The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-07-29
MILE. Z0E'S TIGRESS
BY WILL w. WHAlEN.

VI tHdl: MILO. Loe Hau a lover IN eVs
cry town that the circus reached. 9th.
err men less susceptible than Ralph
Patterson lost their hearts at sight Of
Mile. Zoe.
Now the circus was at Montgomery,
But Ralph Patterson, being no laggard
IN love, had followed Mile. Zoe there.
He sat now in her dressing apart
ment, his eyes on her mobile face.
"You ask me to marry you," she
said, sweeping her golden pompadour
from her white forehead. DO you
realize what that means? There Is
little virtue on the stage, there Is less
In the circus.
"You are young to talk that way"
he argued.
eyes, l am young" There was a
touch Of bitterness in her rich voice.
But despite my years, a man had
as we'll marry my pet tigress. Lady
Belle, as me-"
"You can leave the circus"
II had intended to do so before I
saw you. This is my last season as
lion-tamer. I intend to 60 on the
stage"
Marry me, and let me prove my
love-"
"You must wait for your answer"
She glanced at her watch and arose
as a sign Of dismissal. II must per.
FORM"
rs there in this world today man
whom could love-a man worthy of
woman's lover"
Mile. Zoe moaned these words pit.
eously into the ear Of her pet tigress.
Fierce Lady Belle quailed before the
fierce fire in the eyes Of her mis-.
tress.
The circus had remained three days
at Montgomery: now it was to leave.
Ralph Patterson was again in Mile.
Zoes dressing apartment, pleading his
love, and devouring her beauty with
his liquid blue eyes.
II must tell you story. Ralph" she
said. Seven years ago, in coal
mine town, not far from here, there
lived little girl, pretty with moon
beam prettiness. She trusted every
one, because she was good. She trust
ed one to her sorrow-a man. He
wooed her with soft, innocent blue
eyes, like yours; he kissed her with
frank lips, like yours; he caressed her
with strong hands, like yours. That
man left the little girl to the mercies
Of the world, her name gone, her life
blasted. The world pointed the finger
of scorn at her and shut its doors in
her face, while he held his head high
and cared for no man, he BY chance,
the little girl got some education; 1t
doesn't matter how; she became bril-.
liant and was sought after even by
the one who had spoiled her life. The
moonbeam turned into sunbeam"
He attempted to rise, but hand,
as soft and white as q snowflake,
touched his wrist, and kept him to
his seat. Il was that little girl, Ralph
Patterson; you were that man. Take
education. bleached hair and seven
maturing years from Mile Zoe, and
you have little Emma Stone, whom
you made an outcast."
His face lost its look Of innocence:
guilt flushed it from brow to chin.
"Your voice was az winning then
Us now. I should love you, were your
past unknown to me. You love me at
last, but I do not want such love
as yours. There has been an invis-
ible cord binding US together all these
years. Even the wounded insect
may lame by its sting the one who
has hurt It. You took from me all
that made life worth the living; and
revenge is written ON my heart with
a pen Of iron. with the point Of q dia'
mond."
She cast a glance upon him, like
the glance of a lioness that sees her
prey within reach. He kept his eyes
to the ground. He heard curtain
pulled aside, and heard something
spring near his feet. One lightning
glance showed him an open cage, Mile.
Zoe, whip in hand, and a sleek tigress
crouching to spring. He was petri-
fed in his chair. Then the beasts
claws had rent his flesh.
Mile Zoe had looked forward to her
revenge. but now it was turned to
ashes on her lips. All the woman In
her was aroused to action; the ten
derness of long ago came to life in her
bosom; her hardness melted. She
saw that Lady Belle had inflicted as
yet only scratches and slight wound.
She dashed the beast from Patterson's
shoulders, screamed to him to fly. He
staggered to the opening in the cam
vas, and out into the air and sunlight.
calling for help.
But Lady Belle had tasted blood;
no fear could hold her in check now.
Her fangs met in Mile. Zoe's slender
throat, her sharp cruel claws rent
the beautiful shoulders.
Mile. Zoe's circus tour was ended.
copyright, by Daily Story Pub Coz