The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1888-12-01
THE MAIDSTONE.

i LII MADO i OlNLs
"Mind how you go pokin' round
'mong ther rocks and bushes, or
you'll come to yer DEATH" was the
impressive warning of an old "Crak-
er" woman from whom Paul Myratt
had obtained shelter the previous
night, and as he was about to resume
his journey.
An employee of the Smithsonian,
experienced and fearless, though still
young, he was exploring the mount
ain regions of North Carolina in
search ofnovelties in geology, fauna
and fora, and smilingly questioned
in return:
'In what shape, my kind friend?"
"Waal, Their mountinns, 'specerly
ther out-ot-ther.way spots, am jest
erlive with rattlesnakes and pilots,
and Their bite am always more deadly
ut this time of year than any other"
Eyes, know that is the popular
belief with regard to August, though
very much to be questioned. Blind?
When the skin they are shedding is
over their eyes, not otherwise fancy.
But have no fears about me. I am
accustomed to them, and shall not
be deferred from adding a few rat
ties to my collection if chance offers
for large ones"
"Thar be plenty on 'em monstr'us
Jest monstr'us," was answered with
a shudder, for a long life in the To-
cality had not in the least diminished
her fear.
Bidding his kind friend farewell,
Paul Myratt took little path that
led still deeper into mountains. But
he did not neglect the warning, and
cut a stout, ash staff, though having
much greater faith in it's weight and
toughness than any power of it's Pc
culiar hypnotism as applied to any
species of the Cratalus horridus.
Easily killed were the few he
CHANGED upon. for the stories of num-
bers found are much larger than the
reality, and he sauntered carelessly
along, knocking off q fragment OF
rock, picking a flower, watching the
birds or listening to their song until
the westerning of the sun gave warn
ing of the nearness eff night.
"Not very enticing spot to
camp" he unused, as he looked over
the rocky surroundings. the multi
plicity OF dark, wide seams and cav
ernous openings, most unquestion-
ably the home of scaly enemies of
mankind. "Ah, a town within easy
travel. That is favorable and time
ly, and | was not mistaken, there are
mutterings ofthqnder in the distance
and the wind and clouds indicate q
storm.
Carefully noting the direction, he
gathered up his bundle of travelling
conveniences and started. Soon he
reached a bold bluff, and was COM
PEELED to travel along it's brink until
he could discover some path that
permitted descent. But suddenly and
fearfully his footsteps were arrested,
first by the sight of an easle, a 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 crawled
from an opening undiscovered to
near her feet, and was coiled tor it's
deadly stroke!
He shouting in warning, but his
voice was lost in the reverberatirg
echoes; he detached and threw frag-
ment of rock, but it fell short of its
destined mark and dropped into a
yawning chasm; he ran with all his
swiftness, but the distance was much
too great for him to cover in time
to save the unconscious girl from the
poisonous frangs. For one stroke
of his stout staff he would have given
all of his earthly possessions; now it
was as useless to him as the tree from
which it had been severed.
He saw the snake strike, its efforts
to get loose whan the curved teeth
became entangled in the dress the
white hand fall, as to brush away
some unknown intruder, saw it Bit
ten, that and the arm, again and
again, and then as the girl realized
the horror of her situation, heard
the most agonizing screams.
A little later Though it seemed to
the young naturalist as the lapsing
of hours) he reached the spot OF the
terrible combat disabled the loath-
some and furious reptile with sim
gle blow, flung it far away, and raised |
the fainting girl in his arms. Whittier
than a lily, and as helpless as a
crushed one, she lay there, with her
lips trembling with sobs, bosom |
heaving convulsively, and eyes fixed |
upon him with the most pleading ap-
peal for help.
"My Godf' he groaned, as he in
terpreted her wishes, 81 am utterly |
without the means to aid you. Even |
the customary antidotes l recklessly |
flung away as a useless burden. Now |
would give my life for them. But |
have couragel We can surely reach |
the village in time to save your life,
though not you from suffering. Is
it very far?"
"No," was answered with con-
tracted throat and husky voice; "no,
but death is much nearer, and / shall |
never see father or mother again."
81 pray it may not be as you fear,
and we must hurry along as rapidly |
as possible. You know the shortest |
way?"
Eyes, with painful utterance.
"Wait yet a moment" he said
aloud, and then mentally, "the chance
Is desperate and dangerous. My life
may be the forfeit, but l cannot see
one 80 young and fair die the most |
fearful of deaths without risking it to |
save, at least relieve, her."