The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1903-05-01

HE REACHED FOR THE CREATURE WITH
HIS BARE HANDS.
had seized upon the most horrifying
thought of all, and my whole being
srrang to arms for revenge,
"What has he done? Where is hep
1 asked, seizing the DOCTORS arm.
My own intenser excitement had a
calming effect on him, ap1 Ae fastened
to assure me that Patrick had really
done nothing worse than catch small
garden snake.
But, oh, the way he did itv' the doc
tor shuddered. "And his hideous face!
Horrible, horrible!''
With a profound sense of relief that
the tragedy consisted of nothing more
serious than an assault ON my brother
in-law's nerves, l first became angry
and then amused at the absurdity of it
all.
"How did he do it2' asked, sup
pressing a smile.
Il can't begin to tell you," said the
doctor. 81 can't make you see it as it
was. Oh, what face! What diabo-
liSmw
"When was it?'
"Just now. When 1 came home, he
was raking the lawn, and l stopped to
speak with him. He seemed to be in
his usual calm temper until a little
green garden snake slid out from. I'M
der a bush. The effect was electrical.
Instantly Patrick was raging demon"
"My dear boy" said soothingly, "he
was probably Mortified, just as should
have been, The very thought of
snake, however harmless it may be,
gives me the shivers."
$50 it does me-" said the doctor. 81
hate snake with all my soul, but 1
tell you honestly 1 would rather live
with nest of snakes than with that
demon Patrick
"What did he do?"
"He had the rake in his hand and
could have cut the snake down with a
stroke, but it seemed that would not
have satisfied his fiendish desire. He
dropped the rake and fell upon all
fours, reaching for the creature with
his bare hands. At first he missed it,
but instantly he sprang, as toad
might spring, or more, fancy, as 60
rilla might do 1t, and caught the
squirming thing"
"Well, that's nothing" l interposed.
Il used to know boys who brought live
garden snakes to school in their pock-
cts and frightened the girls out of their
wits with them"
"StOni' said tho doctor cfornIr 0T,,,,
no schoolgirl to be frightened out of
my wits by a harmless little snake.
Had you seen Patrick's face you would
not speak so lightly. l tell you it was
simply terrible, diabolical. When he
had snatched the snake from the grass,
he settled back upon his launches like
one of those hideous heather gods
carved of stone. Despite my commands
that he throw the thing down and let
me stamp upon it, he squatted there,
more reptile than man, and held the
writhing creature close and closer to
his glittering eyes, while he Kissed such
words as: 80 you've come back! Hah!
But you'll not find her! Fool! She's
where you'll never be. She's in heaven!
Do you hear--in heaven? Crooked, am
1? What are you? Snake, SNAKE
snake! These last words grated with
unimaginable hatred, malice, loathing."
"Did he kill the snake?' asked.
"No; he would not kill it. He simply
gloated over having it in his power. For
minutes he held the struggling thing so
close to his eyes that it almost touched
him. He seemed to be glaring into the
very soul of that snake, if it had such
thing. Then suddenly he burst into a
demoniacal laugh and jumped to his
feet. The last saw of him he was 60
Ing by leaps and bounds down the alley
with the snake still writhing In his
hand"
1t was not physical fear that had pre-
vented the doctor from following Pat
rick. 1t was a soul horror of him.
l advanced the theory that like
enough the gardener had some time
lost a sweetheart or sister as a result