The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-03-07


mand, and with all the recklessness of a
desperate purpose, tore and twisted
the flesh of my loathsome victim. He
grasped, uttered horrible cry of wild
pain, and at last lay limp and quiet in
my clutch. Hate was satisfied, my last
passion was at an end, and was free to
welcome Socrates.
When awoke from long and dream
less sleep the events of the night before,
and, indeed, of my whole previous life,
were as the dimly remembered incidents
in story read years ago.
The owl was gone, but the mangled
carcass of the rat lay by my side. Even
in death his face wore its horrible grin.
1t now looked like Satanic smile of
triumph.
arose and shook off my drowsiness.
A new life seemed to tingle in my veins.
1 was no longer Indifferent and negative.
I took lively interest in my surround
ings, and wanted to be out in the world
among men, to plunge into affairs and
exult in action.
Pretty Emma came up the hill bring
ing her basket. 81 am going to leave
you," said /. "I shall seek better
quarters than the Schloss Schwinken-
sehwank."
"And shall you go to Cologne" she
eagerly asked, to the garrison where
the emperor's soldiers are?'
Perhaps Soon my way to the
world"
"And will you go for me to Fritz?''
she continued, blushing. 81 have good
news to send him. His uncle, the mean
old notary, died last night. Fritz now
hoe q eyoo1l fortuna opd bo poust oor,o
home to me at once"
"The notary" said I, slowly, "died
last nightf'
Yes, sir; and they say he is black in
the face this morning. But it is good
| news for Fritz and me-"
Perhaps" continued I, still more
slowly" perhaps Fritz would not be-
heve me. am a stranger, and the men
who know the world like your young
soldier are given to suspicion"
"Carry this ring" she quickly re-
piled, taking from her finger a worth
less trinket Fritz gave It to me and
he will know by it that 1 trust you"
My next visitor was the learned Cal
carius. He was quite out of breath when
he reached the apartment I was prepar-
ing to leave.
4 INV $OOo Jul ShOoAo,
worthy pupil?' he asked. "I arrived
last evening from Bonn, but rather than
spend another night with your horrible
rodents, 1 submitted my purse to The
extortion of the village inn-keeper. The
rogue swindled me" he continued, tax
ing out his purse and counting over a
me forty groschen for bed and break
fast"
The sight of the silver, and the sweet
chink of the pieces as they came in con-
tact in Prof. Calcarius's palm, thrilled
my new soul with an emotion it had not
yet experienced. Silver seemed the
brightest thing in the world to me at
that moment, and the acquisition of sill
yer, by whatever means, the noblest ex-
ercise of human energy. With sudden
impulse that I was unable to resist, |
sprang upon my friend and instructor
and wrenched the purse from his hands.
He uttered cry Of surprise and dismay.
"Cry away" I shouted; "it will dc
no good. Your miserly screams will be
heard only by rats and owls and ghosts.
The money is mine"
What's this? he exclaimed. "You
rob your guest, your friend, your guide
and mentor in the sublime walks OF
metaphysical science? What perfdy has
taken possession of your soul?''
seized the herr professor by the legs
and threw him violently to the floor
He struggled as the gray rat had strug
gled. tore pieces of wire from my
cage and bound him hand and foot sc
, tightly that the wire cut deep into hi
fat flesh.
Ho! hop said I, standing over him
"what feast for the rats your corpu
, lent carcass will make" and turned tt
"Good Gottr he cried. "You DE-
, not intend to leave me? No one evel
|, comes here"
"An the BETTER" I replied, grittint
my teeth and shaking my fist in his face
E the. rats will have uninterrupted op
: portunity to relieve you of your super
a fluous flesh. Oh, they are very hungry
: [ assure you, Herr Metaphysician, ant
. they will speedily help you to sever tn
/ mysterious link that binds soul to livinl
body. They well know how to loose1
y the individualized Ego from its flesh.
2 surroundings. l congratulate you OF
the prospect of rare experiment.
. The cries Of Professor Calcarius grey
q fainter and fainter, as I made my wa,
!. down the hill. Once out of hearing,
.topped to count my gains. Over ant
! over again, with extraordinary Joy,
. told the thalers in his purse. and alway
:. with the same result. There was jus
> thirty pieces of silver.
+ My way into the world of barter an
. profit led me through Cologne. At tn
. barracks sought out Fritz Schneide
q of Schwinkenschwank.
- "My friend" said l, putting my han
= upon his shoulder, =" am going to d
o you the greatest service which one ma
- may do another. You love little Emms
j the innkeeper's daughterT'
i 81 do, indeed" he said. "You brin
+ news of her?'
h "I have just now torn myself ava
70 from her too ardent embraces"
. "It is liep' he shouted. "The littl
i girl is as true as gold"
/ "She is as false as the metal in tn
% trinket," said with composure, tossin
a him Emma's ring. She gave it to m
i yesterday when we parted"
Il He looked at the ring, and then pr
II both hands to his forehead. "It
~ ~ true" he groaned "Our betroths
:. ringp' I watched his anguish with ph
n lOsophlcal interest.
4 "See here" he continued, taking
" neatly knitten purse from his bosom
= Here is the money she sent to help m
:. buy promotion. Perhaps that belong
h to your
4 4 .:Quite likely" 1 reioined, yer
,e coolly. "The pieces have familis
10 look" a SIS
Without another word the soldie
y flung the purse at my feet and turne
$ away. l heard him sobbing, and tl
y sound was music. Then 1 picked up tn
~ purse and hastened to the nearest cal
ie i'e to count the silver. There was jul
e iI thirty pieces again.
X To acquire silver. that is the chief 10
:. possible to my new nature. 1t is glor
j, GUS pleasure, is it not? How fortunat
= that the soul, which took possession
~ ~ my body in the Schloss was not Socr.
~ :