The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1900-12-14

net" 1 h's&n Wien .\l,c Intercepted
me.
49,, l"y :,cy, y.;I'.c 8 fool. How
can the Gcyil lav" a3y;:'r,; 20 do with
1t? The t.ahls ic. :.,2t;:,.e enough,
though it doesn't seem 10 ic very prof
table to its profcssc:s-a sure sign, by
the way, That it's an honest one"
Jack" said Incz, will you see for
yourself?"
"Visit Don Miguel at his work?'
Eyes"
"Not IT, | said, with n shuGder. 81
should expect to be enchanted.
Alec, however, chafrcd me for my
superstitious fears and said that moth
ing would please him better than to
see how the work was done. Now, to
be CALLED Il coward in the hearing of
my sweetheart was naturally more
than l could stand, so l told Alec /
would go with him.
IncZ said there was a window in the
| pantry from which we could sec Don
Migucl's laboratory without his know
ing that any one was watching him, so
| :fff eth fjapsd ourselves there st,lcc~was
but, though tried to conceal my fears.
l was horribly afraid that some unholy
sight would meet my eyes. From my
| cradle have been taught that it is al
ways safest to shun the devil and his
| works, and believe it to be thor
| oughly good rule.
| Don Migucl's laboratory was fear
| some place. There were rows upon
rows of retorts and tasks of various
Quaint shapes, shelves with big, dusty,
learned locking books on them, cases
Of bottles containing tinctures of vari-
Gus colOrs both dull and bright; char
coal furnaces, and steaming vats OF
bubbIing liquids. The floor was mark
ed out into arcs, circles, triangles and
every sort OF uncanny geometrical fig
ure. and one corner of the room was
entirely filled by large blast furnace,
over which Don Miguel was leaning,
intently watching some substance that
was kissing and gurgling In an earth
enware crucible.
There was no light In the room eX-
cept that which the glow Of the fur
mace gave, ana rs at each blast 1t burn
ed I'D brightly and shone for moment
on the pale, eager face of the alchemisi
and then died away in gloom again
which by contrast was almost dark
ness l thought had never gazed upon
such an unholy scene.
AS we watched we saw that crit
ical point in the process had evidently
been reached. The Spaniard was trem
bling and muttering as he pcered int
the crucible whenever the dragon
breath Of the furnace gave him light
and, though we could not hear what n
said, it was perfectly clear that he wa
wildly excited-unless, perhaps, it wa
3 the working Of madness that we saw.
BY and by he seemed to see the sig
! for which he was looking. with lo>
cry of delight. more like the yapping
dog than anything else, he stoppe
the furnace blast ana lit rushligl
: candle. Then he took the crucibl
; from the flames and poured the col
l tents into another vessel.
! Fer four or five minutes lie held
!, up to the light. and during all thi
u time. as he watched the silent WORT
q ings Of his hell broth in the vessel,
never once saw his cycliGS blink. The
l. he gave Il wild. uncarthly yell Of d
Il light, which made NY very mario
run cold, as though tub OF water hd
Is been thrown over re, and rs his e
III cited uttcrance became louder we cou
le now hear what lie said:
le 'It turns, 1t turns. The color-t
~ lovely blood red color! See how
Ut rises, red showing through the gree
y. Success has come to me at last, and
&c morrow | shall have gold! Ha, ha, |
" ha, ha! Gold, gold. gold"' -
Tro w rsoNTISIJEpl