The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1870-12-15

useless. And the more composed you
are the sooner it will be over.' .:,..1
- He was apparently satisfied with my
condition, and now turned to the Dx.
As he opened it he glanced around
once more at me. He need not have
done SO, for the blood which L felt
starting from my heart stopped and
gurglea back, rendered sluggish by the
perfume he had caused me to breathe.
He opened the box and carefully drew
forth few handsful Of cotton. Then
he lifted it out-the horrible serpent,
ooiled: up in clammy, inactive mass.
He laid it on the table. 1t stretched
its head out, turned 1t slowly, FIRST ;one
way and then: another, opened its
mouth no !, and q displayed its forked tongue,
eontsnplatsd me With ! fiendish:: stare
- 2, q its little beaa-hke, black eyes,
!. ~ e l.y there oeea.ionall, throwing in:
so different :pasts of its body - ! slight
undulating n.otioe.t u; gave no; evi-
deuee Of having other, than peaceful
intentions, and was either gorged with
food or under the influence of some
charm. '~ :" .r.;... cid
Heiudl clasped a metal collar, held
together by a powerful spring, around
the reptiles body near its head, and
screwed short chain attached to the
collar to the table. He fastened its
other extremity ia similar manner.
An Iudia-rubber tube, attached to a
curious coutrivance, was next brought
forth, and this he secured by means of
circular clasp to the body of the ser.
pent. Thus the animal might writhe
about to limited extent, but it could
not escape, and the elastic tube would
establish q communication between it,
Doay ana NINE
"Eustace," said Heindl, -" can you
hear me speak?'
I bowed my bead.
"Cau you understand me fully ?"
I:aeaia assented.
"That's good. " You see you are
poverless TO resist me, and I have at
lat ! chance TO try my long wished-for
experiment. This tube will convey the
fluid from the srepent's body into your
own. After sufficient amount has
thus been transferred, I shall remove
oil traces Of my work aad leave you.
Then shall watch you day by day,
and note whether there be any change
in your disposition and manner Of life.
My theory-But hark Is some one
coming? Yes, l hear footsteps-I must
hasten"
AT that moment an exceedingly
strange sensation came over me.
seemed to be passing from one state Of
feeling to an:thcr. A confused ring
ing sounded in my ears. Heindl shout.
ed: z..-.,Es .~..........
"First you, then the other r. -
Ho brought the tube in contact with
my bare skin biz eyes sparAled with 6
malignant delight; thrill of horro,
ran through me; a cold knife wa.
thrust into my arm there was a SHARP
pain, when-crash ! I thought it wa.
tho serpents box falling from the table
but. .....-...- ...-
I found myself sitting bolt uprigh
n my chair. rubbing my ). eyes, ana
;xaking from horrible t. dream. M,
book Az % Tho loors where il had slid
hon, ~ lap,5 aad. Z {. started /. areund i,
eoafu,iou. Great was my relief wheo
I feund that I 49, safe and sound n,
.erp.nt, % :Hle!iln d !; i. wont thin,
J that bad happened . 70 mo being tn.
/ ~ in.giaation had run away With m,
.iasny slunb... -.-s.1 -.
= Eustaes PAUSED. r..
1 'tAnd 90 It was only a dreamw
exclaimed.
"Ouly q dream," he echoed.
"Upon my word" I said, laughing
"that's raising ones excitement to
pretty high pitch, to let it down 50 sud
denly -. 60. #s ..,'' ..~.
"Ah, but that is not all"
I "Nos all ?' .....-..:s.......~
"No, the dream was followed By
something real' =
"Of which it was the precursor 2"
"You shall judge" Aud Eustace
again proceeded as follows:
Although! but . dream, you must ad
NIT that i was one calculated K, leave
ones nerves IL rather shaky condition
! did not recover myself 10 4 second
nor : minute, but pinohed myself, stamp
ed upon the door and walked across th.
room before ! could laugh at nysel
With my degree Of assurance. Finally
! picked up ny oigsr and lit il agar
Il and t'sdown. b the window, medita
i Iively ! did not resume my reading
Il I wished q raminate. !
! vas stsdying over ny dream, ,
thousand ll' tthoogh,s coursiog through
~ brain io Wild eonfas,o,, when / w..
/ suddsDly startled into bounding from