The Opelousas courier., 1899-03-25
A Scientific Tragedy.

ANSoi NooIs l. "CAV ~ opC1 i
and found my master waiting outside.
What he cried. You seems ex.
cited, carried out of yourself do MOI
the English speak SOP. You are kin6
to be thus overjoyed to see the old
MASTER
II smiled, and my heart beat the
news [ was presently going to give
him. How glad he would be! How
he would wiring my hand and beam
upon me!
"Nirhoff had his back to me and
was bending down over some papers
when suddenly I heard him utter a
sort of choking gasp, and I saw his
whole body shake convulsively. I
rushed to his side, and he looked
round at me with a face as white as
the dead. His lips moved, but no
sound came from them, but still he
stared at me with CLASSY, horror
stricken eyes,
~ must go home he said.
II expostulated in vain, but when I
found he was determined I rose to &C.
company him, but to my surprise he
would not let me go any further than
my sitting room door.
II heard his steps going downstairs
and then the clang of the hall door as
it closed upon him. He had dropped
the paper on my landing, and I had
mechanically picked it up. I now
looked at it and found it was one of
my concluding experiments, before
noting in my book.
Il slept very badly that night, what
with one thing and another. and I re-
member very we'll of getting up to
feel if my precious notebook was safe.
Sat last, out of all patience, I got
up, put on my dressing gown and de-
termlned to go to my laboratory and
take a look around, thinking by this
means to settle my mind. What was
my establishment to see a light family
shining under the laboratory door!
II listened breathlessly at the key
hole and distinctly heard somebody
moving about, and once I thought I
heard an impatient sigh.
Il put my hand on the knob, but
have made some slight noise in
50 doing, for the light was instantly
extinguished. In I dashed, but fell
PROSTATE over a chair, which had been
placed at the entrance.
Something brushed past me in the
darkness, rushed through the door and
But as I got to the top
Of the bottom fight of stairs I heard
rho holt of tho b,Il loo,Io4 -. .-1
just got to the street in time to see a
figure running with incredible
WITNESS 40 or so yards away. 1t
impossible for me, glad as / was,
% pursue it.
Morning came aud with it a kind
etter from Professor Virhoff, telling
ne that his indisposition made it I'M
'ossible for him to lecture and invit-
Ig me to come to his house in the
fternoon, and I was to be sure,' said
letter, to bring with me with any
totes | might have made on the func-
Of the medulla oblongata, as he
Wished to see how far I had got in the
tudy of that organ
81 ate my lunch in a dream and was
ctually on my way to the professors
'hen l suddenly remembered that I
lad left my precious notebook behind
ne. [ hastily ran back, snatched it
p from an experimenting table and
lade the best of my way to my mas
er's house, knowing that he much
isliked unpunctuality.
Il still fancied that his face was a
life pale and that his hand shook.
his latter fact was brought to my no.
ce by his letting a glass fall after
inner. He had just raised it to his
ps when I said: Now, master, I have
wonderful piece of news for you. I
ave discovered the true function of
medulla o%blongata.'
Hardly had the words left my lips
hen his glass dropped to the ground.
rang the bell for the servant at the
ro~fessor's request, and in turning to
0 SO faced a small mirror on the =,
all. I saw Virhoff's face reflected
" n brief instant, and such an awful
ok of maglinant hatred as was then
on it I never wish to see
gain. :
Il turned hastily around and could {
ot but believe that my eyes had played I
g false, for there he sat smiling gent 9
as before. He began to talk at 6
ice, expressing, as I thought he
Guild, great %gladness at M news, ,
hough,' said he, Il can hardly yet e
edit it, even from you, my dear 9
!,
"He proposed that we should ad- /
urn to his laboratory, where we t
'uld discuss matters in a more scien- i
tic atmosphere, as it were. OF t
you brought your notes, added b
II told him that 1 had, and we went o
a long flight of steps and along b
10 OF two passages till we came to h
II destination. D
eve stepped inside, and, to my sur tt
Use, Virhoff locked the door behind r.
and put the key in his pocket. d
ter showing me his treasures he N
apped me cordially on the shoulder 81
d said: Now, dear pupil, I shall 81
n the chair here in front of you
lite at home, eh?-and you shall tell "
, all about your discovery 9,
II perched IN the table, Virhoff sit k
g in front Of me, smiling ixedly. o.
lrst let M see your notes, will you?' b
id he. I handed him my notebook c.
emily. Sit STILL said he; don't ii
,ve.' a,
Hardly had he said the words when e,
cit a shock and knew that q strong it
'ctric current was passing through p,
!. WAS powerlesa tn movo q,