The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-06-28
Perfect Love
BY Charles Wilshin

lhelr children had departed and many
old friends had dropped away. But thu
Vicissitudes of life had left their de
votlon unsullied. and they still sat II
their little garden with its high walls
and. screened from the inQuisitivt
world, held hands in that sweet com
partnership that comes alone to two
hearts in perfect accord.
Yet Nine. Versale, 1t must be con
fessed. carried within her true WON
ans soul disturbing thought that
grew with contemplation and brood
ing. There were times when she
would look in her mirror and sigh
and then she would say to her hus
band:
i am not SO good looking as
was"
And he would invariably reply:
Tut. Tut. You are always the same
HOW can you be anything else than
beautiful"
i know that you say that to make
me feel better"
They had many friends and some Of
these were new ones and young in
their ways. When a particularly
handsome young woman would visit
them. Nine. versale fancied that her
husbands face would brighten.
Tho fhOuuht 10 tb;c v,,cJo hos cod
1T is always the same with men. I"
sne would say to herself. FRESHNESS.
youth - these are what they de
mand."
Then her mind would revert to her
own youth, when she was so beautiful
and when around her always there
was circle Of admirers. And how
beautiful she was then, Even now
the memory of ii had not died away.
She conceived the idea that her hus-
band only paid her compliments out
OF the goodness of his heart. She
thought that his alteration was much
OF 1t assumed, and that ont of gal,
lantry he still paid his court Some
times she would say to him briskly
You know you don't mean that"
His protestatiOns were OF no avail a
thought like this. in the heart of "A
woman, will often grow to an absurd
ity; t. protest against it only seems to
strengthen it.
Young DR.. Van kale. a physician
who attended them and occasionally
dropped in to pay them Visitor
they interested him supremacy - had
already achieved a worldwide reputa.
ton by virtue of some Of his dlscov.
cries in applied science. His labora.
tory was the center of much that was
speculative and much that was revo-
tionary: but his opinion always com.
manded respect He had already done
things.
One morning he called upon Nine.
versale. whose husband, having read
his paper. was nOdding on bench In
a corner Of the garden.
you look tired" she said. her keen
eye accustomed to notice changes In
physiognomy.
DR.. Van Kale's face lighted up.
Il am tired-but l have done what
l conceive to be a wonderful expert.
ment If 1t turns out as I hope.
have not slept for 30 hours. 1t is
the crisis Of a long toll"
Something intricate-that l can
not understand"
Not at all. In plain. untechnical
language, 1t involves a change In the
human tissue can restore lost
youth"
Nine Versale started.
Impossible"
Nothing is impossible to modern
science. After all. the difficulty | had
to surmount Is actually less than any
one might suppose. What are we! A
combination Of molecules which. ar
ranged In q certain manner, produce
an individual. Disintegration Is con.
stantly going on. produced by lyman.
ic changes. The problem has been to
counterbalance ito make It work
backward, SO to speak For years
many Of US have been on the verge Of
this great discovery. A certain solu-
ton OF salts came near It. II has real
ly been a question of mathematics. At
last l have discovered the combina-
ton. and by means of my transform
er I can make one young again"
Nine. Versale looked at him with
intensity. Such a startling statement
related so quietly. filled her with CON-
plete establishment Yet. as the doctor
had said, Why not!
Are you sure?"
quite sure"
Have you tried it,"
I'm the laboratory. but not 50 fully
as would like
us 1t harmless"
Absolutely"
"How long does it take?'
"A week"
Twill you try 1t on me-
THAT Is what | desire-sg;re mely.
You have made 1t easy fer lie; you
have taken the words out Of my
mouth. Can you absent !oarself for
this length of time?"
Nine. Versale clapped her Lands rap
furouclv