The Opelousas courier., 1896-06-13
THE SILVER SNAKE.
BIZ BEATRICE O'CONNoR.

BIZ BEATRICE O'CONNOR.
John St. Lawrence sat alone in the
study of Fernholme manor, while the
gray dawn in the eastern sky flushed
rosily before the rising sun. All night
he had kept hat lonely vigil. trying
vainly to realize the greatness Of the
tragedy that had suddely darkeced Ma
life. Again and again BIS thoughts
went back to the events Of the preccd-
ing night; in point Fl fact only a few
short hours batore-yet 1t seemed like
part Of arSther existence.
4 grand ball was to be given at u
heighboring mansion, at which he and
Rosalie Beaumont-his pretty cousin
Rosalie-were to make their first pub.
lie appearance as a formally-engaged
couple. He had dressed early and was
sitting in this room-this very room
idly looking at some of the Indian
curios he had brought with hitn from
the east, when the door opened, sud
denly but softly, and Resale stood be-
fore him, radiant in her girlish beauty,
with jewels shining on her bare white
throat and a brilliant star cleaning
and glowing amid the pale splendor Of
her cloudy golden hair.
II thought ! should find you here and
eH alone" she said, smiling; Il knew
auntie would not be ready for ever SO
long, so l made my escape and ran
downstairs, just to give you a private
peep at my dress. Look! Don't you
think You ought to be proud of your
Gance, bhn::"
~ always am that" ne answered,
with the grave. passionate earnestness
hat characterized him. "Rosalie, dc
you know there are moments when
am afraid to think how much, how hb'
solutely, | love you"
"More than you haze ever loved any
one else?" she asked, slyly, knowing
beforehand what his answer would be,
"A shadow that vanished almost as it
appeared passed over his handsome face
Mt the girls light words.
II never knew what love might be
till l met you, my Rosalie.'
No doubt, what he said was true,
or he believed it to be so. "Ttere are
many ways of loving, l have learned to
know" and even as he uttered the
words there arose before him the vision
Of an Indian twilight, through which a
beautiful dusky face looked at him
with crimson lips parted and eyes full
of mystery and passion; but the vision
faded as it rose, dispelled by the merry
laugh of Rosalie.
what delightful old ornaments"
the girl exclaimed, pointing to the In
dian curiosities scattered about on the
table. Then, picking up one that es-
pecially attracted her attention, she
cried: "Why! this is a bracelet-only
q bracelet-and Tor a moment, do you
know, I really thought it was alive.
1t was a silver snake-a curious speci-
5nen of Indian craftsmanship. By
means of some hidden spring the crea-
ture seemed to coil and writhe as she
held it.
"Yes; it Is a bracelet, md a very
cleverly-constTucted one, too. 1 expect
the thing has a history, if one did but
know it." st. Lawrence said, carelessly.
II brought it home for you because
fhougnt 1t might please and amuse you;
but should be very sorry to see you
wear it."
20, let me try it on-do," Rosalie
pleaded, with a ripple of excited laugh
ter, but the next moment the laugh
was lost in a cry of fear, for as she tried
TO untwist the serpent it suddenly coiled
itself about her wrist and round her
arm like a living thing, pressed so close
ly against the white skin that the
sharpened points Of the silvery scales
hurt her aeutely. She tore it off and
threw it on the table, her pretty face
flushing, her eyes full of tears. But q
few seconds later, recovering herself,
she tried to laugh, and touching her
lover on the arm begged him to forgive
her petulance. She had not meant to
be ~ill-tempered, but the snake. she said,