Smyrna times., 1902-01-08

construction or understanding of man.
kind?"
II would, wOuldr exclaimed the
prince, delighted with the expectation.
The power is in your hand an-
swCred the strange visitor and van
ished.
For several minutes the prince stood
us if awakened from dream. but not
long, for just ut that moment Il young
girl. favOrite with the prince. came
on tiptoe behind him. Noiselessly as
the soft breeze that scarce moved the
dark hair that fell uncontrolled over
her white shoulders she crept up and
was about to clasp her small hands
over his eyes when the prince, seeing
the shadow and excited by the strange
visitor who had just left him. wheeled
suddenly around and in doing so touch
ed the laughing girl with his staff.
As statue of the whitest marble she
stood before him.
AS the prince stood wondering at the
magic power of the apparently c"m-
mOnpIace staff courier approached in
all haste with a message from Il dis
tant province governed by very dear
friend of Prince Ali.
The brCathleSs messenger fell on his
face before the prince. and after Sa
laaming after the manner ct the day
and recovering breath enough to speak
he begged the pardon of the prince for
first eXacting Il promise of secrecy in
regard to the matter upon which he
had been sent. it being his masters
special order
In his anxiety the prince raised the
hand that held the staff and placed it
on the shoulder of the exhausted mes
senger. and he. too. was marble.
AS the days went by the palace filled
with strange image and the pOSscssOI
of the wonderful staff began to Ion.
| for the supernatural donor. The pos
| sessijn of his gift began to be weight
| and each image added to the palace
was weight added to the burden OF
! its r,ll2r %till the loIgcd for visitor
came not.
At EsT. when the prince w"s almost
driven 70 madness. his strange visitor
! agail appeared Before he could ask Il
| Question OF the descendant of the great
MahmOud the staff was thrust into his
hands. and he was prayed by the mem
cry of the great leader to restore to
life the silent images that. instead of
adorning. east Il gloom over the palace.
lis that not hcautiful:' asked the
strange visitor pointing to the figure
of the mi*cltiav0uS girl favorite. Look
IL, inn
into lHuEAttr
"It is h-nrticul. rIost beautiful" an
swercd the prince. but her laugh
would J." 10 M M re beautiful than
all"
"And that" exclaimed the aged man
Look how natural that courier is
about to relate his message
Most uatural. most natural" sishe(
the pri2cr. "hut the unspokcn message
is locked in thH; marble breast"
To several others the strange visito
drew the shrinking prince and com
mpnted on the peculiar beauty Of each
But the prince could MT be diverted
from the melancholy that possessed
him.
: Take thema away! Take themaway!
exclaimed the prince. Leave my pal
ace as it was, and will be happy, pei
> fectly happy
'Be it as you say" answered tn
= aged man. and profit by the lesson"
' There was Il slight rustic in tn
e courts of the palace, and when it pass
ed all was as it had been. Even tn
4 strange visitor himself was gone.
/ The palace of Prince Ali of Bagda
: stood for ages as it was erected. eXcpT
+ this inscription over the main entrance
p ALL, son OF AEULFEDA. TO THE PRINCE
OF THE WORLD.
There is no pleasure where the happiness of
fellow creature is endangered. nor is there love
ness in anything where there is either adding
} or taking from the handiwOrk of the Most Hi
9 God.