The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1904-09-29


answered promptly: Marriage re.
quires the consent of two persons
You still love Veneto's daughter"
i marry Roma or non other"
But 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
him-a model of strength, still youth
full, handsome and noble. There was
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 Weariness. Think Of the
world we live in, full of anxieties, dis
appointments, heart wrenches. vexa-
TONS" 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 you turned hermit in early
manhood"
When 1 found an object to live for"
Pardon me If 1 call it a dream"
"A dream?" the alchemist cried out,
the light Of enthusiasm flashing in hts
eyes and transferring 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 I am now sure of sue
cess. This very night I may gain the
grand secret to whose discovery I have
willingly sacrificed the days and nights
of many years; the passions, health and
enjoynents which are other mems
birthrights."
Sasari watched his excitment, be-
lieving him mao on this one point.
But supposing you succeed?" he sug-
gested.
Then" the old mar replied, as he
rose from his chair and drew himself
up proudly-"then, what can l 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-
/ r. >SOAtN2 LID S1Co HlCdlIlCu, IN III
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 hlsgabardine closely round him
as If suddenly chilled.
1t was close upon midnight when he
bent watching above the crucible con-
tanning the chemicals he had carefully
! measured and Tho roata1c he nod Cnrtol
which now simmered on the low fire
Of the furnace in his laboratory.
Not a breath Of wind, not q move
ment of man or beast could be heard
outside or in, ave the show shuttle of
his slippered feet and the deep breaths
he exhaled through his nostrils, that
now quiyered from suppressed excite
ment.
Hanging from q beam crossing the
ceiling Of his vast apartment was an
~octagonal lamp, whose steady silver
light fell softly on various jars and bot
ties ranged on shelves; n piles of
manuscript, dOg-eared volumes bound
in vellum; on strange instruments lying
against the walls; M on the furnace
with its serpentine pipes and it's dull
red glow that lit up the Did mans
brown, withered face and ave him the
semblance Of one exalted, illumined and
TRANSPORTED by a purpose beyond the
>%> NJ O.
The insidious, %pungent odor arising
from the cruc1ble, stirred his sense tc
rapture; a heavy vapor gradually fill
ing he 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
Ger Of wonders, the secret would be
clutched from nature, his task accom-
plished. He strove to hush the sing.
ing In his ears-triumphant singing
like a chorus Of rejoicing spirits ant
to subdue the leaping of his pulse a.
he removed the stopper from the fiasl
to pour out the aromatic Oil.
AS the first drop fell into the seeth.
ing substance in the crucible, the Vapo,
pervading the room increased in den,
sity and assumed ar amber hue; tn
tering froth; his shaking fingers &C,
cidentally dropped the third into tn.
fire. Like some exultant demon es,
Gaping its doom, a red flame Instant,
sprang into the air, filling the roon
with a fierce glare, selling and SINCE,
Ing to it's roots the hair of his beard
eyebrows n head, and clutching a
his cotton shirt unit his body wa,
wrapped IN a sheet Of fire that scorchet
his flesh, played around his wavin,
arms, fiared in his face, and ate int,
!, his bones.
With a wild, despairing cry of terro