The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-14

would endOw her with supernal graces,
he would strive TO gain her love and to
make himself worthy of her.
All the preparations had been carefully
arranged. In the center of the room was
great four-pOsted bed. Above it and
surrounding it like a gigantic tent hung
canopy of white Chinese silk. Within
and at the bedside was q metallic stand
on glass feet, and thereon were placed
the APPENDICES of his craft For twenty
four hours the child must be exposed to
the direct action of the essence, confined
so far as its volatility would permit by
the closed curtains and the sealed room.
AT the expiration of the time its power
would be spent. but for six DAYS there
after she would lie in unconscious riDen-
ing and then would awaken the archie
type of beauty, the prototype of regen-
crate humanity. While thus exposed to
the virtue she must be left alone No
mortal grossness should mar its workings.
And even during the succeeding DAYS of
fruItlon he would dare study the changes
only by gGmpses So rigid were the
bounds, so sensitive the conditions of sue
ceSsi
Grafton laid the child amid the pillows.
He drew the snowy sheets about her He
pressed knobs and pulled handles, and
the stand was aglow with rose light. He
bound thick wooden tillet across his nos
trlls. He lifted the stopper from crystal
flask wherein cOlOrless liquid sparkled
like jewels, and he fed from the room.
Grafton spent sleepless night, rest
less day. He could not toll; he was shut
out from his workshop. Besides he had
surmounted the barriers to his ambition.
Beyond lay a broad fertile plain stretch
ing to the horizon and beyond. Beyond,
but whither2 All, how thoroughly he
realized his own mortality in the ir-
rational doubt that now assaulted him. He
was certain of the efficacy of the essence;
yet suppose it would fail, or should even
wore some greater evil through an unes-
plainable idiosyncracy! He knew that
truth must be beautiful and fear a detri-
ment; but suppose, oh, what an infinity
OF horrible hypothesis was possible when
one turned the course of an eternal plan
The day dwindled and subsidized. The
stars appeared, those symbols of the UNI
attainable, and their pale serenity Knocked
him. Anxious and dubious, Grafton
entered the laboratory. The rosy light
still glowed through the veil but the es-
sense was exhausted He could detect
no trace of its pungency in the air.
Whether for veal or woe, its mission was
completed. He raised the curtain and
started back with an exclamation of
wonder, of delight. For there on the
couch lay young maid in the first deli
cate bloom of glorious femininity. Her
eyes were closed, her hands folded on her
breast. A happy slumber held her, for a
smile parted her lips. F'laxen tresses
curled lovingly about her shoulders, and
through the covering curves of beauty
were apparent. Grafton gazed in an
ecstacy, and then conscious that a mo-
ment's delay might ruin the marvel he
stole from the room.
He rushed out into the night and barred
his brow to the breeze. He would com
mune face to face with nature since he
was as mighty as she. AS mighty? When
indeed had she ever realized so absolutely
the dream Of fair women! The stars no
longer Knocked; they glimmered as if
ashamed of their own inferiOrity. His
mind no longer tortured itself with vague
suggestions. 1t was assured, content,
exultant. Had he dared to attempt the
acme of his ambition he could not have
reached what unwittingly he had accom-
plished. There would be no long. dreary
wait; no appreheDsive watch of develop
ment His ideal was born full grown; he
had but to extend his arms and she would
come unto him! The night waned, the
east grew gray and pink and scarlet, the
sun rode resplendent in the zenith and
drew the purple robes of the west about
it. Softly the twilight descended, like
symphony drawing the stars with its con-
sonance-the tender stars that now looked
pitgingly down upon him.
But Grafton neither needed nor felt
their compassion. Confident and eager
he entered the laboratory Confident and
eager he parted the silken folds. Again
he cried out, but more in amazement than
rapture. A woman lay before him. A
great majestic woman, whose length
equaled that of the couch. She slept, but
she smiled not 1t was the sleep of the
sphynX, full of dignity, grandeur yes, and
of awe No longer he thought of teach
ing; such a one as that would govern. No
longer he thought of a grateful superior
ity of years; beside such one as that he
was a child. Like a child conscious of
weakness, he trembled; like a child APP
prehensive of disobedience, he crept
away.
Grafton cared not for the uncertain
gloom of the night. He fastened to his
room and lighted the lamps and kindled
fire on the hearth. He drew his chair
close to the fender and sat awhile with
his face in his hands. Gradually the
heat stirred his blood gradually his con-
fidence returned. Like one shaking off
the influence of a dream, he began to
argue and analyze on behalf of self. After
all, there was nothing to fear. She was
not, truly, the sprite of the previous day,
but yet, what a noble creature How
grateful he should De TO nave OBTAINED so
sublime a mistress! She would be his
Egeria, and under her guidance he, too.
might acquire superhuman proportions.
But what was it that called out within
him against such a desire? Was it not
the voice of his nature, that nature which
he shared with all mankind and which at
least was a common tie of INTEREST," Did
he really wish to remove himself from
this affinity If manhood was incOnspic-
uous, at least it was safe. Were not the
flowers Of the field, even though quickly
whitening, happier than an eternal ice
clad mountain peak? Could the grave
itself be more lonely than isolation of
soul2
Why had he fought to escape from linn
itations that were indigenous? Could
bird live in the water or fish in the air.
How black was the prenatal past! Would
he willingly grope through such opacity
forever? o, why had he proved the UNI
,provable! How puerile were his hypoth-
eses in the presence of the awful which he
had evolved True, that creature was
stately and august, but she was uncanny.
He could not help from revering her; but
was reverence the equal of love- Was it
not the chill of the ether instead of the
warm embrace of the atmospheric O,
fool, fool that he was when he had pos
sessed mans fullest birthright of wealth
and strength and domestic affection to
barter it for a vague aspiration! Besides,
what reason had he to suppose that the
machinery which he had so ignorantly