The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-07-28

GuaG 1du0u GuS u)W6FS ana Trees. '" 4gu
one accord all nature awakes. Bright
plumage birds fit here and there, fill
ing the air with their sweet, varied
songs.
"Glorious-a perfect Elem is the
final exclamation of the artist, IS he
turns about and places his easel at the
opening. Rolling a loose boulder for
ward he is just in the act of seating
himself, preparatory to s%Betchiug,
when glacIng to the right, only a few
PAGES away, he see a sight that cause
him to start and spring to his feet.
Great God" is the exclamation
that invOluntarily burst from his lips,
while admiration, establishment and
horror are alternately depicted upon
his countenance. He advances a few
steps, heitates and then draws back
His heart grows cold and his blood
seems to freeze in his veins. Not ten
yards away, on the very brink of the
precipice sits a maiden Of SURPRISING
beauty--to all appearances fast asleep
Her head, a shapely one, crowned with
masses of light golden hair leans against
the side of G. litched- covered cliff. The
face-a perfect one-is surprising
fair; the mouth, small and curved
like a Cupid's bow was a beauty within
itself; a small round chin and exquis
itely shaped nose; and eyes--hid from
sight by snowy lids fringed with long,
curling lashee, resting upon cheeks Of
a peach blossom tint eyes that we a
only conjecture as being of a heavenly
blue, or of a dark liquid hue -3ither OF
which would have been extremely
beautiful. Her dress of a dark blue
mate, trimmad with gold lace and
braid, is in perfect harmony with her
strange, r beauty, and to cay the
least is unique. a sailor hat adorned
with a simple band of blue ribbon lies
on the ground at her side. But why
the artists agitation; why that death
like paIlor that Overspread his face
and turned his lips an ashen hue? 1
will tell you why. In the lap Of the
unconscious girl, its head raised, fire
flashing from its beady black eyes lies
coiled a huge rattle snadc-.he most
deadly in the mountains of Wastern
North Carolina.
1t is not surprising that the artist
stood as though rooted t the spot;
that he repeatedly rubbed his eyes,
doubling as to whether he saw Alright
or vas laboring under some strange
hallucination.
Whether she was dead or alive, he
could not at first decide, but the gen
tie heaving Of her bosom assured him
that she lived, though, to all appear
ances, ab!ivious of the awful fate that
awaited her on waking.
The artist no longer hesitated as to
what course to pursue, but dropping
upon his hands and knees, and with
cat-like softness moved-no5 toward
the uncors ;ious girl, but q little to her
right. Noiselessly he continues to
move for ward until he has gained a
position that places him a short dis
tance to her left. Turning about and
lying fiat upon the ground he now pro
ceeds crawls slowly and cautiously to
ward a clump of bushes a few feet
from the sleeping maiden. After what
seemed az interminable length of time,
but in reality only a few minutes, he
reaches this point. Here he rests a
few moments, and then begins to re-
move, One by one, the leaves lear the
centure of the . mp. THIS he con-
tinues to do until be has made an open
ing eLfl GENTLY large to enable him to
peep through without, at the same
time, being by the willy serpent
that is flashing its eyes in every dlrec-
ton to ascertain, perhaps, the cause OF
the slight unusual movement its keen
ears have detected. Raising himself
on his elbows he looks through. Invol-
UNFAIRLY he starts. The maiden still
sleeps, but her lips are slightly parted
and a faint smile plays about the 0
ners of her mouth. The serpenJ's
eyes no longer wander, but are
fastened with deadly Intent upon that
beautiful, unconscious face. It's cruel
head is drawn back ready to strike.
With the slightest movement on her
part, It's venomous fangs would be
buried deep in The soft, white throat
1t raises it's tail and sounds its warn
ing. Again a smile, like a fitting sun
beam, passes Cver her face, and slight,
lust audible murmur comes from her
lips. Would she awake? God forbid!