The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1904-09-30


answered promptly: Marriage re.
quires the consent Of two PERSONS"
You still love Veneto's daughter?"-
u marry Roma or one other"
!. u time passes, and the WORLD
holds many women, good and fair, will,
ing TO cheer mans loneliness"
There is but one woman for me-"
The doctor looked at the man before
nina model of strength, stil youth
full. handsome and noble. There was
surely but one thing which could blind
Roma to his merits. She loves an
other" he suggested.
That is my misery" responded Sa-
sari quietly.
"And will marry him?'
His choice has fallen on one who
has refused him."
The alchemist stroked his beard with
gesture of WEAKNESS. "Think of the
world we live in, full of anXieties, dis
appointments, heart wrenches, veXa-
tions," he murmured, as If to him
self.
You who live in a world of your own
have escaped these Ills" Sasari re-
marked.
You forget I was once young, my
friend"
But o turned hermit in early
manhood.
When I found an object to live for"
Pardon me If I call it a Dream"
"A dream?' the alchemist cried out,
the light Of enthusiasm flashing in his
eyes and Thanksgiving his wrinkled,
face, as his thoughts were recalled to
the dominant purpose of his life. You
are wrong my friend; it is a reality.
twice l have nearly accomplished my
ambition. 1t requires time. study, ex-
perience, the utmost care. The furnace
made a degree too hot or too cold, a
chemical, may spoil the labor Of
months. But 1 am now sure of sue
cess. This very night l may gain the
grand secret to whose discovery l have
Willingly sacrificed the days and nights
OF many years; the passions. health and
birthrights."
Sasari watched his excitment, be-
iieving him mad on this one point.
But supposing you succeed?" he sue-
gested.
Then" the old man replied, as he
rose from his chair and drew himself
up proudly-"then, what can I not do?
l a give bread to the hungry. shelter
to the homeless, found hospitals for the
cure of disease, refugees for the aged.
relieve the poverty-stricken, remove the
burden of debt that brushes my unhap-
py country" His eyes cleaned, and he
gesticulated wildly.
And for yourself?"
For myself I require but a bed of
earth In which to sleep" he answered.
as his voice suddenly dropped, while he
drew htsgabardine closely round him
as II suddenly chilled.
1t was close upon midnight when he
bent watching above the crucible con-
tanning the chemicals he had carefully
measured and the metals he had sorted,
winch now simmered on the low fire
OF the furnace in his laboratory.
Not a breath Of wind. not a move
ment of ma or beast could be heard
outside or In, save the show shuttle Of
his slippered feet and the deep breaths
he exhaled through his nostrils, that
now quivered from suppressed excite
ment.
Hanging from a beam crossing the
ceiling Of this vast apartment was an
octagonal LAM, whose steady silver
light fell softly on various jars and bot
ties ranged on shelves; on piles OF
manuscript, ~dog-eared volumes bound
IN Vellum; on strange instruments lying
against the walls: and on the furnace
red glow hat lit UP the old mans
Drown, withered face and gave him the
semblance of one exalted, illumined and
TRANSPORTED by a purpose beyond the
reach OF ordinary man.
Inc lnsldious, pungent odor arising
from the %crucible. stirred his senses to
p q heavy vapor gradually fll-
the atmosphere made him gasp
for breath; excitement brought the
perspiration thick upon his temples
n the upward springing of lurid
flames well-nigh dazzled his eager.
watchful eyes.
Consultation of a parchment manu-
script assured him that the great mo-
ment had undoubtedly come. He had
but to add seven drops Of a precious
on treasured IN a ruby flask, and Won
ciutched from nature, his task accom-
pl1shed. He strove to hush the sing
Ing In his ears-triu1nphant singing
like q chorus Of rejoicing spirits and
to subdue the leaping of his pulse a.
ne removed the stopper from the flask
to pour out the aromatic oil.
AS the first drop fell Into the seeth-
ing substance In the crucible. the vapor
.pervading the room increased in dem
second turned the liquid mass to gilt
terlng roth; his shaking fingers &C
cidentally dropped the third into the
ire. Like some eXultant demon es-
Gaping Its doom, a red flame instantly
into the air, filing the room
with a fierce glare. selling and SINCE
to Its roots the hair of his beard.
eyebrows and head, and c%lutching at
his cotton shirt until his body was
his flesh, played around his wayine
arms, hared in his face, and ate into
his bones.
With a wild, despairing cry of terror