Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1875-09-16
CHAPTER II.

|
CHAPTER H.
Left alone in his chamber, Don Joseph
could not help thinking of the long series
OF accidents and contradictions which had
until then disturbed his life. Il have"
said he, attempted everything, to no good
purpose; chance has always come to blast
my hopes and render me the slave of cir
cumstance. Happy, indeed, is he who
follows where his fancy leads him, con-
trolls events, and stands the master both of
himself and the OCCASION
As these reflections led him naturally
into melancholy mood, he sought to re-
lieve himself by opening one of the books
| left by the Moorish doctor. 1t was an eX-
position of the system of nature, and writ
ten in Latin. Don Joseph looked over
some pages and then took up another vol
ume which treated of the ocult sciences,
and then another which related to the
same important subject The character
of these books most clearly indicated that
the old doctor was an alchemist, perhaps
a necromancer for at that period it was
no uncommon thing to find learned men,
especially in Spain, who had studied the
art of subjugating to themselves the IN
otstble poaoers.
His curiosity being aroused by these
| first researches Don Joseph closed the
| books and commenced upon the manu-
scripts. He examined several. which APP
peared to contain nothing more than some
general instructions on transmitting met
ais; but after while he discovered in
| leaden box a roll of parchment and the
very first lines attracted his attention.
| They were magical recipes for accom-
plishing certain prodigies-such us rem
| dering ones self invisible, Transforming
ones self into other bodies at will, and
crossing extended regions in an instant.
AT length he came to paragraph with
the following title: "7he means Of max
inc yo,r aciN the supreme lao, aohich mag be
anstontaneously accomplished"
| Don Joseph sprang upon his feet in
rapture.
BY the crossn' cried he, eff the
means succeed ! ask for nothing more.
| To find our will the supreme law! Is it
not the very maximum of felicity? But
let me see if can attain this end without
the compromise of my soul"
| He read over the recipe contained in
the manuscript and found in it nothing
contrary to the faith. To obtain the prom
ised power it was sufficient to pronounce
before he went to bed certain prayer and
to drink the contents of little vial con-
cealed at the bottom of the leaden box.
| He found the vial opened it, and saw
that it contained some drops of black and
odorous liquid. He hestatcd a little, not
because he doubted the efficacy of the
formula or the philter; his opinions here
were the opinions Of his age; but he
wanted to be certain of not being de-
| Ia q,
the roll already cited, and after these the
served: "Or aoeakiaess is presidential
barrier nhich God setsup ogatnst oar tollym
| Good, good!" said he "The old
doctor loved, MS all the Moors, to interlard
everything with moral commonplace; but
I don't want his adages; | am going to
try his recipe
Saying this he raised the vial to his lips
and pronounced the formula as directed.
Hardly had he finished it when his eyes
closed heavily and he fell asleep.
| Don Joseph did not know how long
that sleep continued; but the light
was entering his chamber. He rose, half
conscious and tried to rccollect where he
was. AT length his ideas came to him.
The sight of the empty vial and the parch-
ment brought to his mind the occurrences
Of the evening; but as he saw no change
either in himself or things around him he
supposed the potion of the Moorish doctor
had not acted.
Come" said he with a sigh, it was
mere illusion, l wake up in this attic
with my purpoint only and my pockets
empty. Heaven knows il in my sleep |
willed it to be full"
He did not finish; mis- eyes, turned to
the post on which his clothes were hang
ing, saw the leathern purse then filled
with crowns Of gold. Trembling, he rose
and seized the purse; be emptied it upon
his bed. They were indeed bright crowns
of gold, In number more than he had
ever seen at once of maravedis! The
philter was producing its effect; hereafter
he would realize his wishes.
| Anxious to test this by a second exper-
iment he willed Immediately that his gar
ret should become a sumptuous chamber
and his old clothes new costume OF
black velvet, trimmed with satin. His
wish was instantly accomplished. He
asked then for breakfast fit for an Arch
bishop, to be served up to him by little
negroes dressed in red. The breakfast
suddenly stood upon the table and the lit
tie walters entered, dressed in red, with
wine and chocolate. Thus for some time
he continued in various ways to make use
of his new power. Certain at length that
his desire had become the SUPREME LAW,
he left the inn intoxicated with delight
1t was then true that the roll of parch-
ment had in few brief hours made him
richer than the richest, mightier than the
mightiest. lie c0njd do chat he co,tldi How
much those words comprise! Repeating
them, how Don Joseph rose in his own
estimation. Before him what were Kings,
Emperors! What was the Pope himself?
They We're bound by established rules,
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