The Portland daily press., 1880-03-15
THE PRESS.
The Professors Experiment.
New York Sun. ]
tCONCLUDED.l

"By long, steady, regular Inspirations,
said the Professor in soothing, monotonous
voice. THAT is right; that-is-right; there
-there-therep
With every inhalation Strout drew in the
pleasant, tingling GOODNESS of the ether fumes.
At first his breathing was forced; at the end
of each inspiration he experienced for an ia
slant sensation as If mighty waters were
rushing through his brsin. Gradually the
period of the rushing sensation extended it
self until it began with the beginning of
each breath. Then the ether seemed to
seize possession of his breathing, and to con-
troll the expansions and contractions of his
chest, Independently OF his own WILL The
ether breat3ed for him. He surrendered
himself to its Influence with feeling of de-
light The rushings became rhythmic, and
the intervals shorter and shorter. His indi-
viduality. seemed to be wrapped up in the
rushings, and to be borne to and fro in their
tremendous fiux and refux. 81 shall be
gone in one second MORE" he thought, and
his consciousness sank in the whirling flood.
Prof. Schwartz nodded to DR.. Diggelmann.
The Doctor nodded back to the Professor.
DIR. Diggelmann was dry little old man,
who weighed hardly more than 100 pounds.
He wore black wig too large for his head.
His eyes were deep set under corrugated
brows, while strongly marked lines running
from the corners of his nostrls 10 the cor
ners of his mouth gave his face lean, sar-
donic expression, in striking contrast with
the jolly rotundity of Prof. Schwanks Wis
age. DR.. Diggelmann was taciturn, but OBJ
servant. At the Professors nod he opened
his case OF surgical instruments and selected
a scalpel with keen, curved blade, and also
a glittering piece Of steel which looked like
an exaggerated augur bit with gimlet ham
die. Having satisfied himself that these in
struments were in good condition, he delib-
erately rolled up the sleeves of his coat and
approached the unconscious Strout.
'About on the medium line, just behind
the junction of the coronal and sagittal SUI
lures" whispered Prof. Schwartz eagerly.
"Yes, 1 know-I know" replied Diggel-
mann.
He was on the point of cutting away with
his scalpel some Of the brown hair that en-
numbered operations on the top of Strout's
head, when the door was quickly opened
from the outside and young lady, attended
by maid, entered without ceremony.
81 am Blanche Bellglory," the young lady
announced to the astonished savants as soon
as she had recovered her breath. 81 have
come to-
Az this moment she perceived the mo-
tionless form of StrOut upon the reclining
chair; while the cleaning steel in DR.. Dig
gelmann's hand caught her alert eye. She
group.
''Oh, this is terribler' she cried. 81 am
too late. and you've already killed himp'
"Calm yourself, beg you," said the po-
lite Professor. mo circumstance is terrible
to which we are indebted for visit from so
charming a young lady,"
$50 great an honorv' added Dr. Diggel-
mann, grinning diabolically and rubbing his
hands.
Al.
fessor, sis unfortunately not yet trephined.
AS you entered we were about beginning
the operation
Miss Bellglory gave sob of relief and
sank into a chair
In a few well chosen words the Professor
explained the theory of his experiment,
dwelling especially upon the effect it was
expected to have on the fortunes of the
young people. Whenhe finished the Ameri-
can girls eyes were full of tears, but the
firm lines of her mouth showed that she
had already ready resolved upon her own
course.
"How noble in him. she exclaimed, ''to
submit to be trephined for my sake! But
that must not be. 1 cart consent to have
this poor, dear head mutilated. [ should
never forgive myself. The trouble all orig
mates from my decision not to marry him
without papa's approval. With my present
views of duty, cannot alter that decision.
But don't you think" she continued, drop
ping her voice to a whisper, ''thaG if you
should trephine me, might see my duty in
different lght?''
sit is extremely probable, my dear young
lady," replied the Professor, throwing sig
nificant glance at DR.. Diggelmann, who re-
sponded with the faintest wink imaginable.
"Then," said Miss Blanche, arising and
beginning to remove her bonnet, ''please
proceed to trephine me Immediately. | in
sist on it,
"What is all tlis?' demanded the deep
voice of the Rev. DR.. Bellglory, who had en-
tered the room unnoticed, piloted by Fritz.
Il came as rapidly as could, Blanche, but
first principles of your singular actions"
''My papa, gentlemen said Miss Bell
glory.
The two Germans bowed courteously.
DR.. Bellglory atfably returned their saluta-
ton.
''These gentlemen, papa" Miss Blanche
explained, '.have kindly undertaken to rec
oncile the differences of opinion between
poor George and ourselves by means of a
surgical operation. don't at all under
stand it, but George does, for you see that
he has thought best to submit to the opera
ton, which they were about to begin when
l arrived. Now, cannot allow HIM to suf-
fer for my obstinacy; and, therefore, dear
papa, l have requested the gentlemen to
trephine me instead of him."
Prof. Schwartz repeated for DR.. Bell
glOry's information the explanation which
he had already made to the young lady.
On learning of Strout's course in the mat
ter, DR.. Bellglory was greatly affected.
mo, Blanchep' he said; "our young
friend must not be trephined. Although 1
Soianfiorclu oooarf him, n
in-law while our views on the verify of sub
jective knowledge differ so widely, can at
least emulate his generous willingness to
open his intellect to conviction. 1t is who
will be trephined, provided these gentlemen
will courteously substitute me for the pa
tient now in their hands -
''We shall be most happy" said Prof.
Schwartz and DR.. Diggelmann, in the same
breath.
"Thanks! Thanksp' cried DR.. Bellglory,
with genuine emotion.
''But shall not permit you to sacrifice
your lifelong convictions to my happiness,
papa" interposed Blanche. The Doctor
insisted that he was only doing his duty as "a
parent. The amiable dispute went on for
some time, the Germans listening with in
difference. Sure of a subject for their ex-
pertinent at any rate, they cared little which
one of the three Americans finally came
under The knife. Meanwhile Strout opened
his eyes, slowly raised himself upon one
elbow, vacantly gazed about the room for
few seconds, and then sank back, relapsing
temporarily into Inconsistencies.
Prof. Schwartz, who perceived that father
and daughter were equally fixed in their de-
tie animation, and each unlikely to yield to
the other, was on the point of suggesting
that the question be settled by trephining
both of them, when Strout again reganed
his senses. He sat bolt upright, stared
fixedly at the glass jar which contained the
positivist's brain. Then he pressed both
hands to his head, muttering few inco-
herent words. Gradually as he recovered
from the clutch of the ether one after anoth-
er of his faculties, his eyes frightened and
he appeared to recognize the faces around
him. After some time he opened his lips
and spoke.
'Marvellousn he exclaimed.
Miss Bellglory ran to him and took his
hand. The Doctor hurried forward, intend
ing to renounce his own resolution to be
trephined. Strout pressed Blanche's hand
to his lips for an instant, gave the Doctors
hand cordial grasp, and then seized the
hand of Prof. Schwartz, which he wrung
81 -, 4f,,l A.