Fenswood and the Great Air Lens [pp. 250-256]

Fensw-ood and the Great Air Lens
At this stage our active and enthusiastic assistant, Lady Fenswood, was compelled to leave us, her sister having sent
an urgent request for her presence in a
sudden illness which had befallen her. It
was with double regret that she left the
scene, first exacting from us the promise
of frequent bulletins, and it was upon the
very day of her departure, as night was
falling, that the anxiously expected package arrived, being delivered by messenger,
in obedience to Lord Fenswood's orders.
After dispatching a message to that effect
to Lady Fenswood, we hurried with the
precious package to the observatory, with
what intense excitement and expectancy
the reader may vainly try to realize. On
our arrival Lord Fenswood at once turned
on the current, and, Jupiter being already
in good position, announced, in a voice
which trembled with the emotion he could
not control, that he would direct the telescope to the great planet, for this, the first
fruition of the most wonderful and
astounding achievement that science has
yet attained.
I watched with bated breath, my heart
beating like a trip-hammer, as he seated
himself in the observing-chair of that
Titanic mass of mechanism.
What would he see? What deepest of
Nature's secrets might not bare themselves
for this. the first time, to human eye?
This mighty engine of science, what
amazing knowledge might it bring us
from those far-distant realms of space?
The great mystery was now to be solved,
and answered fully. While these thoughts
were running through my mind he was
still occupied with the adjustment of the
focus, and I could no longer restrain my
impatience.
"What is it? What is the matter?"
I asked, impetuously. "Is anything
wrong?"
"I cannot get a focus," he replied;
"there is something wrong-I know not
what." Hie left the chair and examined
different parts of the electrical mechanism but could find nothing wrong, and
then began a careful and systematic overhauling of all the apparatus.
Every few moments he went to the telescope, but each time was met with disap
pointment. The hours passed. We were
almost in despair. Everything had been
carefully examined, and was seemingly in
perfect order.
"I cannot understand it at all," he exclaimed at length passionately, and turned
back once again to the apparatus he had
devised for governing the current.
"Ah, thank God! here it is," he suddenly exclaimed.
"What is it?" I asked at his elbow.
"Never mind, I won't waste time explaining," he answered, and proceeded to
quickly make some adjustments in the
mechanism he had been examining.
"Now, thank Heaven, everything is
right." He hurried to the telescope.
But by this time, for it was now past
midnight, Jupiter was almost at the
zenith, and, for the time, beyond reach of
the giant tube. Mars, however, had risen
in the mean time, and was now in fair
view through the slide already open. Lord
Fenswood at once directed the tube
toward the brightly shining planet, quickly. seated himself, and, with trembling
hand adjusted the focus. I involuntarily
held my breath.
That old, old world, where all our problems must ages ago have worked themselves out to their inevitable ends,-where,
if there be any truth whatsoever in evolution, must be intelligence as vastly exceeding ours as ours exceeds that of the lowliest mundane organism-Oh Heavens,
what would he see? A moment of silence,
and a cry of astonishment, almost of fear,
broke from his lips.
"My God," he muttered, "can it be
true? I cannot doubt! It is true!"
"For God's sake," I cried, utterly unable longer to restrain myself, "tell me
something! What do you see? Tell me,
for Heaven's sake!"
He scarcely listened, so absorbed was he
in the glorious vision set before him. At
length he began absently, in an almost inaudible voice, "I see,-yes, I do see truly.
What incredible works!" he broke off
abruptly, "what master-minds! what stupendous intelligence! I cannot believe my
own eyes."
I listened with such trembling eagerness
as is not to be described, to these disjointed
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