The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-05-07
THE SILVER SNAKE.
BY 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 that lonely vigil, trying
yainly to realize the greatness of the
tragedy that had suddely darkened his
life. Again and again his thoughts
went back to the events of the preced-
ing night; in point of fact only few
short hours before-yet it seemed like
part of another existence.
A grand ball was to be given at a
neighboring mansion, at which he and
Rosalie Beaumont-his pretty cousin
Rosalie-were to make their first pub.
lie appearance as 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 him 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
ner cloudy golden hair.
II thought l should find you here and
ell alone" she said, smiling; II 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
fance, John?"
Il always am that" he answered,
with the grave, passionate earnestness
that characterized him. Resale, do
you know there are moments when
am afraid to think how much, how alb
sOlutely, l love you"
More than you have 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
At the girls light words.
81 never knew what love might be
till | met you, my Rosalie."
No doubt, what he said was true
or he believed it to be so. There ara
many ways of loving, 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 Resale.
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
d bracelet-and for moment, do you
know, l really thought it was alive"
1t was a silver snal<e-a curious speci-
lnen 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, and a very
cleverly-cOnstructed one, too. l expect
the thing has history, if one did but
know it." st. Lawrence said, carelessly.
Il brought it home for you because |
thought 1t might please and amuse you;
but l should be very sorry to see you
wear it."
80, let me try it on-do,' Resale
pleaded, with ripple of excited laugh
Ter, but the next moment the laugh
was lost in cry of fear, for as she tried
TO untwist the serpent it suddenly cooled
itself about her wrist and round her
arm like living thing, pressed so close
~ against the white skin that the
sharpened points of the silvery scales
hurt her acutely. She tore it off and
threw it on the table, her pretty face
flushing, her eyes full of tears. But
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.