Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-02-23
lcUNT1NuED.l

rcONTINuED.1
AT the far end Of the cave bright
red light kept coming and going. but ]
couldn't see by what 1t was made, be-
iause of the laughing crowd collected
around It. We went nearer, and as
others moved away we took their
places. 50 that at last we saw what
caused the light and made the great
attraction for the people.
It was a giant lamp Of strange
shape, standing up to the height Of
four or five feet from the floor on a
pedestal. and behind 1t stood the genie,
a fearful and wonderful apparitiOn
who said things in deep bass voice
Nhich made everybody shout with
laughter. ''its Fred Kane, the great
funny man." said somebody.
The gen;e's witticisms came when-
ever a!.v one rubbed the lamp. which
each person was requested TO Go as hc
or she approached. While il was be.
ing rubbed the magic lamp fared up
and gave out the bright red light we'd
seen at distance. and simultaneously
the genie took something from huge
sequin covered bag he had looped over
orc of his arms. If the person who
rubbed the lamp was man, he dipped
Into the left hand bag. II woman he
dived into the right hand one. Each
time beautiful trinket came out and
was presented with low bow and al
excruciatingly funny speech. suitable
to the character which the person had
undertaken for the evening. His wit
never failed.
Mr.. Brett and ] went up together.
The genie crossed arms and grabbed
something for us out Of both'his bags
at the same time. Then, by mistake,
he gave me the thing from the left
hand bag and Mr.. Brett the one from
the right. We walked away to let
others have their chance, looking at
the presents we had got. 1t was
funny-they both happened to be rings.
Mine was twisted bands Of platinum
and gold, forming knot to hold a
cabochon sapphire. His was thin
setting Of seven stones set In straight
row = diamond, emerald, amethyst.
ruby, emerald, sapphire, topaz.
"Yours Is meant for woman and
mine for man." l said. HE got
them out of the wrong bags. But
they're both pretty and SO queer"
"Will you-shall we changer" he
asked.
"Oh. l didn't mean to suggest that"
l hurried to say. 81 can give mine to
my brother when go home. And you
there must be some one
1--we no sister, and there's no one
else" said Mr.. Brett. "Do have it.
You see, | couldn't get it OH my little
finger. And won't you keep the big
one too? 1t isn't as if | were like
Mrs. Stuyvesant-K Knox's other guests
/ couldn't bear to hear him say that,
so l broke In and insisted that he
should have the ring. "She would
want you to have 1t. Of course, II she
knew" l said. "And. besides, want
you to, which is something"
"It's everything" he answered.
Then we changed rings, and told
bim l hoped his would bring him luck,
glorious luck.
"Do you wish it may give me what
l want most in the world?" he asked,
and said that l did.
"What do you wish mine may give
me" l went on.
What do you want most-great
wealth." he questioned me.
l shook my head.
ITO have the world at your feet"
81 shouldn't know what to do with
It."
ITO have the one you love best on
earth love you?"
81 should have to stop and think
which one 1t Is"
"Then I wish that you may love the
one who loves you best on earth and
more than all the world"
Just as l was looking up, surprised
at his tone more than his words. there
came burst Of music, and part Of the
wall, with the platform on which the
genie and his lamp had been stand
ing rolled away. The other big room
Of the cellar was revealed. with quan-
titles Of little tables all laid out for
supper and the walls covered with
smiax and roses. In the middle Of
this new room was a huge illuminated
ship of Ice In green sea.
Everybody exclaimed and laughed
at their surprise at such an unexpected
transformation. Now was the time for
unmasking. Of course, and there were
shrleks of surprise and amusement as
people discovered who their cOmpan-
ions really were. For minute-Im
sure it couldn't have been more-I for
got Mr.. Brett to stare at the great gilt
tering Ice ship. When turned to
speak to him he was gone. And
whether he vanished on purpose be-
cause he didn't want to unmask in
company Of strange people or whether
he was separated from Inc by the sud
den press Of the crowd l don't know.
suppose I shall never know. only
know that lost him and that ! was
Immediately surrounded by other. men.
saying nice things about my costume.
wanting me to have supper with them
and asking me for dances afterward.
The rest Of the night went by with
wild rush. We didn't stop dancing till
4, we young people. and l believe the
older ones played bridge. We had
second supper served upstairs toward
dawn. and when the last people went
away It was broad and glorious day
light.
"Well. deah." sail Sally cozily when
stery re had gone and she had come
into my room to help me undress. had
you a good tine:"
"Speajid!" said l. signing with Joy.
I'm dancing still-in my head. Ny
first ball!'
katherine doesn't call 1t a ball.
But that's detail. Had you any pro-