The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-04

abundance now, and when he spoke he was listened to attentlYely.
 He was at a loss to know how he had so suddenly acquired the art of command ing and giving the tone to the converse ton, being ignorant of the fact that when a rich man speaks people applaud and at tend, no matter what lie says His van ity was excited, for it is in that quality of our race that the anchor takes the firm est hold. and he paid industrious court to Fanny, the excitement of making q conquest. appealing to his head but not at all affecting his heart
 One beautiful evening, he had. accord ing to custom, assembled a large com pany in his garden. He was walking arm in arm with Fanny at a distance from the other guests, while he poured into her ears the usual phrases. So intent was he on his lovemak,ng that he stepped incautiously out from among the trees. Just at that moment the moon broke through a cloud, and Fanny perceived that there was only one shadow before her.
 She started back in horror, and, turn ing d look of terrible inquiry at Peter sank fainting to the ground.
 That night, taking with him only one servant. clever, cunning knave called Rascal who had rendered himself very serViceable by his adroitness. the unfOr- luIdlt lildH MltliOul q SllelAON u etN Eitu by relays of post horses ninety miles without stopping, leaving Bendel behind to pay his bills and settle up his affairs in d town he would never dare to enter again. The faithful Bendel joined him next day and the journey was continued until frontiers and mountains had placed @ barrier and distance between Peter Schlemihl and the unlucky town where he had lost his shadow.
 pptaTfe Ia Viqh IT gppDIfup money and the seclasion ia which he kept himself caused much speculation concerning his identity among the people and it was not surprising that when he arrived at small and little-frequented watering place in q remote region he was greeted as a royalty trdVelingg in- cognto and met at the entrance of tho town by the officials and a band of young women, who strewed flowers before his carriage while one surprisingly lovely girl blushingly knelt before him and pre- sented a floral crown upon a cushion.
 Peter longed to throw himself at tho feet of the fair creature, but. fearful of betraying lis inlperfection, only buried himself deeper in the recesses of his car riage, while Bendel. stepping forward replied In behalf of his master. On send ing Ra seal out to make inquiries. Pete- learned that the good King of Prussia was supposed to be travelling somewhere in that region under the name of some count, and it had been taken for granted that Schlemihl was the king.
 Even when, later. the people learned that the rumor about the king was with out foundation they persisted in thinking Peter was some great man incognito, and as Count Peter paid him great deference. The beautiful girl who had so excited his admiration on his arrival at the watering place proved tol be Minna daughter Of the danger of the forest. With the ranger and his estimable wife Peter cultivated a close intirlacy by which they were i'm mensely fattered. and as he stayed on and on at the place it became evident not only that he was in love with Minna, but that he was beloved by her in return.