The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1844-09-20

1t is not only that" said the young
man, "but you know that my betroth-
ed Marguerite-whom, fHeaven wills,
am to marry to-morrow-has a most
unaccountable antipathy TO the sight
of one of these animals. Less so now
than formerly, | confession once the
name of snake would always de-
prive her of sensation. But her father,
her mother, and myself, have at vari-
Gus times tried to conquer her silly but
deep rooted fears of these reptiles.
We have tried to accustom her to the
sight of them. and have often thrown
them in her way after they had been
killed, and then laughed at her screams
Of terror"
"That is the only way to conquer
her foolish antipathy, master," said the
wiley African. ''ln my country, we
must habituate our women and children
to sights of horror. But thought
strikes me. A means presents itself of
curing her Of these foolish fears, if you
can only be prevailed upon to adopt
it, And his eyes were for moment
lighted up with gleam Of fero cious
delight. "We will take the snake with
us. But first let US cut off his head.
We cannot use too much precaution."
"Noble fellowr said Theodore, as
he assisted Altar Gul to seperate the
head of the serpent from the body.
"N is q female" chuckled Altar Gul
to himself, sand the male cannot be far
off"
They proceeded to Col. Wills hab-
itation; the black dragging after him
the bleeding carcass Of the serpent.
The house in which the Colonel resi-
ded, like most of the houses in that eli
mate, consisted of but one story with
wings. In one of the wings was the
bed chamber of Marguerite. A piazza
in front Of the window-and jalousie,
screened the room from the devouring
heat of the tropical sun.
Theodore approached the window
on cautiously opened the ia
lousie and looked in Marguerite was
not there. He then took the serpent
from the hands of Altar Gul-who, as
it seemed, through an excess of precau-
ton, first bruised the neck of the rep
tile on the window frame. Theodore
hid the serpent, whose brilliant hues
had already become tarnished by death,
beneath the dressing table. He then
retired and closed the jalousie. AS he
turned away, he met Co. Willis, who
laughed heartily at the trick which
Theodore was playing on Marguerite.
The room which was appropriated
to Marguerite, was really the asylum
of innocence. The hand of a mother
had been there. 1t was seen in all the
elegant and useful furniture which deck
ed the apartmcnt-that little bed, cur
tanned with white gause-stuccoed
walls, polished, and shining as brilliant
as Parian marble-that harp, and table
covered with music books-that little
dressing gIass-those slIken ribbons
that cross of pearl those jeweIed or
word, all those trif1ing
things which are SO oprecious to 4 young
girl, whispered tale of Innocence,
Love, and Happiness.
The door opened, and Marguerite en-
tered. She seated herself before her
dressing table, but she saw not tho rep
tile beneath it. While she arranged
her hair, and essayed ribbon, which
Theodore had praised, she sang the
song which she had been taught by her
lover.
"To-day," soIiloquized the lovely
girl, 81 must try to appear as beautiful
as possible. "To-morrow shall be-
ong to another. o, Theodore! with
what devotion he loves me. Nothing
On earth can add to my happiness"
She approached SO near the glass to
udge the effects of the ribbon, that her
breath tarnished the brilliant surface
If the mirror--then with her finger she
,layfully and sm'lingly traced upon
he glass the name, of Theodore.
A slight noise near the window ava
tened her from the delicious reverie.
She turned toward it, blushing lest her
learest secret had been discovered.
5ut the paleness of death instantly
:ame over her features. She convul-
lively threw her hands before her and
ried to rise-but she could not. Her
limbs refused to sustain her,
nd she tell back in her chair. The
Unhappy girl saw peering through the
alc usie the head Of an enormous SER
ent!.
In a moment he was lost among the
owers, which were tasteful y arranged
efore the window. His disappear
nee gave new strength to Marguerite,
Who ruShed towards the door which