St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1902-10-04
The Wonderful Elixir.
BY ELSIE N. HAYNAR.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I N THE corners of the long old

N THE corners of the long ole
room, with its lofty ceiling ane
quantity wainscoting, tn.
shadows were gathering thickly. ane
even the searching light from thu
high arched north windows failed tt
dispel the gloom, for the winter twi
light was almost over and night was
near at hand. At large oak table
Ga curious table, whose branching
feet were formed by the twisted
bodies of serpents with opened
mouths and extended fangs) drawn
close to one of the windows mar
was seated. His fnely-shaped head
with its long white hair, was leaned
YEARLY against the high-carved back
of his chair and the merciless north
light brought out clearly and dis.
tinctly every feature of his strange
face,
ranged motley collection of odd
shaped walls and TASKS filled with
various liquids, some of which
CLEANED like gems in the thickening
gloom. while others shown with a
weird yellow light like a cats eye
in the dark.
His long, slender hands, like vel
lowed ivory, which rested on the
arms of his chair, opened and closed
convnlsively. This was the only sign
of life he betrayed.
Presently he began to mutter to
himself in low tone:
Tonight! I will put it to the
test-the final test-to-night! For
surely the Elixir has stood all
previous tests and now it only needs
this browning proof of its infallibil-
ity."
He Leaned, over the table and lift
ed beautifully-shaped flask loving
ly in his hand. The transparent
crystal, the fluid it contained, glowed
like a gem-like some rare ruby
shining through delicate mistlike
veil.
AS he withdrew the stopper drop
fell from it onto his hand, looking
for all the world like drop of blood
fresh drawn from some ones heart.
He replaced the stopper at last, after
smelling and examining the fluid
critically, handling the flask as
gently as if he were touching some
living thing which was precious to
him And in very truth the liquid
did seem to pulsate with some
strange life Of it's own and to gain
possession of it he had spent many
long. laborious years of his own life.
Still with the flask in his hand he
rose and walked slowly to the
farther end of the long room. He
appeared lost in thought, not MOTTO
ing the noisy scampering of the mice
behind the wainscoting as they hur-
ried away at his approach, and push
ing aside absent-mindedly long
cobweb which, in company with
others, hung from the ceiling and
brushed his cheek as he passed
along. The room, overlaid with /,
dust as it was, seemed to belong to
the past and not to the busy pres
emit. and he, this old German doctor
Of metaphysics, its sole occupant.
was in harmony with his surround
ings.
Pushing aside the moth-eaten
,damask curtain which hung over the
wall before him, he pressed his
fingers upon the carved head of an
Ariadne that formed part Of the
wainscoting. In answer to his light /
touch panel of the wall slid aside
leaving large aperture in its place.
He passed through, and, closing the
secret door behind him, entered the
room which lay beyond.
1t was indeed a strange place and
presented almost the aspect of a
mausoleum. The room was octagon-
al in shape and windowless, while
the walls were carved in panels
which extended from floor to ceiling,
with narrow gratings at the top to
admit the air. The hum of the busy
world without those quiet walls
sounded mufaed and far-away. And
the noise of the heavy wagons
rafting over the rough cobble stones
of the old German city did not dis
turb the reverie of the man who had
Just entered that silent room. 1t
was lighted by globelike lamp of
crimson Bohemian glass which
swung by slender chains from the
center of the ceiling, and directly un-
der it stood the object upon which
the old mans gaze was riveted. :
On long, low couch, like a bier,
draped all in ruby velvet, which hung
in soft folds to the dark polished oak
floor. stood an ivory casket. the only j
furniture the room contained. The
doctor approached it softly, as if /:
fearing to disturb the woman who
Law within it.. Like some rare statue
or like the far-famed sleeping prin-
less of the fairy tales, she lay there
with closed eyes and fast-shut lips, ! I
her long curling lashes casting
shadow on the wilderness of her I
seeming as if in gentle {
though her sleep was that s
which knows no waking. Her white /
silk robe, left the round white throat {
exposed on either side from her per- {
fect face and rippled in shining |
masses to her feet. The lamp above
ner cast faint glow on her fair I
face. giving it almost semblance ]
If life. 6
The doctor sank on his knees be- |
side her and drew strand of her ,
shining hair across his lips.
"Oh, my perfect one, my sweet ,
,eart." he murmured, passionately.
Who would dream that you had I
,lept like this for 80 long years?
Those credulous fools who saw you
/