The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-11
IN THE COILSOF ASNAKE.
AWFUL EFFECT OF A HUSBANDS
AT EMPT AT DISCIPLINE.

Rufus Hoyt, of New York city, is per
haps one Of the most widely travelled com
mercial men of that city, representing as
he does, some of the largest iron manu-
featuring industries in the United States
Observant of everything that transpires
about him, he has a stock Of anecdotes
large enough to fill volume as volumi-
nous as a labor commissioners report. Ac-
costing representative of the Globe, he
said:
do you see that gray haired man over
there?" pointing as he spoke to tall, sun
tanned guest, who sat with crossed hands
in one of the benches.
His name" continued the New Yorker,
''is Bertram Smith: He is Brazilian by
everything but birth, having lived there
almost all his life, and it was there that
met him eight years ago He owned a vast
tract of land in the Amazon valley, near the
base of the Andes, and had the sweetest little
girl for a wife that mortal man could wish
for. Smith was prospecting for all sorts
Of mineral on his property there, and l
sold him lot Of machinery that was never
delivered. I'll tell you why.
when / was down at their place Smith
and his wife had just returned from the
honeymoon. He worshiped the very ground
the girl trod, and she in turn was as de-
voted as ever woman can be. The house
they lived in was a one story affair." not
pretty to look at externally, except that it
was covered by creeping plants, but plenty
of room and the essence of prettiness and
comfort within.
A FOOLISH PERFORMANCE.
Hlfrc Smith pin Tanairo
She had mortal horror of snakes, and her
husband used to joke her about it. Now
that country is full of snakes, boa con-
strictors thirty feet long and as thick as
sandflies. There was garden about five
acres in extent about the place, and here it
was that the bride of few months used to
get her outdoor exercise, except when ac-
companied by her husband at which time,
Ibelieve, she would have faced all the cobras
in the country. The prospecting works
were about three miles from the house, and
one morning Smith started for there Oh
horseback
HE had a rife with him. On his way
home he saw sixteen foot boa wind its
sinuous way across the wagon road The
hideous head was raised for an instant, and
the beadlike eyes glared at the intruder;
the next instant a bullet had found its way
to the reptiles brain, and with few con-
vulsions of its Shiny body the python was
dead. Being only about three-quarters Off
mile from the house, Smith determined to
try what effect the dead boa would have in
quoting his wife's fears.
"He made fast his hitching rein TO the
snakes neck and dragged it through the
gates into the garden. Then he went into
the house and told Mrs Smith about il
She implored him to have it removed, ana
at last he consented. Then, fearing she
would lose prestige in his eyes by an eXhi-
bition of cowardice, she said:
81 want the awful thing taken out of
the garden, but to show you am not afraid
of it | viii go out there alone and inspect
the remains
TRYING TO PLEASE.
"He scarcely expected she would do it.
The dusk was falling and the bushes in the
garden began to cast grewsome shadows
about them. The girl was game, though
She got little pearl handled revolver from
drawer, threw summer shawl over her
head and went out.
eff You hear Inc shoot she said, YOU
will know that the boa has come to life.
anu L ApCSU NOu " liz. UtU
she threw him smile and kiss and was
gone.
'Smith didn't like to discourage her, but
he wished he hadn't suggested the thing.
He sat there writing, but every breath OF
wind seemed as il blew through the open
windows to bring with 1t a whisper of i'm
pending evil He tried TO laugh at his
fears, but they would recur in spite of him
suddenly pistol shot rang out on the
still air. He started wildly. seized his rife
and made for the door. Then he laughed
at himself. OF course she had fired the
shot to brighten him. What possible harm
could come TO her in the garden with a
seven foot palisade about it, Pshaw! and
be sat down again, but he kept his rifle in
his hand and listened.
''Why didn't SIZE return? Surely it was
time. Then he thought he heard a scream,
and at last, in a frenzy of doubt, he burst
through the doors and went in search Of
her
Through the bushes he ran, calling her
name al every step. There was no answer
save the signing OF the wind through the
cas,ia trees. On he sped. with a horrible
fear in his heart Il had become quite
dark, and no sign had he found of the
missing wife. Even as he neared the spot
where lay the dead snake tie husband
nursed hope that she was just hiding to
brighten him.
4 HORRIBLE SIGHT.
Now be was nearing the spot. Great
heavenl what was that2 There was some
thing wrong. Madiy ne rushed forward,
possessed of dazed, terrified consciousness
that the snake had come TO life and was
moving. \ few steps further. and then the
sight thar met his gaze was enough TO have
turned him 10 stone. There lay the dead
boa Just as he had left it, Near it was an
other ana larger one, evidently the mate
OF the one ne had slain. This monster was
cooled tightly about some white object and
the man over yonder became raving
m2nlac as he followed with his eyes the
swaylng motion of the brute's scaly head.
The circle OF the snakes body contracted,
and there was horrible cracking sound.
41eu al arm, = dainty white clad arm,
was released from its bondage. II fell TO
the earth and Smith saw it, He knew that
the oUe being he loved best on earth was
wrapped in that awful embrace. He heard
the cracking az bones and knew that his
wlfes delicate frame was being crushed 10
Z shapeleSs mass. He saw the tongue OF
the snake licking leisUrely the fair face
which had smiled u him so sweejiy hi5 q
few moments before, bat he was rnercifuliv
bereiJ Of reason, ana he laughed II tha
sight
What was left Of that poor little WON
ans body WAS recovered by the search party
that went - look for both OF them an hour
later. She Vas buried in the old cemetery
~ l2io iantirD hf,r Smith aDar- No bs,,,
about il. He was an idiot for six months.
sud my contract for mining machinery
went by the board How on earth that
man lived il out / don't know. There he
is; 80 and ask him. st Paul Globe