Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-08-29
With and voluptuous buried her face
IN her orange blossom bouquet confident execution
squad would fire only blank cartridges at her"

pody perfumed, massaged and DOW.
dered. In her arms she carried
mark this detail-a huge bouquet
or orange blossoms. Altogether
she seemed more like a bride 20.
Ing to wedding, an exotic Oriental sort
OF wedding, than a poor condemned pris.
Oner.
And here Is the reason why the con.
demned MataIIari was so gay and deb.
OMAR. Some one high in authority. IL Is
whispered, said TO her before the execu.
ton:
Mata'iari, we are not going to kill you.
You are too beautiful to die I could not
prevent the death sentence from being
passed, but | have arranged that it shall
not be carried into effect. When the sol.
diers are called to attention, preparatory
TO the order to fire, bury your face in this
bouquet of orange blossoms 1t will helm
you 10 maintain your composure. Whom
YOU hear the report Of the rifles fall to the
ground, as though you were dead.
They will fire blank cartridges. that
VIII not harm even the surface of vour
beautiful skin. Do not make any outcry.
DO not show any fear. will take care of
you afterwards"
This, then, was the reason WHY Nat,.
Hari faced her dreadful fate, not merely
with calmness, but with brazen pave,y
When she arrived at Vincennes the mill
fary commandment took her record accord
Ing to the rules. She answered his cues.
tions with gay toss OF the head and a
nash o! her dark eyes. Without DELAY She
was led TO the parade ground.
ne oilcer In command consulted her
as TO how she wished TO face the firing
squad. with the utmost nonchalance she
dcciared that she would remain standing
win her eyes unbandaged. Before taking
up hcr position. as ordered, she executed
pirouette with all her old dancers skill
iier lripollty amazed the soldiers and filed
.hem win certain admiration. Her dis.
regard OF death has since then been com.
mon talk among old soldiers.
am ready Whenever YOU arc. INV cbiI.
dren, she called out cheerfully. "Firs
straight at my heart"
Al The word of command twenty soldiers
raised their rifles to their shoulders Matn.
iiari buried 'er face in her great bouquet
oi orange blossoms with a voluptuous ges.
ture. "
Fire" rang out the command.
Mala Hari crumbled 10 the earth ber
nouy pierced by nearly twenty bullets.
someone had fooled her. But what was
the meaning of this tragic fooline?
Did somebody tell her she would he
saved Just TO spare her feelings, to save
her from the agony OF anticipating death
ana 10 prevent the painful scenes which a
woman might easily have caused? Was n
really Kindness thus To deceive hero Was
IL me French conception OF chvalrv that
prompted The act--the chivalry that savs
woman should never suffer apy avoid.
able distress? Was it the plan of some
Official who aimed to avoid shockiny
scenes which could certainly reflect No
credit on the Government!
mat the deception was duo tn one .,
.heSe causes is the opinion of half NJ
nose VINO have heard of the strange eni.
soae' On the other hand, there are others
VINO belierc that the plan to rescue nor
was me work of lover; that it was meant
10 De carried through successfully and
MAT through some other officials act tho
hcheine was frustrated The great nroh.
rem 'hcn, is TO find out If ANYBODY bad
me power TO save her and who il vas tha,
lhtertered with his scheme.
According to an artist. who moved =,
me same circle as Mata.Iiari and bnr
iIiehus' the man who told her that be
would rescue her added these words at,n.
those already quoted: "'''i
AFTER you have fallen to the earth ~.
soldiers will 80 away. Then will nick ' mo