The Human Vampire; Or, The Elixir of Life — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

10 THE LOG CABIN LIBRARY. Vol. No. U1, ‘No. Give me some brandy, ond Tl tell you ii where to send Yor my carriage.’ Jaboz com plied with his request, and the stranger sat up and looked about him with interest. “ You are the old man who lives all alone in a ruin, I see.” an’ suppose that describes the state of the case with tolerable accuracy. Jabez was commencing to wish the guest would make arrange- mouts for returning to his home. Instead of doing so, he was eying his host with an expression of warm interest. ‘* You are a student, are you not?” he said, suddenly. “Yes,” A glance around the walls, which were lined with book shelves, might have answered the question. ‘Well, I wonder if you are not the man I have been in search of.” “‘T do not understand you." The patience of old Jabez was almost at an end. * See here; how old are you?” “Sixty-sevon, I believea—there or somewhere near.” “Would you like to be restored to the age of forty?” “ He is a lunatic,” said Jabez to himself. ° ‘© At all oventa, ot my age I have no time to diseuss absurdi ties with strangers.’ “This is 10 ‘absurdity. I can assure you of what I say.” Ho put out his hand and drew his host close to the couch on which he Iny. “Sit down,’' he said, ‘and I will convince you.” Jabez obeyed. Hse was impressed by something in the stranger's manner, and felt enough interest in him to listen to his story. It was 1 long one, and when it was over the stranger break- fasted with Jabez, and they spent the day together. That night Mrs. Vivian was sitting alone in her little boudoir, when a knock at the door made her look up from her book. “Gomein,” she said, and her husband’s valet, Gregory Ham- din. entered the room. “ Please, madam,” he said, ‘‘my master told me to inform you that he would be absent from home for a few duys, or per- 1vps & week.” “Very good,” replied Lillian, and she returned to her book. Gregory hesitated, as if uncertain whether he should say more or not, and, recéiving no encouragement, he softly withdrew. ‘Tf she was not so cursed cold and proud,” muttered the valot, ‘but then I suppose it is too late, anyhow. He is near the end of his tether.” That night Gregory arrived st the old ruin, and, in company with his master, took up his abode ut Spotswood. A week later there appeared in the Savannah Morning News, among the death notices, the following: “Snddenly, at No, — South street, the residence of James Elliot, Esq,, Alyornon Vivian, aged twenty-six yenrs. Interment private." Algernon Vivinn’s body was bronght to his residence, and lay in an open coflin one day. It was then transferred to the Tat- nall vault, in the old cemetery on West Brond street. Lilli Vivian was as silent a widow as she had been an un- complaining wife. When the estate was closed up it was found thal all of her fortune had beeu expended, with the exception of a few thousand dollars which Mr, George Tatnall had pri- vately invested, T shall go to Philadelphia with Grace, and, when I am rested, make up my mind what I shall turn to next,” said Lillian. Grace had flown to her friend's side the moment she heard of her husband's death. “Thank God, she is free!” she said to George Tatnall, who mot her when she arrived, ‘Yos, Iam glad that villain’s oareer is over, though he lived long enough to beggar my sister.” Lillian pressed her friend to her heart. “Waithful friend,” she whispered, ‘‘so you have forgiven e!” **T never had anything to forgive,” replied Grace, gently. Lillina closed the book on this page of her life. Her beauty wis nlmost a thing of the past, but already she seemed more cheerful. See suppose I shall have to find out some way of earning,my bread,” she said, as the two friends sped away North. ‘I am a bagear, yon know, Grace, yet, somehow, I feel more light- hearted than I have done for ages,” OHAPTER IX. A STRANGE DISCUSSION OF A VITAL TOPIQ. Two weeks after the ‘‘ private interment” of Algernon Vivian, Jabez Lohn sat in his room in the old ruin at Spotswood, his new friend half- Bariad in a deep, old-fashioned ensy-chair, on the other side of a fre which burned in the huge chimney, The fire was for company more than warmth; the smolder- ing back-log glowed pleasantly on the wide hearth, and the spluttering ‘pitch- -pine in front spent most of its energy in quick flashes of spiteful flame. Algernon Viyian, for he it was who had fainted before the door of Spotswood, looked yery unlike the handsome and bril- liant man who had three short years ago won the heart and hand of the beantiful Lillian Armstend. The formerly glossy golden curls looked dank ond dnll, the face haggard aud sallow. His hand trembled ng it held the cigar he waa listless)y smoking. In fact, the man was a wreck of his former self. ‘« Are you perfectly certain you have not forgotten something?” inquired Jabez, anxiously. Vivian sent a long blue wreath of smoke through his nostrils before he answered: “Perfectly certain. No, I must study and try. Yon seo I suppose the gradual wear and tear of the tissues g0es on in spite of the stimulating and rejuvenating elixir.” “« And the dose must increase in strength as years go on?”’ The old man seemed more eager than the other. ‘* Yes, otherwise I cannot understand what is wrong.” “You must not lose heart. You must continue to try.” “Yes. You have felt the benefit?” ‘eOh, unquestionably. You can see that,” He stood up, and certainly he had also undergone a species of transformations. His stooped form was now erect, his dim, sunken eyes were bright, his step quick and vigorous. His cheeks had rounded out, and he looked ten years younger. “ Yes, it has done for you what it formerly did for me," said Vivian, pettishly. J Woll, cheer up, persevere; you will get it right ot last,” the old man cheerfully asserted. Vivian seemed disposed to give him a hasty answer, but kept if back. He must not loso his patience with the old man. He had proved useful. The day bofore the announcement of fhe death of Algernon Vivian nppeared in the paper, 4 carriage drove up to tlie door of Jamos Blot, an acquaintauee of Vivinn, and from it that gantle- man alighted. He was accompanied by his servant, Gregory Hamlin. Mr. Dlliot who was a sporting man and professional gambler, was seated at his breakfast table. ‘*Good-morning, Vivian,” he said, “will you join me?” “No, thank you.” He sank on to a lounge as if tired out, and his friend regarding him closely, said: ‘What's the matter, man? You look under the weather.” “JT feol yory ill,” roplicd Vivian, and almost immediately sank back insensible. Gceegory, who was in the carriage at the door, was immediately summoned. A doctor was called and Algernon Vivian breathed his last. His body was taken to his home, and the next night conveyed to the vault, Now, the man whose funeral service had been performed two weeks before was the guest of Jabez Lohn. Algernon Vivian possessed the power of falling into @ trance which so closely resembled death that it deceived the most skilled physicians. Respiration entirely censed, the temperature of the body fell, and the action of the heart was suspended. This state continued for hours, and ne one could tell that Vivian was alive except Gregory Hamlin, who had been so many years with his muster. After a short silence Vivian said, abruptly; “You have also made astudy of this branch of science. Do you put any faith in the old theory that the heart’s blood of a living child has a rejuvenating effect on the aged?” The old man glanced around uneasily. “‘T have often thought there might be a grain of truth in it,” he suids guurdedly. “So have I. The difficulty les in proouring the necessury materials for experimenting.” “T think that might be overcome. There are many par people who hayo too many children. Why not give some ut them to wealthy people who have none?” “The rich people might, you think, adopt them?” << Tixavtly.” **Tt would be a risky business and might be a failure.’ “Well, nothing can be done without trying.” “Tf we were in Paris I should not hesitate.” “Pshaw! It is practicable.” Vivian shook his head; old Lohn persisted. «See, I tell old Carmel that I wish to adopt some poor chile comicbooks.cor »