The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-25

stopped on the threshold in amaze
ment on the floor of the tumble-
down chamber, which was lit only
dimlv by an iron barred loophole, he
saw a great owl Big tears rolled out
of tho large round eyes, and from
tho hooked hoax came hoarse laments.
Scarcely did the bird see the caliph
and his Visier, who had come up be-
hind, when shrill acclamatlons of Joy
| burst from the ugly creature. 1t 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 storks, You are
| a good sign for me, promising me de-
! liyorance: for 1t has been propheeied
| that great good fortune shall coma
to me through the storks!
AS soon as the c,aliph had recovered
| from his establishment. he bent his
| long neck graciousIy, set his thin legs
! into an elegant position and said:
/ owl To Judge by your words, may
! assume that / see in YOU companion
| in misfortune. But. alas Your hope
| that deliverance may come through us
| is in vain. You will recognize our
| helplessncss better when you know
| our story
! The owl begged him to relate It,.
and the Caliph told the sad history
| of the misadvcnture of his Eizicr and
himself.
! The owl thanked him and said.
| Hear my story and learn that am
] I,,,N ~ So NV.
| Is the King of India I. miserable one.
am his only daughter. Lusa. That
sorcerer. Kaschnur, who enchanted you
has also made me thua wretched. He
| appeared before my father one day
and asked for my hand in marriage
to his son Mira. My father had him
| thrown out OF the palace. The wicked
/ one succeeded In approaching me in
| disguise. One day as was taking
! refreshments in the garden he APP
| peared as a slave and gave me drink
/ that transformed me into this hideous
1 shape. / tainted with fear. and re-
covered in this place 10 hear his fear
| full voice In my ear, saying: 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 disgusting shape, TO be his wife.
/ Thus do ! revenge myself on your
| proud father and yourself
since then many months have hay,
! amid these walls, loatiled BY the world
| a terror even to beasts. The beautiful
| world is shut to me, for | am blind In
| the daytime. and only when the moon
| pours her pale light over these ruins
| does tho obscuring veil drop from ms
eyes
The owl wiped her eyes again with
her wings. for the story of her woes
| had brought renewal of grief.
The Caliph remained plunged into
deep thought after the story of the
| princess. .Tf everything does not de-
ceive me-, said he at last, some secret
| connection can be found between our
misfor,unes. But where shall l find
The owl replied: oh. sir I. too
divine this In my early youth a wise
| woman foretold that stork would
bring me great luck. know. per-
! haps. how we might save ourselves
The Caliph pressed eagerly for par
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 great
| hall. There he and others like him
assemble and feast Often have I list
ened to them. They boast to each
| other of their vile deeds, and 1t may
! be that he will tell what he has done
! to you. Perhaps he Will repeat the
/ Word of Power then"
ooh. dearest princess.' exclaimed the
Caliph, speak! When. will he come
| and where is the hall?'
/ The owl was silent for a moment
| and then said: DO not take 1t amiss
/ but / can tell you only under ono
! condition."
Speak. Speak," exclaimed chasid
Demand anything. / will fulfil al
conditions.'
i II wish to become free. too sail
! the owl. but this can be only If ont
1 of you two will offer himself to m'
as my husband"
-rhe storks were taken aback, ant
the Caliph beckoned to his Vizier t.
! withdraw with him.
Outside of the door, the Calipb said
Grand Vizier, this is a stupid compli
cation. But you might take her"
20, dndeedH answered the Crane
| Nizier And have my eyes scratchc,
Besides, am an old man. But 70,
are young and still single. and cal
better afford to give your hand to
! young and beautiful princess"
.That's Just it!' sighed the Caliph
/ with his wings dropping dejectedly
I, How do you know that she is youn,
and, beautiful? You want me to Blu;
a pig In n poke"
i For long time each ono tried t
/ coax the other. AT last the Cal!pI
perceived that his Tizior would renal
a stork rather than marry the ow'