The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-19

 heard a low whimpering that seemed far more human than animal. Eagerly he started in the direction of the sounds. The vizier seized him by the wing with his beak and implored him not to venture into new and unknown perils. It was vain. The Caliph, who had dauntless heart even under his story plumage, tore him. self away with the loss of a few feathers and hurried down black passage.
 He reached a door which was ajar. Within were the sounds of bitter groans intermingled with curious walls almost like howls He pushed the door open with his beak and stopped on the threshold in amazement On the floor of the tumble down chamber, which was lit only dmly by an iron-barred loophole, he saw a great owl Big tears rolled out of the large, i, round eyes, and from the hooked beak came hoarse laments.
 Scarcely did the bird see the Caliph and his Vizier, who had come up behind, when shrill acclamations of joy burst from the ugly creature. It wiped the tears from it's eyes with a dainty movement of it's brown-speckled wings and amazed them by crying in good Arabic: Welcome, oh storksi You are a good sign for me, promising me deliverance; for it has been prophesied that a great good fortune shall come to me through storks'
 As soon as , the Caliph had recovered from his astonishment, he bent his long neck graciously, set his thin legs into an elegant position and said: "Owll To judge by your words, may assume that I see In you a companion is misfortune. But, alas Your hope that deliverance may come through us is in vain. You will recognize our helplessness better when you know our story
 The owl begged him to relate it. and the Caliph told the sad history of the mis- adventure of his vizier and himself.
 The owl thanked him and. said: Hear my story and learn that I am not less unhappy than you. My father is the King of India. I, miserable one am his only daughter, Lusa. That sorcerer, Kaschnur, who enchanted you has also made me thus wretched He appeared before my father one day and asked for my hand in marriage to his son, Mizra My father
  wicked one succeeded in approaching me in disguise. One day as I was taking re- freshment in the garden he appeared as a slave and gave me drink that trans formed me into this hideous shape. faint ed with fear. and recovered in this place to hear his fearful voice in my ear, say ing: Here shall you remain, abhorrently ugly. detested even by animals, until the end of your days or until some one shall ask you voluntarily. despite your disgust ing shape, to be his wife. Thus do I re- venge myself on your proud father and yourself
 Since then many months have passed. Lonely and despairing live amid these walls, loathed by the world, terror even to beasts The beautiful world is shut to me, for I am blind in the daytime, and only when the moon pours her pale light over these ruins does the obscuring veil drop from my eyes"
 The owl wiped her eyes again with her wings, for the story of her woes had brought a renewal of grief
 The Caliph remained plunged into deep thought after the story of the princess. If everything does not deceive me- said he at last some secret connection can be found between our misfortunes. But where shall I find the key to the rid dle?"
 The owl replied: "Oh, sir, I, too, divine this. In my early youth wise woman foretold that a stork would bring mo great luck I know, perhaps, how we might save ourselves"
 The Caliph pressed eagerly for particu- lars.
 "Once every few months said the owl. ''the enchanter, who has made us both unhappy, comes to these ruins. Not far from this chamber is a great hall. There he and others like him assemble and feast. Often have I listened to them. They boast to each other of their vile deeds, and it may be that he will tell what he has done to you Perhaps he will repeat the word of power then"
 "Oh, dearest princess exclaimed the Caliph, speak! When will he come and where is the hall?'
 The owl was silent for moment and then said: "Do not take it amiss; but I can tell you only under one condition"
 Speak! Speak'' exclaimed Chasid. Demand anything. will fulfill all con dtionsn'
 'I wish to become free too." said the owl but this can be only if one of you two will offer himself to me as my hus- band"
 The storks were taken aback, and the Caliph beckoned to his vizier to withdraw with him.
 . Outside of the door, the Caliph said:
 Grand vizier, this is stupid compli- cation. But you might take her.
 "Oh, indeed!" answered the grand vizier. "And have my eyes scratched out by my wife when I return home! Be- sides I am an old man. But you are young and still single, and can better af- ford to give your hand to young and beautiful princess
 That's just it!'' sighed the Caliph, with his wings dropping dejectedly. How do you know that she Is young and beauti- ful? You want me to buy pig in Q poke''
 For time each one tried to coax the other At last the Caliph perceived that his vizier would remain stork rather than marry the owl, and he re- solved to fulfill the condition himself. The owl was overcome with joy. She con xhak fhnxr ,Ak kax