Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1888-11-30

| .ho intio IouiatulnS nerYc anu
strength, and sho faltered, rceled and
foil. Sho had gonc through as much of
mental aud physical suffering rs nature
would enduro-had gone o, far as she
could.
With the rain descending MS II the
windows of heaven had been flung wide
open and a second flood came to earth,
with tho thunder rolling and crashing
above their heads and sinking the solid
rocks beneath their feet, with the light.
ming flashing aud binding, she lay
scarcely able to move hand or foot for
sell preservation. But no fear Of rattle
snakes then. Before the terrible majesty
OF the elemental war even they had fled
terrified to the lowest depths of their
noisome dens and covered in such fear
rs instinct gives-instinct that in many
| cases Is twin brother of reason.
Though dcspairing of saving the feet-
ing life, yet driven nearly frantic by be-
ing alone with the girl in the now deuse
darkness and now binding glare, Myratt
lifted her again in his strong arms and
dushcd forward. Guided by the lights
OF the village he proceeded, whispering
hope he did not feel, receiving moaning
| whispers for time and then no rccoe.
milton.
The girl was beyond 3pcechl He saw
by the flames of lightning that the bit
ten hand and arm had swollen TO IN i'm
mcnsc size, that upon tho delicate flesh
were reproduced the spot, of the serpent,
felt that the beating of the heart was
growing fainter and fainter, that tho hot
breath was becoming less and less, knew
that i'll little time he would be carry
ing corpse, beautiful but an hour be-
fore, then loathsome, discoiorod and
hideous beyond the conception of those
who have mover seen such death.
StraininS every nerve, painting from
speed and worn with his burden, Myratt
still kept on, reached tho path that led
down to the village, and was about to
descend when he was met by party
anXiously searching for tho lost girl.
"}ittcn by rattlcsnakc2 Dying or
dead. Stained and spotted with tho
horrible lcprosy of the serpent poison2
Oh, my God! it is terrible groancd the
poor father as the insensiblo form was
placed within his arms and the fearful
tale told.
But the grief was as nothing to the
wild, ngoni@cd sobbng and shricking of
the loving mother when she saw her dar-
ling brought in and laid upon bed as
hideous and repulsive rs she had last
seen her bright and beautiful.
Physicians came. but their experience
and wisdom availed little The poison
had spread rapidly, been strongly incor-
poratcd with the circulation, the action
81 the heart paralyzcd until it had almost
ceased to beat. Ammonia. iodine, every
thing 10 be thought OF rs antidotc,
hYdratic and palliative medicine were
tried without giving relief. The hidcous
spots grew larger and moro distinct;
sinuous, twisting, creeping motions took
the place of natural ones and hand and
limb became more swollen The suffer-
lngs OF the stricken girl became so terri
bic as to cause several to be carried
falnting from the room, Others to turn
ghasliy pale. grow sick and eagerly rush
into tho outer mir.
dear child" sobbcd tho heart brokcn
mother, still clinging to the writhine
form, illcinging to the hope long piye1
up by all others.
Nothing" came answered back from
the firmly compressed lips of the physi-
cianin-chicf. ave have exhausted oil
our knowledge, all out skill, butt
lie motioncd to his associates. drew
them aside and whispered consultation
was held. "Chloroformn was the only
word that reached the strained cars of
Paul Myratt, bat it was enough. lie
knew but too well what it portendcd:
that they were discussing the propriety
of casing her terrible suiIcrings and free.
ing her pure soil from the rottng CLAW
by long, deep an rsthctic slumber. by
one that would never be broken in this
world.
1t was so decided, and while one of
their number WAS absent procuring tho
powerful chemical combination they
again gathered around their patient and
watched tho spasms of pain, tho horrible
writings and contortions, with profes.
sional interest, though not with fearless
eyes. Other than human would they
have been could they have done so.
In the midst of the stiffness that was
worse than that of death, silence TO
which sound would come rs the falling
OF clods upon the collin lid, stranger
entered. So wild with excitement was
the town that no one could escape hear
ing of the accident. In the great sorrow
his presence was unnoticed. For a
single instant he remained, then went
out into the now clear and tranquil night
and mounting horse rode away at IL
dangerous speed. His absence was brief
but even as he again entered the physi-
clans were holding the sometimes easing,
The now-dcstined to be fatal anesthetic
for the stricken girl to breathe.
fastening to the side Of the bed the
stranger almost rudely pushed the men
OF medicine aside and exclaimed in q
voice commanding, though intensely
pcrmcatcd with emotion:
"Ccasc2 Why would you commit
even professional murder when the poor
child may be savedl Stand back and
give me room"
They looked upon him rs mailman
and would have laid violent hands upon
and thrust him out, but the distracted
mother flung herself upon her knees and
at his feet, and, rs one clinging to n
straw when sinking for the last time,
begged him to save the life of her child.
II will, God helping me, )" lie answered
firmly and positively. "Human means,
seconded by the prayer of faith, can &C.
complish great results"
He took little package from his
packet. When the wrappings had been
removed there was exposed to view a
small, dark -grayish something, scarcely
more than an inch lonp md logs in wild h