The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-05-26


| gil and the captain. He'll have cause
| 70 BE proud Of his wifc--eh. colonelfr
Ellis wifcl Did Jon say his wits.
Rayne7'
aye. colonel I've promised her
n Capt Lonsdaie. 4 he can win her. :
"And--and Phyilisv'
Tho captain Joined them and the
party rode on
Phyi stood at the door Of the bunea-
low. cloud on her face.
II hate hiEni hate himfr she mut-
tered
Toward midday the boy grew tired
and fretfnl PhyL carrying him 70 her
own bungalow. laid him on heap Of
rugs In the corner Once little Jack
started up with q frightened cry, and
70 sooths him she sang an Indian lula
by, continuing the weird tune upon her
violin AZ the boys request
Suddenly some indefnablc 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 He had uneosied
himself 70 nearly his full length and
risen upon his tail with elevated head
and glitterins eyes II was the dread
cd cobra
AZ Phyl Rased at the reptile. conciu-
sions rapidly formed Tho snake had
been attracted BY the music; Il was
evident by the darting forward Of the
cruel forked tongue that the fascina-
ton had ceased with the music
With an almost imperceptiblc move
ment the girl drew her bow across the
catgut For an instant a paipnbie
change came over the cobra; his eyes
rested upon her with softened bright
mesa The charm that held the snake
II bay was In her handsl
Again the Indian lullaby broke the
silence. the refrain sounding strangely
weird In It's repeated cadence. Once
more the reptile was spellbound.
phyrs back ached, her fingers felt
cramped; feeling 81 dizziness was
overcoming her. II the exhaustion SUI
pcryened the charm would Be broken
To rouse herself Phyi rose to her feet,
continuing the melody to which the
snakes head was swaying rhythmic
ally.
snapl
A string few asunder beneath the
bow. The three strings now beneath
Phyllis trembling fingers vibrated weak
"; 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 d 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 a. Of many waters, and
above II all rose childish cry, clear
and sweet
Daddy Daddyi"
Then II became quite dark
When few miles on the road that
morning the coloners horse had stum-
bled, slightly injuring It's knees. and
the rider determined 70 return, not
sorry for an excuse TO forego the expe-
dition- The trumpet majors state
ment had filed him with fear.
At the trumpet majors bungalow the
horse came to . sudden standstill, his
ears set back and quivering In every
limb
a voice singing gayly reached the
colonel; the air seemed filed with Its
laughter. He smiled sadly, then grim
" How happy she wasI While he
The song was coming 70 an end; II
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,a
eyes seemed filled with blood and
through the crimson mist shone out
his sons bright hair and the white face
of PhyL
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 coloncrs arm dropped heavily
70 his side as his sword changed TO the
ground, his eyes distended with hor.
ror upon the severed parts OF the
snake,
At his feet was the PROSTATE form Of
Phyl In one swift glance he noted
the violin with its broken strings and
the girls stiffened hands The whole
truth flashed upon him in the instant.
With great sob he raised her\ In his
arms kissing the still face passion
ately.
''Daddyr'
The colonel reused himself. Little
Jack was standing beside him, his baby
face full OF awe.
as Phyllis white lids moved and breath
escaped her lips
The colonel carried her to the rugs In
the corner.
"Phyllisl PhylI"
As she met his eyes the terror slowly
died out Of her own A deep flush creps
into her face and faded
''Phyl," he said again, look q. me,
Phyli Don't turn away. oh, my love,
he cried, my hearts lovei You are
given back to me. All my life shan
Be grateful; all my life, dear
The eyes OF the woman were raised
ct last
= love youi ! love youi i love your
Who is that woman, Lonsdale. rid
ing with the eolonel2"
Don't You know7 All, you were Or
dered to another station before the
dreadful news reached Lucknow"
Il. = ne " j . . b. / 4