South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1834-11-15

assisted Altar Gul to sever the head OF
the snake.
| 1T is a female whispered Altar Gul
to himself, sand the male cannot be far
off, They proceeded towards Col.
Willis habitation the black dragging
after him the bleeding carcass of the
serpent. The house in which Colonel
Willis resided consisted Of one story
with wings. In one Of the wings was
the bed chamber Of Marguerite. A
piazza in front of the window and q
.jalousis, screened the room from the
devouring heat Of a tropical sun.
Theodore approached the window on
tiptoe, cautiously opened the jalousie,
and looked in. Marguerite was not
there. He then took the serpent from
the hands ofAtar Gul !; who as il SEEM
ed, through an excess Of precaution,
first bruised the neck Of the reptile on
the window frame. Theodore hid the
serpent beneath,he dressing table. He
then retired and closed the jaiousie.-
AS he turned away he met Col. Willis
who laughed heartily at the tfick
which Theodore was playing Margue.
rite.
The room which was appropriated
TO Marguerite, was truly the asylum Of
innocence. The hand Of a mother had
been there. 1t was all the elegan, and
useful furniture which decked the a.
partment. The door was opened, and
Marguerite entered. She seated her.
self before her dressing table; but she
saw not the reptile beneath it. While
she arranged her hair, she soIiliquised,
"to.dsy the lovely girl must try and
look as lovely as possible-to.morrow
| shall belong to another. 0, Theo'
dore, with what devotion he loves
Nothing on earth can add to my hap
piness."
A slight noise near the window q.
wakened her from her delicious reverie
She turned towardsi., blushing lest her
secret had been discovered. But the
paleness of death Instantly came over
her features. She convulsively threw
her hands before her, and tried TO rise;
but she could not. Her trembling limbs
refused to sustain her, and she sunk
back into her chair. The unhappy girl
now saw peepiog through the jaiousie
the head Of an enormous serpent.
In a moment he was lost among the
flowers, which we're tastefuIly arranged
before the window. His disappearance
gave new strength 10 Marguerite, who
rushed towards the door which opened
into the gallery, screaming, help mo.
ther, mother, mother, help! Here's a
monstrous serpent y
But her parents and lover held the
door outside, and laughed at whatthey
conceived to be her imaginary FEARS
well done, my girl said Col. Willis,
cannot you scream a little louder 7 the
snake will not eat you, I'll engage
poor little thing /; how frightened she
appears to be =
Marguerite, ! am ashamed Of you,'
said her mother. The serpent will
not hurt you. II is dead. But her
cries continued.
my dear Marguerite p said Theo-
dore, don't be alarmed. ] put itthere
myself, and You shall give me a kiss for
my pains sweet girl
Meanwhile, the hideous monster left
the flowers, and glided into the room.
Marguerite, finding her cries for assist
ance OF no avail uttered loud shrek,
and fell senseless to the floor. The ser.
pent raised his head, and for moment
seemed to be accommodating the apart.
ment. But when it saw its companion
dead on the floor, its eyes sparkled with
rage. 1t sent forth long and loud hiss,
and advanced towards the unfortunate
girl.
With rapidity almost inconceiva.
BILE, the hideous monster twjned itself
around the graceful limbs and sylpb
like form of Marguerite. His cold and
Shiny neck rested against the snowy
bosom Of his victim, and there fastened
his venomous fangs .
The hapless girl, restored to con.
seriousness by the agonizing pain Of
the wound, opened her eyes--but the
first object that met her view was the
horrid head ofthe reptile swollen with
rage.
sMother mother o dear mother =
family screamed the dying girl.
But half suppressed laugh was the
only response to that convulsive cry.
The jalcusie was slowly opened, and
Altar gul looked in at the window-his
eyes glared with malignacy and tri.