Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-10-01
Tales aud Sketehes.
THE BlRTHMARK.
By NATHANIEL HAWTHORNE.

CONCLUDED FROM YKsTERDAY.l
"Aylmer, are you in earnest?" asked
Georgiana. looking at him with amaze
ment and fear. ut Is terrible to possess
such power, or even to dream of possess
ing it,
20 do not tremble, my lovc!" said her
husband. II would not wrong either you
or myself by working such inharEonious
effects upon our lives; but would have
you consider how trifing, in comparison.
is the skill requisite to remove this little
hand"
At the mention of the birthmark, Geor-
giana, as usual, shrank as if red-hot iron
had touched her cheek.
Again Aylmer applied himself to his la
bors. She could hear his voice in the dis
tant furnace room, giving direction to
Aminadab, whose harsh, uncouth, mis-
shapen tones were audible in response,
more like the grunt and growl of brute
than human speech. After hours of alb
sence, Aylmer reappeared and proposed
that she should now examine his cabinet
of chemical products and natural treas
ures of the earth. Among the former he
showed her a small vial, in which. he re-
marked, was contained a gentle yet most
powerful fragrance, capable of impregna-
ting all the breezes that blow across a
kingdom. They were of inestimable value,
the contents Of that little vial and, as he
said so, he threw some of the perfume into
the air and filled the room with piercing
and invigorating delight.
"And what is this ?" asked Georgiana,
pointing to small crystal globe contain
ing gold colored liquid. at is so beau
tiful to the eye that could imagine it the
elixir of life."
"In one sense it is" replied Aylmer
''or rather, the elixir of Immortality. II
is the most precious poison that ever was
concocted in this world. BY its aid could
apportion the lifetime of any mortal al
whom you might point your finger. The
strength of the dose would determine
whether he were to linger out years, OF
drop dead in the midst of breath. No
king on his guarded throne could keep his
| life if |, in my private station, should deem
that the welfare of millions justified me in
depriving him of it,"
"Why do you keep such terrific drugm'
inquired Georgiana in horror
"Do not mistrust me, dearest said her
husband, smiling; sits virtuous potency
is yet greater than its harmful one. But
see here is powerful cosmetic. With a
few drops of this in vase of water, freck-
les may be washed away as easily as the
hands are cleansed. A stronger infusion
would take the blood out of the cheek and
leave the rosiest beauty a pale ghost
rs it with this lotion that you intend to
bathe my cheek?" asked Georgiana, anx-
| iousy.
80 no." hastily replied her husband
this is merely superficial. Your case de-
mands remedy that shall go deeper"
In his interviews with Georgiana, Ayl-
inner generally made minute inquiries as to
her sensations, and whether the confine.
ment of the rooms and temperature of the
atmosphere agreed with her. These ques-
tions had such particular drift that Geor-
giana began to conjecture that she was
| already subjected to certain physical inilu-
ences, either breathed in with the fragrant
air or taken with her food. She fancied,
likewise, but it might be altogether fancy,
that there was string up OF her system
strange, indefinite sensation creeping
through her veins, and tingling, half pain
fully, half pleasurably. at her heart. Still,
whenever she dared to look into the mir
ror, there she beheld herself as pale as u
white rose. and with the crimson birth
StaupOo uPoh hSA ShSSA' A>oe Ssch
Aylmer hated it so much as she.
To dispel the tedium of the hours which
her husband found it necessary to devote
to the processes Of combination and analy-
sis, GeorQiana turned over the volumes Of
his scientific library. In many dark old
tones she met with chapters full of ro-
nance and poetry. They were the works
OF the philosophers of the Middle Ages,
such as Albertus. Magnus. Cornelius
Agrippa, Paracelsus, and the famous friar
who created the prophetic Brazen Head
Hardly less curious and imaginative were
the early volumes of the Transactions of
the Royal Society, in which the members.
knowing little of the limits of natural pos
sibility, were continually recording won
ders or proposing methods whereby won
ders might be wrought.
But, to Georgiana, the most engrossing
volume was large folio from her hus-
bands own hand, in which he had record