Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1896-09-03

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| hide 4 harmless fraud?" he went on
after a look at the harmless ola man
N came to see your treasures to while
away the time till night should come
and | could drown myself decently'
without compelling you TO entreat
me without making you olash TOT II
and without giving you so much as
French centime," said the old man |
viii make you richer, more powefin'
and OF more consequence than con-
stitutonal king
"rurn round said the merchant,
suddenly catching up the lamp in or'er
to light up the opposite wall; 'looF al
that leathern skin" he went on
The young man rose abruptly anu
showed some surprise at the sisht Oh
niece of shagreen which hung on the
wall behind his chair. Il was only
about the size of fox's skin, but II
seemed to fill the deep shadows OF the
Mace with such brilliant rays that y
looked like a small comet, an appear
ance al first sight inexplicable, Inc
young skeptic went up to this so-calieu
taIisman. which was to rescue nm
from his woes, with scoffng phrase
in his thoughts. He had no wish 10
carry one more puzzle to his grave ana
hastily turned the skin over like some
cbitd eager to find out the mysteries
of a new toy.
"Ah" he cried, here is the marx OF
the seal which they call in the East the
signet Of Solomon
The mysterious words we're thus ar
ranged zoe,
POSSESSING ME THOU SHALT POS
sESs All. THINGS, BUT LIFE Is
NINE FOR GOD HAS so
WIl,LED IT. WISH, AND
WISHES SHALL BE Full
FILLED; BUT MEASURE
THY DESIRES ACCORDING
TO THE LIFE THAT IS IN
THEE.
THIS IS THY LIFE.
WITH EACH WISH MUST
SHRINK EVEN AS THY
OWN DAYS. WILT THOU
HAVE ME? TAKE ME.
GOD WILL HEARKEN UN-
TO THEE. SO BE IT!
VERY good. then, life of riotous
excess for me- said the stranger
pouncing upon the piece Of shagreen'
Young man, beware cried the
other. with incredible yehemence
II wish for royal banquet q ca
rouse worthy OF this century, which, II
is said. has brought everything to per-
fectionr
DO you imagine that my floors are
going to open suddenly, so that luXu-
riously appointed tables may rise
through them and guests from another
world? No, no, young madcap You
have entered into the compact now,
and there Is an end Of il. Hencefor-
ward your wishes will be accurately
fulfilled, but at the expense Of your
life.
II shall soon see. sir, II any change
comes over my fortunes in the time 1t
takes to cross the width of the quay.
He fled with the haste OF robber
caught in the act Blinded by a kind
of delirum he did not even notice the
unexpected Aexibfifty Of the piece Of
shagreen. which coiled itself up, plant
III i glove tn his excited fingers. tin II
would 90 in the pocket Of his coat,
where he mechanically thrust 1t. AS he
rushed out OF the door into the street
he ran up against three young men
,,.nro ,asgfTg apTA In arm
why, it is Raphael
Good! We we're looking for you
Emile said eagerly.
"Taillefer, our amphitryon, has un
dertaken 10 surpass the circumscribed
saturnalias Of the petty modern Lucul-
lus He Is rich enough to infuse pomp
into trihes and pomp and style and
charm into dissipation Are
you listening, Raphael asked the or
ator, interrupting himself
Yes" answered the young man, less
surprised by the accomplishment Of his
wishes than by the natural manner in
which the events had come about.
He could nor bring himself to believe
iii magic. but he maryeled at the acct
dents ~ human fate.
The anxious popularity Of a man who
Is eXpendng two thousand crowns sat
on their host A yaletde-chambre in
llack opened the doors of vast din
ing room, whittier every one went
without ceremony and took his place
nj am enormous IA hfp
Raphael took last look around tho
room before he left tt His wish had
hsnn realized ~ the full
raluefer made i point II stimulating
HIS guests and piled them with the for
mdahle wines of the Rhone, the fierce
rokay and heady old Roussillon
A time came when the footmen
smiled while their masters al talked
at once 4 philosopher would have
been interested. doubtless. by the SIM
enhrity ~ the thoughts expressed a
politician would have been amazed by
the ncougruty of the methods ais
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