New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-02-20

open volume and burst into tears. In this
situation she was found by her husband.
ut is dangerous to read in sorcerers
book" said be, with q smile, though his
countenance was uneasy and displeased.
"Gergiana, there are pages in that volume
which can scarcely glance over and keep
nv senses. Take heed lest it prove as
detrimental to you"
1T has made me worship you more
than ever" said she. ,
.sAh, wait for this one success, rejoined
he, 'then worship me if you will. l shall
deem myself hardly unworthy OF It, But
come, have sought you for the luxury OF
your voice. Sing to me, dearest.
She poured cut the liquid music OF her
voice to quench the thirst of his spirit
He then took his leave with boyish exu-
berance Of gayety, assuring her tha' hef
seclusion would endure but a little longer,
and that the result Was already certain.
Scarcely had he departed when Georglana
felt irresistibly impelled to follow him.
She had forgotten to inform Aylmer OF
symptom which for two or three hours
past had begun to excite her attention.
It was a sensation in the fatal birth mark,
not painful, but which induced restless
ness throughout her system. fastening
after her husband, she intruded for the
first time into the laboratory.
The first thing that struck her eyes was
the furnace, that hot and feverish worker,
with the intense glow Of its fire, which by
the quantities of SCOT clustered above it
seemed to have been burning for ages.
There was a distilling apparatus in full
operation. Around the room were retorts,
tubes, cylinders, crucibles, and other ap-
paratus for chemical research. An cleo
trical machine stood ready for immediate
use. The atmosphere felt oppressiyely
close, and was tainted with gaseous odors
which had been tormenteG forth by the
processes of science. The severe and
homely simplicity of the apartment, with
its naked walls and brick pavement,
looked strange, accustomed as GeorGlana
had become to the fantastic elegance OF
her boudoir. But what chiefly, indeed,
almost solely, drew her attention, was the
aspect of Aylmer himself.
He was pale as death, anxious and abb
sorbed, and hung over the furnace as if
it depended upon his utmost watchful-
ness whether the liquid which it was dis
tilling should be the draft Of immortal
happiness or misery. How different from
the sanguine and joyous mein that be had
assumed for Georgiana's encouragement!
Carefully, now, Aminadab: carefully,
thou human machine; carefully, thou man
of clay" muttered Aylmez, more to him
self than to his assistant. ''Now, if there
be thought too much or too little, it is
all over"
"Ho, no. mumbled Aninadab. Look,
master! look
Aylmer raised his eyes hastily, and at
first REDEEMED then grew paler than ever,
on beholding Georgiana. He rushed to-
ward and seized her arm with a grip that
left the print Of fingers upon it.
Why do you come li,her? Have you
no trust in your husband:' cried he I'M
patuously. "Would you throw the blight
of that fatal birthmark over my labors?
1t is not well done. Go, pryiug woman.
co.
Nay, Aylmer," sail Georgiana, with
the tirmness of which size possessed no
stinted endowment; 1T is not You that
have a night 10 complain. You mistrlst
your wife you have concealed the anxiety
with which you watch the development Of
this experiment. Think not so unworthily
OF me, nv husband. Tell me all the risk
We run, and fear not that shall shrink:
for my share IL it is t..r less than your
own
My poor Aylmer" mlrmured she.
Poo? Nay, richest, happiest, most
fvored.'' exclaimed he. My peerless
bride. it is successful. You are perfect
My poor Aylmer,' she repeated, with
more than human tenderness, you
have aimed loftily; you have done molly.
Do not repent that, with SO high and pure
a feeling, you have rejected the best the
earth could offer. Aylmer, deares. Avimer,
| am dvingr'
Alas it was too true The fatal hand
had grappled with the mystery OF lite and
was the bond by which an angelic spirit
kept itself in union with mortal frame.
As the last crimson tint OF the birth
mark that sole token of human imperfec-
tlon-taded from her cheek. the parting
breath Of the now perfect woman PASSED
into the atmosphere, and her soul. linger-
heavenward flight Then a Eoarse,
chuckling laugh was heard again Thus |
ever does the gross fatality OF earth exult |
mortal essence which, in this dim sphere
W uaI4 ueNtiopLueul ucuduuS lue cOu-
pleteness Of d higher state Yet. had Ayl- |
mer reached a profounder wisdom. he
need not thus have flung away the happi-
ness which would have woven his mortal |
life of the self same texture with the cell |
estial. The momentary circumstance was
too strong for him: he failed to look be-
yond the shadowy scope of time, living
once for all in eternity, to ind the perfect
future in the present. Little Cdssics.