The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-06-03

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girl and the captain. He'll have cause
70 be proud Of his wife eh, colonei9'
"His wifcl Did you say bis wife.
RayneT
.sAye. colonel I've promised her
n Capt. Lonsdalc, IL he can win her"
And and Phyllis7r
The captain oined them and the
party rode on
Phyl stood Al the door 81 the bunga-
low. cloud on her face.
Il hate hint bate him she NUT
tered
Toward midday the boy grew tired
and fretfuL Phyl carrying him % her
own bungalow. laid him on heap 81
started up with frightened err, and
TO soothe him she sang an Indian lula
~. continuing the weird tpne upon her
violin AZ the boy 5Seqnest
Suddenly some iDdefnahie instinct
caused the girl 70 look over her Shout
der. her hand tightening on the violin
Between her and the sleeping child
was large snake fle had uncoiled
himself 70 nearly his full length and
risen npon his tail with elevated head
and glittering eyes Il was the dread
ed cobra
As Phyl Razed AZ the reptile. concln-
sions rapidly formed The snake had
been attracted BY the music; Il was
evident by the dartinR forward 81 the
cruel forked tongue that the fascina-
tion had ceased with the music.
With an almost, imperceptiblc move
ment the cir drew her bow across the
catgut For an instant 4 palpablc
change came over the cobra; bis eyes
rested npon her with softened bright
ness The charm that held the snake
AZ bay was Ia her hands
Again the Indian lullaby broke the
silence, the refrain sounding strangely
weird In itS repeated cadence. Once
more the reptile WAS spellboand
Phyllis back ached. her Fingers felt
cramped; feeling 81 dizziness was
overcoming her. II the exhaustion su-
pcrvened the charm would be broken.
To rouse herself Phyl rose 70 her feet,
continuing the melody 70 which the
snakes head was swaying rhythmic
ally. n
Snap
A string few asunder beneath the
bow The three strings now beneath
Phyllis trembling fingers yibrated weak.
~; the. diseordance o. their tones
grated harshly upon her ear.
With gasping sob She glanced al the
open door and back again ID the sleep
ing child. The violin was slipping from
her swollen hand Withsan effort born
~ utter despair she broke into song
as the sound u the fallen instrument
startled the cobra,
Gradually her eyes grew dlms her
head sank lower and lower until II
touched her bosom She became con-
scions that her voice was only weakly
grooming There was rushing sound
In her cars as OF many waters, and
above II all rose a childish cry. clear
and sweet
Daddy Daddyr'
Then IL became quite dark
When few miles on the road that
/ morning the coionel's horse had Stun
bled slightly injuring its knees, and
the rider determined to return, not
sorry FOR an excuse 10 forcgo the expe.
Il "A
ment had filled him with fear.
| At the trumpet mat bungalow the
horse came TO sudden standstili, his
ears set back and quivering In every
limb
/ 4 voice singing gayly reached the
colonel; the air seemed filed with It's
laughter lie smiled sadly, then grim
". How happy she was! While he
The song was coming TO an end; il
4 grew fainter and fainter Dismount-
ing, he moved nearer 10 the open door
of the bungalow and looked into the
shadow Of the room
/ For one brief instant The colonel,s
eyes seemed filled with blood and
i through the crimson mist shone GU,
his sons bright hair and the white face
Of Phyl
i In the next hts hand was upon hi:
sword and cry went up as the cir
tottered forward and his weapon fel
upon the cobra.
The coloners arm dropped heavily
to his side as his sword changed to thu
ground. his eyes distended with hor
ror upon the severed parts OF tn,
snake
j At his feet was the PROSTATE form 0
Il PhyL In one swift glance lie noteC
the violin with its broken strings ant
the girls stiffened hands The who'll
truth flashed upon him in the instant
With great sob he raised her In hi
arms kissing the still face passion
! ately.
Daddy"
The colonel reused himself Littl
Jack was standing beside him. Ills bah,
face full of awe
"Go away, Jack, 4 he said, hoarsely
as Phyllis white lids moved and bre at
escaped her lips
The colonel carried her 70 the rugs i
the corner.
'sPhyllisi Phylr
AS she met his eyes theEterror slowI
died out Of her own. A deep fush crep
! into her face and faded
"Phyl, he said again. sslook at me
/ Phyli Don't turn away Oh, my love,
he cried, ''rny hearts Lowell You ar
given back to me, All my life shal
! be grateful all my ltfes dear
) NJ The eyes otsshe syoulan we raise
at last
j II love youl love you'll love you!
"Who is that woman, LoRsdale, rit
u ing with the colonel2a
Don't you know? An, you were 81