River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-08-28

they think of my powers and my
knowledge of the black art now!
How reverently they carried that
casket filed with nothing but stones
to it's last resting place under the
pines. Did they think I would let
you go away from me like that, my
love, my life? All, no! / 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.. Faus-
tus, who was a postmaster in these
same magic arts, kept you as you
were the day you died, as young and
fair as the girlish bride whose beau
ty was to have frightened my an
cient gloomy house, who loved me
and me aIone-though / had passed
the half-century stone and my hair
was turning white even then. And
all these years / have studied ana
labored TO discover an elixir which
should bring you back to me again
(the one bit of brightness my 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 nave
found it-this wonderful elixir OF
life and youth, for which the oIa
philosophers sought in vain, winch
combines. with it's chemical proper
ties the intangible essence OF me-
found it at last after all these weary
years without you. And to-n1ght 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 10
have become more erect and the hre
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 tiny measur-
ing vial, he poured into it with diff
ficulty owing to the unsteadiness OF
his handD a small quantity of the
LIQUID from the flask he still held in
his hand. Then placing the precious
flask on the floor near him, he turned
Gently, with little ivory instru-
ment, he pressed the closed lips
apart and poured the contents of the
vial between them, then GREATNESS
ly, with eyes riveted to her face, he
watched to see the elixir take eff
feet. Gradually, so gradually than
any eyes less keen and loving than
4n
almost imperceptible change, tinge,
as faint as that of a blush rose, stole
into her white cheeks, her lips part
ed slightly, and her bosom began to
rise and fall regularly as the heart
that had lain SO long dormant took
up it's work again.
"Ah, it was not for nothing l
pored over those old black-letter
folios so faithfully" he cried, exult-
ingly. cat last, my long years of
labor are crowned with a great sue
cess"
Then leaning over her, he called
softly: "Yanna."
The long lashes quivered on the
soft cheeks, and round her lips stole
a happy smile, as if she dreamed OF
him and found the dream passing
sweet.
"Yanna," he called more loudly, as
if to reach the ear dulled by SO long
a slumber.
Then came the realization of all
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
singly, and held her white arms out
lovingly toward him.
With 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
contamination of all his hopes, a
strange sensation 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 come to
YOU! What fatal mistake have
made in the elixir that it is bringing
death, not life, to you'll"
Then he sprang desperately to his
feet and stood looking down at the
woman for whom he had toiled for
80 long years. Before his horror
stricken eyes the beautiful face and
supple form with it's graceful curves
shrank ever smaller and smaller, till
nothing was left but yellow shriv-
eled skin and shrunllen bones, like
some mummy of old Egypt.
And then-oh, we gods, that he
should have lived to behold such
horrors. AS he watched her with
brain on fire and breaking heart (for
try as he might he could not tear
his fascinated gaze away from herr,
there came the last most awful
change of all; and dissolution Chat
great organic force that works so
much more rapidly than growth) re-
duced to nothingness before his very
ewes that which had once been the
love of his life.
With a wild cry of ''Yanna, Yam
nal" his breaking heart gave way.
He staggered, and throwing up his
arms. fell lifeless across the empty
bier, while the paneled walls caught
up the hollow sound, and echoed
back in CHASTITY mimicry the old
well-loved name: "Yanna, Yanna.'