Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1902-03-07

construction or UNDERSTANDING Of man.
liudT'
- would, / would. exclaimed the
prince. delighted with the expectation.
"Thc power o. ia your hand an
swered the strange visitor and van
ishei.
For several minntcs the prince stood
as lf awakened from % dream. but not
long. for Just at that moment n young
girl. d favoritc with the prince, came
on tipt0c behind him. Noiseicssly Us
the soft breeze that scarce moved the
dark hairs that fen uncontrolled over
her white shoulders she crept mp and
was about TO clasp her small hands
over hls eyes WHOM tin prince, seeing
the shadow and excited by the strange
visitor who had just LETT him, wheeled
suddenly around nnd Ca doing SO touch
cd the laughing girl with his sta0.
AS q statue Of the whitcst marble she
stood before him.
AS the prince stood wondering Mt the
magic power Of the apparently com
mouplace STAFF q courier approached In
all haste with a message from q dis
tant province governed by a very dear
friend Of Prince All.
The breathless messenger fell on his
face before the prince. and after SO
naming after the OF the day
and recovering breath enough to speak
he begged the pardon OF the prince for
first exacting a promise Of secrecy In
regard TO the matter upon which he
bad been sent. it being his masters
special order.
In bis anxiety the prince raised the
hand that held the staff and placed It
on the shoulder OF thu exhausted mes
senger. and he, too. was marble
As the days went by the palace filled
with strange Images, and the possessor
Of the wonderful staff began TO long
for the supernatural donor. The pos
session OF his gift began to be a weight.
and each image added TO the palace
was q weight added TO the burden Of
It's ruler. Still the longed for visitor
came not
st last. when the prince was almost
driven 10 madness. his strange visitor
again appeared. Before he could ask a
question Of the descendant of the great
Mahmoud the stan was thrust into his
hands, and he was prayed by the mem.
DRY of the great leader to restore to
life the silent images that. instead OF
adjoining. cast a gloom over the palace.
"ls that not beautifulY' asked the
strange visitor. pointing TO the figure
OF the mischievous girl favOrlte. Look
at the grace. he smile almost bursting
into laughter"
1T is beautiful. most beautiful" an
swered the prince, ''but her laugh
would be to me more beautiful than
ALL"
"And THAR exclaimed the aged man.
Look how natural that courier Is
about 10 relate his message!'
Most natural. most natural" sighed
the prince. but the unspoken message
is locked IN that marble breast"
To several others the strange visitor
drew the shrinking prince and com
mented on the peculiar beauty Of each
But the prince could not be diverted
from the melancholy that possessed
him.
Take themaway! Take themawayl
exclaimed the prince. Leave my pal
ace as it was, and ] will be happy. per
fcctly happy."
"Be II as you say" answered tn
aged man. and profit by the lesson"
There was a slight rustic In thu
courts OF the palace, and when II pass
cd all was ms It had been. Even tn,
strange visitor himself was gone.
The palace Of Prince Ali Of BagdaC
stood for ages as Il was erected. excep
this inscription over the main entrance
ALI. son or |ABULFEDA. TO n PRINCE
or WORLD.
There is no pleasure where the happiness Of
fellow creature g. endangered. nor Is there lowell
ness in anything where there Is either adding 6
or taking from The hsndiwork Of the Most Hig
Cod.