Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-02-01


Here he comes r shouted the boys along
the street ss Here comes the man with the
snake in his bosom 20
This outcry, saluting Herkimer's ears. as
he was about to enterthe iron gate of the Ell
liston mansion, made him pause 1t was not
without shudder that he found himself on
the point of meeting his former acquaintance,
whom he had known in the glory of youth,
and whom now, after an, interval of five years.
he was to find the victim either of diseased
fancy, or a horrible physical misfortune. s
"a snake in his bosomr' repeated the young
sculptor to himself at must be he No
second man on earth has such a bosom friend !.
And now, my poor Rosina, Heaven grant me
wisdom to discharge my errand right Wo-
mans faith is strong, indeed, since thine has
not yet failed. .
Thus musing, he took his stand at the en-
trance of the gate, and waited till the person.
age, so singuiarly announced, should make his
appearance After an instant or two, he be-
held the figure of lean man of unwholesome
Look, with glittering eyes. and long black hair,
who seemed to Initiate the motion, of a snake:
for, instead of walking straight forward, with
open front, he undulated along the pavement
in a curved line 1t may be too fanciful TO
say, that something, either in his moral or
material aspect suggested the idea that mir
ace had been wrought, by transforming SER
pent into man; but SO imperfectly that the
snaky nature was yet hidden and scarcely
hidden, under the mere outward guise of hui
snanity. Herkimer remarked that his conl-
plexion had greenish tinge over its sickly
white, reminding him of species of marble
out of which he had once wrought head of
Envy, with her snaky locks
The wrctched being approached the gate,
but. instead of entering, stopt short, and fixed
the glitter Of his eye full upon the compassion
ate, yet steady countenanee of the sculptor
1t gnaws me! 1t gnaws mel" hecxclaini-
ed -
And then there was an audible hiss, but
whether it came from the apparent lunatic's
own lips, or was the real hiss of serpent
might admit of discussion. At all events, it
made Herkiner shudder in his hearts core
(. Do you know me, George Herkimcr p
asked the snake possessed
Herkimer did know him But it demanded
all the intimate and practical acquaintance
with the human face, acquired by modelling
actual likenesses in clay, TO recognize the fea-
lures of Roderic Elliston in the v.sage that
now met the seulptofs gaze. Yet it was he
1t added nothing to the wonder, to reflect that
the once brilliant young man had undergone
this odious and fearful change, during the no
more than Eve brief years of 'Herkin,er's abode
at tFlorence. The possibility of such a trans
formation being granted, it,was. as easy tecon-
ceive it effected ia moment as in an age. In
expressibly shocked and startled It was still
the kecnest pang. when 9Ierkiiner remember
ed that the fate of his cousin Rosina, the ideal
OF gentle womanhood, was indissolubly inter
woven with that of being whom Providence;
seemed to have unhumanized.
:. Eliston! Roderick.'' cried he, oI had
heard OF this; but my conception came far
short of the truth What has befalIen vo, p
Why dc find you thus ?'
.sOh, it's mere nothing A snakei
snakei The commonest thing in the world
A snake in the bosom-that's ALL answered
Roderiek Elliston but how is your own
breast?" continued he. looking the sculptor
In the eye, with the most acute and penetra-
ting glance that it had ever been his fortune
10 encounter. ssAll pure and wholesome -
no reptile there BY my faith and conscience,
aud by the devil within me, here is a wonder.
a man without a serpent in his bosemi"
BE calm, Elliston," whispered George
Herklmer, laying his hand upon the shoulder
OF the snake possessed s.I have crossed the
ocean to meet you Listen !--[let us be private
d osing message from Rosina---froia your
Roderick. .D' nia''eieu
with tins exclamation. the most freauesst m
his mouth, the unfortunate man clntc5ea bot,,
hands upon his breast. as if an in,olarobla
sting of torture impelled him to renfl il omen
and let out the living mischief, even were i
entwined with hissown life He then freed
himself from Herkimer's grasp. By a subtle
motion. and gliding through the gate, took
refuge in his antiquated family residence =
The sculptor did not pursue him. He saw
that no available intercourse could be expected
at such moment, and was desirous. before
= "a lac physical fact to which it is here atterp-
~ - give moral signifeation, has been known
w occur N more than one instance azllf 8 sssS-