The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-14
By CAP T. J. A. BOWMAN,
 Tuscaloosa, Ala.

bade me adiau with unaffected cordiality. and asked me to call again.
 ".As I walked back home. I seemed to tread upon air, my heart and my rect were so light. I felt that I had found one woman In all the world who filled every wish of my heart-sweet, inteli- gent, refined, with whom life would De a long journey through the howery
 meadows that I nad seen in my dreams, if with her, as in my dream, l could walk handin-hand through life It was not long until I returned. My visits were evidently not 6istastnful ta either MISS Jessie or to her family, and l soon De- came a frequent caller. At length l seized t,pon a propitious moment, and asked her If she worl1 te mine. She biushed deeply, but answered frankly Yes My brain whirled with my unac- customed happiness Seizing her in my arms I pressed her to my bosom ana im- printed a passionate kiss upon her lips. That night I did not close my eyes. ! was too happy. He who experiences foN the first time the raptures Of true love can comprehend its blissfulness.
 For three months I lived in an en- chapted land. Bessie was one of those rich natures formed for love and to in- spire love in the breast of others. No man could look with indifference upon her wholesome beauty, in which the charms of a richly developed person were combined with such evident sweetness or character; and with me the sentiment was ! one of blind idolatry.
 "fSo the time passed on. Like all true women she wanted a home of her own, and, no sooner were we engaged than I began the construction of house We agreed that as soon as 1t should be com pleted we should marry. It is needless to say that hurried on the carpenters and masons as they had never been hurried before, for each day that the house re- mained incomplete, I felt to be stolen from my period of bliss. And yet, though I spent so much time with Bessie and in superintending the construction of my house, I had never accomplished so much in my chemical pursuits; for there is no stimulus to labor like a true love for noble woman I discovered several val ! uable chemicalsj and made distinct pro- gress towards the discovery of the power | full elixir for which I sought. Knowing | my fondness for such studies, and saying l that she did not wish me ever to regret my marriage, Bessie insisted upon my l having in our new home, large. we'll | lighted room for laboratory. It Is | needless to say that I consented.
 | "'At length the house was finished, l and I began to furnish it. With pains l | selected each article, thinking all the | time how it would please Bessie and run ming to her for suggestions and advice. Finally the furnishing was done. A | few days were still to elapse before the | wedding: and not wishing to leave the house unguarded, the insurance agent re- ,auired this, bade adeu to the paternal home and went to occupy it myself How 1 impatient was there in my own house, | with Bessie only a few blocks away, and yet compelled to wait for days for mere | ceremony. But 1t was IS >less to com | plain I wandered from room to room, | dreaming of her, longing wildly for the
 moment when she should DC mine.
 "'One evening when I went to visit
 her. Mir. Preston told me that she had | been taken with a severe sore throat and
 a high fever, and that he had sent for pr. w. asked to see Ter and was | conducted up stairs to her dainty and | beautiful chamber. It was with a feeling like that of one of high calling who goes
 to minister comfort and consolation te
 thse with whom we are about to part this
 side of the river I crossed that sacred
 threshold. There lav Bessie on her little
 white and gold bedstead her face flushed
 with fever, and her throat wrapped up
 Though she was in great pain, she greet
 ed me with that sweet smile that was
 hers alone. 1 asked to see her throat
 She opened her mouth. No sooner had
 I caught a glimpse than I turned away
 to conceal my agitation. She had the
 most terrible case of diphtheria that
 had ever seen. I asked how long it had
 been since they had telephoned the doc
 tor The words had hardly escaped my lipe when there was a ring at the door
 and Dr. W entered. He came up and
 examined the patient Taking MT. Pres
 ton and me aside he said 1t was a case
 of unusual severity, and he wanted a
 consulting physician. Dr. S-- was
 sent for and soon came. They consulted
 together in my presence, and from what
 they said it was clear that they had
 slight hopes of her recovery. I lost con-
 trol of myself. I wanted to spend the
 night by her bed, but they insisted upon
 my leaving saying that my agitation | would betray itself and deprive the pa- tient of that courage of which she stood
 so much in need I went into the parlor
 and walked up and down the floor in
 agony. I could hear Bessie coughing,
 struggling with the horrible demon that
 was closing her throat. Suddenly a | thought struck me. Now or never was
 the time for my elixir. Of what use I would it be If 1t saved the lives of all
 the world and did not save hers? I was
 making a stimulant of unequaled power,
 but 1t was not yet strong enough for the | purpose. 1 must condense it, l must ex- | tract the very essence of the already | powerful fluid I opened the front door | and went out. I began to run. The mo-
 ments were precious, not one was to be
 lost. In a few minutes I reached my
 house and ran into my laboratory. Sud
 denly there was a knock at my door. A
 messenger, exhausted with running told | me that if I wished to see Bessie alive
 I must come at once. Hurrying back to
 my room. l poured out a glass of the l elixir and carried it to my lips. Hardly had a drop touched them when I felt a | throbbing through my arteries as never | before. I felt an eXhi!aration, wild ex- | urberance of vital force. of which I had
 never before had the remotest concep-
 tion. Bearing the glass in one hand with l the other over 1t to prevent the spilling | of the precious fluid, I ran to MT Pres | tons house. 1 burst open the door and
 ran upstairs. Bessie was lying upon the
 bed. unconscious. gasping for breath. l The hour of dissolution was clcse at | hand. Pushing aside her parents, who
 were weeping, I reached her side Her
 eyes were open. but sightless. She had | almost ceased to breathe. Drawing out
 the instrument and barring her arm, l | gave her a large hypodermic injection. | The effect was magical. She struggled
 for breath with renewed force. Her eyes
 resumed their natural appearance Her
 consciousness returned Seeing me bend
 ing over her she smiled upon me with her 1 sweet gentle smile She is saved
 cried. and my words were re-echoed by