Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-11-30

The old man watched my coun,eusnce in.
fenlly, as | surveyed the image of his early
love.
She must have been beautiful" | said as
| returned the picture.
Beautiful" he repeated, .syou NAV as
we'll say so. But this avails nothing. I
have fearful story TO tell-woud TO God |
had not attempted il; but will go on. Nv
heart has been too often stretched on the
rack of memory 10 suffer any new pang.
I'VE had resided IN the new country near.
" year. Our settlement had increased
rapidly, and the comforts aud delicacies OF
life were beginning to be felt, after the very
privations. and severe trials TO which we had
been subjected. the red men were few and
feeble. aud did not modest us. The beasts of
the forest and mountain were ferocious. but
we suffered little from them. The only i'm
mediate danger to which we were exposed
resulted from the rattesuakes which infested
our neighborhood. Three or four of the
settlers were bitten by them, and died, in ter
rible agonies. The Indians often told US
trIghttul stories of this snake, aud its power
of fascination, aud although they were gen.
orally believed yet for myself | confess
was rather amused than convinced by their
marvellous legends.
I'm one of my hunting excursions abroad
on fine morning, it was Just at this time of
the year, | was accompanied by my wife,
Twas beautiful morning. The sunshine
was warm, but the atmosphere was perfectly
clear. and a fine breeze from the north Yves t
shook the bright green leaves which clothed
TO proluson the wreathing branches above
US. | had left my companion for a short
time IN the pursuit of game, aud in climbing
a rugged ledge of rocks, interspersed with
shrubs aud dwarfish trees, | was startled by
a quick grating rattle. I looked forward. -
On the edge of a loosened rock lay large
rattlesnake, coIjng himself as if for the
deadly spring. He was within few feet Of
me, and [ paused for an instant to survey
him. / know not why but stood still, and
looked at the deadly serpent with Il strange
feeling of curiosity. Suddenly he unw0und
his coil, rs if releutiug from his purpose Of
hostility. and raising his head he fixed his
bright fiery eye directly on my own. A
chilling and indescrbable sensation, totally
different from anything | had ever before
experienced, followed this movement of the
serpent; bur I stood still, and gazed steadily
and earnestly, for at that moment there was
visible change in the reptile. His form
seemed to grow larger and his colors bright
er. His body seemed to move with slow,
almost imperceptjbe motion toward me, and
a low hum of music came from him, or at
least IL sounded 10 my ear strange sweet
melody, faint as that which melts from the
throat of a cumming bird. Then the tints
Of his body deepened, and changed and
glowed, like the changes Of beautiful kaleid
Oscope: green, purple, aud gold, until | lost
sight Of the serpent entirely, and saw only
wild curiously woven circle of strange colors,
quivering around me, like an atmosphere OF
ran IN he ,NT.y
p! ism, a world Of mysterious coiors, and tints
varied and darkened and lighted up again
around me and the low music went on
without ceasng until my brain reeed and
fear for the first time, came over. The new
sensation gained upon me rapidly, and 1
could feel the cold sweat gushing from my
brow. had no certainty of danger IN my
mind, no definite idea Of peril, all was vague
and clouded, like the unaccountable% terrOrs
Of a dream, and yet my limbs shook, and l
tancied | could feel the blood stiffening with
cold as it passed along my veins. / would
have given worlds TO have been able to tear
myself from the spot even attempted to
DO so, but the body obeyed not the impulse
Of the ;uInd, not a muscle stirred; and
STOOD still as if my feet had grown to the
solid rock, with the internal music of the
tempter in my ear, and the baleful coiOrings
o. MS eHCHdntmeDt before me.
Suddenly a new sound came on my ear.
Il was human voice. but it seemed strange
and awful. Again, and again, but ! stirred
not and then a white form plunged before
me and grasped my arm. The horrid spell
was a, once broken. The strange colors
passed from before my vision. The rattle
snake was coiling at my very feet, with
glowing eyes aud uplifted fangs; and my
wife was clinging in terror upon me. The
next instant the serpent threw himself upon
US. My wife was the victim The tangs
pierced deeply into her hands; and her
scream OF agony, as she staggered backward
from me, told me the dreadful truth.
Then II that feeling of madness
came upon me; and when j saw the foul
serpent stealing away from his work, reckless
Of danger. spraBg forward and crushed him
under my feet, grinding him upon the rag
ged rock. The groaus of my wife now re-
called me to her side ard TO the horrible re-
atty OF her situation. There was dark.
llyid spot on her hand and it deepened into
blackness. as | led her away. We were ut a
considerable distance from any dwelling; and
after wandering for short time, the pain OF
her wound became insunportable to my wife,
and she swooned away in my arms. Wen6
and exhausted as [ was. | yet had strength
and battle her brow in cool water She
partially recovered, and sat down upon the
bank, while ! supported her head upon my
bosom. Hour after hour passed away, and
none came near Us, and there, alone IN the
great wilderness. I watched over her, and
prayed with her and she died ~
The old man groaned audibly as he uttered
these words, aud as he closed his long bony
hands over his eyes, could see the tears fall
ing thicklv through his gaunt fingers. After
monentary struggle with his feelings, he
lifted his head once more, and there was a
fierce light in his eve as ne spoke.
Blu, have had my revenge. From that
fatal moment have felt myself fitted and set
apart. by the terrible ordeal OF my affection.
to rid the place Of my abode o. It's fullest
curse. And have well nigh succeeded
The fascinating demons are already few and
pOwerless. Do not imagine, said be, ear
uestly regarding the somewhat equivocal ex-
preston Of nv countenance, that | consid-
er these creatures as serpeuts-onlv creeping