The Human Vampire; Or, The Elixir of Life — page 11: what you’re looking at

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Nov ah THE LOG CABIN LIBRARY, 11 dren. Say two, that I shall send them north to my friends to be educated. Well, whore is the danger?” Still Vivian shook his head. ‘‘ Well, we shall see. The cause of science goes before every- thing else in iny mind, Such a discovery is of inestimable benefit to mankind. ‘Lake the life of some of our learned men— ® man who has devoted his life to study, o great astronomer, o learned physician, any man of eminence and useftilness. It such a life can be indefinitely prolonged by the snerifice of a few ignorant babies, would not such # use of those children be just and right?” “ Probably the learned professor might think so; the parents of the children might hold a different opinion.” “In such a case one would be fully justified in deceiving them. No doubt family ties in some cases are strong. IL have known instances, however, where fathers and mothers have not felf any affection for their children, or if they did they took a strange way of showing it. Besides, there are too many peopie in the world—two many babies are born.” ‘That is an odd plea to urge in an argument for prolonging human life indefinitely.” Viviun spoke with w cynical smile. “You are perverse, and willfully misunderstand my purpose. Say some man whose life is worth something to himself, and his country has his life prolonged for a century by the means of two or a dozen useless babies, children of lazy parents, people devoid of intellect, perhaps descended from generations of mis- erable drunken paupers, perhaps inheriting the seeds of vice, bound to grow up panpers, drunkards, criminals. Make such children the instruments of prolonging o valuable life. Would there be anything wrong in that? Stuff and nonsense!” “You grow eloquent, but would the blood of such children produce a good effect on the imaginary learned savant?” ‘Oortainly it would, Physically, these children might be all right.” “Well,” said Vivian witha yawn, ‘the world will take con- siderable time in being educated up to your theory, and I for one should not like to run the risk of starting out as an apostle of your new religion.” *“Oh, no doubt; every fresh discovery meets with opposition.’ ‘We will take another opportunity of discussing this matter, in which I of course am deeply interested. You must not think that I am a man to let a stupid prejudice on the subject of ways and means stand between me and the accomplishment of my purpose. No.” So they parted for the night. 5) OHAPTER X. A BLUNT DOCTOR INTRODUCES A PHRPLEXING THEMM, The event of the season ab Newport was the grand ball given by Mr. and Mrs Decker, at their new granite villa at Blenk Point. It was a house-warming of the palace of the Chicago millionaire, which had jnst been completed, and which adorned the rugged cliff overlooking the ocean. No expense had been spared to render the ball the crowning entertainment of an unusually gay season, and it was an un- doubted success. Part of the evening was spent by the delighted guests in ad- miring every portion of the villa, which was a marvel of arch- itectural skill and lavish splendor, The floors of inlaid wood and colored marble, the Persian hangings and rugs, the paint- ings, and bric-a-brac, and the gorgeous flowers, made up a scene of bewildering beauty. As the earringes drew up, the guests stepped under an awning of crimson and white silk, and passed through: a file of men in green and silver livery up to the wide marble steps. The piazza, which surrounded the house was roofed in with red and white, and tables were placed here and there, on which was served a luxurious banquet. The murmur of the sea breaking on the rocks few yards away, mingled with the sweet strains of the band, The scene was one of weird beauty; electric lights gleamed everywhere outside and in; their radiance was tempered by the opaline shades which rendered the light soft ond becoming to the beautiful faces of the ladies. Mr. and Mrs. Decker stood just inside the entrance to the largest reception-room. They were a noble-looking pair. She was a tall, stately bru- nette, her husband a manly blonde. Happiness seemed to have found a home in this magnificent sea-side palace, for the master and mistress looked as if they had never known a care, The fuir sex were enthusiastic on the subject of Mrs. Decker's bondoir. It was called the ‘‘Bose and the Lily Room,” and was fitted up in the style of Louis XVI. White satin hangings, | embroidered with roses and lilies, adorned the walls; ivory panels, painted with groups of children’s faces, were set in here and there; rugs of rose and white were seattered on the floor, and the furniture was of white and gold, upholstered in crimson and white plush. “What rare old china!’ cried one lady, who was a connois- senr, ‘‘Itis worth a fortune.” ‘*See those Roman lamps!" said another. ‘And that soarf on the piano. ‘It was once Mme. Du Barry’s,” “ How happy Mrs. Decker must be!” “She has unlimited wealth.” “(® handsome husband, who adores her.” “And two lovely children,”’ “Have you seen the nurseries? They are gems. A wide bal- eony, overlooking the sea; folding-doors between the day nurs- ery and tha night nursery. The eribs are sea-shells, Come and see them.” The nursery was a large room, with pale rose-tinted walls, anda whito carpet flecked with rose petals. Everything in the room harmonized, even to tho perfume that hung about the softly tinted curtains, and the chandelier where wax-lights burned in sockets of coral and gold. A tall, slim woman ina white dress and lace eap stood near the door. She held up a warning finger, “Ave your charges sleeping, nurse?” es Vion ie ‘* May we have one peep?” Half-reluctantly, the nurse held upa pink India silk por- tiere and revealed the inner nursery. In it there was nothing save two little beds vailed in lace. The beds were shaped like pink and white sea-shells, and stood on feet of carved ivory, In each bed slumbered a lovely child of two years, twin daughters of the host and hostess, Their little heads were durk and curly, their soft. round faces flushed with health; long blaclk lashes swept their smooth cheeks, and each tiny mouth looked like a crimson rosebud. * How pertectly lovely!” “Onan you tell them apart, nurse?” As the ladies whispered ond gazed with eyes of admiration on the picture of sleeping innocence, the nurse, not wishing to have her treasures disturbed, signed to the guests to withdraw. ‘“T remained up here on purpose to see that nothing went wrong,’ she said, with quiet dignity. ‘‘There are two under nurses, but I let the giddy things go down with the other servants. I will not have the children disturbed,” ** Are they delicate?” asked o motherly looking woman, “They have never had a pain or ache.” “Do you know them apart?” ‘Yos; Miss Meta’s eyes are a shade darker than Miss Sibyl’s,”” “ Metal What an old-fashioned name!" “She is named for Mrs, Decker’s mother.” “‘T suppose they are dreadfully spoiled?” «They are the sweetest little darlings I ever took care of, and T have nursed a great many,” said the nurse, looking rather in- dignant that any one should be bold enough to suggest any disparagement of her treasures. “ How their parents must love them!” “They do. They idolizo them. I havo, ss I just said, lived ina great many families, but I never meta family that were so devoted to each other as this,” “Mr, Decker is an Englishman, is he not?” “T donot know, madam, His wife is a Chicago lady, the daughter of Mr, Dowling, who is o great railroad king.” “Yes, so I’ve heard. Well, good-night, nurse,’ That night Mrs. Decker wore jewels that were the envy of many of the richest ladies in Newport. Her gown of pale yel- low lace was trimmed with sprays of pink carnations, and her ornaments were pink Neapolitan coral set with diamonds. Her husband was devoted to her; he was a handsome man, o€ courtly manner. An elderly gentleman assisted in entertaining the guests. “ Who is the old man?” inquired a stranger. ‘* He is Mr. Decker’s uncle, Mr. Lohn,” “Tt seems to me I've seen that old man somewhere.” ‘© And it seems to me Pve seen Mr. Decker somewhere,” said another guest, a famous doctor, ‘Yes, 1 remember the occe- sion. I attended his funeral somewhere, years ago.” A laugh greeted this remark. ‘The doctor joined in the merri- ment, but still his face wore a puzzled look. “ Attended his funeral?” “Phat is what I said. He was married to a girl I was once in love with myself, Louise Van Stretten.” “But, doctor, what do you mean?” asked a lady who had Iit- tle sense of humor. ‘« Tf I were a theosophist I should say that our gallant hosf, comicbooks.com