Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-19

| tCPiiICu w iiti ithNOllNt Stib uInOHU Une
| reptiles in the barn, 1t was here that
she decided on o plan OF revenge as
horrible as 1t was appalling. She
wrote TO Chafe, begging him to come to
the Inn. The answer contained the
statement that he was soon
to wed. but that Rose could be
to him all that a wife could be withou
bearing his name. 1t was the last
straw. She immediately wrote letter
couched in the most endearing terms,
consenting to hisvile proposition.
"Grant me one request,n she pleaded
before all is over. Uncle is confined to
his bed, and cannot disturb us. Spend
one hour with me at the barn."
He protested, but finally consented.
1t was then dusk. In less than an hour
she was unlocking the door of the place
in which he had first spoken words of
love to her. = He followed her in. The
seven months that had elapsed since
he was there had not worked many
changes. A sofa and chair were u
| few feet beyond the cases containing
the snakes, all of whom appeared as
harmless as lambs. No thought Of
danger entered the mans nina.
| Rose walked over to the case con-
tanning the reptiles and threw back the
| door.
| "For Gods sake, don't take them
| out!" he exclaimed. "You are not in
condition to handle them tonight. See
| how their tongues dart out! Do not
touch them, Rose"
"Their tongues do not contain as
| much poison as some human beings
| said Rose, as she lifted the largest of
| the trio of rattlesnakes from its warm
blanket and returned toher position on
the sofa.
Il loved you once" the girl ex-
claimed, as the reptile coiled itself in a
knot on her lap-"loved you with all
the passionate ardor of young girls
heart.'
And don't you love me yet?"
'No. My hate for you now is as
strong as my love was one"
Chafe turned pale. He realized that
the girls reason was affected. and the
bringing of him here, was simply the
fulfllment of q part OF Il deliberate plot
for revenge.
Rose, why did you bring me here?"
ITO SEE YOU DIE!"
The girl Kissed the words out between
her clenched teeth with so much vehe-
mence that Chafe rose to his feet.
YES" she continued, II enticed you
here to punish you for the wrong you
have done. You know the blood that
runs in my veins--you know that it calls
for your life for the great harm you have
done me-"
The girl rose to her feet as she spoke.
The serpent dropped to the floor with
thud and raised its head in threaten
ing manner. Chafe leaped to the chair
on which he had been sitting, as the
snake glided past him to dark corner.
Rose trembled with suppressed passion
as she stood before the man who had
blighted her young life. She ran to the
case containing the two other rattle
snakes and tossed them toward him.
The body of one struck him on the
breast and fell to the floor, where it
gave forth its ominous rattle.
''You cannot escape them,' the girl
screamed in her passion. "They heard
your protestations Of love, and they will
hear your dying BREATH"
She leaned over another case and had
raised huge blacksnake. Chafe real
lied that his only hope of escape lay IN
subduing the girl.f Reason was out of
the question. Al second more and he
was on the floor and raised the chair in
the air. 1t fell with crash on the un-
fortunate girl, who uttered moan and
sank to the floor. The chair had struck
the one light the place afforded and en-
tingushed 1T. Total darkness prevailed,
a darkness more intense from the fact
that poisonous reptiles were loose about
him. If he could but reach tho door he
might escape. A few steps would bring
him there. He took one and heard the
rattle of a snake. He could feel their
presence within an inch or two of his
body. The thought flashed through his
brain that if he remained perfectly still
the deadly creatures would probably re-
turn to their cases. A cold sweat broke
out over him. The suspense was awful.
He could hear the blacksnake drag
ging itself along the other. side of the
apartment, A thought came to him
and he at once acted upon it. He
knelt down and felt along the floor as
far as he could reach in the direction of
the door. He dragged himself on his
knees and had travelled nearly half the
distance when his hand came in con tact
with the crawling body of snake. He
drew back suddenly as he heard the
awful rattle of the reptile. Another
instant and
SOMETHING STRUCK HIM III THE FACE
and dropped to the floor. He shrieked
aloud and rose to his feet. 1t made no
difference if a dozen snakes were about
him. They could do him no more harm
He had been bitten.
Rose recovered consciousness at about
the time that the unfortunate wretch
felt the fangs of the reptile piercing his
cheek.
SAT last" she exclaimed with hys-
terical laugh. "You poured poison into
my life, and this is my revenge"
The man paid no attention to her
words; he was pounding heavily against
the locked door.
The girl arose, struck match and re-
lit the candle. He turned as she did
so, and presented spectacle awful to
behold. Blood was trickling from the
wound on his face, which was already
beginning TO swell out of all propor-
tions. The strange glare of his eyes
showed that the insidious poison of the
reptile was doing its deadly work.
MY God! save me, save me-"
shrieked the unfortunate wretch. He
approached her and kpelt at her feet.
The snakes had crawled back to their
blankets, and only the upturned chair
and the condition OF the man