The Press., 1891-06-18
ALI.

ADulIeOa. luUO Ju0 COH0TS OI HIS pr0Uo- cessors the wealth of the east had been poured with most unsparing hand, and the magnificent ''City of the Enchant- ress" was not only the "Abode of Peace" " but a splendid jewel in the Empire of the Faithful
 Of all the caliphs of this wonderful city since Almansor, its founder, no two had blessed or cursed the world with the same idea of what 1t was necessary that man should do to enjoy life in this world, and at death to be worthy of a place among the dark eyed damsels and beautiful youths of the gardens of Paradise.
 The magnificent Almamoun scattered his inestimable wealth in the greatest contrast with the abstemiousness and frugality of the mighty Omar; and the Haroun-el Raschid of Bagdad is vastly different from the Akbah. whose fanatic advance only the heaving waves of the Atlantic were able to hinder.
 The Caliph Abulfeda had succeeded his father, whose desire to gather the gold of the then known world into Bag. dad, without expending it for any pur. pose, had put the youthful prince tc many disadvantages, and fostered in him the desire to do otherwise when he would succeed to the mantle of the prophet. Therefore when his own sons were choosing their ends or pleasures the Caliph Abulfeda was always ready to forward or indulge them.
 Among the youngest of his many chil dren was Ali. For years he had brooded over and planned on the idea of won derful edifce that he hoped in time to construct. Of all the magnificent struc lures it had been his privilege as a son o the Commander of the Faithful to see none was in all things the perfection O which the young prince dreamed, There fore, on the death of his father, the prince began the building of the long de ferred happiness.
 In time there arose on the banks O. the river the most wonderful architect ural dream that even that magic ag' and that wonderful city had produced Yet to the prince 1t was unfinished something was yet lacking to make i the abode of perfect pleasure.
 One evening the prince was sannter ing along one of the most magnificent O. the curiously carved arcades of the pal ace when a voice called his name:
 ''Prince Ali! son of Abulfeda! Prince Ali! son of Abulfeda" .s..
 The young prince glanced quickly around on all sides, but beheld no one except the silent sentinels on guard around the palace and the picturesque horsemen that, at little distance, rode slowly back and forth as safeguards against approaching danger.
 Again came the voice:
 ssPrince Ali, son of Abulfeda! Prince Ait son of Abulfedap' H:
 Quick as flash the prince drew tht splendidly ornamented and equally splen didly tempered blade at his side ant stood ready to face any opponent.
 But 1t was unnecessary. Before hin stood an old man, bowed and Whitenet by the sorrows and trials of many years His dress and manner also distinguished him as belonging to some other period.
 "Prince Ali! son of Abulfeda!' he began.
 ''I am," assented Prince Ali, scarcely knowing whether to tower up to his full height and answer with the pride he fel in his noble name, or acknowledge hi inferiority before a higher power.
 "I know you, know you," answered the aged man. q knew your honoret father and your fathers fathers, and"- supernatural expression spreading ovel his visage-'and I stood side by side with the prophet himself in many ; dearly won fight with the enemies O the only true belief. But l wronget him. I did him an injustice, and there fore is my slumber in the tomb dis turbed. When the Commander of thu Faithful, or one of his children, has al earnest longing or desire, I, or some other who has wropged the prophet, i called from the tomb, in answer to theil prayers.
 'Prince Ali! son of Abulfelal Wha is thy desire?'
 The prince thereupon began at tn birth of his hope for the possession of al architectural wonder, and related all un til it's completion.
 "I understand I understandw criet the old man, slowly beckoning the princ' to silence. "You have exhausted you worldly knowledge in attempting to sue ceed to happiness, in gratifying your de sire, and have failed? Is it not as say?
 Ut is," answered the prince, ''and now yearn for something beyond tn power of man to accomplish or under stand"
 s'Be it then as you desire," answered the aged father. s'Behold this staff. Asl not from whence it came, nor discove the mystery to any living man, until return for it's possession" | The prince took the staff and looked i curiously over, but nothing extraordi nary occurred. Seeing his expectanc, the aged man continued:
 'The followers of the good man Jesus whom the Christians believe, and tn worshipers of the stars and moon, an, the clements, and other works and dc ings of the one and only God-for ther is but one God, and Mohammed is hi prophet-haye images beautiful to be hold, yet far from the handiwork of tn creator. To us is forbidden such i'm ages. Would you fill the structure 70, have built with more wonderful images beyond the construction or understand ing of mankind"
 "I would! I wouldr' exclaimed tn prince, delighted with the expectation.
 ''The power is in your hand" an swered the strange visitor, and vanished
 For several minutes the prince stoo, as if awakened from dream. But no long, for just at that moment 8 youn girl, favorite with the prince, came ol tiptoe behind him. Noiselessly, as tn soft breeze that scarce moved the dar hair that fell uncontrolled over her whit shoulders, she crept up, and was about t clasp her small hands over his eyes when the prince, seeing the shadow, an