The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1906-04-26
at would surely be worth on

4 Weary. OF what he had endured II
| DID World travels, this narrator Of Z
| aVolting crime. .sturDsd ,homevard
"but better had drawn lessons from
the legends Of Vsnderde cked. the
FtVine Dutchman," he "says ''ol
Ahasuerus, the Wandering Jew, cur
sed With perpetual youth and ever
'-'no ar elixir of death.
''In my sleepless nights the tar'r
tat, q was terrible to sla7 thehwomar
who lay breathing silently beside me
She with her prayers, was half ths
cause Of my misery.
''At last I saw that must even
tually yield to my obesslon, and Dr.
ternined to prepare for 1T. Sciercr
had progre ssed nightly In the eigh
years since ] had reliDquished 1t
Great di coveries were made With th'
vide range Of light raps on tht invis
Ihle aide of violet. From the ]ittl
octave OF light visible to the eye the
run up and up like the notes Of a pis
no, only to infinitely higher pitch
es.
II had long beon anxious to expert
ment with these new rays. On ou
return to Boston I fitted our house W
with many instruments.',
my wife, q sweet but unintellect
ual and vain person, showed an aD'
tipathy to my work. She refused t,
enter nv laboratory, and seemed II
shudder st my harmless fuoroscopt
and light bulbs.
"One night my fixed idea rose j.
its gradually acquired might and tool
command OF me. My wife had JUS
returned from fashionable ball.
."She complained Of terrible heao
ache and accepted my offer TO relieV
It. I gave her . hVpode1mic OF NOR
phia.
II deliberately gave her an over
dose, but not a fatal one. The efect'
of the drug came on instantly, tb'
headache passed, Bhe thanked M
drowisily and was soon ipseDsible, ly
ing In her ball gown breathing heaV'
lily,
with elaborate care ! brought !,
my instruments from the laborato1.
and arranged them. My heart bea
ss it never beat before. It was not
palpltation, but strong surRiHg bea
which sent the blood I'd my brain In;
steadjer. stronger stream tf an u'ual
My faculties seemed EXCEPTIONAL:
acute, as we'll they might be, Tor }
felt that I was the first scientist AM
perhaps the first man to sse 9 human
soul.
AT last the instruments were a..
ranged, tested and found to be work
ing perfectly. Behind me were th'
CUBES emitrlng the ultraviolet light
They were placed behind me becaus'
L,believed that I could see the soul II
reflected light as 1t really looks. AM
not a mere shadow as 1t would appeal
between me and the light. My fuoI
scent screen had lens alta chmen
for focusing an image which I belieV'
was an entirely new idea.
II opened a secret drawer in m,
secretary and took. thereirom th'
most deadly Of an silent death, By
| podermic syringe filled with cyanie
acid, two drops of which Injected IL.
to the veins produces instant death,
leaving no purple blotches or traces o;
any kind. .,o:
dow seemed to be gathering just abo7'
the body, rapidly assuming the out
lines of the human form, and mos
perfect in Its symmetry! The feat
ures bore the likeness Of the dead
and were beautiful beyond description
The delicate, clear and ethereal bainI
6osted In the atmosphere with eye
closed until the process Of natur'
seemed complete, when, they opene'
and sublime intelligence passed owe
the face. 1t floated through the al
moment, and then, 90 II impelled b.
some attraction, moved like Vapor'
mass toward a half open window, pss
sed out and was gone forever from m.
sight.
THE eyes seemed to look towar'
me an instant. The expression chang
ed. Not anger, nor reproach, bu
utter am, zenent was depicted on thS
ilmy ccunteuance asit drifted out {
range Of my screen.
For some time stood like on
stricken dumb. The enormity of tn
crime I had committed came like 81
avaIar cae upon my brain. Again an
again I called my w1!e's name an'
only Sshe echo of her wailing voic
answered me.
II destroyed all evidence OF N,
guilt and fed from the city Of Bost
sway to the mountains of the West
Here for two years have lived in g.
olusion, many times meditatiDg m
own lie, but always being desister
from my purpose because I vanttt
first to prove what I have all thi
time been trying to solve:
rs death but the beginning OF lift
"My mind Is weak and frggt d AZ
write this, and nv memory bother
me. I am probably going insane, If
am not alresdy 80.
We'll, so b. 1t. I am glad tn eX
perience insanity, toe; in fact I WI
put Of death 81 d see what 1t Is like
(The strange manuscript ends a
this point. There II no signature, alt
it is thought there may possibly have
been more