Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-12-08
THE LOVE POTION.

themselves. A man had fallen in love
with woman aud the woman had 20
in the least fallen in love with the
man, for when he, looking particularly
handsome, pleaded his cause with her,
she said MOI
And then the young man communed
with himself. He had read in the learn
ed books that women are by nature coy.
and that their mo" not infrequently
meant yes. So he waited three
months, then again entreated. and again
she refused
Further meditation showed him that
it was absolutely essential that he
should marry this woman. II was i'm
possible to live without her. If the gods
gave him all else and denied him that
then there would be no pleasure in any
OF their gifts. This being So he thought
OF ways and methods by which woman
might be attracted. The first that he
tried was brilliance and martial achieve
ments At thai remote period there was
always war handy for those who
wished to distinguish themselves in
this way, and the man went into the
war. After long waiting he got his OPP
portunity and came out of il unscathed
and with magnificent record for cour-
age and skill aud endurance Adorned
with the equivalent of the Victoria
Cross prevalent at that time, he return
ed TO the house of his ladylove, but she
would not see him
He was equally unsuccessful when he
IL q
er. All his wealth and all his long
trains of slaves impressed her not at all
He bored her very badly
Then in pair and no longer trust
ing To his own resources, be determined
TO take counsel of woman that liveY,
seven days journey away. He went on
his pilgrimage on foot. and because he
could not sleep nor weary himself he
made the journey in four days. The
wise woman was old and gray and sat
huddled up in an untidy parcel. When
she saw him approaching, she stretched
out lean hand.
81 know, she said, "for what you
have come You desire the lady of your
love
Eyes, " he answered, II desire that
and nothing else / desire that at any
price. What would you have me do,
what would you have me give your"
Then he showed her the equivalent
of his handbook prevalent at that time,
and she went over it with care. But
she said that she would take everything
all that he had-all his treasure, all his
slaves-and in return she would give
him a love phiter. Then he most cheer
fully made over to her, by the equiva-
lent of "A deed of gift prevalent at that
time, the whole of his possessions, and
she placed in his hands a cup Of green
jade containing liquid that was as
clear as water and that shone in the
dark as though j. had been fire.
"See, she said, that the lady of
your love drinks of this Then will she
love you; you only you, with her
whole heart you forever
Then he began his journey home
again. And by this time be was fain to
sleep and weary in all his limbs. But
for his great longing to win the love of
the woman he still went on by night
and day. And as he travelled by night
the liquid in the green jade cup gave
him light to guide his footsteps But at
the last sleep would no longer be denied
He stretched himself ON the sand
whole hour, with the cup of green jade
standing at his head And as he slept
the only person that ever came into his
dreams came into them once more-the
woman whom he loved. And in the
drq1n1 II m Nnst
ing TO see me- -
he answered : Yes. And now at
last have | the means to overcome your
hatred TO me and to turn it into such
love as myself have for you and ever
shall have.
She then said:
You have been TO the wise woman,
and you have bought from her a love
philter that she alone can make. "
Yes he said For the liquid
cleaning like fire in its cup 1 have Civ
Ell all my possessions Do you doubt its
power?"
mo, she answered, Il doubt il not
Ii l drink thereof | shall love you for
ever only il will not be l, and il will
not be you.
~ do not understand - he said
If l love you not now and love you
after | have drunk of this cup, then it
is because the philter and not you has
made the change in me- 1t is a trick,
poor deception by which you will try to
fool yourself and me. -
"Then, he said, better this unhap-
piness than that happiness, and pour
ed the philter into the sand.
And when he awoke the cup was in
deed overturned, and the thirsty sand
had drunk the precious liquid to the
last drop. So, having no longer any hope.
he went back on his way home.
And as he approached the house where
the woman whom he loved lived, she
came down the steps toward him, hold
ing out both her hands.
81 watched for you from the win
dow, she said "A few nights ago [
dreamed of you, strange dream. You
lay in the sands asleep. have watched
ever since. Barry Pain.
For His Fathers Sake.