The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-04-18
her pretty head. and wide-eyed horror

her pretty head, and a wide-eyed horror
in her face.
"Wait minute for me-! I" she painted
breathlessly; Il want you TO help me
l have been bitten
Before l could collect my senses to IN
derstand what she meant, she had sped
like flash of light into the house; and
dashiDg into the laurel bush, | saw what
had happened. A big black snake vas
gliding away from the spot where she
had been kneeling.
What was to be done? 1 stood sill
for a moment parlyzed; then | sent up
a hurried PRAYER or help, and simulta-
neously 'cooeyed three or four tines
with all the force of a powerful pair of
lungs. for Don at the wood-shed. Then
[ hurried after her, and met her coming
through the door of my brothers d;ess-
ing-room with one of his raz0rs in her
hand. Her face was white and SCI AS
she seized my hand and hurried me into
the smoking room, which was neaf US,
and turned the key in the lock. | knew
what she wanted; and set my teetn in
an agony that no words could express,
and which | never think of now without
a shudder
"Lookr' she said, piteously, with a
little sob in her throat; and | looked,
and saw one of the fingers of her left
hand tied around tightly with piece of
string below the first Joint, and the end
of it already Iivid and swollen, and
showing the unmistakable punctuIes of
the serpent's fangs. She laid her other
hand on my arm, and looked up al me
with a beseeching face that nearly IN
manned me.
Help mev she whispered, eagerly;
" now-now; before the others Gomez
And she held out the razor open and
shining. at is no use to suck tit
only wastes time" as | seized her finger
and put it in my mouth. Don't, don'tl
want to be on the safe side. l don't
want to die! o pray, pray help me!"-
now sobbing passionately-"o else |
must try to do it myself. I won; cry
out; | won't mind it. l will turn my
head away" She laid her finger on the
edge of the table, and | took the razor
from her, and with all the courage |
could muster, excised the wounded part.
She bore the cruel operation wilnout
murmur.
An hour afterwards the commoton in
the house was over, but the shaGow of
death was on it. Rachel was in her bed,
white and faint. and breathing heavily,
twitching with weak fingers at the bed
clothes, and staring with dull EYES into
the sad faces around her. / knelt in my
room close by, with my head on my out
spread arms, weeping like chic, as if
my heart would break, and listening to
the creaking of the doctors boots, and
the rustling of dresses and whispering of
awed voices on the other side of the thin
wall. There was nothing else that was
privileged to do, now that | had done
that dreadful thing which they told me
might be the saving Of her precious life
As the twilight fell, the voices in the
sick-room took louder and more cheer
full tone; and presently one of them called
softly: Jerry, | want you" Lizzie
tears stained smiling face. 1.-The doctor
says she will be all right now, and that
she has to thank you for it, she whisp-
cred. Don't stay here any longer; so
and have q cigar with Dom"
| seized her hand and kissed it, and
looked at her with my wet eyes full Of
foolish emotion, too glad for speech; and
the Frightening intelligence of her cou1-
tenance was curious to note. 81 thought I
you didn't care for each other" she sail, +.
archly; " but" she added dryly, 81 sup
pose | was mistaken"
"Don't suppose anything, Lizzie,
there's a good girl But let me knew
when | may see her," Irepiied, earnestly. |
"All right understandable ct {
you know" she said, nodding her head
with an air Of mystery and .
and then | went, not to have /
4 cigar with Don, but to walk about the
dark garden alley, alone with nay
thoughts.
Our patient improved steadily all /
night, so much so that the family as
sembled at breakfast as usual. Then a /
great hunt was made for the snake Cat |
Lizzie's instigation, on the childrtn's !
behalf, which lasted long while and .
was wholly unsuccessful. Then church /
time came, and the buggy was ordered |
to take the servants and the little girls |
to church; and the hot day wore on
Towards evening, as | was loafng about /
the garden, Lizzie came rushing across /
the croquet lawn-where the balls and /
mallets were still lying about as we had !
left them, though it was Sunday-and I
told me that Rachel was up and dressed, |
and that she CHANGED to be alone in the /
lrawing-room.
| stole in to her in the twilight with /
my heart beating fast; and for few /
she did not notice me. She !
was standing by the open piano, small |
and white and weak, with shawl wrap /
ped around her, gazing at the silent key
board, with tears running down her face.
No one could look less like Delaroche's
Marie Antoinette that she did then.
took three long steps and reached |
her side; she gave great start and turn
ed round to meet me.
shall not be able to play to you for
4 long whilen' she said, looking up at |
NE for sympathy, in her new trouble,
with her soft wet eyes,
When she said that, instead Of making
me the little speech / had expected, |
thanking me for saving her life, put 7
out my arms. And though we said no
word, we forgave one another.
And how pleased Lizzie was when she |
saw the last of the Lisdsays transferred /
% my unworthy self.
How to Blow 0uta Lamp.