Show BY WHOSE HAND by EDITH SESSIONS TUPPER author ol 01 by the bick etc copyright 1889 by W urd fracker co copyright 1900 by street CHAPTER 11 continued the rage ot the hindmo the ser testified had been something frightful he could not one word of english but poured forth a volley of heathen curses gestl culat ing and gnashing his teeth in his am potent passion william deposed that at nightfall he had seen the hindmo crouching in the shrubbery his alark evil face glowering through the leaves at rex as he rode away to spend the evening as usual at the sea view hotel a few miles distant he looked so infernal said wil hams that I 1 fairly shivered and or dered him out of that in a hurry and I 1 shant soon forget the look that damned heathen gave me as he slunk away toward his quarters the hindmo bad fill charge of ehg cobra during the professors absence in view of these facts it was deemed advisable to place him under restraint at least until the professor should return and could talk with him therefore babu was under arrest on suspicion of having the serpent in revenge for the stinging blow from reis whip the professor had started on a trip to california three days before this terrible event it had been his plan to go eoon after bis ar rival from india but we bad found him so delightful a guest that we dally urged the postponement of his journey we had not seen our cousin for years and his life in the arient had been so eventful and replete with in terest that the thousand and one tales ot adventure he narrated formed most charming entertainment for catane and we were alone so much rex being always at sea view he had so many friends for the summer and was in constant demand myself I 1 had grown used to these fools cowards I 1 bah absences to be sure I 1 never watch ed him ride away looking so perfectly content and happy without that tightening about my heart still I 1 had learned the bitter truth that I 1 was not necessary to his happi ness and was too proud to beg for the affection he would not freely bestow besides I 1 had my child my attle marcelle but it was dull tor catane she had come to spend the summer with us and had naturally expected a very different sort of entertainment than that which a heartbroken woman could offer then too it was a sharp trial to have her see how I 1 was neg lecter before rex saw me he was engaged to catane but when I 1 came home from the convent in france he lost no time in bestowing upon me the at tent lons which had so won catane this catane soon discovered and of her own will released rex to marry me at that time I 1 fancied she did not care especially she was so calm so self contained over the affair but catane was always rather taciturn and mysterious it she had emotions ehe kept them quite lo 10 herself rex told me that during the trying interview in which she gave him tack his freedom her self possession was amazing it was rather he who was ill at ease to me she was amiability itself and stood as my bridesmaid when we were married I 1 had only one disturbing recollection of catane it was after the wedding ceremony when she kissed me in congratulation she took my face between her hands and looked me full in the eyes the ex pres slon I 1 saw revealed in her glance has always haunted me I 1 hope you will be very happy my little angele she said and as she the blood seemed to leave my heart for oh her look the ring of lier voice said instead I 1 hope you will be very wretched fay little angele since catane came it has seemed at times as if she were exulting ivr toy misery not by any word no but by some expression some slow strange smile some trick of drooping eyelids she conveys so much by these signs far more than most women can by many words at first rex seemed to like to be with her and tor a few days sea view missed him but he soon resumed his accustomed ways and paid no further attention to my sister she is deuced ly blood freezing he said once to me so the days were very monotonous until the professor came with his curiosities his divans his rugs his brie a brae his hindmo servant and his cobra the latter fascinated catane she would pass hours in looking at the graceful beautiful deadly thing and the professor was as fascinated by her as she was by the serpent thus they got on famously together it was a relief to me tor some way I 1 could never talk to catane she was beautiful I 1 admired her but she repelled and awed me and when she would raise those heavy lids and give me one of her enigmatical glances I 1 always felt assured that she was re theft of her lover and that she was gratified to see how happy I 1 was and when this morning she came into my roop and standing at the foot of my bed fixed her strange eyes upon me aal told me all that had occurred during my illness the con that she was gloating over my agony was stronger than ever the professor has telegraphed that be will be bere tonight to night she paid as the finished her narrative I 1 cannot believe that poor wretch intentionally released the cobra said I 1 can you not she asked then after an instants pause she added not can I 1 three little words and yet as she ettere them I 1 started I 1 did not dare look at her my heart stopped betting 7 could she know 9 nonsense I 1 must be brave I 1 raised my eyes and looked steadily at her she was leaning over the brasa rail of the bedstead with the smile of a fiend upon her curling lips and in her eyes a commingling of menace and mockery I 1 saw you she whispered I 1 myself saw you my little angele I 1 am avenged CHAPTER III the story of henri boileau I 1 was greatly shocked when I 1 received the telegram which intercept ed me at chicago on my way to call tornia telling me or the death of my cousin rex it was most fortunate that I 1 should have told my cousin catane of my intention to pass a few days in that city and have given her my address of course I 1 at once heeded her summons to return the manner of dalrymple s death was not disclosed to me until I 1 reach ed their country place horrified was I 1 beyond measure to find that my splendid ophidian pet should have been the cause of poor dalrymple s untimely taking off the cobra was a magnificent crea ture a superb specimen of the genus she was about five feet in length and of a beautiful tawny hue her bands and spots being un usually brilliant and glistening through my careful nursing and attention she had grown very tame and was perfectly submissive and obedient to my hand I 1 had not to be sure attempted any jugglers feats but she knew me and always rose and writhed in the perfection of enchanting grace whenever I 1 ap preached the cage I 1 very much desired to carry her with me on my western travels but fearin fe that change of climate might be fatal to my precious charge I 1 decided to adopt poor dalrymple s sug gestson that she remain behind in the care of my hindmo servant babu she cant do any harm reginald lightly said when we were discussing the subject alas poor fellow he little dreamed of the hideous harm she was destined to work babu was accustomed to feed her and could also regulate the tempera ture of my rooms so that she be not endangered by any sudden change ot weather I 1 felt therefore no anxiety on leaving her in his hands but when I 1 returned and found that my serpent and my servant were sup posed to be accessories totals deed my despair knew no bounds I 1 hastened to the prison where babu was confined when I 1 entered he prostrated himself before me and tears streamed over bis swarthy cheeks As he could speak no eng elsh he had not been able to deny the charge against him but now as soon as he could control his joy upon seeing me he swore by everything a hindmo holds sacred that he was in although he had not understood the torrent of invective poured upon him by williams and the other ser he had realized by their looks of hatred and horror as well as by his incarceration that he was sus pecked he solemnly averred that on the night of mr dalrymple s death he had as usual attended to the cabra s needs and that at nine clock he had examined the door of the cage and that it was then closed and the reptile safely housed for the night then I 1 questioned him as to his vehement anger with mr dalrymple he admitted that his ree had been amat but he declared that had he kaaen vengeance it would have been in monue less diabolical fashion I 1 believed the poor wretch he was manifestly sincere and the utter abhorrence shown of the atrocity of such an act might possibly have been feigned by a european but certainly not by an oriental I 1 interpreted his statement to tho authorities and having done all I 1 could to make him as comfortable as might be I 1 returned to my cousins country seat my mind was in a whirl granting babu to be honest what remained the tact as incontestable that dal rymple had died in horrible connul alons from the effects of the cobras bite A dozen people had seen the door of the serpent s cage wide open some one had opened it it not the hindmo As I 1 entered the wide hall my cousin angele was descending the stairs I 1 as startled at her changed appearance her fair sweet face was ghastly there was a drawn pinched look about it and a constant expression of dread in her grey eyes which ere pitiful to behold during her brief illness she bad grown alarmingly thin in her long black draperies she was like some fragile hanging its arit cate head after the ravages of a mighty tempest behind her came that lithe supple splendid creature her sister catane catane should have lived in a jun gle and devoured men with her stealthy gliding movements her inn buor her hidden fire she always re minds me of a tigress she looks not unlike one now for though she wears a sedate black gown here eyes are glowing and a dull red creeps through the golden brown of her complexion while in the bosom of her frock she has thrust most appropriately a stalk of gorgeous tiger lilies what beautiful domed these are though of what different speaking of beautiful women reminds me there is another in this house the senorita but of her another time or stay here she comes now leading little marcelle the child flies to her mother and rapturously embraces her while the senorita stands demurely waiting tor hel charge to be continued |