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

ciety IN WHICH ne nau peeh movm9s
He spoke OF a ball at the dukes PAL q
ace and OF the christening OF the
crown prince when the empress had
been present y NJ W
She listened attentiyely enough. but
he felt that she understood very htue
OF II.
Surely she had never been outside
that miserable little town, and haq
seen nothing Of HE. Then he began
TO understand her. She couldn't be
otherwise The, circumstances 10
which he lived were TO blame. he
had asked her: do you want me-
She had said yes. and was now ms
bride"
| He was terrified. The savage little
girl was full or fire, and IL he snouo
soy to her face: | Will not marry
you, what would then happen? Per-
haps she would kill him during the
night, and he thought OF her big knife.
Ii would not be a very glorious
death.
My child" he said. you must re-
main behind. | do not want you TO ca
pose yourself to danger. Don Man
uelo will protect You"
Il am not afraid" she replied with
smile, showing her white teeth. II
think will know how 10 fight"
He wanted to say something. bus
she continued: II have a book in
which is told about the fate Of 30
great saints. How they suffered. these
poor men. gave their lives for Christ
because they loved him--yes Loved
him"
He took off his hat and wiped his
forehead. The air appeared terribly
sultry to him. and the heavy frag-
rance of the flowers confused his
mind, but what Maria said softly and
still firmly with blazing eyes, fell upon
his heart like heavy rocks.
Before them was now an open
stretch of land with a number Of
brooks along the shores OF which
palms and bushes were growing. The
ground was damp and soft and look
ing across the swamp ahead they
could see the island where lived the
tiger.
Don Manuelo dismounted and said.
I'VE are at our destination. sir. The
men have been posted around the
swamp and as soon as | give the sig
nal they will begin. Are you readyy"
Maria jumped from the horse and
Stay with the GIRL he said. "and
give the signal as soon as | am be-
hind that BUSH" He took his gun and
stood a few minutes later ready to
fire.
Don Manuelo gave tn esignal and
the men began to drive the tiger to-
ward the hiding place OF Don Alfredo.
Suddenly the tall grass at the edge
OF the wood began to move as IL q
snake was crawling through It, and
a moment later the jacquar came glid-
ing toward the bush where stood the
hunter. Suddenly the grass ceased
moving. the tiger had discovered the
enemy. and was considering how to es-
cape. Suddenly IL jumped sideways
away from the bush. shot rang out.
the lacquer disappeared among the
grass. Not n sound, not movement
betrayed where was
Then Manuelo shouted: That was a
fine shot II struck the tiger in the
heart" and to Maria he whispered:
HE pays me 100 pataton for each
tiger | drive in front of his gun. He
is rich, and tell you that you are to
consider yourself lucky that he has
thrown his eyes upon you"
She blushed and did not reply. Sud-
denly she felt ashamed OF herself.
J and understood what these men must
, think of her. What did she want
here? She had thought that Don ALI
fredo would fight the tiger, and that
!. she would help him. His sister was
a hunted. he had said. and hunting
was fighting. But this had been no
fight. he had simply shot the tiger be-
fnr.1 IL 10 hot
but his blood was cold.
} She was very much disappointed.
and he was no longer TO her the great
, hero she had imagined
: Without looking at Manuelo she
; went toward Don Alfredo. She want
, ed 10 tell him that she had come TO
| show him her courage, and TO share
! his danger with him as was the duty
OF wife who cannot live without her
beloved.
He did not see her, but walked slow
II ytoward the spot where the tiger
must have fallen.
| Then Manuelo cried: Look out. sir.
these beasts are tough. You use small
J caliber bullets which leave no wound.
} and even II you hit the heart the
; beast may still be alive"-----
III ne ulu nut uUlSu MS WOTuS, IUr SUI
denly the tiger leaped through the al:
: straight at Don Alfredo and carried
; him to the ground.
The big knife was In Marias hand.
; She buried IL twice, three times in the
body OF the tiger which hoared and
! bit her first in the arm and then In
} the throat. She gave one cry and then
! was silent
Everything had happened terribly
! quick When Manuelo reached the
spot the tiger lay dead near Maria.
r and Don Alfredo was trying TO get
up. He gave a cry OF horror when he
; saw the girl, torn and bloody next to
, him. But she was still alive.
Maria" he cried. Maria, what
have you done" There was nothing
+ more to do. the veins OF her neck
had been torn. and in few minutes
she must die
She opened her eyes and whispered !:
. Am | brave girl? Tell me. Don ALI
fredo. do YOU care for me now? And
will we go together across the big
ocean, Blood came rushing from
her mouth and she could say no more.
He bent down over her and said :
You are a brave girl Maria, and |
lcve YOU. Bride. you are my bridel
!. Do you understand childg'
She smiled. closed her eyes and
was dead.
OVerdone.
"Dolan.' said Mr. Rafferty,. as he