, 1890-08-28

measure of his wretchedness was
realized.
Suddenly he decries woman ad.
ynncing toward him. She Is young
and beautiful, and with command,
ing air, yet gracious and kind. II
was the princess taking her daily
stroll on the roof, who, astonished
mt the sight of the youth, exclaimed,
"NVho art thou? How camest thou
herep
III am n Jew of Acco" was thu
reply. at was a bird that brought
me-"
"But you are tired and tattered. -
she continued. "Your face beara
the marks OF misery. You look
troubled and suffering. Come, tell
me your history"
He told her of his wanderings and
how he had sunk to rest In the
skeleton of an OK, and then of his
flight through the air. And she
listened entranced to the story, ad-
miring his courage and sympathiz.
ing with his sorrows. She had
him clothed In now par-
ments. Her servants bathel
and anointed him. Then his eyes
shone with n new radiance and
his whole being assumed u lovelier
aspect. AS they spoke and strolled
together kindred tastes Were re.
vealed. For the first time tho
princess realized the beauty in her
iather's words, which he had writ
ten decades before: my friend il
mine and / am his, while the
Youth as he contemplated the soil.
tary tower and the imprisoned
maiden, exclaimed with Solomon,
"a locked.up garden is my sister
bride, II locked-up spring, sealed
fountain"
The north wind blew and this
south wind blew. They loved, for
both were beautiful to each other.
and the world was before them
What should they do? Fly and seek
happiness In some distant spot far
away from the king?
"Nay, nay, belovedw she en-
claimed. "My fathers wisdom
would discover our hiding place,
and his chleftain, Benaiah, would
drag us back to Jerusalem"
"There is one resource, dearest, h,
rejoined, after pause. MARY mo
here"
"Marry you? Yes, that I will,
! the law of Israel? Where is the ink
with which to write the marriage
certiticate?"
despair not. beloved. am pre-
pared for every emergency" He
barred his arm and opening small
vein used his blood rs ink, and the
marriage was secretly solemnized
with the words: MAY God be my
witness to-day, and the angels
Michael and Gabriel"
Their spell of happiness was brief.
! The custodiaDs of the princess were
thrown into the widest consterna.
ton when they discovered what
had taken place. They stormed,
they ragged, they threatened. But
IL was too late to argue with tho
pair. No more time was to he lost
so they hastily sent the swiftest,
footed OF their number To the royal
palace and the story was soon told.
Solomon at once ordered his man.
tie TO be brought. 1t was of green
silk, interviewer with fine gold and
embroidered with images of all
kinds. He sat upon 1t, and swiftly
was borne on tine wind to the soll-
tary tower.
"Where is the youth" he cried +,
As he gained entrance, 'who has
dared marry my daughter?"
Nay, father" the princess
pleaded, "be not angry with him.
Reproach me but spare him, for
love is our master, and thou didst
write in thy Song of songs love
Is IA strong ns dcath.'"
$50 thou art the man who has
presumed to marry n princess" he
exclaimed, scorniully, as the youth
was brought to him.
80 king, be not severe. | but
Obeyed the words of Solomon
Many waters are not aDle to
quench love, nor can the rivers
flood II away"
"Who Is thy father, and where
thy dwelling placer" inquired tho
king.
III am the son of poor jew of
Acco," was the answer. "Altanar
IL his name" And the youths
heart grIeved as he thought OF his
family's poverty.
"What?' quickly rejoined the
KING, lhe son OF AltaInar Oi Acco,
the poorest mau in Israeli"
"Yes, o, king" and the youth
trembled, but regaiued his courage
as he saw the princess step forward
aud take her place proudly by his
side.
He is indeed thy husband and
my son" said Solomon, reckoning
both to approach his throne. "Thou
art the very man who the stars told
me was destined for my daughter.
Thy name, thy lineage, thy estate,
proclaim thee the same. God is the
ruler of this universe. Blessed \.
he who giveth wife to man."