The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-03

ed to resist the sensation and continued
my way. but more slowly now, and with
a heavily beating heart My heart labored
| In a most unnatural way. ] could not ac-
| count for my own sensations
Suddenly l paused and looked back. I
| fancied that / heard a noise. very slight
| and faint and different from that which
the wind made as II sighed over The vast.
billowy undulations of the Plain. Now. as
looked back. l saw something about fifty
yards away. something which moved
| swiftly over the short grass. Whatever
| the thing was, 1t came toward me- and as
| 1t came 1t glistened now and then in the
moonlight. What could il beI / raised
| my hand to shade my eyes from the bright
| the subject of an Authorization. But no;
| whatever that was which was now ap-
| preaching me- it was n reality. no dream.
| II was making straight in my direction.
| The next instant every fibre In my body
| was tinglng with terror, for gliding to-
| ward me, in great curves. with head rails
| ed. was an enormous black snake,
For one moment | gaZed. in sickened
! horror, and then | ran-ran as ore runs In
| nightmare. with humping heart and
| clogged feet and knees that were turned TO
/ water. There could be 40 doubt of what
| had happened; the. grest black snake. OAR
| key, had escaped from Bungmore and was
| following me. Why had it escaped? How
| had it escaped? Was its escape premedi-
| tated? Was It meant to follow me? Was
l the victim of a prearranged and CHASTITY
death? Was twas it?-my head reeled,
my knees tottered. There was not tree
| or house in sight The bare. open Plain
surrounded me for miles. AS | reeled
| however, to the crest of the rise. / saw,
| lying In the moonlight n0t a quarter of a
! mile away. the broken ring of Stonehenge.
| reached it in time to Chamber on to one
oil the stones L might b, saved 1t was
my only chance.
Summoning all my energies / made for
| the ruined temple. Fer the first hundred
yards felt that ! was gaining on the
q Tpt 4 .ntfl1 oil.
track. its low. continuous hiss. Then the
deadly faintness for which 1 could not ac-
count once more seized me. l fancied
heard someone calling me in a dim voice.
which sounded miles away.
Making last frantic effort. | plunged
INTO the circle of stones and madly clam
bered on to the great Slaughter Stone"
| once more there came a cry, a figure
flashed past me. loud report rang in my
ears. and great darkness came over me-
Drink this, Flower
was lying on my back Lady Sarah
was bending over me- The moonlight was
SHINING. and IL dazZled by eyes when | first
opened them. In the moonlight ! could see
that Lady Sarah's face was very white
lhere was peculiar expression about 1t.
she put her hand gently and deftIy under
my head, and held something to my lips 1
drank hot and fiery moisture, and was
revived.
Where am T-yhat has hannanado" r
asked.
You are on the great Slaughter Stone
on Salisbury Plain. You have had a mar
rev escape Don't spea 1 am going to
Not back to Longmore?"
Yes, back to Longmore, your future
home. Don't be silly
But the snake. Darkey. the black
hand to my face. HE followed me-" /
whispered.
He is dead she answered II shot
him with my own hands. You have moth
fear frDY frf,r n
more. Conner
was too weak TO resist her She did
not look unkind There was no madness
in her eyes. At that moment Samno an
peared in view Sambo lifted me from The
stone and carried me to d log-cart which
stood on the Plain. Lady Sarah seated
herseif by my side. took the reins. end We
drove swiftly away.
Once again we entered the house LADY
Sarah took me to the morning-room She
smut the door, but did not lock It. There
was basin of hot soup on the table
Drink. and be quick she said, in an
imperious voice
! obeyed her; was afraid to do ether
.'Better?'' she asked.
Yes, | replied, in semi whisper
Then listen
l tried TO rise, but she motioned me 20
stay seated.
lived through it. You are a plucky eirl.
and respect you. Now hear what / nave
to say"
tried to do so and to keep DOWN my
she spoke
Long ago / made VOW sac said. Il |
soiennly vowed before Almighty God tfit !
as long as lived ] wOTld never allow my |
Only son to marry. He kue.y that / Lad |
made this vow, and fo- a In;s time ne re- |
spected it, but he met YOU ard bcctrn,. or |
gagged TO you in defiance Of his mothers |
vow ana ms mnther's wish. Hben 1 rcGrd /
i lnll my
with Jealousy. rage, ana real ms lnsss ] |
wouId not write 20 sou, nos would | write
to him.
why did you write al iast-y,hy did yo,
ask me hereof said taen
because the jealousy passed as it al
ways Goes, and for lime was sane.
Sane ! cried.
Yes, little girl: yes sane, But listen
Some years ago when on the coast of |
Guinea | was the victim # Il very severe |
srnstroke. From that time 1--we had
lts OF madness Any shock. airy excite |
nent. brings them on
Il had such fit of madness when my
'on wrote to say hat lie WIS engaged to
you It passed. snd ! was Tryseif again
You were not insthe horse an boar. now
,yer. before / felt il returning There is
,nly one person who cal manage me ~
hese times; there is only n:ie person
shom fear and respect-my black servant |
,ampo SanOo manages re. and yet at |
ne same time | manage HIN. He lcyes |
ne after his blind and hec;hen fashion.
lie mas no fear; ne has no cnllst e!i@e. TO I !
commit a crime is nothing to hin.. He
owes me. and he DaSstOnIl.ly loves tfe |
entities To please me and tn carry cut J
ny wishes are the sole objects If lis life |
with madness In my veins [ watched |
ou and David during The last tw.i DAYS
nd the Wild desire to crush you to the
cry earth came over me. David ven; 10
london. and l .G1ught the .:I,trtrftIaity ,
ad come. SPOKE to Samba about l.. and
ambo made a suggestion. l listeneG to
i'm My brain was on ire. | agreed 10
% what he suggested. Nv snake DarLnv
fas to be the Weapon to take your life
Ielt neither remoTse nor pity. Sambo is
black from Australia, an aborigine from
hat distant country. He knows the Sc {
rets of the blacks There is "A certain
ubstance extracted from herb which
le blacks know, and which. when a;.plied {
, any part of the dress or the person of '
II enemy. will induce each snake v hich |
pines across nus path to turn and follow
i'm. The substance drives the snake mad =
nj he VIII follow and kill his victim | !
tmbo possesses the stun, and from time d
, time, to amuse me. he has tried its
over ON my reptiles. He has nut IL on I
- own boots. hut he himself las never e
cen bitten, for he has flung the boots IN ! /
lie snakes at the last moment This aft
moon he put II ON the brown boots which u
on are now wearing. He then terrified
1u ana induced you to run away across
alisbury Plain. He put something into a
our tea to deprive you of strength and n
hen .ou were absent about thrce-luar- !;
rs of an hour he let Darkey loose Oar n
~ followed you as needle viii follow a p
agnet. SgmBO called me to the wicket A
ate and showed me ne glistanipg cres- a
Ire gliding over the flain in your direc- q
on. As looked veil fell from my eyes. h
he madness left me. and / became sane q
saw the awful thing ! had lone T re- y
ented with agony. In a flash | ordered Il
le dog-cart. and with SanOo by my side / Il
'llowed you. | was lust IN time. 1 shot n