Democratic Sentinel, Volume 11, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 May 1887 — IN THE REALM OF SCIENCE. [ARTICLE]

IN THE REALM OF SCIENCE.

BY S. M. JKLLEY.

Like many other young women, not yet out of their teens, I was, through financial misfortune, thrown upon my own resources for a livelihood. By dint of steady piactice I mastered stenography, became a proficient type-writer, and subsequently secured a lucrative position as private secretary to Mr. Banks, senior partner of Banks, Price Co., publishers. Last summer, during the fine weather, I found it pleasanter to walk home, instead of riding in the crowded street cars, and usually at five o’clock I donned iny hat and gloves and stalled on mj - little journey. My attention was directed to a gentleman of clerical appearance whom I frequently met at a certain corner. Tall, of fine form and pleasing address, he was noticeable among the stream of commonplace humanity one meets upon a city thoroughfare. As the days wore on, the constant meeting with this stranger became a matter of course, and I ceased to wonder at it; and, in truth, so familiar was his face that I experienced a sense of disappointment when, occasionally, I failed to meet him. He was some professional man, I thought, whose business hours were over about the time mine were, and our ways were opposite. One day our eyes met, and I was startled at the peculiar brilliancy of his. They were blue, shaded by heavy, white lashes, and a curious, lambent, tiny flame seemed to scintillate in them. He seemed to regard me with pleasure, for a light smile lighted up his intellectual features, yet his manner was so respectful that I did not resent the liberty, and went on my way with a vague wish to form his acquaintance. Two weeks later, while busy with my type-writer, my silent acquaintance was ushered into Mr. Banks' office. His name was Robert Sutherland, and his business with my employer concerned the publication of a ponderous manuscript upon nervous diseases and their connection with insanity. In a low, well-bred voice he carried on a rapid conversation, displaying profound knowledge of medicine and deep research in the mysteries of human ailments. Apparently engrossed in my work, I paid strict attention to the conversation, and happening to look up I found him gazing at me. Again the queer expression of his eyes arrested my attention. He smiled distantly, and slightly inclined his head in a deferential salute. In a few minutes the interview was ended, and he departed. In a few days he had further business with Mr. Banks, and an introduction followed, as portions of his manuscript were to be put through my type-writer, as Mr. Sutherland revised it. I found him courteous and pleasant, and as I progressed with the work we became quite friendly. Upon examining a roll of closely written sheets, I found an envelope addressed to me. It read as follows: Miss Oba Olney—Pardon my seeming forwardness in thus coming to you, but I can think of no other agreeable method of approach. I earnestly wish for a batter acquaintance, and with the desire to obtain such, also to afford you some diversion, will you do me the honor to take a park drive, to-morrow evening, with yours sincerely, etc. ? Robert Sutherland.

My surprise was unbounded. After thinking the matter over I decided to accept his invitation. He met me at the street door ot the office, and for two hours I was well entertained. The park was in full foliage, the air was balmy and pleasant, and when he lifted me to the pavement, at home, I thanked him cordially for the pleasure I had enjoyed. After his departure I remembered that his eyes seemed to glitter whenever our arms came in contact, or our hands accidentally touched. Deeming it of little moment, I dismissed the thought from my mind. The drive was followed by a request to go with him to see Mary Anderson, in “Pj’gmalion and Galatea.” Evening fell with a storm of wind and rain. He came in his coupe, and within its closed doors we were secure from the boisterous elements. Suddenly I discovered that we were again in the park! I turned to my companion in alarm and asked: “Why have you driven so far out of the way?” “I thought it would be more pleasant within the gloomy shadows of the park,” he replied, quietly. At that instant his face was illumined by an electric light, and I »iw his eyes gleam and glitter as if they were huge diamonds. My heart stood still in horror. An insidious fear crept through my veins, and a mad impulse prompted me to fling open the glass doors of the coupe and leap to the ground. As though he divined my thoughts, he said: “Keep your seat. It is wet and muddy, and, besides, we are far from the park entrance.” “Mr. Sutherland,”! replied, summoning all mv courage, and speaking with as much decision as possible, “you will do me the favor to leave the park at once and drive to my home.” “Drive you home! Ha, ha! That is far from my intentions. Miss Ora, can you ima-.’iue why I have brought you here tout ht?” It flashed upon me that he was insane. The curious appearance of his eyes was

nothing more or less than an indication ot madness, and with all the proverbial cunning of a chaotic brain he had plann* d some horrible deed, and selected me as hie victim. What should I do? My danger was imminent, and 1 must act instantly. “Certainly I do not, sir; but it seems to me this portion of the park is too dark to drive in without danger of overturning»our conveyance; don’t you think so?” “Perhaps it is, so I will turn to the drive further to the left,” said he. The rain began to fall faster and the wind blew in wilder gusts. Occasional flashes of lightning added a painful item to my surroundings, but they enabled me to see that we were now on a drive which led to the main entrance of the park. “Are you afraid now?” he asked, and I noticed he had observed where we were. “Afraid! Why should I fear when with you?” “That’s right. I knew you were not afraid of me. lam your only protector tonight. But see my instruments!” he said, producing a flat leather case, such as surgeons carry. “They came from Paris. When we get to that light yonder, you can examine them.” In a few moments he had stopped before an electric lamp. Quickly opening the case he displayed to my hoi rifled gaze a set of fine surgical instruments. “Are they not beauties?” he queried, turning his brilliant eyes upon me. “I think they are very fine,” I replied, with a sickening dread creeping over me. Nerving myself to appear calm, I continued, “But what use can they be to you to -night? lam quite certain you will not need them.” “Let me explain something to you,” he said, in a most earnest way. His restless manner vanished and bis demeanor calmed vnto that of a scholar about to convey valuable secrets of long study and laborious years of toil. “For years I have spent time and money in the effort to wrest a secret from the depths of nature, and at last I have a clear conception of that which 1 have striven so arduously to gain. I have made the most wonderful d scoveiy in the realm of science, and to-nignt I will piove it—prove it to you and the world! 1 will be the greatest benefactor the world has ever known! Listen. There are nerves which lead to certain centers of the brain. These centers govern certain faculties. The nerves I speak of are in double sets of twos, threes, fours, and fives, each set balancing and serving as a check upon the other. “My discovery is that by cutting the nerves of a set so as to allow the corresponding set only to act on the brain, the faculty governed by that set of nerves will develop prodigiously. Thus, you see, if I cut the set of nerves whose office is to hold your sense or faculty of right in check, in a little while you will be powerless to do a wrong act, because that faculty will control you perfectly through its increased power.” As he rapidly went over his jargon I sought in vain to attract attention without creating a scene. I determined to spring from the coupe, scream for help and make the best of my way to the park entrance. Silently I placed my hand on the fastening of the coupe doors—it was firmly locked. “Now, Miss Ora, I wish to make you the best woman on earth. I have brought you here to-night to verify, by experiment, that m.v secret is destined to make mankind better and nobler.” His eyes sparkled and moved about in their sockets with marvelous quickness. The man seemed surcharged with excitement, and 1 momentarily grew more and more unable to withstand the strain upon my nerves. A thought came to me. “I believe I have a nervous chill,” I said, with a convulsive shiver. “I am subject to them, and, if not attended to at once, I suffer severely. Have you your med;cine„ case with you?” He turned and regarded me strangely, and appeared astonished. “No, I have not," he replied; “but your condition will seriously interfere with my experiment.” “Can we not wait until to-morrow night?” I quickly responded, with eager hope pulsating in my breast. “Will you promise to keep my secret?” he asked, cautiously. “I promise faithfully.” “And, when you have realized the greatness of my discovery, will you become my wife?” “I give you my word that I will do so, Mr. Sutherland.” Without a word further on the subject, he spoke to the horse and we were on our way home. He said but little, and seemed to be thinking intently. Arriving at my steps, he unlocked the door and assisted me to alight. “Remember your promise,” he whispered, gazing steadily into my face with his bright, restless eyes. “I will?’ I replied, and bounded up the steps. lie mistrusted my actions, for I heard him spring after me. In a trice I opened the door and closed it, the spring lock making it secure. I heard a muttered curse, and all grew dark. I had fainted. The morning papers contained an account of the arrest of an insaue man found wandering in the streets, whose name was Robert Sutherland; but they did not relate my terrible experience in the park.