Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-08-19
CONTINUED
81 have two brothers. said he.

81 have two brothers" said he.
But Henry is not like you either"
"A connecting link perhaps. lie is
hazel eyed. with curly chestnut hair. !
wish you could see him.
81 can imagine what he is. have
seen his portrait. He does not explain
you. But the Buddhists believe that
the souls of the dead live again in such
bodies as Karma appoints for them.
Perhaps you were Hindoo in your for
mer state"
And Saprani was the queen of my
heart! Well, she would hardly have
been more beautiful as an Indian prin-
cess than she is now. A serpent is the
only thing fit to be compared with a
womanr'
Most women might not think that
compliment
But you are not like most women.
Sinfire."
Introduce me to Saprani." said the
visitor, leaning forward and clasping
her slender hands on her knees.
The alchemist rose from the divan and
advanced toward the glazed cabinet. He
wore long dark tunic confined at the
waist and falling to his feet On his
head was Il cap somewhat after the fash
ion of Turkish fez. Standing in front
of the cabinet. he drew from his girdle
long slender wand and tapped with it
several times on the glass which protect
ed the left hand division Of the cabinet.
The light from the brazier, mingling
with the red rays from colored lamp
depending by chain from the ceiling
shone family into the interior of the
cage and revealed something moving
there with a slow and stealthy motion.
Gradually this object approached the
glass and partly reared itself up against
it. 1t displayed the head and glistening
black neck of magnificent COBRA its
sides spotted with gold The alchemist
touched pulley, and the glass rose up
ward like window leaving the front of
the cage open.
He then retired three or four PAGES,
keeping his eyes fixed upon the serpent
and crouched noiselessly down upon the
carpet until he squatted upon his heels.
Meanwhile the cobra remained motion
less in the cage, with its head lifted
The alchemist now drew from the folds
of his robe short instrument of cylin-
drical shape. pierced with holes after the
manner Of flute 1t was made of ebony
and highly polished and was decorated
with bits of red coral and pendants of
sparkling crystal. 1t was toumril
brought from India and used by the SER
pent charmers in their lamentations.
Raising it to his lips, he drew from it
soft and plaintiye sounds, pleasing to
the ear, yet differing in some essential
respects from the music of the west.
The sounds gradually grew louder,
though never losing their soft, insinuat-
ing quality, until the vault of the cham
Der seemed to resound with echoes of
soothing potency.
At the first notes the cobra had changed
its position, turning its head toward the
player. AS the music continued a slow
continuous shifting was observable
throughout its glisteuing coils. The for
ward part of its body was pushed beyond
the edge of the cage and held poised in
the air. the head and neck still upright.
Then the long tapering form, still stead
lily uncoiling, sank toward the floor in
sliding undulations, writhing rhythmic
ally forward in harmony with the sweet
throbbing of the flute. AS it rested with
its Jet black scales and golden spots upon
the dull red carpet in the dim lighter
seemed to rest, for it was never still-it
was beautiful yet terrible symbol of
sensuous delight-the subtle pleasure
that bears within it the poison OF death