The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-11

haughtily and seemed somewhat sur
prised He was standing close to
tigers cage at the geological gardens
looking at a splendid animal who WAS
lying down fast asleep at the back.
with its head turned away from him.
To allay the keepers fright he moved
a yard or two away and then said In
a low voice. He is a very fine speci-
men. Where did you get him."
"A young officer gave him to US
when he was a cub" replied the man.
But we could never do anything with
him-he has always been SO savage.
Though he was quite young when he
came We had to cage him at once. and
now none of US dare go near him.
Even the man who feeds MIN does not
like the job, sir, I can tell you"
Impossible" muttered the gentle
man to himself. Now for an expert
ment." and. to the keepers unlimited
establishment, he raised his voice and
called out: well. old fellow, won't
you let me see how you have turned
out?"
Then. truly. if the man had been
surprised before. what was his amaze
ment now to see the great animal rise
to his feet with a start and reach
the front of the cage in one bound.
Was this the savage brute without one
could tame? This beautiful. graceful
creature, rubbing his great head on
the bars of the cage, stretching his
paws through the rails, all the while
making purrinG. delighted sounds OF
intense joy and welcome. AS for the
young gentleman whom he had warm
ed, he was close to the cage again
with his hands between the bars, and
the tiger was making efforts to lick
his face, seemingly half-mad with
happiness.
Then the gentleman turned to hirn
and said quite eagerly: My name is
Mcnamara, and it was i who gave
this tiger to tie society. You can see
he remembers me perfectly. Can't you
let me into the cage? / haven't the
slightest fear.
II daren't let you into the cage"
said the man. You see, he doesn't
hurt you badly without meaning il"
Mcnamara was never allowed to so
inside, though he pleaded hard. For
the authorities were firm on this one
point, and said the risk was too
great. Still, he could caress and feed
him through the bars, and even II he
did nothing but stand close by, the
tiger was absolutely and perfectly
happy at the very, sight of the one
pSioNcu idSC anu lhS hCCPCio
told him that on the afternoons when
he could not come. the animal would
watch for him for hours. and very
often would refuse his food. I'VE can't
think what we shall do with him, sir,
when the regiment is moved" one of
them remarked one day. And Mac
namara himself often wondered how
it was all going to end.
The order came at last, and the reg
imept moved n n In tina
north, ever SO many miles away from
the gay metropolis. So many. that
visits to it could be few and far be-
tween, even by those who loved 1t
best. And month after month sped by
till another year had flown before
Mcnamara succeeded in getting a
weeks leave and found himself once
more in town. He had not asked. for
any news of the tiger. for he knew II
was kindly treated: and it was abso-
lutely useless to ask any friend to go
and see it. for, as all Its faithful
heart was given to one. no one else
In the world was of the slightest ac-
count to 1t
But now he pictured to himself the
joy it would show when 1t saw him
again. No need to try an experiment
this time to see IL it would know him!
And in less than an hour after he
reached London he was on hiss way
to the gardens.
A very short time after he was
standing in front of an empty cage,
and a keeper by his side was speak
ing with deep respect ana almost rev.
erence in his voice. It's just three
months since he died, sir, for after
you left we could do nothing with him.
He watched for you day after day,
standing close up against the bars
and looking at every person that came
in. Then, after a bit, he refused all
food, and 1 never saw him asleep.
used to think he was afraid to leave
off watching for an instant in case
he might miss you. In fact, he just
pinned away to skin and bones, and
one morning when we came round we
found him dead-crouching up against
the bars. And the man. who had
been much touched by the whole ten
der. pitiful little story. looked sadly
into the empty cage. which only a
few months ago had had SO splendid
and faithful hearted an occupant.