Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1843-04-21
BLOOMINGTON, IOWA, FRIDAY, April s1,' ls4s.

The bleeding tarcasspf the serpent. The
house IN WliiI 31e Cslontt resided. like
most Of lls1 s6hslsa, climate. con-
sisted Of 6ke story with wings. IN
one Of NE wings was the bed chamber sol
Marguerite. piazza nfront of the WIN
dow. and a jaiousie, screened le IRd;p
from the devouring heat of o. al
sun ~
Theodore approached! the window on
,ipioe--cau,iousIy opened the jaloi4ie.
and looked III Marguerite was no. Ire.
lie then took the serpen. from ,heykands
Of Altar GuI. who. asst seemed. through
an excess Of precauion. first bruised the
neck nf .I,sssep,ile on .l.e window frame.
'fhe od0rG hid The serpent. whose brilliant
hnes had already become furnished by
death. beneath dhe dressing table. lie
then retired and closed the jalousie. As
he turned away. lie met Colonel Willis.
who laughed heartily III the trick which
Theodore was playing on Marguerite.
The room which WAS Appropriated to
Marguerite was really the asylum Of inno-
cen>e. The band of mother had been
there. l, was seen in all elegant and USE
full furniture which decked the apartment
that little bed crr,aned with white
ganze, succeed walls. polished, and shi-
ming as bril- liant as Parian marble--that
harp, and table covered with music books.
tina. liule dressing gass-,hose slken
ribbons-la, cross OF mother, OF pearl
those iewellcd ornaments; iii word, all,
those uiAing things whiel, are so precious
TO young girl, which whispered u tale Of
Innocence, love, and happiness.
The door opened AMI Marguerite enter.
ed. She sealed herself before her dress
ing-,able, bu. she saw no, the reptile be-
meath it. While she arranged her hair.
and e,sayed ribbon. which Theodore
had praised, she sang the song which she
had been taught by her lover.
TO day, soiloquised the lovely girl, !
mus, try to appear as beautiful as possible.
Tomorrow | shall belong TO another
Oh J! Theodore with VIVA, devotion he
loves me! Nothing on earth can add 10
my happiness.
She approached so near the glass to
Judge of The effects of The ribbon that her
breath furnished .he brilliant surface o. the
mirror-,hcn with her finger. she playful
l. and fmi|inal :. ,rssal '.., = 1is : he
a slight noise near the window avn
nened her from the delicious reverie.-
She turned towards il. bIushing lest her
dearest secret had been discovered. But
the paeness of death instantly came over
her features. She con,ul>,ve!y threw her
hands before her. ant. tried TO rise. but
she could not. Her trembling limbs re-
fused to sustain her. and she fell back into
her chair. The unhappy girl saw. peer
ing through the .jalousie, the head OF an
enormous serpent.
In moment lie was lost among the
flowers, which were lastly arranged be-
fore the window Ills disappearance gave
new strength to Marguerite. who rushed
towards the door. which opened into the
gallery, screaming. help. mother! help,
mother Here is mnn>,rons serpent!
Eu, her parents and her lover held The
door outside and laughed at what they
considered tn be her imaginary fears
Well done. my girl said Col. Wills, can
not YOU scream Il little louder +! The
snake will not eat you. III engage poor
Il,le thing How frightened she appears
TO be
Marguerite, l am ashamed Of you. said
her mother. The serpent will not hurt
you. 1t is dead.
Bat her cries continued.
NV dear Marguerite. said Theodore.
don, be alarmed. put it there myself;
and YOU shall give me kiss Tor my pains,
swee, girl.
Meanwhile The hdeous monster left the
flowers and gided into the room Mar
cuerite finding her cries for assistance OF
no avail, usrrTrd 1oud shrek and fell
srrseIess OF the floor. = ho so~rs". --.;'-
ed its head, and for a moment seemed to
be Recommending the apartment. But
when il saw its companion dead on the
floor, its eyes absolutely sparkIed with
rage. l. sent forth long aud loud HISS
anil advanced towards the unfortunate
girl. III,
With a rapidly almost inconceivab'e:
The hideous reptile twined itself around
the graceful limbs and sylph like form OF
Marguerite. It's cold aud shiny neck res
ted agains. the snowy bosom OF lis victim.
and there it fastened its ven'nons Iangs.
The helpless girl resor,ed to conscious
ness bv the agonizing pain OF The wound
opened her eyes; bu, The first object when
met her view was The l"rrid head OF me
rpn,ile. swollen with rage-its eyes FASH
inc fire and lis opened mouth displaying
lis crooked and deadly iangs!
Mother, mother y dear mother! faint
" screamed the dying girl.
Rnt a half suppressed laugl, was the on