threatened? Yes, II was
even her right. A bride has rights.
But why didn't he say word OF love
or marriage 10 her? Maybe he want
ed to see II she were as brave as his
sister He was hunter and would
marry only a girl who could hunt.
That must be II, now she understood
him.
Il am going with you, Don Offredo."
she said simply.
Her words made him dumb for
moment Then he laughed and thought
how ridiculous II was for little girl
to want TO go hunting tigers, but. be-
fore he could tell her that. the Widow
4 Sarsala, a stout woman with dull eyes
and yellow teeth. appeared. There
was an upmistakable resemblance be-
tween her and Maria, and he said TO
himself with a shudder that when she
was 40 years old the little one would
look Just the same way. What a pity
that women lose their beauty SO quick
ly down here.
! The old woman asked him how he
bod Giant Maria hnWn alnna wit N
J her thoughts, but she kept on looking
at him. He ate and drank. She
J hoped all the time that he would look
! at her with that beautiful express
sion In his eyes that she loved so,
: but he seemed to have forgotten her
: entirely
or course he must be thinking OF
the tiger which he was to kill. Or
maybe he thought her stupid, and she
said to herself that she was Stupid.
But anyhow, man had no right to
make his sweetheart feel that he
I. thought so. That she knew, and she
felt deeply hurt. All at once the
thought came to her: Perhaps he
doesn't want to mary yoH at all, No.
that was impossible, for hadn't he pro-
poser? When man asks a girl do
you like me, and do you want me.
then he can't mean anything else, and
surely that must be so all over the
world"
Then Manuelo came and announced
that everything was ready.
!. Maria thought: Now he's going to
ask me to sit behind him on his
horse"
But he stood up, shook Manuelo's
, hand. and went away without even
looking at Maria Not even word
would he speak to her.
She turned pale and looked afte.
him Then she picked up the roses
which he had left on the table and
began to pull them to pieces, while big
tears ran down her cheeks.
Don Alfredo rode into the country
guided by Manuelo. San Salvador
was far behind them, and all around
them everything was quiet. The sun
was already high In the sky, and 1t
began TO grow very hot. On both
sides OF the road, were palms and
cactuses. but they gave no shade 70
the men passing by. In front OF them
like an immense luong black wall was
! the wood.
, They came nearer TO their destina
, ton, and as they entered the wood II
seemed suddenly to become evening
and violet twilight was all around
! them
Don Alfredo felt peculiar sensa'
ton. and the horses began to tremble
But still they rode on. Don Alfredo
thought OF the girl. II was clear to
, him now that he really loved her. ridi
culous as II was And while he
thought OF her and was angry. at him
| self because he had said too much, he
suddenly heard somebody coming NJ
from behind, and turned and saw. q
, white figure on a horse covered with
foam Maria"
Don Alfredo" she exclaimed. and
, her eyes shot fire.
What do you want here, Maria?'
r he asked sternly.
t want to go hunting with you"
He felt that he had gone too far and
, brought difficulties upon himself which
might be very serious. There was nc
, doubt but that the girl thought he was
to marry her. An insane thought but
: that Is the way Of girls in. this. eoun
try You give them hint and they
stick to you like kittens. Should he
: send her back? II was quite, certain
that she would refuse to so, but he
would try It anyway.
Maria" he said. you must turn
back. Something might happen tc
YOU and you know tigers are very
unpleasant animals to meet at times.
He wanted to say more. but the fire In
her eyes stopped him. That he had
only been joking. that he had never
thought Of marrying her. he dared
no Ginger 10 say The fault was hi:
own and he would have to take the
i, consequences.
You are child, Maria he began
No." she replied. Il am a hunter
> as Is your sister"
Ii was to him AZ II he must laugh
but he couldn't when he looked at her
She was bitterly In earnest She want
ed to make him see that she could
be brave. that he might love her more
Then she said almost I'm voice oil
command: Don Manuelo Is waiting
Go ahead"
But you have no weapon" he said
Il have my fathers knife"
,. She showed II TO him. II was a Ions
slender. but very sharp knife
Well. she might come along, and be
, would see that nothing happened Ia
her. and tonight would have talk
with her mother who would then have
to drive the foolish ideas out of her