The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1857-11-06

suddenly to her aid, and with desperate effort
but with feeling OF most annoying uncertainty
and dread, she succeeded partially in the
attempt and threw her arms backwards, heI
hands grasplng the neghboring tree, feeble
lettering, aad depending upon it for the support
which her own limbs almost en- tlrely denied heI
With her movements came, however. the full
development of the powerful spell and dreadful
mystery before her
. As her foe receded though but a single
pace from the tree against which she now rested
the hurredly aHicuiated ring like that of watch
when wound up with the verge broke, announ-
ced the nature OF the splendid, iyet dangerous
presence, lG the form of a monster raltlesnake.
now but few feet before her, wing cooled al
the boitom OF beautiful sbrob, With which. To
her dreaming eye many Of IFS own glorious hups
had been associated. She was at length consci-
ous enough to perceive and feel her danger: but
terror had deprived her Of the strength nrcessa-
ry to Fly from her dreadful enemy. There sill
cleaned the eye, beautifully bright and pier
cing, fixed upon her own, aud, seemingly in
The spirit OF sport, the insidious reptile slowly
unwound himself from his coil, but only 10 wind
himself up again into his muscular rings, his
great fat head rising in the nidst, and slowly
noddlng, as ii were, towards her, the eye stlii
prrring INTO her own, the fattle ringing at
Intervals, and giving forth that parAlyziug
SoUnd which, once heard, is remembered iDt-
ever. The reptile all this while seemed bent
on sporting With, While seeking to excite her
terrOrS. Now VITA lis fiat head, dlstpnd-d
mouth, ana Curving neck, would It dart forth
lis long torn toward her It's fatal teeth unfo-
ding on either side Of It's upper Jaws, seeming
to thrratpn her with instantaneous death, while
/ It's powerful eye shot forth glauces of that fatal
fascination, Indignantly bright, which by par
alyZing with a novel form of terror and of
beauty, may readily account for the spell which
it POSSESSES Of binding the feet of the tiluid and
drnyJug even to fear the privilege ol flight.
Could she have led2 She felt the necessity
but the power Of her limbs was gone; and there
II still lay, coillng and uncoilug, lis arched
neck glittrrIng Ike ring Of bronzrd copper,
bright and lurd, and the dreadful brauty Of its
eye still fastened, eagerly contemplating he
victim, while the pendulcus rattle still rang the
death note, as IT to prepare the conscious und
for the iata! blow which is momentariy apProa-
ching blow. Meanwhile the stiffness became
drathlike, with all surrounding objects. The
bird had gone with lis scream and rush. The
breeze was silent The vines erased to wave
The leaves family quivered on their stem
The serpent once more lay still, bat the eye
was never turned away from the victim. lis
corded muscles are all ina coil. They have
hut to uncId<p suddenlY, and the dreadful fold
will be upon he: 10 full length, and the fatal
teeth will strike, and the deadly venom which
they Secrete will mingle with the life blood in
her veins. The terrified damsei, her foil
cOnSci0sness restored but not her SrrEIth. feels