Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1894-11-03

ABOUT 1t, although none OF tnem sus-
peeled The truth. Da,y's father took
it for granted that the boy was play
ing that be had an angel visitor, just
as children play "house" or s'com-
pany" to amuse themselves. Once
be had stolen on Dayy unawares,
not to surprise any celestial yisito =
the big, healthy man would have
laughed at such delusion-but to
make the boy scream with the happy
surprise of seeing him. And he had
heard strange, low singing, some
thing like the singing Of a bird, but
of no bird he had ever listened to,
and it surprised him greatly. When
he pounced on Davy from the door
of the arbor the boy was alone, but
there was a strange rushing Of the
leaves and bushes, as il from some
invisible presence.
"Were you singing, Davy 2"
"No, papa"
"Who then, my boy 7"
"Angel," and the child hung bis
head.
And Mr.. Pond did what he was
sorry for long after. He shook the
child angrilv and insisted upon a
description of the angel who was
supplanting father and mother in
the heart of the boy. But Davy
would only sob and say, as he had
often done before, that his angel was
"boo'ful, an Davy loves him"
1t was circus day in the new town
to which Davy's folks had moved,
and Mr.. Pond tried to interest the
child in the street parade, but his
sick senses we're wholly inadequate
to the task. The disappointed man
bore the little white-robed form back
from the low window opening on the
lawn laid him on The pillow with a
sinking heart. He knew now, what
neither doctor nor parson could have
made him believe, that the bours of
the boys life were numbered. II
the prancing horses, the gay bands
of music, the wonderful animals,
could not charm away his sickness,
then nothing could help him, and the
father cursed, in the feeble fashion
of impotent humanity, the unknown
evil that was destroying his child.
While the child lay painting on his
pillow, there was lively scenes under
the big circus cent where a great
many things were going on at once.
1t is only with one part of the circus
that this story has to do, and that is
known as the side show. It was the
tent of the beautiful and renowned
Nine. Selika HoussaD, the oriental
snake charmer. This lady was ad-
vertised in mammoth posters as the
Queen Of Snake Charmers, and she
drew great crowds, for this was really
the part OF the show that answered
fully to all its advertised attractions.
Nine. Houssan was young and beau
tiful, and haadled her snakes in the
most fearless and expert manner.
She stood within railing, and close
10 her was glass case filled with
baby snakes, that looked like silver
ropes as they twined a blanket in
which they were wrapped. She wore
snakes on her wrists, clasping them
like bracelets. Big boa constructors
wreathed themselves about her white
neck and shoulders. She would lift
their fiat heads, and they would dart
their forked tongues against her
cheek, when she said in her pretty
voice, "kiss me-" Then she would
lay them on the shelf that ran out
side of the railing, the crowd would
fall back in panic, but the reptiles
hung there slightly moving their
protruding heads, but not offering TO
slip away.
"Now," said the madame, taking
out of its box beautiful, brilliant
striped snake of the variety known
to naturalists as the "Colubres
Eximius," or house-snake, II show
you my so unique pet, my beauty.
He loves me lie knows what / say.
See, how smart be is ?-the nice
fellowl"
Madame put the snake through
LILO pdCCs3 duQ uC Wdo luuGeu pcb
and prodigy. He saluted her with
SO many varieties OF Oriental kisses
that the young fellows wanted to
strangle him. Then he playfully bit
her finger, and was scolded, where
upon he sulked.
| " Now you shall hear him sing"
said madame, and at her prompting,
he gave little chirping sound that
answered very well for song, and
was curiously sweet and fascinat-
ing.
Now, l shall show you some
thing so very strange, so uncom-
mon,' said the snake-charmer, and
she tied piece of bright blue satin
ribbon around the arched neck OF
the dappled snake. "You watch,
you see. What you call transfer
nation scene-so."
The ribbon turned from bright
blue to pale color. Soon it was