The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1902-09-04
The Wonderful Elixir.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
N THE corners of the long old
By ELSIE N. HAYNAR.

even the searching light from the
high arched north windows failed to
Gispel the gloom, for the winter twi-
light was almost over and night was
near at hand. At a 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 a man
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,
On the table before him were
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
convulsively. This was the only sign
of life he betrayed.
Presently he began to mutter to
himself in a low tone:
"To-night! l 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
Iy in his hand. The transparent
crystal, the fluid it contained, glowed
like a gem-like some rare ruby
shining through a delicate mistliSe
veil.
As he withdrew the stopper a drop
fell from it onto his hand, looking
for all the world like a 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 its own and to gain
possession of it he had spent many
long. Iaborious 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 scampcring of the mice
behind the wainscoting as they hur-
ried away at his approach, and push
ing aside overwhelmingly 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
waipscotfng In answer to his light
touch 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
al in shape and windOwless, while
the walls were carved in panels
which extended from floor to ceiling
with narrow gratings at the top tc
admit the air. The hum of the busy
world without those quiet walls
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 hat
lust entered that silent room. Il
was lighted by globelike lamp O
crimson Bohemian glass which
swung by slender chains from the
center OF lHe CtlIlIS anu 'hittllh uii
der it stood the object upon which
the old mans gaze was riveted.
On a long, low couch, like bier
draped all IN ruby velvet, which hung
in soft folds to the dark polished oal
floor, stood an ivory casket, the ONLY
furniture the room contained. Thu
doctor approached it softly. as i
fearing to disturb the woman wht
lay within it, Like some rare STATUE
or like the far-famed sleeping prin
cess of the fairy tales, she lay Their
with closed eyes and fast-shut lips
her long curling lashes casting
shadow on the wilderness of he
cheeks, seeming as if in gentl
slumber, though her sleep was tina
which knows no waking. Her whit
silk robe left the round white throa
exposed on either side from her pei
feet face and rippled in shinin
masses to her feet. The lamp abov
her cast faint glow on her fai
face, giving 1t almost a semblanc
of life.
The doctor sank on his knees bt
side her and drew a strand of he
shining hair across his lips.