The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-07-25
THE ENCHANTED b.


to see a great light amona y Won y
where there was no hou
his horse, he saw the gronns rom, "
vacant space between t~S opss
trees. Steps of stone led u, A. M
great iron doors, THROUGH v ssa
ed the lights which had Al s ~
him. As he looked, a woman y a, 9
dressed in white, came ~ s y
holding baskets which thew y @
fully covered. This man =. ~
looked neither to the rioS ny
Neither did they seem to l'It y n. %
but came toward Count (lI;sa
slow, gliding motion.
Count Oliffe was terribly ~.
A cold perspiration started =.
his knees bent under him. ~ w Y
knowing what he did, he cal M
loud voice, "Who are YOU and y
you doing here?'' ~
Instantly the figures yanish.a.
the steps, the opening, and Il,
Count Oliffe rode around and ~
two great oaks; but the crounS ~ \
no trace OF an opening. On y
day he came again; but az =.
He walked about the oaks ~
see no place where could Be h;sSs,
or iron doors. The birds, sss;;a'
so busy, began to clipper, snd '. \
about him.
What do you want, CONT N
said saucy young blackbird
+" Between these trees, n,
Oliffe, "is a fight Of steps iesdns
to iron doors.
4" No, that is impossible, ], III
blackbird. ST have lived he y
since | was out of the egg, apdI
never seen any steps or doom
/" Yes, it is quite impossible. y u,
all the birds. "The oldest IL
in the forest has never heard n \
thing"
Oliffe went home sad and diss,,
ed. He could think Of nothinch,,
he had seen; and he used to m
day, and ride every night, thvoa
forest, hoping TO see the wonderhS
again.
One night, riding home unsucs
as usual, he met an owl as late 4
self.
Halo, comrade!n cried lie !,
81 meet you every night. WM
you hunting-mice or frogs7''
+" Stone steps and iron doon,s !
swered Oliffe, laughing, dare nv ]
and frogs" And he told the oHI n
he had seen.
The owl listened, looking very u
I" Yes, I KNOW said he. aWhs|
have seen is the palace Of Tin. 1
are all the treasures of the earth.
man and woman who came out n |
and Night, bringing gifts to men
"And how shall | see it agar! ~ i
Count Oliffe. 81 am determinedh1
and enter it,
The owl shook his head.
/" To find it, Count Oliffe, you I
only wait by the great oak tree until
ground opens. Then you must vail
Day and Night come forth, and ku
full to say nothing. Afterthst, q u
the steps boldly; but at the iron i
there sits a giant with the keys. b.
that you listen to nothing, and dos
ing before Selling the keys
elf that is all, that is easy enOq
answered Oliffe.
"Not so easy as you think, " sod
owl, flying away.
Count Oliffe rode to the two
and dismounted. There be waited .
hours till the ground opened, ind
man and woman came forth % "
He watched them in silence, and
boldly down the steps. At theta
the steps sat a fat, jolly giant, 80
a pipe, while the keys Of the =
hung loosely in his girdle.
/" Give me the keys OF the pas
said Oliffe.
!" Yes, my son." said the giant
you will first smoke a pipe viii
It has been a great many hundred
since any one has smoked with nf'
"There is no harm in that = to-
Oliffe, who thought, beside, -
should like to smoke out OF sucas !,
as the giant handed pipe with Y
of amber and a stem of gold
At first when he Jaw the doors g
palace open, he did not walk y
yet he seemed to enter. he ssw I
did halls and wonderful treasures
said to himself that he would n@
them just yet, but when he had nn
smoking his pipe.
He smoked, and smoked down
very last bit of tobacco in tne
With the last Whit the pipe tel ~
mouth and broke. The iron
swung to with a bang. the nep'
giant, and the steps vanished.
started to his feet. He was s, y.
alone in the forest, and tne ~ Z
just breaking. Something seen1ea
about himself; and. looking cos -,
saw that he had a long gray Den ~
that his clothes looked worn. =
slowly back to his castle; but g
nobody there, and nobody kne. J.
He was an old, old man. Henaa =.
the hest wears Of his life away y