Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1902-08-28

HOW revcrentiy they carried that.
casket flled with nothing but stones
to its last resting place under the
pines Did they think I would let
you 90 away from me like that. nv
love. nv life? All. MOI brought
you back TO the home which was to
have been yours. and BY the aid Of
some rare old remedies which had
learned from my master, DR.. raus-
tu>. who was a postmaster in these
same magic arts. I kept you as you
were the day you died. as young and
fair as the giriish bride whose beau
ty was to have frightened my an
cient gloomy house. who loved me
and me alone-though I had passed
the half-ceutury stone and nv hair
was turning white even then And
all these years I have studied and
labored 10 discover an elixir which
should bring you back tc me again
tthe one bit of brightness nv dull
life had ever known). which should
make your young heart beat quickly
as of yore. and send your blood dane
ing through your veins And I have
found it-this wonderful elixir Of
life and youth for which the old
philosophers sought in vain. which
combines with its chemical proper
ties the intangible essence of life
found IL at last after all these weary
years without you And tonight you
shall come back to me. my bride that
was my wife that Is to be. as young
and lovely as you were on that never
to-be-forgotten day
He rose to his feet and stood be-
side her. his tall figure seeming to
have become more erect and the fire
of youth flashing again in his deep
set eyes Though apparently calm.
he was in reality strung Up to the
highest pitch of excitement Draw
ing from his pocket a tiny mea<ur-
ing vial. he poured into it with diff
fculty owing to the unstesdine<< OF
his handl small quantity of the
liquid from the sask he stfIi held in
his hand Then placing the precious
flask on the floor near him he turned
to the quiet figure before him
Gently. with a little ivory instru-
mens. he pressed the closed lips
apart and poured the contents of the
vial between them. then breathless-
ly. with eyes riveted to her face. he
watched to see the elixir take ef-
feet Gradually. 80 gradually thar
any eyes less keen and loving than
his would have failed to notice the
almost imperreptibIe change. a tinS--
as faint as that Of blush rose. stole
into her white cheeks her lips part
81 slightly. and her bosom began to
rise and fall regularly as the heart
that had lain so long dormant took
mp its work again
-Ah. IL was not for nothing I
pored over those old black-letter
folios So faithfully he cried. exult-
ingiy. AT last. my long years Of
labor are crowned with \ great sue
cess
Then leaning over her. he called
softly ~Ysnns--
The long Iashes qpivered on the
soft cheeks. and round her lips stole
happy smile. as 10 she dreamed of
him and found the dream passing
sweet
~Yanna.- he called more loudly. as
IL 10 reach the ear dulled by so long
q sluTnber-
Then came the realization of ali
his dreams and desires The long
lashes were lifted and the large dark
eyes smiled back gladly into his
waiting ones
Heinrich she murmured- cares
singiy. and held her white arms OUT
lovingly toward him
With n wild burst of passion he
raised her in his arms and strained
her to him But even as he held her
close. feeling her heart beating
against his own. and realizing the
of all his hopes, =
strange sensatiol passed through
him The slender form he held
seemed to be growing lighter and
lighter. and shrinking within his
eager embrace
LAYING her gently down he
watched with anguish the awful
change which was coming over the
beautiful face
-Ah, Yanna. my little one. my
love, What is it that has eoE-e IN
you. What fatal mistake have Il
made in the elixir that it Is bringing
death not life to you.
Then he sprang desperately TO his
feet and stood looking down at the
woman for whom he had toiled for
30 long years Before his horror
stricken eyes the beautiful face and
supple form with its graceful curves
shrznk ever smaller and smaller. till
nothing was left but yellow shriv-
eled skin and shrunken bones. like
some mummy of old Egypt
And then-oh- ye gods that he
should have lived to behold such
horrors As he watched her with
brain on IRE and breaking heart ffor
try as he might he could not tear
his fascinated gaze away from her),
there came the last most awful
change of all; and dissolution that
great organic force that works 50
much more rapidly than growthl re-
duced TO nothinzness before his very
eyes that which had once been the
love of his life
With . Wild cry Of -Yanna- Yam
MAJ his breaking heart gave way
He staggered. and throwing up his
ares, f=Ii iireless across the empty
bier. while the paneied walls caught
up the hollow sound. and echoed
back in CHASTITY mimicry the old
veI.-loved name -Yannz. Yanna--
And across the floor like a stream Of
blood. from the broken flask. flowed
the wonderful elixir.-Sunny South,
Atlanta