The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-12-06


 home from church and showed him Mar garet, the daughter of widow. Faust, young in spirit and appearance from the magic liquor, pressed to her side and whispered: My fair young lady. may offer my escort to you?"
 'I am neither lady nor am I fair" re- piled Margaret frightened, "and can go quickly and fled.
 You must win her for mel' cried Faust to Mephstopheles. ''The child is beautiful and good and pure. l love heri"
 Margaret, hurrying to her home with the panting breast of startled woodland creature. sank down in her room. But in all her fright there came the wish: q wonder who he was"
 Mephistopheles placed a casket filled with jewelry in her room and Margaret, although puzzled and alarmed when she found 1t, could not refrain from trying the trinkets on and admiring herself in the little mirror. Alas" she sighed, "of what avail is 1t to be fair and young
 
 miration. Gold, gold! All things depend on 1t and 1t alone attracts. Alas. we poor onesI'
 She showed the jewels to her mother who took them from her at once and surrendered the mysterious gift to the church.
 Impatientiy Faust ordered Mephisto- pheles to produce another and more precious casket. "Oh, yes." said he, you think that lifting treasure is but child s play. You lovers would puff sun, moon and all the stars into vapor to amuse your sweethearts."
 His seeming reluctance had the desired effect of infiaJning Faust still more. Inn periously he demanded instant obedience. Are you a devil made of gruel?" he cried. Bring more gems at once!" Margaret ran to a neighbours house when she found the second casket. "Oh, Mistress Martha" said she, what shall dor should so love to keep the glorious thingsi'
 Keep them," said the vain and worldly woman. Keep them and do not tell your mother You can run in here every day and wear them.'
 Mephistopheles made Mistress Martha s acquaintance and soon introduced Faust into tho house while Margaret was there. Her soft and tender beauty, her sim plicity and her brave young innocence filled Faust's heart with devout and true love, worthy of the trusting creature on whom it was bestowed. But the Satanic potion made flame of another sort burn more fercely still, and Mepbistopheles watched with sheer to see the evil de- your the good.
 He prospered all too we'll for Margaret g peace of mind. Flushing, alarmed, but surrendering helplessly. she listened to Tausts wooing and confessed that she loved him. With one last effort Faust s soul rebelled against temptation. He fled into the mountains and dwelled long days in caverns. Mephistopheles refrained from pursuing him until the time was ripe. Then he appeared and drew a pa thetic picture of Margaret, pinins for him.
 "Accurst onei" exclaimed Faust, ''away and do not name the glorious creature. Conjure not again the desire for her be- fore my half-mad brain!"
 Mephistopheles smiled. "She looks forth from her window" said he, 'and watches the clouds pass beyond the city wall. Were I a bird,' she signs, and waits for you. All day and half the night she longs for you. The power of your eye, the power of your smile! They have robbed her of rest. She can find 1t no more except in your arms"
 Serpent! Serpentr groaned Faust. T cannot forget her I cannot leave her!' Raging against his evil spirit, yet burn ing with eager impatience, he returned to the city. Hurried on his course by the victorious Mephistopheles. he yielded to him. blind and insensate.
 Assured now that Faust was his Meph- istephsles dragged him from excitement