The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-31

her company she would be safe now. It is my fault. and the kindness of my motive does not alleviate her bitter tate.''
 '.Great Princess" said Tmiac, your tenderness off the timidlty of Pekuah was generous and kind. How would you have borne the thought if you had compelled her to enter the pyramid and she had died before you in agonies of terror7"
 T could not endure life" said fsexa- yah, and from that moment her violent and self f-reproachfnl sorrow changed to silent pensiveness. s'My search after happiness Is at an end" said she. T shall retire from tue weria and hide other care than to enter into that state where can again enjoy the friendship of my Pekuah In another sphere"
 Rasseias prevailed on. her to walt for e year. in the hope that sema~ thing might yet be learned of the niss- ing favorlte, Nekayah,. resigning her to return to common cares and com mon yleasures sometimes she caught herself with indignation in the act of turning away her mind from the mem ory of her whom she had resolved never to forget.
 She appointed q certain hour for herself for meditation on nobody ex- cep Pekdah. For some weeks she re- tired daily when the time came and wept with a sorrow that seemed ever fresh. But by degrees she permitted an important or pressing matter to delay tribute now and, then Then she began to yield it to lesser occasions. At last she neglected the hour entire- Iy, though her real love for PekuRh was not diminished, The Princess might have drawn from this the knowledge that. if hu- man happiness is very finite, at least human sorrow also ih, limited: but she read the lesson rather as beinE that even the purest happiness is the cause of misery and that 1t Ia not wise to yield even to excellence and fondness. lest the loss bring wretehedness. After seven months a messenger af- rived with the news that PskuAh was in the hands of great Arab chieftain who possessed e castle In the extremt- ty of Egypt. and that he was willing to bring his prisoner, in Upper Egypt. if 200 ounces of gold were Sent fer ransom, 2.
 Nekayah insisted In accompanying her brother and Imlac. who set out at once and succeeded In their negotia- tlons without any trouble. the Arab receiving them with hospitality and trust and delivering Nekuah with great ceren1ony and respect.
 Pekuah had been treated well by her captor. who had showed to her the country around his palace and had taught her astronomy while they were waiting for the ransom. Delighted beyond words, the party returned to Cairo. where for a time they engaged In the pleasures and re- creations natural to such Q reunion. When the keen pleasure had worn of. Rasselas again reverted to his search for a choice of life One day he de. He intended to- devote himself to science and pass the rest of his days Tn study.
 "Come with me-" said Imlac. ."I ,will lead you to the observatory of | one of the most learned astronomers In the world. His integrity and be- nevoIence are equal to his learning. He willingly interrupts his deepest study for an opportunity to do good"
 Surely he must be happy" said the Prince.
 Imlac smiled m0uFnfully and intro duced Rasselas to the great man. He spoke with a clearness that was as ! simple as his knowledge was profund; but suddenly he checked himself and told his visitors that he at last had l learned to change the courses of the earth and sun, and that he could turn aside the axis of the earth or vary the | ecliptie of the sun. Forty years of study had touched him with madness. that lay concealed in a mind which otherwise stiIl was powerful and bril- liant. 4.,
 ''This, sin. Is one of the dangers of deep solitary study" said Imlac. when they had returned home.
 T have often tried to imagine my self Queen of AbysBiHia," cried the favorite "I will do so no more! I realize now that often the fancy took such a hold on me that I almost for got to bow down before the Princess" " "And l." said the Princess, twill no longer permit myself to play the shepherdess in my waking dreams. have been soothing my thoughts with the delights of pastoral employments. despite the discovery that we made of their true nature, shall cease | henceforth." dangerous fancy" said the Prince. 'i