River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-08-28
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Wonderful Elixir.
By ELSIE NJ. HAYNAR.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
N THE corners of the long old

shadows were gathering ChiSh>iJs anu
even the searching light from the
high arched north windows failed to
dispeI the gloom, for the winter twl-
light was almost over and night was
near at hand. At large oak table
"a 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 man
was seated. His fnely-shaped head,
with it's 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,
On the table before him were
ranged a 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 cats eye
in the dark.
His long, slender hands, like vel
lowed ivory, which rested ON the
arms of his chair, opened and closed
convulsively. This was the only sign
of liis he betrayed.
PreIentIy he began to mutter to
himself in low tone:
"To-night! 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 it's infalllbll-
ity."
He leaned over the table and lift
ed beautifully-shaped flask loving
w in his hand The transparent
CRYSTAL, the fluid it contained, glowed
like a gem-like some rare ruby
shining through a delicate mistlike
veil.
AS he withdrew the stopper drop
fell from it onto his hand, looking
for all the world like d 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
ent. and he, this old German doctor
of metaphysics, it's 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 a panel of the wall slid aside
leaving a 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
nj in shape and windowless, while
the walls were carved in panels
which extended from floor to ceiling
with narrow gratings at the top tic
admit the air. The hum of the busy
world without those quiet walls
sounded muff1ed 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
lust entered that silent room. II
was lighted by a glObelike lamp OF
crimson Bohemian glass which
swung by slender chains from the
center of the ceiling, and directly I'M
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 caslet, the only
furniture the room contained. The
doctor approached it softly, as il
fearing to disturb the woman who
Law within it. Like some rare statue
or like the far-famed sleeping prin-
cess of the fairy tales, she lay there
with closed eyes and fast-shut lips
her long curling lashes casting a
shadow on the Wilderness of her
checks, seeming as if in gentle
slumber, though her sleep was that
which knows no waking. Her white
silk robe left the round white throat
EXPOSED on either side from her per.
feet face and rippled in shining
masses to her feet. The lamp above
her cast a faint glow on her fair
face, giving it almost semblance
of life.
The doctor sank on his knees be-
side her and drew a strand of he1
shining hair across his lips.
"Oh. my perfect one, my sweet
heart" he murmured, passionate1y
"Who would dream that you had
slept like this for 80 long years:
Those credulous fools who saw you