The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-10-29

over his shoulder, he was nOrrltl2it
to find the reptile securely fastened
to the extremity of his garment.
while the speed with which he rusi.
ed forward kept the serpent at an
angle Of ninety degrees with his
body. Here was quandary, If he
stopped, the snake would coil about
his body and squeeze him 10 death
if he continued the race, he must
soon fall from sheer exhaustion. On
he flew, scarce during to think how
i his dreadful race WAS to end. IN
stinctively he had taken the direc-
ton of home, and as he emerg ID
from the forest q feeling of security
came over him, Suddenly flashed
across his mind the true state of
affairs-his father eone-the quilt
ing-and worst OF all-tae girls.
This new horror sent the blood
back, curdling about his heart, and
he came to dead halt. The next
moment he felt the body OF the
cold, clammy monster in contact
with his bare legs, as though his
snakeship only mclitated little
fun, by way of tickling John upon
the knee. This was too much for
human endurance. With a yell
such as 1 man never uttc-s save
when in mortal terror, poor john
again set forward OF breakneck
speed, and once more had the plea
sure of seeing the snake in his posi-
ton, somewhat after the fashion Of
the tail cf Il comet. On, Oh they
flew! John forgot the quitting, for
got the girls, forgo! everything but
! the snake.
His first wild shrek had startled
the qrulters, and forth they rushed,
wondering if some wild Indian was
prowling about. By this time he was
within a few rods of the BAN; still
running at the top of his speed, his
head turned SO that he might keep
one eye on the snake, and with the
other obzelVe what course he must
take. The barn now concealed him
from the sight of the girls. He
knew they were in the yard, having
caught a glimpse Of them as they
rushed from the house. For mo-
ment modesty ovcrcame fear, and he
once more halted. The snake, evi-
IDENTITY pleased with his rapid trans
portation, manifested his gratitude
by attempting to infold the legs Of
our hero within Ms embrace.
With all explosive 'ouoA!" and
urged forward by circumstances
over which he had no control" poor
John bounded on The next mo-
ment he WIS in view of the girls,
and as he TUNED the corner Of the
barn, the snake came round with a
whiz somewhat after the fashion of
a coach whip. Having reached the
barn+yard, to his dismay, he found
the Lars up. But time was too pre-
cious to be wasted in letting down
the bars. He gathered all his
strength, bounded into the all,
snake ditto, and as he alighted on
the ottlar his snakcship's tail crack,
ed across the upper bar.
The house now became the centre
attraction, and around it he revolv
ed with the speed Of thonasA!s. -Four
times in each revolution, as he tllrn-
ed the corner, his snakeship came
round with q whiz that was quite
refreshing. While describing the
third circle. as he ealne near the
group OF wonder. struck girls, with
out removing his gaze from the
snake, he managed to cry out
-''CALL \ MANI!
The next laomeii5 hs Lad whiak-
cd oat OF sight, and quick as
thought he reappcared upon the
other side Of the house-"cALL 4
MANI
And away ne Whlrled again, turn-
ing the corner so rapidly that the
whiz OF the snake sounded about
half way between z lew NAistle and
the repeaeed pronunciation Of dou-
ble.o. And before either of the
girls had stirred from her tracks,,
he had performed another revolu-
tion-''CALL \ MAN.
Away he flew oppe more, hut his
4rength was failing. Nancy Clark
Mas the first to recover her pres.
cnce OF mind, and seizing q hoop,
she took station near the corner Of
the house, and as John rtappeared
she hrAqght it down upon the
snake with a force that broke his
back and his hold upon Johns gar
mcnt at the same time.
John rushed into the house. and
to his room. and at tea time appear
ed IN his best Sunday guit, locking
hNt lnlQ .he Morse for the race,
anl 10 all appearances entirely cur,
Cd Of bashfulness. That night he
walked home with Nancy Clark.
The next New Years they were
married, and now, whenever John
!, is inclined to LAUGH AT bio wife: