isa-normaladvance-1909-00039

Description:	THE NORMAL ADVANCE39native city were baffled in their efforts to discover any cause for her gradual fading away,as her spirits drooped. Her university careerhad been successful but they knew nothing ofour love. Pure and holy it had been before myattention was absorbed in biological problems.Then she was neglected, forgotten, until I received the startling news of her death.All these events passed before my vision tonight. My brain burned. I looked about theroom, bare and desolate. An old box for achair and a table, leaning against the wall forsupport, constituted the most important furnishings. On this table were the few meagerwriting appliances I was able to afford. Onthe walls there hung but one ornament—herpicture. This I had treasured through all mydownfall, and her large brown eyes seemed tolook into mine as I cast a glance toward thatsainted face.My past came before me as in a panorama.I saw Jack, the pride of his home town, theyoung church leader and exhorter in the quaintMethodist church—Jack, the honor graduateof old Ferndale High School. I saw him as hebade adieu to friends and loved ones as he leftfor Wesley College. Could it be possible thatthat innocent lad was myself? I saw him complete his college career—saw the gradual forgetting of the world in the interest of libraryand laboratory.Next came the University. I saw Jack, andobserved what a change had come over himsince leaving Ferndale. He became popular atonce with his professors and could but impatiently spare time from the laboratory for eating and sleeping. And this was I—and here Ilaughed a hollow, mocking laugh to think ofwhat I once had been.A change came over the spirit of mydream. I saw Myrtle as she attended my lecture on the development of the of the sinusj venosus in the lower marine species. It wasI a popular disquisition before the Calliopeani Literary Society. Myrtle was interested,I and remained after the close of the session to1 make further inquiries. It was the old, oldstory. Heaven must have meant us. for one.Why detail the steps by which our affectiongrew? What college student has not been soseized at some time in his course?It seemed that my redemption was won—thatmy lost sympathy for humanity would comeflooding back. My acquaintances were surprised to find that, after all, I was not the oldfossil they had surmised, but a real man, made,even as themselves, of true flesh and blood, andall ruled by a heart as tender as ever beat inhuman breast.Professor Blouster, however, proved my un-doing. All will recall the excitement a fewyears ago when the experiments to rear seaurchins from unfertilized eggs were being madein our American universities. Dr. Blouster waslost—absorbed in the work, and I was his soleassistant. Day and night we labored with allthe ghoulish fervency of a Frankestein. Forgot was Myrtle. I had my meals carried to mein the laboratory. I slept there and for weekswould see no one, as the consummation of thisgreat scientific task was all that my mind comprehended. I was intoxicated with the idea.Myrtles was a delicate and sensitive con-sitution. Her whole life had been poured outin love for me—for me, do you understand, forme, the drunken, debauched wretch, who in afew hours at best must plunge into the unknown blackness of a hopeless death. As narrated above, her spirits drooped. Two months,then three passed, and still the laboratoryclaimed my attention. Only a little daily exercise was taken, and that at night, lest Ishould meet some one and have my mind distracted from the subject of my labors.At last those labors were successful. All thescientific world was electrified by the results.Dr. Blouster gave me full credit for my sharein the experiments and my success in lifeseemed assured. Now, that the strain was over,I hastened to inform Myrtle of what had transpired. Friends broke the news to me of herfading away. Her angel spirit was far tootender for the rude blows of life and her seraphsisters had called her home.
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/34069
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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