Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1888-08-21

=
and afterward he might possibly stop to con-
slider how it might benefit the human race.
Now, however. That everything was really
| finished, and he felt that he was about to be
successful, he was in fever to experiment
on someone-and yet he was loath to un-
earth anyone's secrets
The first person who occurred to him as a
convenient subject for experiment was
Adele, his nephew's daughter, who danced
and sang about the house from morning t:ll
night like veritable fairy. The professors
spirits rose as he Thought of her and almost
instantly sank again. It would be so easy to
secrete the paper in her large garden hat,
where it lay on the table in the hall; but the
professor had qualms of conscience. Would
it be quite fair or honorable to read the in
nermost thoughts of young girl just bloom
ing into womRnhoodt The professor had old
fashioned ideas of honor and delicacy where
women were concerned, and he decided that
1t would not be right. Then there was that
adorable woman Bertha, Adeles mother and
his nephew's wife, who had been driven from
her husbands aide by his cruelty and brutal
ity (who looked scarcely older than her tall
sixteen-year old daughter), and had for five
years taken charge Of the professors house.
He would like well enough to know her Sc
cret thoughts on many subjects, himself in
cluded; but she was woman, and he could
not honorably pry into woman's thoughts
Clearly the professor was in dilemma.
He must experiment upon some man, that
was certain; but whom2 And when the man
was found there would be mere or less diff
Guilty in secreting the paper in his hat and in
getting it agains The professor had lived
too much to himself, devoted To his studies
and experiments, and had gone so little into
society, that he was not learned in the art of
small talk and little subterfuges, neither had
he any acquaintance with the art known as
sleight-of-hand, a little knowledge of which
hao nf not al 30 I,
just at present.
A man coming to the house to call-and
plenty came, for although the professor had
few visitors, Bertha had many admirers ia
spite of her being neither firt nor widow
would of course leave his hat in the hall.
1t would be an easy thing for the professor
to pass through the hall and slip the paper in
the hat unobserved; but the difficulty would
be in getting it again, for the man would
naturally wear his hat home. The professor
feared it would be too long to wait until he
should call again; the impressions might be
blurred or worn off. for he was uncertain
how long they would remain; or the man
might discover the paper and throw it away.
At the idea of such recklessness the profess
sor actually shuddered; but the shudder only
strengthened his resolve. The experiment
must be made, and made it should be on the
very next man who called at the house.
The Every next man" proved to be an
one whom he had not seen for a long
time, but to whom he was deeply attached.
An opportunity offering, the paper was
slipped into his hat The professor then
suggested a walk around the garden, as the
evening was warm, and his guest readily
assented. But once out in the garden the I
professors nervousness and excitement were
SO great that conversation languished, and |
conscious that he was not acting like him.
self, he soon proposed that they should re-
turn to the house. To this proposition his |
guest responded with alacrity, and on en-
tsring the hall they both laid their hats on |
the table. At that moment Bertha ap
peared, and the professors friend turned to
her with relief, leaving the professor to re.
turn to his study, where he sat listening at |
the door, feeling as guilty as any thief.
The distant sound of their voices soon con-
ture forth and take the paper from its hid |
ing place, which he accordingly did, trem- |
bling with joy and expectation. Once more |
in his study, he closed and locked the door,
and seating himself at the table he drew. the
shaded lamp toward him, and confident and |
eager proceeded to decipher the hieroglyph-
les on the white sheet. Yesl He was right |
His invention was success, but even at the |
moment of triumph his face was clouded. |
What did he read? A few thoughts con-
cerning the learned subject they had been
discussing as they left the house for the gar
den, and then-fsWhat the deuce is the mat.
ter with the man3 He must be losing his
mind, for he grows queerer every time [ see
him. Can it be that too much learning is
making him mad? Pshawl In spite of his
learned reputation the mans whole brain
could be packed in nutshell He has never
accomplished anything in the scientific
world and he never will. A plodder and as
dull as plodders always are. A certain
amount of intelligence, but learned in the
strict sense of the term-pshaWi" And
more in the same strain.
The invention was a success; the professor
was convinced OF that; but success had |
brought a large amount of unhappiness with
it. Here was his friend, the friend of his |
youth and manhood, and one whom he ex- |
pected to be the friend of his old age, think |
ing such thoughts as these of him-and /
speaking them too perhaps. 1t was hard /
blow, for under his commonplace aspect the |
professor had a warm heart and he was loy-
al and sincere to the core in spite of his ha- |
bitual seeming Indifference. He Is not old |
either. Take off the near sighted spectacles,
and trim the hair and beard, and he would
be handsome man, and young one too.
He next experimental on = hippant young
man who had oiSy called at the house a few
times, and wal startled at the lsvity and
blackness of his. aoughts. There was men
ton of horse "a ss and betting, diamonds
and ballet girls, debts and cards-au foreign
subjects to the professor, whose youth had
been one of hard study and self denial; and
even in his later years he had studied books
had he studied books that his fellow mortals
were almost entirely unknown to him; and
this man, this butterfly, this giddy, frivo-
lous creature, was terror.
Shortly afterward he heard the doctors
voice in the hall for an instant, and on look
ing out he saw that the hat was gone. He
closed his door carefully and aat down and
fau mil 1ofa hot
and the doctor were in the hall together, and.
then they went away again and he heard
their voices on the piazza. He opened his
door stealthily and looked out into the hall.
The hat was therei He listened attentively,
then crept forward softly and seized it.
Once more in his study he closed and looked
the door, as he had done 30 many times. He
hastily crossed the large room, lighted only
by student lamp, taking the paper from
the hat as he did SO. The hat rolled un-
needed to the foor at his feet as he seated
himself and leaned forward to read the pa
per. And this is what he read:
bertha my beloved, my ownl That accursed
Brute that he isl Oh, Bertha, loyel what is the
gers. He scorns you and L. Oh, heavensi One
me than life itself Ny Godl The thought Of pos.
sessing you makes my brain reel and my body
with that cur who has driven you from him. Oh,
my love. come to me"
The professor could read no more. Quiv-
ering with rage he started up with cry of
passion and anger.
Course himl' he muttered, grinding his
teeth. 'fTo make love to Bertha under my
very eyest A married woman; how dare he
/ love herl How dare he think of possessing
| herl "A frail link to be snapped asunderl'
| The vile wretch, the serpentl But have
found him out, thanks to my invention, and
he never darkens my doors again. Bertha to
be the prey of suoh man as thisl His very
presence in the house pollutes herl"
| His foot touched something. It was the
| hat, and he kicked it furiously all around the
room. AS he reached again the circle of
I light shed by the lamp, the hat, though by
| this time badly battered, presented a some
| what familiar annaarenaa He nickad IL mn