Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-02-21

ion seemed to weigh the most with Ada
was Herbert Glenville-a handsome
youth of twenty with dark and curling
hair.
Strange indeed it was that Ada cared
not straw when many of her suitors
old her she was beautiful; but when
Herbert said so, it made her heart beat
fast, and brought the rich color to her
cheek. Why was this? For many
days did she repeat this question to
herself. Why should his words pro-
duce such an effect when she scarcely
needed those of her other suitors? Her
heart told her that she loved him, but
her reason would persist in denying
the fact.
One moonlight evening, however,
Herbert and Ada were standing alone
in the porch, and it was there in gentle,
imprisoned tones, that the former
told his love. AS may we'll be sup
posed, Ada's judgment, like that of
her sex in general, was easily overcome
by the dictates of her heart, and she
accordingly did what any women
would have done in 8 similar position,
viz, leaned her head upon his shoulder
and told him that his affection was re-
turned.
After some conversation which [ do
not consider it necessary to relate, Her
bert took leave Of the young girl, who
continued to watch his receding form
till it has passed from her sight. She
then turned around, and was about to
enter the cottage, when q hand was
laid upon her arm, and a low kissing
voice saluted her ear.
"Stay, lady, stay; I would speak a
few words with you"
Ada turned, and her cheek grew
deadly pale, as she recognized Marco,
the Serpent.
As this is a somewhat singular title
for q man, consider that it needs an
explanation.
Marco was the son of mulatto
woman, who resided in an old wooden
building at one extremity of the town.
This woman was reported to be sor-
ceress, and was frequently applied to
by both sexes for a knowledge of fu-
ture events. Her apartment was
decked with the stuffed skins of ami
mails, birds and one or two human
skulls, which gave it strange and
gloomy aspect. In glass case, upon
a shelf, might have been seen 81 num-
Der Of live snakes, which exhibited
their shiny folds to the gaze of the be-
holder as they crawled about in their
narrow abode. These reptiles were
considered necessary to the sorceress,
in her art of enchantment, which 8
few of the more credulous believed her
capable of practicing. AS l before re-
marked, Marco was this woman's son,
and the peculiar expression of his
small, black, glittering eyes, as we'll as
the rest of his counteneance, so re-
minded the beholder of g. snake, that
| he received the uncomplimentary
epithet of "The Serpent" His char
acter accorded with his external ap-
pearance. He was stea]thy, treacher
Gus and revengeful. At the time of
which [ write, he was twenty-three
years of age, and having fastened his
eye upon the beautiful Ada, had de-
termined to make her his prey. With
an instructive dread she shrank from
his addresses. The. cold glitter of those
two sunken eyes caused shudder to
run through her frame, which she
could not suppress, when IN his pres
ence. 1t may, therefore, be conjec-
tured what were her feelings upon now
finding herself alone, face to face with
the man whom, of all others, she
dreaded and disliked.
"What have you to say?" she in
quired, in as calm a tone as she could,
command. "speak quickly, for I can
not tarry,"
"Well, then, fair one," said Marco.
81 have come to tell you that I love
you, and to ask you if you will be mine."
Ada shrank back from him, as she
answered In fir, voice:
| never can Ge to you what you
wish for; IL"
| Glove another" Kissed the young
man, finishing the sentence for her,
while frown, black as night, gathered
upon his low forehead.
"You have said it." answered Ada,
turning to leave him.
"Hold on" exclaimed Marco, seiz-
ing by the wrist. and forcibly OBTAINING
her, "don't be in such hurry to leave
me!'
"Do you wish NE to call for assist
ance?" said Ada, striving to release
herself from his grasp.
"You hate me-" said Marco, assum-
ing a melancholy tone Of voice; alas,
[ am the most unhappy wretch in the
world; "and, as he spoke, he let go of
her hand.
Instinctively Ada looked up at him,
and it was well that she did; for other
wise she might have been deceived by
the tone of his voice. AS it was, how
ever, she saw in an instant, by the
sharp, angry glitter of his eyes, that
his sadness was only feigned; and she
again turned to leave him.
"By heavens you shall hear me I"
exclaimed Marco, again grasping her
by the wrist and bending low be Kissed
in her ear: "You love Herbert Glen
vile; you have rejected me; beware,
lady, beware Of The Serpent lest he
should sting you at the moment when
you feel the happlest p
With these words he disappeared and
left the terrified maiden standing alone
on the porch. She entered the house,
and in the solitude of her own chamber
unused, with her dark foreboding, upon