The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-09-30
Asthor 81 An E.ssls ~ Ke.ye. A IreAe,'s
fsiNmph. Etc. Cseyr11ht lSo0 By z. Noley

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answered promptly: Marriage re-
quires the consent of two persons"
You still love Veneto's daughter"
II marry Roma or none other"
But time passes, and the world
holds many women, good n fair, WILL
ing to cheer mans loneliness"
There is but II for me-"
The doctor looked at the man before
him-a model of strength, still youth
full, handsome n 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 w%eariness. '"Think OF the
world we live in. full of anxieties, dis
appointments, heart wrenches, veXa-
tons he murmured, as il 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 you 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
grain too much OF too little Of some
chemical. may spoil the labor of
months. But 1 am now sure of sue
cess. This very night 1 may gain he
grand secret to whose discovery I have
Willingly sacrificed the days and nights
of many years; the passions. health and
en1oyments which are other mems
birthrights."
Sasari watched his excitment, be-
lievins him mad on this one point.
But supposing you succeed?" he sug-
gested.
Then" the old man replied, as he
rose from his chair and drew himself
up proudly-"then, what can 1 not do?
! can 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-
Ply country" His eyes cleaned, and he
~gesticulated wildly.
And for yourself?"
For myself 1 require but a bed Of
earth in which to Sleep" he answered,
as his voice suddenly dropped. while he
drew ~hisgabardine closely round him
as II suddenly chilled.
1t was close upon midnight when he
tanning the chemicals he had carefully
measured and the metals he had sorted,
which now simmered on the low are
OF the furnace in his laboratory.
Not q breath of wind, not a move
ment OF man 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 qulvered from suppressed excite
ment.
Hanging from q beam crossing the
ceiling of this vast apartment was an
octagonal lamp, whose steady silver
light fell softly OF various Jars and bot
ties ranged on shelves: on piles of
manuscript. dog-eared volumes bound
In Nellum; on TRANCE Instruments lying
against the walls: and on the furnace
with Its serpentine pipes and it's dull
red glow that lit up the old mans
brown, wlthered face and ave him the
semblahce Of one exalted. illumined and
TRANSPORTED by a purpose beyond the
reach of ordinary man.
Inc ins1dious, pungent odor arising
from the crucible. stirred his senses to
rapture; a heavy vapor gradually fll-
ing the atmosphere made him gasp
for breath; excitement brought the
perspiration thick upon his temples,
and 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
OIL treasured In a ruby flask, and won
der OF wonders, the secret would be
c!utched from nature, his task accom-
plished. He strove to hush the sing
Ing In his ears-triumphant singing
like a chorus of rejoicing spirits and
to subdue the leaping OF his pulse as
he 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 den
sity and assumed an amber hue; the
second turned the liquid mass to gilt
c~identally dropped the third into the
fire. Like some exultant demon es-
Gaping Its doom, a red flame instantly
sprang into the air. filling the room
with a fierce glare, Selling and SINCE
Ing to Its roots the hair of his beard.
eyebrows and head, and clutchine at
his cotton shirt until his BODY wa
wrapped In a sheet of fire that scorched
his flesh, played around his waving
arms, tiared in his face, and ate into
his bones.
With a wild, despairing cry Of terror