Year: 1869

to his lips. As he tast'd the first drop,
the mixture seemed to circulate through
his withered frame like liquid fire. His
veins began to expand, as if fresh
blood swelled out the dried channels; his
nerves thrilled with the pain Of sudden
wakening to life; and the worn muscles
on his arms filled out into the firm, hard
roundness Of youth. Still Peter held the
glass to his lips The memory of his wife
and daughter faded from his mind. He
forgot that he was to share with them the
magic potion. When he turned the glass
over ON the table, only one or two drops
triCkled down Its sides, and were lost in
the thick dust which covered everything,


As he finished, a trembling foot was
heard on the threshold, and looking out
Peter beheld his wife. She was feeble
whitehall woman, with worn
wrinkled face, yet not 90 old by many
years as her husband. A patient, loving
wife, in spite of many trials, had Dame
Altbausel been all the days Of their wed
ded life.


She paused at the door, but did moi
come in. ... .. .H-


ais my husband not here, good y outh p
she asked, somewhat wonderingly.


"Are you mad, or are you growing OLD
so fast, BeFthaH" he said, impatiently
"DJ you not see it isI?" ..


AS he spoke he started in wonder. His
shrill, querulous voice had chan ged in 8
moment into the deep, ringing tone o,
manhood.


ut istrue; l must be much changed,
he said to himself "She does not know
me. l have been at last successful, Ber
ths," he said aloud the Elixir is mine
have drank Of it,"


AS he spoke the old dame saw Made
laine, where she had sunk into the chair
her head bowed forward on her breast
still unconscious.


"And you have killed our child, Peter
Althausen you have given her life as the
price of your blind sel6shness," said the
poor mother wildly. .


She ran to Msdelaine, and kneeling be
side her, tried to call her back to life. Al
she chafed her hands and called upon hel
by name, the girl sighed family and lifted
her head. Dame Althausen uttered cry
of Joy, and the mother and child were
Clasped in each others arms,


Peter looked at them without emotion
He was not even conscious of any regret
that he had not reserved few drops Of
the rare liquor for his wife and child. He
felt a desire to escape from scene in
which he had no sympathy, and turning
away he went into an adjoining room
which was the poor little sitting.roon
where the dame and Madelaine were &C
Customed to sit at their work. There
was an antique mirror with quantity
carved frame, hanging on the wall HC
went eagerly to look in 1t, and on behold
ing, reCoiled in smazement.


The figure which he saw was tall an(
elegant the head was crowned with thicl
Curls of black hair, the eyes glowed witt
youthful fire, and the skin was asunwTinkle(
and fair, rosy with the flush of youth an(
health. The face and figure Of the ole
man had instantly been changed into {
Shapely, handsome youth of twenty sum
merB.


The contrast between this young man
and the bowed, aged figure of the woman
whom he could still hear weeping owe
ler child, filled him with repugnance. ".
will fly instantly" he said my knowl
edge Of science will keep me from lacking
bread Twill 60 TO some strange city ant
ttske another name. That withered gran
dame shall never call me husband"


And without glancing back to wher
the two women stall remained, claspinl
each other fast, without regret for thos
who had been the victims Of his selfsl
devotion to his work, he went out and LEI
them forever.