The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1876-11-07

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,dia }rdi rni aa leIHg srv. tech
OHIO, TUESDAY
for his sake, and l felt that must go L.
Very slowly, then, lest my. footsteps
should disturb the sleeper or itrita:e the
huge reptile that kept watch beside MIN,
| stole away, and when, at safe dis
tance. Jew rather than ran along the for
est path. i1s9 .3r Sld'' a0oS
The nearest European dwelling was
Oswald's own home. There were Gin
galese huts nearer, no doubt, where
dwelt some of Mr.. Forster's hired men,
but l should'n not be able to procure what
| sought save from the planters house.
At another time / should not have viii.
lingly trespassed on the domains Of Os-
wald's father but this was no occasion
for scruple or punctilio. Life and death,
IS | knew, depended on my speed s9in
There at length rose up before me the
mlkthorn hedgs,the impenetrable thoins
of which are often useful in keeping out
the leopard and jackal, which surround
ell the planters homestead; and passing
through the planters gate entered the
compound. The 6rst servant that | met,
and who lifted his hand to his snow
white turban with q polite "Salaam ="
and q smile that showed the white teeth
between his bearded lips, was a man
whom knew. Mahratta groom, who
had formerly been in my fathers service,
and whose child / had nursed through
an attack of the Ceylon fever.
"Lall Singh!' gasped out, painting
for breath, "do me kindness for the
sake of old bread and salt. Get me
some fresh milk quickly, for the love of
G ID, bat ask no questions-bhai"
Something in my tone impressed the
Mahratta, for without a word be hurried
off, and soon returned bearing a jar Of
milk and drinking vessel, or lots, which
would contain something less than pint,
and which. at sign from me he filed
with milk This very act, slight as It
may seem, was no small compliment, for
il was doubtless his own drinking cup
that Lall Singh was giving me, and
should any lip not belonging to one Of
pure Hindu descent touch It's FURNISHED
rim, il srouid Hereafter he unfit for use.
However | scarcely waited TO uuera
word Of thanks, but snatched up the
brass lota aud darted out. r,.s og
1t may be thought singular that I had
not given the alarm to the household at
Mr. Forster's plantation; but had re.
solved that l would not, If l Icould do
my errand unquestioned, create . tur.
moil which might bring about the very
evil against which ! was striving. Os.
walti's mother and sisters loved him, but
their nerves were not the strongest, and
their outcries, had they heard the news,
would have had the effect of summoning
q score of servants and coolies, and to
seal Oswald's fate by sending noisy
posse OF volunteers to the place where
he lay ct the snakes mercy. ~ ~
AS il on winged feet, yet carrying the
precious draught eof milk with jealous
care, Hurried Sack to the spot where, at
the foot Of the huge talipottfee, lay o.
valid y yss = ss.sep j. Inc snake, however,
saa though uneasy, was. beginning to stir.
Ilsssnonstrous head wsgged slowly
from side to side among the white wild
flowers, and its slender tongue protruded
from between It's grim jaws. But l was vas
In time, and as ! poured the mix, OF
rather portion Of IT, on the ground. so
that along trail should lead to the spot
where set down the brass drinking cup
With what Of Its contents remained,
was careful to avoid by any abrupt ges.
ture incensing The tic palunga. 15''
Then came q minute or two OF aeoini..
ICED expectancy. add then to nv erea,
JOY I SAN the reptile slowly uneoil him
self, evidently making for the milk, -
First one wreath and then another Of The
snakes timber Length was untwined. and
the great snake, brushing through tie
forest grass and ifiowerets, stoopedsit,
broad head to, drink. v As. I sat. Oswald
thus freed, and the unsuspected foe draw
farther and farther away IRON the place
where lie lreposed, Il felt the strength
which had hitherto supported me stld
denly become weakness. 3 My nerves be
ing no longer braced by the,sense of Os
wald's mortal peril, the instructive terror
aud disgust which / had from childhood
ifelt for the serpent tribe overpo wefed
me, andnI grew giddy and weak, and
could scarcely stand or seetl,d rAhok
What was this before my dim eyes
| Tue we'll known porch of the Dutch col
onist's summer house overgrown By
trailing creepefs, and all but choked BY
/ tall weeds. / MechanicallyiI entered. ant
sinking down on q .moideriug wooder
seat, once decked With silken cdsilion
and gold leaf, j gradually reeainei .th,
physical strength which mad deserted
me, and)with it the capacity for thought
III is curious how, in snch cases of ex
lhaustion, the benumbed mind jslowly,re
lsumes some abandoned train OF thought
and thus it was with me. by degrees
Remembered Oswald 3 danger, my owl
Iefforts to save him, and-a0gi a,G %,
What vas that rustling among 1th