The herald., 1898-11-10
THE Love POTION

Once, in remote lime and place, inc M
terials of the usua| novel presented tne"
selves. A man h4 fallen in love WIN
woman and the wman had not IN tne ,'Ss'
fallen in love wit the man. So, wnen nc,
looking particularly handsome, pieaoea "'-
cause with her, he said, mo. ..,
Then the younf man communea WIN n
self. He had real in the learned BOOKS Inae
women are by nature coy, and thaS snslI
no" not infreqiently meant yes 90 ns
waited three months, then again enerestea
and again she efused.
Further mediation showed him that IL
was absolutely essential that he shos!o
marry this wman. 1t was impossible TO
live without Ter. If the gods gave him Az
else and denid 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 thing tht he tried was brilliance and
martial achivements. At that remote
period there WIS always war handy for
those who wished to distinguish them
selves in this way, and the man went into
the war. After LONG waiting he got his op-
portunity and came ot of it unscathed and
with a magnificent recod for courage and
skill and endurance Adorned with tho
equivalent of the Victoria cross prevalent
at that time, he returned to he house OF
his lady love and she would not sle him.
He was equally unsuccessful whip he held
out to her the allurements of pJEer. All
his wealth and all his long trailb OF slaves
impressed her not at ALL lie b0ed her very
sadly
Then, in despair, and no | hger trusting
to his own resources, he determined to take
counsel of a woman who l4ed seven days
journey away. He went oj his pilgrimage
on foot, and because he cofld not sleep nor
weary himself he made the journey in four
days. The wise woman vas old and gray,
and sat huddled up in an untidy parcel.
When she saw him approaching she
stretched out a 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 l desire that at any price.
What would you hJve me do, what would
you have me give Jou?'
Then he showed her the equivalent OF hia
bank book 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 love philter Then
he most cheerfully made over to her, by the
equivalent of a deed of gift prevalent Mt
that time the whole of his possessions and
she placed in his hands cup of green jade
containing a liquid that was as clear as
water, and that shone in the dark as though
it had been fire.
"See," she said, "that the lady of your love
drinks of this. Then she will love you; you
only; you, with her whole heart, you for
ever"
Then he began his journey home again,
And by this time he 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 foot
steps, But at last sleep would no longer be
denied. He stretched himself on the sand
whole hour, with his cup of green jade
standing at his head. And as he slept the
only person that ever came into his dreami
came into them once more-the woman
whom he loved. And in the dream she
said 10 him, "You are coming to see me"
He answered.: Eyes. And now at last
have the means to overcome your hatred
to me, and to turn it into such love a.
myself have for you and ever shall have"
She then said:
"You have been to the wise woman, and
you have bought from her love philte,
that she alone can make"
| "Yes," he said. 'For the liquid cleaning
like fire in its cup i have given all my pos
sessions. Do you doubt its power"
"No," she answered, 81 doubt it not. /
drink thereof l shall love you forever
only it will not be !, and it will not be you.
81 do not understand" he said.
"If / love you not now and love you aftel
I have drunk of this cup, then it is becaus,
the philter and not you has made the chang,
in me. 1t is trick, a poor deception By
which you will try to fool yourself and me.
"Then," he said, "better this unhappi
ness than that happiness" And he pouret
the philter into the sand.
And when he awoke the cup was indeed
overturned, and the thirsty sand had drunl
the precious liquid to the last drop. 81
having no longer any hope, he went bacl
on his way home.
And as he approached the house wher
the woman whom he loved lived, she cam
down the steps toward him, holding on
both her hands.
81 watched for you from my window,
she said. "a few nights ago I dreamed o
you, az strange dream. You lay in tn,
sands asleep. l have watched ever since.
Harry Pain in Chicapo Times Herald