diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 396.txt | 663 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 396.zip | bin | 0 -> 13393 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/ladyt10.txt | 540 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/ladyt10.zip | bin | 0 -> 11355 bytes |
7 files changed, 1219 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text @@ -0,0 +1,663 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Lady, or the Tiger?, by Frank R. Stockton + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Lady, or the Tiger? + +Author: Frank R. Stockton + +Last updated: December 28, 2008 +Posting Date: July 20, 2008 [EBook #396] +Release Date: January, 1995 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LADY, OR THE TIGER? *** + + + + +Produced by Edward A. Malone. + + + + + + + + + +THE LADY, OR THE TIGER? + +by + +Frank R. Stockton + + + + +In the very olden time there lived a semi-barbaric king, whose ideas, +though somewhat polished and sharpened by the progressiveness of +distant Latin neighbors, were still large, florid, and untrammeled, as +became the half of him which was barbaric. He was a man of exuberant +fancy, and, withal, of an authority so irresistible that, at his will, +he turned his varied fancies into facts. He was greatly given to +self-communing, and, when he and himself agreed upon anything, the +thing was done. When every member of his domestic and political +systems moved smoothly in its appointed course, his nature was bland +and genial; but, whenever there was a little hitch, and some of his +orbs got out of their orbits, he was blander and more genial still, for +nothing pleased him so much as to make the crooked straight and crush +down uneven places. + +Among the borrowed notions by which his barbarism had become semified +was that of the public arena, in which, by exhibitions of manly and +beastly valor, the minds of his subjects were refined and cultured. + +But even here the exuberant and barbaric fancy asserted itself. The +arena of the king was built, not to give the people an opportunity of +hearing the rhapsodies of dying gladiators, nor to enable them to view +the inevitable conclusion of a conflict between religious opinions and +hungry jaws, but for purposes far better adapted to widen and develop +the mental energies of the people. This vast amphitheater, with its +encircling galleries, its mysterious vaults, and its unseen passages, +was an agent of poetic justice, in which crime was punished, or virtue +rewarded, by the decrees of an impartial and incorruptible chance. + +When a subject was accused of a crime of sufficient importance to +interest the king, public notice was given that on an appointed day the +fate of the accused person would be decided in the king's arena, a +structure which well deserved its name, for, although its form and plan +were borrowed from afar, its purpose emanated solely from the brain of +this man, who, every barleycorn a king, knew no tradition to which he +owed more allegiance than pleased his fancy, and who ingrafted on every +adopted form of human thought and action the rich growth of his +barbaric idealism. + +When all the people had assembled in the galleries, and the king, +surrounded by his court, sat high up on his throne of royal state on +one side of the arena, he gave a signal, a door beneath him opened, and +the accused subject stepped out into the amphitheater. Directly +opposite him, on the other side of the inclosed space, were two doors, +exactly alike and side by side. It was the duty and the privilege of +the person on trial to walk directly to these doors and open one of +them. He could open either door he pleased; he was subject to no +guidance or influence but that of the aforementioned impartial and +incorruptible chance. If he opened the one, there came out of it a +hungry tiger, the fiercest and most cruel that could be procured, which +immediately sprang upon him and tore him to pieces as a punishment for +his guilt. The moment that the case of the criminal was thus decided, +doleful iron bells were clanged, great wails went up from the hired +mourners posted on the outer rim of the arena, and the vast audience, +with bowed heads and downcast hearts, wended slowly their homeward way, +mourning greatly that one so young and fair, or so old and respected, +should have merited so dire a fate. + +But, if the accused person opened the other door, there came forth from +it a lady, the most suitable to his years and station that his majesty +could select among his fair subjects, and to this lady he was +immediately married, as a reward of his innocence. It mattered not that +he might already possess a wife and family, or that his affections +might be engaged upon an object of his own selection; the king allowed +no such subordinate arrangements to interfere with his great scheme of +retribution and reward. The exercises, as in the other instance, took +place immediately, and in the arena. Another door opened beneath the +king, and a priest, followed by a band of choristers, and dancing +maidens blowing joyous airs on golden horns and treading an epithalamic +measure, advanced to where the pair stood, side by side, and the +wedding was promptly and cheerily solemnized. Then the gay brass bells +rang forth their merry peals, the people shouted glad hurrahs, and the +innocent man, preceded by children strewing flowers on his path, led +his bride to his home. + +This was the king's semi-barbaric method of administering justice. Its +perfect fairness is obvious. The criminal could not know out of which +door would come the lady; he opened either he pleased, without having +the slightest idea whether, in the next instant, he was to be devoured +or married. On some occasions the tiger came out of one door, and on +some out of the other. The decisions of this tribunal were not only +fair, they were positively determinate: the accused person was +instantly punished if he found himself guilty, and, if innocent, he was +rewarded on the spot, whether he liked it or not. There was no escape +from the judgments of the king's arena. + +The institution was a very popular one. When the people gathered +together on one of the great trial days, they never knew whether they +were to witness a bloody slaughter or a hilarious wedding. This +element of uncertainty lent an interest to the occasion which it could +not otherwise have attained. Thus, the masses were entertained and +pleased, and the thinking part of the community could bring no charge +of unfairness against this plan, for did not the accused person have +the whole matter in his own hands? + +This semi-barbaric king had a daughter as blooming as his most florid +fancies, and with a soul as fervent and imperious as his own. As is +usual in such cases, she was the apple of his eye, and was loved by him +above all humanity. Among his courtiers was a young man of that +fineness of blood and lowness of station common to the conventional +heroes of romance who love royal maidens. This royal maiden was well +satisfied with her lover, for he was handsome and brave to a degree +unsurpassed in all this kingdom, and she loved him with an ardor that +had enough of barbarism in it to make it exceedingly warm and strong. +This love affair moved on happily for many months, until one day the +king happened to discover its existence. He did not hesitate nor waver +in regard to his duty in the premises. The youth was immediately cast +into prison, and a day was appointed for his trial in the king's arena. +This, of course, was an especially important occasion, and his majesty, +as well as all the people, was greatly interested in the workings and +development of this trial. Never before had such a case occurred; never +before had a subject dared to love the daughter of the king. In after +years such things became commonplace enough, but then they were in no +slight degree novel and startling. + +The tiger-cages of the kingdom were searched for the most savage and +relentless beasts, from which the fiercest monster might be selected +for the arena; and the ranks of maiden youth and beauty throughout the +land were carefully surveyed by competent judges in order that the +young man might have a fitting bride in case fate did not determine for +him a different destiny. Of course, everybody knew that the deed with +which the accused was charged had been done. He had loved the princess, +and neither he, she, nor any one else, thought of denying the fact; but +the king would not think of allowing any fact of this kind to interfere +with the workings of the tribunal, in which he took such great delight +and satisfaction. No matter how the affair turned out, the youth would +be disposed of, and the king would take an aesthetic pleasure in +watching the course of events, which would determine whether or not the +young man had done wrong in allowing himself to love the princess. + +The appointed day arrived. From far and near the people gathered, and +thronged the great galleries of the arena, and crowds, unable to gain +admittance, massed themselves against its outside walls. The king and +his court were in their places, opposite the twin doors, those fateful +portals, so terrible in their similarity. + +All was ready. The signal was given. A door beneath the royal party +opened, and the lover of the princess walked into the arena. Tall, +beautiful, fair, his appearance was greeted with a low hum of +admiration and anxiety. Half the audience had not known so grand a +youth had lived among them. No wonder the princess loved him! What a +terrible thing for him to be there! + +As the youth advanced into the arena he turned, as the custom was, to +bow to the king, but he did not think at all of that royal personage. +His eyes were fixed upon the princess, who sat to the right of her +father. Had it not been for the moiety of barbarism in her nature it is +probable that lady would not have been there, but her intense and +fervid soul would not allow her to be absent on an occasion in which +she was so terribly interested. From the moment that the decree had +gone forth that her lover should decide his fate in the king's arena, +she had thought of nothing, night or day, but this great event and the +various subjects connected with it. Possessed of more power, influence, +and force of character than any one who had ever before been interested +in such a case, she had done what no other person had done,--she had +possessed herself of the secret of the doors. She knew in which of the +two rooms, that lay behind those doors, stood the cage of the tiger, +with its open front, and in which waited the lady. Through these thick +doors, heavily curtained with skins on the inside, it was impossible +that any noise or suggestion should come from within to the person who +should approach to raise the latch of one of them. But gold, and the +power of a woman's will, had brought the secret to the princess. + +And not only did she know in which room stood the lady ready to emerge, +all blushing and radiant, should her door be opened, but she knew who +the lady was. It was one of the fairest and loveliest of the damsels of +the court who had been selected as the reward of the accused youth, +should he be proved innocent of the crime of aspiring to one so far +above him; and the princess hated her. Often had she seen, or imagined +that she had seen, this fair creature throwing glances of admiration +upon the person of her lover, and sometimes she thought these glances +were perceived, and even returned. Now and then she had seen them +talking together; it was but for a moment or two, but much can be said +in a brief space; it may have been on most unimportant topics, but how +could she know that? The girl was lovely, but she had dared to raise +her eyes to the loved one of the princess; and, with all the intensity +of the savage blood transmitted to her through long lines of wholly +barbaric ancestors, she hated the woman who blushed and trembled behind +that silent door. + +When her lover turned and looked at her, and his eye met hers as she +sat there, paler and whiter than any one in the vast ocean of anxious +faces about her, he saw, by that power of quick perception which is +given to those whose souls are one, that she knew behind which door +crouched the tiger, and behind which stood the lady. He had expected +her to know it. He understood her nature, and his soul was assured that +she would never rest until she had made plain to herself this thing, +hidden to all other lookers-on, even to the king. The only hope for the +youth in which there was any element of certainty was based upon the +success of the princess in discovering this mystery; and the moment he +looked upon her, he saw she had succeeded, as in his soul he knew she +would succeed. + +Then it was that his quick and anxious glance asked the question: +"Which?" It was as plain to her as if he shouted it from where he +stood. There was not an instant to be lost. The question was asked in a +flash; it must be answered in another. + +Her right arm lay on the cushioned parapet before her. She raised her +hand, and made a slight, quick movement toward the right. No one but +her lover saw her. Every eye but his was fixed on the man in the arena. + +He turned, and with a firm and rapid step he walked across the empty +space. Every heart stopped beating, every breath was held, every eye +was fixed immovably upon that man. Without the slightest hesitation, he +went to the door on the right, and opened it. + +Now, the point of the story is this: Did the tiger come out of that +door, or did the lady? + +The more we reflect upon this question, the harder it is to answer. It +involves a study of the human heart which leads us through devious +mazes of passion, out of which it is difficult to find our way. Think +of it, fair reader, not as if the decision of the question depended +upon yourself, but upon that hot-blooded, semi-barbaric princess, her +soul at a white heat beneath the combined fires of despair and +jealousy. She had lost him, but who should have him? + +How often, in her waking hours and in her dreams, had she started in +wild horror, and covered her face with her hands as she thought of her +lover opening the door on the other side of which waited the cruel +fangs of the tiger! + +But how much oftener had she seen him at the other door! How in her +grievous reveries had she gnashed her teeth, and torn her hair, when +she saw his start of rapturous delight as he opened the door of the +lady! How her soul had burned in agony when she had seen him rush to +meet that woman, with her flushing cheek and sparkling eye of triumph; +when she had seen him lead her forth, his whole frame kindled with the +joy of recovered life; when she had heard the glad shouts from the +multitude, and the wild ringing of the happy bells; when she had seen +the priest, with his joyous followers, advance to the couple, and make +them man and wife before her very eyes; and when she had seen them walk +away together upon their path of flowers, followed by the tremendous +shouts of the hilarious multitude, in which her one despairing shriek +was lost and drowned! + +Would it not be better for him to die at once, and go to wait for her +in the blessed regions of semi-barbaric futurity? + +And yet, that awful tiger, those shrieks, that blood! + +Her decision had been indicated in an instant, but it had been made +after days and nights of anguished deliberation. She had known she +would be asked, she had decided what she would answer, and, without the +slightest hesitation, she had moved her hand to the right. + +The question of her decision is one not to be lightly considered, and +it is not for me to presume to set myself up as the one person able to +answer it. And so I leave it with all of you: Which came out of the +opened door,--the lady, or the tiger? + + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's The Lady, or the Tiger?, by Frank R. Stockton + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LADY, OR THE TIGER? *** + +***** This file should be named 396.txt or 396.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/9/396/ + +Produced by Edward A. Malone. + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. Binary files differdiff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bcf0975 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #396 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/396) diff --git a/old/ladyt10.txt b/old/ladyt10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..02bd48f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/ladyt10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,540 @@ +Project Gutenberg Etext of The Lady, or the Tiger? by Stockton + +We don't usually do short stories, but we have had severel notes +asking for this one. If you have others to add to it, perhaps a +collection will be in order. + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. Do not remove this. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**Etexts Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*These Etexts Prepared By Hundreds of Volunteers and Donations* + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get Etexts, and +further information is included below. We need your donations. + + +The Lady, or the Tiger? + +by Frank R. Stockton + +January 1995 [Etext #396] + + +******Project Gutenberg Etext of The Lady, or the Tiger?****** +*****This file should be named ladyt10.txt or ladyt10.zip***** + +Scanned by Edward A. Malone + + +Corrected EDITIONS of our etexts get a new NUMBER, ladyt1.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, ladyt0a.txt + +We are now trying to release all our books one month in advance +of the official release dates, for time for better editing. + +The official release date of all Project Gutenberg Etexts is at +Midnight, Central Time, of the last day of the stated month. A +preliminary version may often be posted for suggestion, comment +and editing by those who wish to do so. To be sure you have an +up to date first edition [xxxxx10x.xxx] please check file sizes +in the first week of the next month. Since our ftp program has +a bug in it that scrambles the date [tried to fix and failed] a +look at the file size will have to do, but we will try to see a +new copy has at least one byte more or less. + + +Information about Project Gutenberg (one page) + +We produce about two million dollars for each hour we work. The +fifty hours is one conservative estimate for how long it takes +to get any etext selected, entered, proofread, edited, copyright +searched and analyzed, the copyright letters written, etc. This +projected audience is one hundred million readers. If our value +per text is nominally estimated at one dollar, then we produce 2 +million dollars per hour this year we, will have to do four text +files per month: thus upping our productivity from one million. +The Goal of Project Gutenberg is to Give Away One Trillion Etext +Files by the December 31, 2001. [10,000 x 100,000,000=Trillion] +This is ten thousand titles each to one hundred million readers, +which is 10% of the expected number of computer users by the +end of the year 2001. + +We need your donations more than ever! + +All donations should be made to "Project Gutenberg/IBC", and are +tax deductible to the extent allowable by law ("IBC" is Illinois +Benedictine College). (Subscriptions to our paper newsletter go +to IBC, too) + +For these and other matters, please mail to: + +Project Gutenberg +P. O. Box 2782 +Champaign, IL 61825 + +When all other email fails try our Michael S. Hart, Executive +Director: +hart@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu (internet) hart@uiucvmd (bitnet) + +We would prefer to send you this information by email +(Internet, Bitnet, Compuserve, ATTMAIL or MCImail). + +****** +If you have an FTP program (or emulator), please +FTP directly to the Project Gutenberg archives: +[Mac users, do NOT point and click. . .type] + +ftp mrcnext.cso.uiuc.edu +login: anonymous +password: your@login +cd etext/etext91 +or cd etext92 +or cd etext93 [for new books] [now also in cd etext/etext93] +or cd etext/articles [get suggest gut for more information] +dir [to see files] +get or mget [to get files. . .set bin for zip files] +get INDEX100.GUT +get INDEX200.GUT +for a list of books +and +get NEW.GUT for general information +and +mget GUT* for newsletters. + +**Information prepared by the Project Gutenberg legal advisor** +(Three Pages) + + +***START**THE SMALL PRINT!**FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS**START*** +Why is this "Small Print!" statement here? You know: lawyers. +They tell us you might sue us if there is something wrong with +your copy of this etext, even if you got it for free from +someone other than us, and even if what's wrong is not our +fault. So, among other things, this "Small Print!" statement +disclaims most of our liability to you. It also tells you how +you can distribute copies of this etext if you want to. + +*BEFORE!* YOU USE OR READ THIS ETEXT +By using or reading any part of this PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +etext, you indicate that you understand, agree to and accept +this "Small Print!" statement. If you do not, you can receive +a refund of the money (if any) you paid for this etext by +sending a request within 30 days of receiving it to the person +you got it from. If you received this etext on a physical +medium (such as a disk), you must return it with your request. + +ABOUT PROJECT GUTENBERG-TM ETEXTS +This PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext, like most PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +etexts, is a "public domain" work distributed by Professor +Michael S. Hart through the Project Gutenberg Association at +Illinois Benedictine College (the "Project"). Among other +things, this means that no one owns a United States copyright +on or for this work, so the Project (and you!) can copy and +distribute it in the United States without permission and +without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, set forth +below, apply if you wish to copy and distribute this etext +under the Project's "PROJECT GUTENBERG" trademark. + +To create these etexts, the Project expends considerable +efforts to identify, transcribe and proofread public domain +works. Despite these efforts, the Project's etexts and any +medium they may be on may contain "Defects". Among other +things, Defects may take the form of incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other +intellectual property infringement, a defective or damaged +disk or other etext medium, a computer virus, or computer +codes that damage or cannot be read by your equipment. + +LIMITED WARRANTY; DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES +But for the "Right of Replacement or Refund" described below, +[1] the Project (and any other party you may receive this +etext from as a PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm etext) disclaims all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including +legal fees, and [2] YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE OR +UNDER STRICT LIABILITY, OR FOR BREACH OF WARRANTY OR CONTRACT, +INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE +OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE +POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. + +If you discover a Defect in this etext within 90 days of +receiving it, you can receive a refund of the money (if any) +you paid for it by sending an explanatory note within that +time to the person you received it from. If you received it +on a physical medium, you must return it with your note, and +such person may choose to alternatively give you a replacement +copy. If you received it electronically, such person may +choose to alternatively give you a second opportunity to +receive it electronically. + +THIS ETEXT IS OTHERWISE PROVIDED TO YOU "AS-IS". NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, ARE MADE TO YOU +AS TO THE ETEXT OR ANY MEDIUM IT MAY BE ON, INCLUDING BUT +NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS +FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. + +Some states do not allow disclaimers of implied warranties or +the exclusion or limitation of consequential damages, so the +above disclaimers and exclusions may not apply to you, and you +may have other legal rights. + +INDEMNITY +You will indemnify and hold the Project, its directors, +officers, members and agents harmless from all liability, cost +and expense, including legal fees, that arise directly or +indirectly from any of the following that you do or cause: +[1] distribution of this etext, [2] alteration, modification, +or addition to the etext, or [3] any Defect. + +DISTRIBUTION UNDER "PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm" +You may distribute copies of this etext electronically, or by +disk, book or any other medium if you either delete this +"Small Print!" and all other references to Project Gutenberg, +or: + +[1] Only give exact copies of it. Among other things, this + requires that you do not remove, alter or modify the + etext or this "small print!" statement. You may however, + if you wish, distribute this etext in machine readable + binary, compressed, mark-up, or proprietary form, + including any form resulting from conversion by word pro- + cessing or hypertext software, but only so long as + *EITHER*: + + [*] The etext, when displayed, is clearly readable, and + does *not* contain characters other than those + intended by the author of the work, although tilde + (~), asterisk (*) and underline (_) characters may + be used to convey punctuation intended by the + author, and additional characters may be used to + indicate hypertext links; OR + + [*] The etext may be readily converted by the reader at + no expense into plain ASCII, EBCDIC or equivalent + form by the program that displays the etext (as is + the case, for instance, with most word processors); + OR + + [*] You provide, or agree to also provide on request at + no additional cost, fee or expense, a copy of the + etext in its original plain ASCII form (or in EBCDIC + or other equivalent proprietary form). + +[2] Honor the etext refund and replacement provisions of this + "Small Print!" statement. + +[3] Pay a trademark license fee to the Project of 20% of the + net profits you derive calculated using the method you + already use to calculate your applicable taxes. If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association / Illinois + Benedictine College" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? + +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Illinois Benedictine College". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + +THE LADY, OR THE TIGER? +by Frank R. Stockton + + + + +In the very olden time there lived a semi-barbaric king, whose +ideas, though somewhat polished and sharpened by the +progressiveness of distant Latin neighbors, were still large, +florid, and untrammeled, as became the half of him which was +barbaric. He was a man of exuberant fancy, and, withal, of an +authority so irresistible that, at his will, he turned his varied +fancies into facts. He was greatly given to self-communing, and, +when he and himself agreed upon anything, the thing was done. +When every member of his domestic and political systems moved +smoothly in its appointed course, his nature was bland and genial; +but, whenever there was a little hitch, and some of his orbs got +out of their orbits, he was blander and more genial still, for +nothing pleased him so much as to make the crooked straight and +crush down uneven places. + +Among the borrowed notions by which his barbarism had become +semified was that of the public arena, in which, by exhibitions of +manly and beastly valor, the minds of his subjects were refined +and cultured. + +But even here the exuberant and barbaric fancy asserted itself +The arena of the king was built, not to give the people an +opportunity of hearing the rhapsodies of dying gladiators, nor to +enable them to view the inevitable conclusion of a conflict +between religious opinions and hungry jaws, but for purposes far +better adapted to widen and develop the mental energies of the +people. This vast amphitheater, with its encircling galleries, its +mysterious vaults, and its unseen passages, was an agent of +poetic justice, in which crime was punished, or virtue rewarded, +by the decrees of an impartial and incorruptible chance. + +When a subject was accused of a crime of sufficient importance +to interest the king, public notice was given that on an appointed +day the fate of the accused person would be decided in the king's +arena, a structure which well deserved its name, for, although its +form and plan were borrowed from afar, its purpose emanated +solely from the brain of this man, who, every barleycorn a king, +knew no tradition to which he owed more allegiance than pleased +his fancy, and who ingrafted on every adopted form of human +thought and action the rich growth of his barbaric idealism. + +When all the people had assembled in the galleries, and the king, +surrounded by his court, sat high up on his throne of royal state +on one side of the arena, he gave a signal, a door beneath him +opened, and the accused subject stepped out into the +amphitheater. Directly opposite him, on the other side of the +inclosed space, were two doors, exactly alike and side by side. It +was the duty and the privilege of the person on trial to walk +directly to these doors and open one of them. He could open either +door he pleased; he was subject to no guidance or influence but +that of the aforementioned impartial and incorruptible chance. If +he opened the one, there came out of it a hungry tiger, the +fiercest and most cruel that could be procured, which +immediately sprang upon him and tore him to pieces as a +punishment for his guilt. The moment that the case of the +criminal was thus decided, doleful iron bells were clanged, great +wails went up from the hired mourners posted on the outer rim of +*the arena, and the vast audience, with bowed heads and downcast +hearts, wended slowly their homeward way, mourning greatly +that one so young and fair, or so old and respected, should have +merited so dire a fate. + +But, if the accused person opened the other door, there came forth +from it a lady, the most suitable to his years and station that his +majesty could select among his fair subjects, and to this lady he +was immediately married, as a reward of his innocence. It +mattered not that he might already possess a wife and family, or +that his affections might be engaged upon an object of his own +selection; the king allowed no such subordinate arrangements to +interfere with his great scheme of retribution and reward. The +exercises, as in the other instance, took place immediately, and +in the arena. Another door opened beneath the king, and a priest, +followed by a band of choristers, and dancing maidens blowing +joyous airs on golden horns and treading an epithalamic measure, +advanced to where the pair stood, side by side, and the wedding +was promptly and cheerily solemnized. Then the gay brass bells +rang forth their merry peals, the people shouted glad hurrahs, and +the innocent man, preceded by children strewing flowers on his +path, led his bride to his home. + +This was the king's semi-barbaric method of administering +justice. Its perfect fairness is obvious. The criminal could not +know out of which door would come the lady; he opened either he +pleased, without having the slightest idea whether, in the next +instant, he was to be devoured or married. On some occasions the +tiger came out of one door, and on some out of the other. The +decisions of this tribunal were not only fair, they were positively +determinate: the accused person was instantly punished if he +found himself guilty, and, if innocent, he was rewarded on the +spot, whether he liked it or not. There was no escape from the +judgments of the king's arena. + +The institution was a very popular one. When the people gathered +together on one of the great trial days, they never knew whether +they were to witness a bloody slaughter or a hilarious wedding. +This element of uncertainty lent an interest to the occasion +which it could not otherwise have attained. Thus, the masses +were entertained and pleased, and the thinking part of the +community could bring no charge of unfairness against this plan, +for did not the accused person have the whole matter in his own +hands? + +This semi-barbaric king had a daughter as blooming as his most +florid fancies, and with a soul as fervent and imperious as his +own. As is usual in such cases, she was the apple of his eye, and +was loved by him above all humanity. Among his courtiers was a +young man of that fineness of blood and lowness of station +common to the conventional heroes of romance who love royal +maidens. This royal maiden was well satisfied with her lover, for +he was handsome and brave to a degree unsurpassed in all this +kingdom, and she loved him with an ardor that had enough of +barbarism in it to make it exceedingly warm and strong. This love +affair moved on happily for many months, until one day the king +happened to discover its existence. He did not hesitate nor waver +in regard to his duty in the premises. The youth was immediately +cast into prison, and a day was appointed for his trial in the +king's arena. This, of course, was an especially important +occasion, and his majesty, as well as all the people, was greatly +interested in the workings and development of this trial. Never +before had such a case occurred; never before had a subject dared +to love the daughter of the king. In after years such things +became commonplace enough, but then they were in no slight +degree novel and startling. + +The tiger-cages of the kingdom were searched for the most +savage and relentless beasts, from which the fiercest monster +might be selected for the arena; and the ranks of maiden youth +and beauty throughout the land were carefully surveyed by +competent judges in order that the young man might have a +fitting bride in case fate did not determine for him a different +destiny. Of course, everybody knew that the deed with which the +accused was charged had been done. He had loved the princess, and +neither he, she, nor any one else, thought of denying the fact; but +the king would not think of allowing any fact of this kind to +interfere with the workings of the tribunal, in which he took such +great delight and satisfaction. No matter how the affair turned +out, the youth would be disposed of, and the king would take an +aesthetic pleasure in watching the course of events, which would +determine whether or not the young man had done wrong in +allowing himself to love the princess. + +The appointed day arrived. From far and near the people gathered, +and thronged the great galleries of the arena, and crowds, unable +to gain admittance, massed themselves against its outside walls. +The king and his court were in their places, opposite the twin +doors, those fateful portals, so terrible in their similarity. + +All was ready. The signal was given. A door beneath the royal +party opened, and the lover of the princess walked into the arena. +Tall, beautiful, fair, his appearance was greeted with a low hum +of admiration and anxiety. Half the audience had not known so +grand a youth had lived among them. No wonder the princess loved +him! What a terrible thing for him to be there! + +As the youth advanced into the arena he turned, as the custom +was, to bow to the king, but he did not think at all of that royal +personage. His eyes were fixed upon the princess, who sat to the +right of her father. Had it not been for the moiety of barbarism in +her nature it is probable that lady would not have been there, but +her intense and fervid soul would not allow her to be absent on an +occasion in which she was so terribly interested. From the +moment that the decree had gone forth that her lover should +decide his fate in the king's arena, she had thought of nothing, +night or day, but this great event and the various subjects +connected with it. Possessed of more power, influence, and force +of character than any one who had ever before been interested in +such a case, she had done what no other person had done,--she had +possessed herself of the secret of the doors. She knew in which +of the two rooms, that lay behind those doors, stood the cage of +the tiger, with its open front, and in which waited the lady. +Through these thick doors, heavily curtained with skins on the +inside, it was impossible that any noise or suggestion should +come from within to the person who should approach to raise the +latch of one of them. But gold, and the power of a woman's will, +had brought the secret to the princess. + +And not only did she know in which room stood the lady ready to +emerge, all blushing and radiant, should her door be opened, but +she knew who the lady was. It was one of the fairest and +loveliest of the damsels of the court who had been selected as +the reward of the accused youth, should he be proved innocent of +the crime of aspiring to one so far above him; and the princess +hated her. Often had she seen, or imagined that she had seen, this +fair creature throwing glances of admiration upon the person of +her lover, and sometimes she thought these glances were +perceived, and even returned. Now and then she had seen them +talking together; it was but for a moment or two, but much can be +said in a brief space; it may have been on most unimportant +topics, but how could she know that? The girl was lovely, but she +had dared to raise her eyes to the loved one of the princess; and, +with all the intensity of the savage blood transmitted to her +through long lines of wholly barbaric ancestors, she hated the +woman who blushed and trembled behind that silent door. + +When her lover turned and looked at her, and his eye met hers as +she sat there, paler and whiter than any one in the vast ocean of +anxious faces about her, he saw, by that power of quick +perception which is given to those whose souls are one, that she +knew behind which door crouched the tiger, and behind which +stood the lady. He had expected her to know it. He understood her +nature, and his soul was assured that she would never rest until +she had made plain to herself this thing, hidden to all other +lookers-on, even to the king. The only hope for the youth in which +there was any element of certainty was based upon the success +of the princess in discovering this mystery; and the moment he +looked upon her, he saw she had succeeded, as in his soul he knew +she would succeed. + +Then it was that his quick and anxious glance asked the question: +"Which?" It was as plain to her as if he shouted it from where he +stood. There was not an instant to be lost. The question was +asked in a flash; it must be answered in another. + +Her right arm lay on the cushioned parapet before her. She raised +her hand, and made a slight, quick movement toward the right. No +one but her lover saw her. Every eye but his was fixed on the man +in the arena. + +He turned, and with a firm and rapid step he walked across the +empty space. Every heart stopped beating, every breath was held, +every eye was fixed immovably upon that man. Without the +slightest hesitation, he went to the door on the right, and opened +it. + +Now, the point of the story is this: Did the tiger come out of that +door, or did the lady ? + +The more we reflect upon this question, the harder it is to +answer. It involves a study of the human heart which leads us +through devious mazes of passion, out of which it is difficult to +find our way. Think of it, fair reader, not as if the decision of the +question depended upon yourself, but upon that hot-blooded, +semi-barbaric princess, her soul at a white heat beneath the +combined fires of despair and jealousy. She had lost him, but who +should have him? + +How often, in her waking hours and in her dreams, had she started +in wild horror, and covered her face with her hands as she thought +of her lover opening the door on the other side of which waited +the cruel fangs of the tiger! + +But how much oftener had she seen him at the other door! How in +her grievous reveries had she gnashed her teeth, and torn her hair, +when she saw his start of rapturous delight as he opened the door +of the lady! How her soul had burned in agony when she had seen +him rush to meet that woman, with her flushing cheek and +sparkling eye of triumph; when she had seen him lead her forth, +his whole frame kindled with the joy of recovered life; when she +had heard the glad shouts from the multitude, and the wild +ringing of the happy bells; when she had seen the priest, with his +joyous followers, advance to the couple, and make them man and +wife before her very eyes; and when she had seen +them walk away together upon their path of flowers, followed by +the tremendous shouts of the hilarious multitude, in which her +one despairing shriek was lost and drowned! + +Would it not be better for him to die at once, and go to wait for +her in the blessed regions of semi-barbaric futurity? + +And yet, that awful tiger, those shrieks, that blood! + +Her decision had been indicated in an instant, but it had been +made after days and nights of anguished deliberation. She had +known she would be asked, she had decided what she would +answer, and, without the slightest hesitation, she had moved her +hand to the right. + +The question of her decision is one not to be lightly considered, +and it is not for me to presume to set myself up as the one person +able to answer it. And so I leave it with all of you: Which came +out of the opened door,--the lady, or the tiger? + + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of The Lady, or the Tiger? + + diff --git a/old/ladyt10.zip b/old/ladyt10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b83cb23 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/ladyt10.zip |