The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-27

ricr. HIS WhSkcrS were perfectly Nhlto "h" wy
thick. His immense tushcs had become so long
that they curved over till the points almost I'M
palcd his skull His eyes were big and blood
rcd. The corners " his upper lip were 50
shrivc,lcd and drawn ny that his countenanec
wore an expression II diahOlical malisniv
rarely seen except in some human faces. He
was too old and knowing to gnaw at the wires
hut he I'D; oui-ldc on his Launches. ana gaz'd
in nt u4 with an hides rihahlc look ~ hatred
Nv communion shivcrcI. After while the rat
turned AWAY. ratified his callous tail across the
wire ncttinp. and disappeared IN the darkness.
Professor Cal rarius breathe u deep sigh Of rr-
lic'. nnd soon WINS snoring 50 profoundly that
mother owls rats nor spcctres Nonturcd near
"a till morning.
had $40 Ear suoccedcl in merging my intol-
lrotual and moral qualities in The routine of
nero animal existence. that when il was time
Tor Cqicnrlus TO come again. ne he had prom
iscd. ! fllt little interest in hie approaching
visit. Hansrl who constituted my commits
sarat. had been taken sick ~ the measles. amt
was dependent for my food mud WINE upon
the coming " his pretty sister Emma. q il1Nrn-
hHircd maiden NJ eighteen, who climbed Inc
zcllc She was an nrtlcss little thing and told mo
q her own norord the story Of her simple love.
Fritz WAS Il soldier in the Emperor Wllhclms
army. lie was now in garrison at Cologne.
They hoped that he would soon Rrt n hcu,
trnautry. for hc was brave and faithful. AMI
then he would come home and marry her. Shc
had saved up her dairy money tin IL amounted
10 quite u little purse. which she had sent Mn
Had I over seen Fritz No? lie WINS hand
some and good. and she loved him moro than
she could tell
listened To this prattlc with the same amount
OF romantic interest that proposition ~
that my Old soul had 50 nearly disappeared.
Every night the gray owl perched above me.
| knew that Socrates was waiting to take pos
session Of my body. and ycarned to open my
bosom and receive that grand soul Every
night The actcstql'lc er,y rat camc and peercd
through the wires. His cool, contcmptupus
a. % | lRnArpH ~
reach out from beneath my cage and seize ard
throttle him; but was afraid Of the venom Of
Ny own soul had by this time nearly wasted
away. so to speak. through disciplined disusc.
great placid eyes. noble spirit seemed To
shine through them and To- say. viii come
when yoM are ready And would l2os hae ,E
infinite ycarnng. Come. soon. o Socrates.
for am almost ready" Then would turn
and meet the dcviish gaz' of the monstrous
rat. whose sneering malrvolcnce dragged me
back TO earth and To carths hatreds
My dctestaiion Of the abominahlc beast was
tho sole lingering trace VI tho old nature.
when he was not by. my soul seemed e. hover
around and above my body, ready to take wing
unconlucralle disgust and oathing unlid In
second nl that had boon accomplished. and
was still myself To succeed in my experiment
! felt that the hateful crcuturc whose prcscn'r
barred out the granl old Philosophers soul
must be dispatched AZ any cost OF sacrifice or
1T will kill you. you loathsomc ANIMAL |
shouted TO the rat. and then to my cmanci-
patcd body will come the soul Of Socrates which
awaits me yOndcr.'
The rat turned on me his lcorfng eyes and
grnncd more sardonicaly than ever. His
s'orn was more than could bear. threw up
the side OF the wire cage and ciutchod d"spcr.
atrly ut my enemy. | caught him 3 the tail.
drew him close 10 me. Icrunchod the bones u
his Shiny legs. felt hlindly for his head and
when | hVt both hands 70 his neck, fastened
/ upon his life with terrible grip. With all the
| strength at my command. and with ali the rock .
lrssness ~ desperate purpose. tore and
twisted The ncsh oi my loaths9me victim. Hn
! AZ last law limp and quiet in my clutch. Hate
WAS satisfied. my last passion was at an end.
| Whom | awoke from long and drenmlcss
sleep the events Of the night before and. indeed.
/ of my whole previous life were a. the dlmly
ago.
/ the rat lay by my side. Even in death his face
wore its horrible grin, II now looked like Il
! Satanic smile Of triumph.
! arose and shook of my drowsincs \ new
| life seemed to tingle in my veins. | was no
longer Indifferent and negative took lively
! interest In my surroundings and wanted TO be
out in The worli among men, 10 plunge into al
Pretty Emma came up the hill bringing her
basket. " | am going 10 leave YOU said |, "
| Schwinkcnschwank."
And shall you 20 10 Cologne" she eagerly
asked. 70 ne garrison where the Emperor >
Perhaps soon my way to the world"
And Will you 20 Tor mo Ia IrltL 2 Sne con-
him. His uncle. the mean old notary died last
night. Fritz now has a small fortune and he
might observation-disclosures.
this morning. But 1t is good news for Fritz and
"Perhars," continued I. still more slowly
perhaps Fritz would not bcliev-' axe. am n
! stranger and mon who know the world like
| your young soldier are given 70 suspicion"
from her finger a worthless trinkct. Fritz
gave il to me and he Will know by II that trust
Ny next visitor was the learned Calcarius
He was quite out Of breath when he reached
the apartment was preparing to leave.
rom Bonn. but rather than spend anoihci
my purse 10 the extortion OF tho village inn,
keeper. The rogue swindled me. he continued
9nG out his purse Ana SSSqsi1ng oyer sa
chen for bed and brcakfastn
The sight OF The silver and tho sweet chink q
cariuss palm, thrilled my new. soul with NJ
emoIop mt it had nc, yst eXpsr ba sys
At that moment and the acquisition Of silver
man energy with sudden impulse that | wa,
unable TO resist. sprang upon my friend an,
Instructor and wrenchcd the purse from hi;
h1nis. lie uttered "a cry OF surprise and dis
may; r,.u..,. n,, nn ,on.ono,
- !
Your msorly screams will be heard only by rats
and owls and ghosts. The money i mine
What's this = heeXraimed. You obyoul
guest. your friend, your guide and mentor u
| tue sublime walks Of metnphysi'al science
Nunt pcrilly las taken possession OF you
| soul -
seized the Herr Professor hv the legs an,
threw him violently to tine nn0r lie struggle
ns th. gray rat Had struggled. tore pieces %
wr, from my cage. and bound him hand an
foot SO tightly that the wire cut deep into hi
fat Il -h.
" 10, hl!" said |. standing over him; wha
"a frasi for tn rats your con- ulcut car as VII
make and turned to 20.
Good Gutf.' he cried, " You 10 not intcn
% lcnvc mo- NOono ever comes here"
" Al the lnttnr.n ! replied, grittng my tootl
and shaking my ll~i IN his face; the rats vii
have uninterrupted opportunity 70 relieve yo
q your sul"riunus d, III. ON. they are Ver
/ hungry. assure YOU. Herr Methphyslrian, an
they Will speedily help you tQ sever the mysier
oils link that binds soul To living body. Tn
, | well know how to loosen the inliy llualiz"i *
from it- iicshly surroundings. congratulate
ytu on the pros p"ct Of a rare experiment"
IurNrlr- oi llOf IalcArius grew fainter nm
. fainter. U- made my way down the mn. ON
out ot hrnring st1pp"d 10 count my gains
Oyer unt oyer agalu, W.il cNiraot iuly joy,
toll fhp iNalnIs 10 his purse, ami always Wit
M" sumo result There were just thirty piece
. of silver,
Ny way int the world OF barter and profit le
. me- thr.tlgh Cologne. Atthr harraeks | sOus
1 If,.f So & ftlt