The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1888-01-27
The STUDENTS STORY.

WIat - supposed TO be forgotten lore do
not tel you that the old alchenists had
no foundation for the hope that they
could transmute the baser metals into
gold do not say that there will never
he an elixir of life for sale in bottles at
the drug stores. They'll tell YOU I am
VISIONARY, but wait while. I am almost
AT the heart OF the secret of perpetua.
motion. When | make that discovery.
and the prizes offered in every land on
earth Tor It have been awarded me, YOU
shall hear different story.
THAT brilliant Mr.. Wurze, ~ they viii
say. That well-read-and-much-to-b
respected Mr. Wurzell That wonderful
senIus.we all knew what he would do
ut last"
Listen, then. This is the way 1 an
situated when my scene opens.
am hve-aad-twenty. / am hand
some. am poor. / am betrothcd TO
Iau.ne, whom cannot vet marry, he
cause / am not rich enough | adore
Pauline, and | long, Therefore. to have
more money. l have invented tIis-no
matter what My patent has been stp-
.en. l have discovered that people cry
"Pooh-pooh - People are fools.
1 live with my maternal grand-uncle.
who has the gout who suffers terribly.
who has lost every relation in the world
but me, his nephew who has made his
will and lett al his fortune TO the Asso-
citation for INDECENT Old Bachelors; who
SAYS OF me: That Franz is a COOL fellow.
l Ike him hut il he had my money he
would ling it 10 the dogs. 1 shall not
leave him one penny"
80 You see l 10 not live with him from
merccnIrv motives.
Nes-pOor, in love, without expecta-
ton, but not unhappy. | smoke INV
cigar l make love TO Pauline / play my
violin; ! study; 1 enjoy myself
sometimes play cards or chess with
my old uncle. We play always for love
never Tor money.
sometimes he has the gout very badly,
and l nurse him. lie must always
speak his mind when he has got the
gout. Then | speak mine TO him.
Come, old gentleman" / saw: this is
very well. If | were your heir might
Cr.nge and bear 1t; but You 10 not in
Tend 10 leave me one cent; therefore YOU
are abusing your best and most dis.nter-
cSted friend. Gc civil"
Then he will say:
That is true; but il I thought YOU
worthy 10 be my heir, should have
better opinion of YOU
Stii, he docs not say he has no need
OF me, still ! stay with him. After all.
he Is good old fellow. He saws of me:
FRAN! Is not bad, only crazy"
w ell, / am not crazy. Once or twice
l blow mp the little back attic atelier
with failure OF an experiment. This is
an accident that might have happened
to any scIentiff. man.
No matter; there is no LONGER n roof
to the atelier- 1t can never blow oil
again. l 20 on with my experiments.
II they can make diamonds, as it IS
proved they can, why not make gold
| ask. Pauline believes that l shall do
it.
Ii the woman one loves believes in one
it makes the heart strong, let who will
carp. So-you nave me.
One day awake in the morning, and
90 downstairs to my uncle's room We
have no servant. We should be an
moved by one. rap at the door. No
voice cries, Come in" | rap again
Still no answer. l open it. All, NV
God. There, on the bed lies my uncle;
his face Is rigid, his hands are droppad
by his side his eyes are open, CLASSY,
staring. He is dead.
] am physician enough to know this
without a doubt | do all | can TO re-
store HIM, II there Is n breath of life re-
manning; but l am aware that 1t is vain.
At last / sink down into n chair, and
burst into tears He scolded me. He
did not approve of me. But We loved
each other.
l am all alone in the house.
The silence is intense. The very clock
has stopped at the last nights midnight.
Suddenly I begin TO trembIe. The
hair seems literally 10 rise upon my head.
My flesh Creeps- Is it fear2 / think
not. Death does not terrifv me. | am
used 10 the dissecting- room. l have
been with friends OF mine, who we're
medlCa. studentstO 10 rob new-made graves
No; II Is not fear. / know, though /
have never felt II before, that IL Is that
s:unking which the spirit. clothed in
aesh. lees at the approach OF 4 naked
spirit Something Is near me- Some
thing touches me. Something calls my
name:
"Franz,'
well? Am I wanted? ? Who are
yoI?"
The answer comes:
"A spirit
'That OF my uncle ~ I ask.
The answer comes:
"NO"
Who are you, then ?" l CRY.
81 have no name. Listen. The spirit
o! your uncle Is in another world: his
UOdy is empty. l-oOk from the window
There !ic las broad lands. Think OF the
money thai lies an the bank II YOU
n1i that money ami these lands you
would marry Pauline tomorrow
"Ay,' | say. "But they are not mine.
lie did not choose to give them to me-"
You may have them" whispers the
voice. "Dlvest yourself OF your BODY
Slip your soul into that which lies
there. Then you at once become the
POss -ssor OF all ms lands, all his wealth.
You can marry Pauline tomorrow"
''But ! shall be old, and die soon?'' /
ask.
''No," says the voice. GYour soul has
It's destined time 10 stay an earth. You
vii. i've your own life out. You will
have his pains and aches, but they will
not Kill YOU. He was a handsome old
man -haujsomer than YOU"
l drop my head into my hands. I
ponicr.
III wish to change again, can I?'' I
ask.
while the body remains unburied,"
is my answer.
Il am ready, thenr' l cry.
Suddenly l see something vague, vet
awful. I sink upon the floor. In an in
slant ] remember every incident of my
whole lie, each in its regular succession,
rom the hour when my mother held me
on her knee and told me OF the kriss
kingle, 10 this last hour of mine. Then
something horrible, that | had no power
10 resist, seemed TO clutch me. Then
nothing.
come to myself sit in a great arm
chair. The physician supports me.
Poor oil man ~ l hear him say.
"lle i coming to himself Remove the
DO ly."
/ see a blue-veined hand-my own; 4
long white beard-my own.
| glance towards the door, Two or
three men carry the form OF a young
man through it. / know that nv spirit
1. in NV ,rurtafs hoV,- ,,J