Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1904-09-30

answered promptly: Marriage re-
quires the consent of two persons"
You still love Veneto's daughter"
II marry Roma or none other.a
But time passes. and the world
holds many women, good and fair, will
ing to cheer mans loneliness"
There is blu one woman for me-"
The doctor looked at the man before
him-a model of strength, still 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 wehriness. Think of the
world we live in, full of anxieties, dis
appointments, heart wrenches, vexa
tions," he murmured, as il 10 him.
self.
you who live in a world of your own
have escaped these Ills" Sasari re-
You forget / was once young, my
friend"
But you turned hermit in early
manhood"
when I found an object to live for"
Pardon me If / call ii a dream"
"A dream?" the alchemist cried out,
the light Of enthusiasm flashing In his
eyes and TRANSPORTING his wrinkled,
face. as his thoughts were recalled to
the dominant purpose of his life. you
are wrong, my friend; 1t is a reality.
Twice / 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 / am now sure of sue
cess. This very night l may gain the
grand secret TO whose discovery / have
willingly sacrificed the days and nights
enjoyments which are other mems
birthrights."
Sasari watched his excitment, be-
lieving 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 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, remov the
burden of debt hat brushes my unhap-
by 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 hisgabardine 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 the metals he had sorted,
which now simmered on the low fire
Of the furnace in his laboratory.
No a breath of wind, not a move
ment of man OF 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 lamp, 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
with its ~serpentine pipes and its dull
red glow that lit up the old mans
brown, withered face and gave him the
semblance of one exalted, illumlned and
ITdIlSIlSuTGQ DJ u DuTpOSG DGYOnQ the
reach of ordinary man.
The insidious, pungent odor arising
from the crucible, stirred his senses TO
rapture; a heavy vapor gradually fill
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,
watchfui eyes.
- Consultation of q ma mann
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
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 and
to subdue the leaping OF his pulse as
he removed the stopper from the flask
t o 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
sity and assumed an amber hue; the
second turned the liquid mass to gilt
tering froth; his shaking fingers ac-
..cidentally 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. seizing and SINCE
ing to its roots the hair of his beard,
eyebrows and head, and clutching at
his cotton shirt until his body was
wrapped In a sheet Of fire that scorched
his flesh, played around his waving
arms. hared in his face, and ate into
his bones.
With a wild, despairing cry OF terror