The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1902-03-13
The King Snake.


rais Of Amos Elderwood's barn, ant
hod crawcd out upon the village pave
mcnt to sun himself. Village life wa
new to him. He realized that there
was a difference between village pave
ments and the spring house trail at Mr.
Biderwood's home in the country
where he had been wont to take hi:
morning baths of sunshine; but he die
not realize the fact that he might be
come terror to the villagers who
chanccd to pass that way and who
were unaccustOmcd to meeting citizens
of his order. But then he had moi
come to town of his own free will. Tic
was property. lie belonged to Mr.
Eldcrwood, along with tic ducks
guncas, chickens, horses, cattle and
dogs; and when it was d, ended III the
Eldcrwood family that 1T was best to
take house in the village for Il few
wears, in order that the children might
be sent to school, why the king snake
was carried along.
"Goin' to take the king snake,
Amos?" Mrs. Elderwood had asked
as her husband had brought out the
reptile on the day they moved and
placed him in safe corner Of tho
wagon.
"Of course am Myra," was the
answer; " don't you guess Il village
ra.'il taste rs sweet to him as Il county
'un?'
And that is how The king snake
came to Cobury. lie was beauty,
long, sleek and fat, and his white spots
cleaned like a,abastcr in the sunlight.
Mr.. Dcmpsy Duvall was walking
lclsurcly along Il short street which in
tcrscctcd the main street Of Coburg at
the conner of Eldcrwood's place, when
shrill little scream suddenly assaiIcd
his cars from somewhere in front of
him. The scream had issued from a
woman's throat, and Dcmpsy felt in
his bones that the owner Of that throat
must be beautiful, else whence SO much
music N u scream? lie Uuickcncd his
pace, hurrying around Il corner at Il
rapid stride.
The barometer OF Duvall's bones had
not deceived him. There, standing
tcrrorizcd and unable to move, within
six feet of Ehlcrwood's kim snake,
was tall, young girl, SO slender and
SO beautiful that Duvall hlinkcd to
assure himself that be had not pccped
into fairy land.
But ncMpsy was a practical man,
and he had at once seen the cause Of
the young lady,s alarm. The kim
snake lay still, cvldcuily dreaming of
the spring house path in the country.
nj Il IA
the days Of his usefulness were at an
end.
lnvcrling the gold headed umbrella
which he carried, and without slack
cning his rapid pace, Duvall suddenly
swung his hastily improvlScd yolr club
through the air and brought it aroun,
with such force az to sweep the little
heap OF rcptilan coils from the pave,
ment, sending the king snake lal
across the street 10 fall lilclcSS mass
into the gutter.
Oh thank you" exclaimed the .ir
fcrvcn,ly, as hulc hush suiIusvd l.c
checks and the long cyciahcs hroopc
little over her eyes.
Dcmpsy hitrh his ha, and bowed ;
he made movement to pass ON.
"Thc falcs were good 10 send II
here at this tlmc,' lie dared 10 say
he bowed himself bv allowing &
young lady to go on her way.
That WAS ii iItilr incident viii
went along with Duvall, making |
heart merry. But there had been
witness to the scene, only one. Am
Eldcrwood had been crossing the ya
when his attention was attracted
the girls scrcam and he had Stnpp
to stare at her over the hcurc whl
lined the pavement.
Some fool gal with n toad in h
palh.' mentally suliiOuuilcd Ehlc
wood and ne had been about 10 co
time his way when The rest of n
scene tranSprcd.
Wen he could play shinny, an
that's dead shore ficl," was Eide,
wood 5 next comment, as the pave
menl was once more cleared. " Won
der what 1t was he hit, nohow?n
Mr.. EldcrwOod set down a pal ~
was carrying and made his way to ih
gate. a momcnt later he had crosse,
the street to the gutter on the opposit
side. Then the sight Of the dead kin
snake caused his teeth to grind toyc,h,
with cracking sound. He yaZc
upon the reptiles body a moment the
returned across the street. Here h
stopped, aud. gazing first far down {
thc right ol h'm at ictrcatiny girls
l'Snre, then far up II the left Of hiI
ht me athletic figure Of Duvall us
disappearing III the distance, continue
10 grind his teeth