The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1914-07-10
p l..

young girl, modelling In clay. The
glare OF the California sunshine, fl
tering through the canvas. became
meIiowed. warm. and golden. Above
tho giri's head-yeiiow like the stalk
OF wbeat-there hovered a kind OF
%aureola, an II there had risen above 1t
a haze OF impalpable gold dust.
A poet ! know might have cried out
that there ended his quest Of the
Golden Girl Straight she stood at this
moment, lovely OF face, rounded of
form. with an indegcrlhabia suggestion
or letant physical power or magnet
ism. On her temples there were little
tdaubs Of clay. caused doubtless by I'm
patient fingers sweeping back occa
'sionai wind,blown locks Of hair. There
was ever a daub on the side OF her
handsome. sensitive nose.
Her hand. still filled with clay,
dropped to her side, and a tableau en-.
dnred for a minute or two. suggesting
a remote period, a Persian idyl, may,
har With q smile on her lips she
stared at the living model, The cha.
'toyant eyes OF the leopard stared
back. u flicker OF restlesaness In their
brilliant yellow deeDs The tip Of the
tall twitched.
You beautiful thing" she said.
She began kneading the clay again,
and with deft fingers added bits here
and there to the creature which had
grown up under her strong. supple
fingers.
"Kathlyn! Oh, Kit"
The sculptress paused, the pucker
Isft her brow. and she turned. her
face b~eauling. for her sister Winnie
wa the apple OF her eye, and she
brooded over her like tho mother
would have done had the mother lived.
For Winnie, dark as Kathlyn was
light. was M careless and aimless 40
t~hlstledown In the wind.
A collie leaped upon the platform
and began paving Kathlyn, and short.
ly after the younger sister followed,
Neither Of the girls noted the stiffen.
Ing muataches Of the leopard, The ami.
NAL rose, and his postrils palpitated,
He hated tho dog with a hatred not
unmixed with fear, Treuchery 10 In
tho marrow OF all cats, To breed them
in captivity does not matter, Sooner
or later they will strike, Never be
fore had the leopard been so close TO
his enemy, free of the leash,
Kit, II Is Just wonderful, However
can you do It? Some day wen make
dad take us to Paris, where you can
exhibit them"
A Hnarl from the leopard. answered
by a growl from the collie. brought
kathlyn's head about. The cat leaped,
but toward Winnie. not the collie,
With a cry Of terror Winnie turned
and ran in the direction of the bungas
low. Kathlyn, SELLING the leash. fol-
lowed like the wind. hampered though
she vas by the apron. The cat loped
after the fleeing girl, gaining at each
bound, The yeiping of the collie
brought forth from various points low
rumbling sounds, which presently de-
veloped into roars,
Winnie turned sharply around the
corner Of tho bungalow toward the
empty animal cages. to attract her
father and at the same time rouse
some OF the keepers. Seeing the door
OF an empty cage open, and that 1t was
approached by a board runway, she
few TO 1t, entered. and slammed the
door and held II. The cat. now hot
with the lust to kill, threw himself
against the bars, snarling and splitting.
kathlyn called out to him sharply,
and fearlessly approached him. She
began talking IN u monotone. His
ears went fiat against his head, but he
submitted to her touch because In
vartably II soothed him. and because
he sensed some undefinable power
whenever his gaze met hers. She
snapped the leash on his collar Just as
her father came running up, pale and
disturbed, He ran to the door and
opened It.
Winnie, you poor little kitten" he
said, taking her in his arms, how
many times have | told you never to
take that dog about when Kits leopard
La OF tho leash7"
Il didn't think" she sobbed,
mo. Kit here and | must always do
your thinking for you. Ahmed"
yes. sahib." answered the head
keeper.
see II you can stop that racket
over there. Sadie may lose her litter
n It keeps up"
The lean. brown Mohammedan trot.
ted away In obedience TO his orders.
He knew how to stop captive lions
from roaring. He knew how to send
terror to their hearts. As he ran he /,
began to hiss softly, i,
Colonel Hare, with his arm about
Winnie. walked toward the bungalow. ,
Lock your pet UP. Kit" he called
over his shoulder. and come into tea"
kathlyn spoke soothingly to the
leopard, scratched his head behind the
ears. and shortly a low, satisfied rum.
BILE stirred bis throat. and his tail no '
longer slashed about. She led him to
hss own cage, never c~easing to talk,
locked the door. then turned and
walked thoughtfully toward the bunga. {
low. |
She was wondering what this gift q
was that put awe into the eyes OF the |
native keepers ON her fathers wild |
animal farm and temporary peace in Y
the hearts Of the savage beasts She
realized that she possessed 1t, but 1t {
was beyond analysis. OFTEN some wild.
eyed keeper would burst in upon her. !
Some newly captive lion or tiger was
killing itself from mere passion, and
wnuldn't the meinsnhih coma nj anca 1