The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-04-15
- hate him: I hate him. she NUT

e stEi1is i nate nlul. she mutt
| tered.
Toward midday the boy grew tired
and fretful. Phyl. carrying him to her
| own bungalow. laid him on heap of
rugs in the corner. Once little Jack
started up with frightened cry, and
to soothe him she sang an Indian lula
by, continuing the weird tune upon her
violin at the boys request.
Suddenly some indefnable instinct
caused the girl 10 look over her shout
der. her hand tightening on the violin.
Between her and the sleeping child
was large snake. lie had uncoiled
himself to nearly his full length and
risen upon his tail with elevated head
and glittering eyes. 1t was tie dread
ed cobra.
As Phyl gazed at the reptile, conclu-
sions rapidly formed. The snake had
been attracted by the music: it was
evident by the darting forward of the
cruel forked tongue that the fascina.
ton had ceased with the music
With an almost imperceptible move
ment the girl drew her bow across the
catgut. For an instant n palpable
change came over the cobra; his eyes
rested upon her with softened bright
ness The charm that held the snake
at bay was in her hands,
Again the Indian lullaby broke the
silence, the refrain sounding strangely
weird in its repeated cadence. Once
more the reptile was spellbound.
Phyllis back ached, her fingers felt
cramped: a feeling of dizziness was
overcoming her. If the exhaustion SUI
pervened the charm would be broken.
To rouse herself Phyl rose TO her feet,
continuing the melody to which the
snakes head was swaying rhythmic
ally.
Snap!
string few asunder beneath the
bow. The three strings now beneath
PhyIs trembling fingers vibrated weak
ly; the discordance of their tones
grated harshly upon her ear.
With gasping sob she glanced at the
open door and back again at the sleep
ing child. The violin was slipping from
her swollen hand With an effort born
of utter despair she broke into a song
as the sound OF the fallen instrument
startled the cobra.
Gradually her eyes grew dim; her
head sank lower and lower until il
touched her bosom. She became con-
scions that her voice was only weakly
grooming. There was rushing sound
in her ears as of many waters, and
above it all rose n childish cry. clear
and sweet.
''Daddyl Daddyi'
Then it became quite dark.
When few miles on the road that
morning the colonel's horse had STUN
blcd, slightly injuring its knees. and
the rider determined TO return, not
sorry for an excuse 10 foreFo the expe-
dition. The trumpet majors state
ment had filed him with fear.
At the trumpet ior's bungalow the
horse came to a sudden standstill. his
ears set back and quivering in every
limb.
voice singing gayly reached the
colonel; the air seemed filed with It's
Laughter. He smiled sadly, then grim
". How happy she was! While he
The song was coming TO an end; il
grew fainter and fainter. Dismount-
ing. he moved nearer to the open door
OF the bungalow and looked into the
shadow OF the room.
For one brief instant the colonel'E
eyes seemed filed with blood and
through the crimson mist shone out
his sons bright hair and the white face
OF PhyI.
In the next his hand was upon his
sword and cry went up as the girl
tottered forward and his weapon fell
upon the cobra
The coloncl's arm dropped heavily
20 his side as bis sword changed 20 the
ground. his eyes distcna-d with hog
ror upon the severed parts Of the
So axe.
At his feet was The PROSTATE form o. .
PhyL In one swift glance lie noted
the violin with rs broken strings and
the girls stiffened hands The whole
truth flashed upon hin IN the instant
WITH . great sob he raised her il be
arms. kissing the stil face passioE-