Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-11-25

by permission of the Reilly Britton Co.
When the child had finished eating John
said:
May 1 ask what palace this is and who
rules upon this island?
The ladies and gentlemen exchanged sig
nflcant looks and smiled. but one made an
swer. in a deferential voice:
Good sir. this is the Palace of Romance:
and have no ruler at all, each one of
our number having equal power and au-
thority with the others
1--WE pass our time said another, "in
telling of tales of romance and adventure;
and whenever a stranger comes to our pal
ace We require him to amuse us by telling
all the stories he may know"
THAT Is fair requirement" replied
John. II think 1 shall like this Palace of
Romance. although l do not know many
tales"
1.-THE more tales you know the longer you
may enjoy our palace" of the ladies
remarked. earnestly.
How is that?" asked John, surprised.
They were silent for time, and ceased
laughing. But finally one of the gentlemen
said:
"Our laws oblige US to destroy every
stranger after he has related to us all the
stories he knows. 1t grieves US very much to
tell you this but the laws cannot be changed.
and the death is very simple and without
much pain For you will be dropped through
a trap into a long slide leading to the bot
tom of the sea; and it is said there Is little
discomfort in drowning
Now, at this John looked pale and wor-
ried. and even the laughing Chick became
! thoughtful. Several of the ladies wiped
their eyes with delicate handkerchefs as If
in sorrow for their fate and the men all
sighed sympathetically.
why can we not live and join your
pleasant party?" asked John. why are
your laws so severe regarding strangers?
I'VE number exactly one hundred-ffty
ladies and fifty gentlemen was the reply.
"And. as the island Is small. large num-
! Der of people would crowd the palace and
render 1t uncomfortable We do not enttce
strangers here; but neither dare we permit
them to escape and tell the world of our
pleasant home: for then the ocean would
be white with the ships of curious people
coming to visit So, long ago, the laws
were enacted obliging us to destroy what
ever strangers CHANGED upon our retreat.
But you are in no immediate danger. AS
long as your stories last you will live; and
while you live you shall enjoy every pleas
ure our palace affords"
John tried to think how many stories he
knew through the virtue of the magic
elixir: but the startling news he had just
heard so confused his mind that it drove
all recollection of romance out of his head.
Never mind whispered Chick. 'All
stories except the true ones have to be made
up so I'll make up some. And don't you
worry, John Dough. I've been in worse
boxes than this, l can tell you
The gingerbread man didn't know ex-
actly what Chick meant. but the tone of
confidence relieved his embarrassment and
inspired him with hope The ladies and
gentlemen set Chick and John in the center
of their group and drew their chairs around
them, and prepared to listen attentively to
the 1child's story.
One might suppose the Incubator Baby's
lifetime had been so brief that 1t knew no
stories at all; but Chick was full of imagi-
nation, and glad of the chance to invent
wonderful tales for others to listen to. And
the child had resolved to make the stories
so long and so interesting that a. chance of
escape from death might finally be discov-
cred. The flying machine still rested upon
the roof and If they could manage to re-
gain it there would be no need of their
being dumped through the trapdoor into
the sea.
So Chick began to tell the company a
story about an astonishing Silver Pig that
once lived in Dagupan wherever that may
be-. and was the king of all the pigs of that
vast country His squeal could be heard
for seven miles, the child solemnly de-
clared. and the pigs feet were so swift and
tireless that he could have run around the
world in single day had there been no
oceans to stop him.
The ladies and gentlemen were much in
terested in the story. and listened very at
tentively while Chick related a host of
wonderful adventures that befell the Silver
Pig Daylight faded away and the golden
lamps were lighted but still the Incubator
Baby kept the story going.
Finally, one of the company interrupted
the tale to say that 1t was bedtime, and
they must all retire. but that Chick should
continued the story on the following day.
That was exactly what the Cherub