Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-10-20

though this somehow doubted. GOOD
evening. sir" he said, standing with
bis arm still about his wife and gazing
nc me with look so sharp that found
myself for an instant unable to meet IT,
His wife uttered In his ear sen
tence so rapid that was utterly unable
20 catch the words. but 1 suppose &c ex-
planned the reason OF my presence, for
he turned to me Instantly with out
stretched hand
"Cecily tells me that your presence
OF mind prevented general confagra-
ton. Mr.
Lester" said. II am your neigh
Dor across the ball.
MY name is Tremalne. and I'm ex.
ceedingly glad to meet you" he con-
tinued with a courtesy which charmed
me from the first moment eve must
pour libation TO honor the escape"
Cecily. who had been hanging on his
lips. few to the next room and WIS
back In a moment with decanter and
glasses-three of them-and she Joined
us with an imperturbable matter of
course air which somewhat surprised
a
wine Ia her glass. and with Il she an
preached a square cage OF fine gilt
mesh hanging over the radiator In the
warmest corner OF the room.
"Shes a most extraordinary woman"
Tremaine said. with smile that seem
ed a little forced shes about to do
what no other woman In the world
would dare do. and she thinks nothing
OF IT, Come and sec"
Cecily had already reached the cage
and was bending over II. humminr
weird little refrain that rose and fell
and turned upon itself. reminding me
family OF the negro spirituals had
once heard AZ camp meeting In the
Jersey woods. After moment I saw
movement within the cage and a
head erected itself. broad. triangular
head. deep orange barred with black.
with eyes like Goals or fire II swayed
20 and FRO. TO and fro. rs Ceclly fitted
words 10 the refrain-queer. chopped
Off creole words.
ooh. on joiolll oui oh. thou art
pretty. pretty. Fe-l'et Ia ka fai moin
pc, do not fear her. not nj all Is
she not prcttyT"
Gradually we had drawn nearer.
Tremaine and I. and felt myself
yielding 90 the fascination OF the song.
even as the serpent did II was not
very large, nor seemingly very formi-
dable. So did not even think OF fear
when Cecily opened the little door OF
the cage and drew IL forth She held Il
between thumb and finger just behind
the head and 10y n slight pressure she
forced It's Jaws apart. Then she poured
the wine down its throat drop by
drop Finally she returned il 20 its
cage and shut the door
When IL was over and she WIS lying
again on the couch. painting with "A
kind OF fearful exhaustion. I turned 10
Tremalne. who was mopping his fore
head feverlshly.
I've got kind OF supersttlous hor-
ror Of that snake" he said apologize.
ally as he met my eyes 1--WE seen
lot Of them. but none ever affected me
just as this one does"
What is tT' / asked. astonished by
his pallor. hy the trembling OF hi
hand as he put away his handkerchief
and reached for a cigarette. He light
ed IL before he answered inviting me
10y gesture 10 help myself
Its n fer-dc lance" he said at last.
zone OF the deadhest serpents In the
world. and this particular variety Is
said 10 be especially deadly. n sort OF
creme de Ia creme. as IL were. lbs bite
kills man In three minutes II IL hap
pens 10 strike an artery. IL does more
than that. 10 turns him 10 swollen.
rotten piece OF carrion. I've seen it,"
And he leaned back 10 blow a ring to-
ward the ceiling.
/ sat petrifed. with my cigarette
halfway to my mouth.