Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1888-11-30
THE MAIDSTONE,
BY WILLIAM II. BUSHNELL.

"Mind how you go pokin' round 'moup
thcr rocks and bushes, or you'll come TO
yer DEATH" was the impressive warning
OF IN old "Crackcr" woman from whom
Paul Myratt had obtained shelter Tho
previous night, and rs he was about to
resume his journey.
An employc OF the Smithsonian. OK
pericnctd and fearless, though still
young, he was exploring the mountain
regions of North Carolina in search of
novelties in geology, fauna and flora, and
smilingly questioned in return:
I'm what shape, my kind fricnd7"
WAL, Their mountinns, 'spccerly thcr
out-of-ther-way spots, am lest crliye with
rnttlesnakes and pilots, and thcr bite am
always more deadly Mt this time O, thcr
year than any othcr.n
Yes, know that is the popular belief
with regard to August, though very much
10 be Questioned. BlindY When thc
SKIN they aro shedding is over their eyes,
not otherwise, fancy. But have no
icars about me. l am accustomed to
them, aud shall not be deferred from
adding a few rattlcs to my collection if
chance offers for large ones"
mar be plenty on 'cm monstr'us-
io.S'i uS, WIS answered with q
shuader, Tor long life In the locality had
not IN the least diminished her fear.
Bidding his kind friend farewell, Paul
Myratt took little path that led still
oceper into the mountains. But he did
not neglect the warming, and cut stout
ASH stall, though having much greater
iai'h in its weight and toughncss than
any power of its peculiar hypnotism MS
applied to any species of the Cratalus
horridus.
Easily killed were the few no CHANGED
upon, Tor the stories of numbers found
are much larger than the reality, and Inc
sauntercd carclessly along, knocking off
fragment of rock, picking q flower,
watching the birds or listening 20 their
song until the westcrning of the sun
gave warning of the ncarness of night.
Not very enticing spot to camp"
he unused, rs he looked over the rocky
surroundings, the multiplicity of dark,
WIDE seams and cavcrnous openings
most unquestionably the homes of scaly
enemies OF mankind. "Ah, town
within easy travel That is favorable
and timely, and-I was not mistaken
tncrc are mutterings of thunder in the
distance and the wind and clouds indi-
cate Storm
Cai cfully noting the direction, he
gathered mp his bundle of travelling con-
venlences aud started. Soon he reached
n bold bluif, and was compelled to travel
along Its brink until he could discover
some path that permitted descent. But
suddenly and fcarfully his footsteps were
arrested, first by the sight of m easel, n
girl sketching, with her long brown
hair, OF the peculiar shade that readily
melts into gold. floating uncovered, and
then by the fearful vision of an immense
rattlesnake that had crawlcd from nm
opening undiscovered to near her feet.
and was coiled for its deadly strokel
lie shouted in warning, but his voice
was lost III the rcvcrberating echoes: he
detached and threw fragment of rock.
but 1t fell short OF its destined mark and
dropped into yawning chasm; he ran
with all his swiftness, but tho distance
was much too great for him to cover in
time to save the unconscious girl from
The poisonous fangs. For one stroke of
his stout stall he would have given NIL
OF his earthly possessions; now it was
as useless to him rs the tree from which
it had been severed.
lie saw the snake strike, its efforts to
got loose when the curved teeth became
entangled in the dress, tho white hand
!aii, as to brush away some unknown
intruder, saw it bit,on-thnt and the
arm AGAIN and again-And then, as the
girl realized the horror of her situation.
hearo the most agoniZing screams.
"A little later Though it seemed to the
young naturalist MS the lapsing of hours
nc reached the spot of the terrible com
Dat, disabled the loathsomc and furious
reptile with single blow, flung it far
away, and raised the fainting girl in his
arms. Whittier than lily and as helm
less as crushed one, she lay there, with
her lips trembling with sobs, bosom
heavinng convulsivelJ and eyes fixed
upon him with the most pleading appeal
tor help.
My GodP' he groaned as he inter
preted her wishes, ~ am utterly with
out the means to aid you. Even tho
customary antidotes I recklcssly flung
away MS useless burden. Now would
give my life for them. But have cour-
age! We can surely reach the village in
time to save your life, though not YOU
from suffering. Is it very far3n
NO" was answered with contracted
throat and husky VOICE" mo. but death
IS much nearer, and I shall never see
father or mother again"
Il + ray it may not be rs you fear, and
we must hurry along as rapidly as pos
sible. You know the shortest way ?'i
Yes" with painful utterance.
wait yet moment" he said aloud
and then, mentally "the chance is dcs-
perate and dangerous. My life NAV be-
the forfeit. but cannot sec one so younr
and fair die tho most fearful of deaths
without risking it to save-at least re.
licve her."
Trained in the school he had been
familiar with toxicology, especially the
venom of serpcnts, none knew better
than he the dangerous task he was about
to undertake. A single abrasion of mouth
or tongue, carious tooth through which
poison could be absorbed, would be nc
fatal and more sudden death than bni.
let or knife. Yet there was nothing of
hesitation after the first shudderino
thought. Wiping away the bloody ooze
from the almost invisible punctured
wounds he applied his lips to them one
after another and sucked out the poison
freeing his mouth from time to time. and
not desisting until assured the work was
thoroughly done-that he could do M
m nrn u