Year: 1876

words he brought the roses back to hel
cheek and stopped her tears.


What is there that can do for you?'
she asked at last dashing away the
last pearly tear.


Nothing now" he answered. Il will
think"


"Oh, il there is anything | can do to
please you let me know"


Il will" be replied, and released her
arms 10 seek a position where he could
watch the equestrienne as she appeared
in the ring. Right gallantly she rode.
and most vociierously was she applauded
by the audience to whom in recompense
she threw kiss, so it appeared; but the
King of the Tigers" knew that the kiss
was tor him alone. and not for the two
thousand people who were enraptured
by the grace. daring and beauty of the
queenly woman.


One day the beast tanner read TO his
wife paragraph from foreign print
which related that a great sensation had
been created abroad by the appearance
of q man and woman in a tigers cage.


"Why, could DO that exclaimed
his wife, springing up and seizing the
paper from his hand. I'm sure the big
yellow pussies would do no harm to me
when you were there"


There is nothing in the act" he said
contemp,uously, cooling her enthusiasm.


why no,?" she asked.


Because" he responded. '' the public
are familiar with my act, and they would
say that the animals were under my
control"


"Oh, that is too bad. am really dis
appointed. | thought that | was very
brave 10 volunteering to venture in the
tigers den with you


"It would be very brave il you would
90 into the cage without me-" he said.
As be replied. he looked into her eyes
just as he did those of bis jungle pets"


She thought of the beautiful cquesiri-
enne. and knew that she was her rival in
the affections of her husband.


"Do YOU think that the pussies would
hurt me il ventured in alone?' she in-
quired with the artlessness Of n child.


NO" he answered; "they are as
harmless as kittens"


"rll DO it, she exclaimed resolutely.


You will :" he cried enthusiastically,
and be caught her in in his arms. and
looking down into her blue eyes said
"You are brave girl. | am the king
of the Tigers. and YOU shall be The
queen"


Now she lelt she was winning him
back to his loyalty. and she would risk
her life if need be. if she could but pos
sess him all to herself. The love OF her
loving admitted OF no fraction of a heart.


Wen make our fortune" he said.


And have nice little home OF our
own, and mol travel any more"


And the tigers as pets" he said with
laugh.


That night he did not watch the beau
tilul equestrienne. and his wiie's heart
gave a great leap of JOY. A good deal
of establishment was expressed among
the show people when it became known
that the tiger kings wife was to make
her appearance in the den OF the ROYAL
Bepgalls. There were mysterious do
ings of day and night at the canvass
after the announcement was made that
on the following Saturday night the
Queen of the Tigers" would make her
first appearance in the den OF the brutes.
The equestrienne was seen to steal qui-
etly away and consult with the man who
fed The beasts OF the menagerle.


He whose duty il was to feed the
auimals was now flush with money. and
had grown suddenly generous to his
comrades. OF a night, after the show
was over, the king Of the Tigers
would return from the hotel. and for
some purpose visi, his pets, and then.
evading the attention OF any one. return
TO his wife, who noted his strange COM
ings and goings, but made no remark.


During the week prior 10 her public
appearance in the den OF the tigers, she
had entered the cage with her husband
and had thereby acquired considerable
confidence. 1t was originally the inten'
ton that she should have made single
entrance in private, alone before dong
90 before an audience. but the tiger tam
er said:


Don't; | have my reason Tor It,"


And she acquiesced in his wishes.


The eventiul night arrived. and the
nng-master announced that tor the hrot
time in the world woman would alone
enter the den oil the wild and tcrocious
Bengal tigers being also her most posi-
lively FIRST unaccompanied entrance INTO
The lair. either in public or in private.


When the master OF ceremonies an
pouuced this act OF "unequalled female
beroism," the man whose duty it was 10
feed the animals left the canvas and
wandered eff down by the horse-ients'
With flourish of music the young bride
entered, led by the hand by the king
of the Tigers" In her costume she
looked like a veritable Indian princess,