The Lambertville record., 1923-12-07

out the cantrap which will release the
bees of Toupan--"
Glsele showed plainly that his fool
ishness did not concern her. She
sighed, and hung the sword In Its ac-
customed place, "oh, but am weary
of this endless wizardry |"
"Then, wife," says MIramon, "then
why are you perpetually meddllng
with what you do not understand
81 think" said Nlnzian, at once, for
this demon, too was married, 81 think
that had best be going"
But Gisele's attention was reserved
for her husband. 81 meddle. as you so
very politely call it, because you have
no sense of what is right and proper,
and no sense of morals, and no sense
of expediency. and In fact, no sense
at all"
Miramon said. "Now. dearest--l"
Sir Ninzian was hastily picking up his
hat. But Gisele continued, with that
resistless and devastating ontlow which
is peculiar to tidal waves and the
tongue of her who speaks for her hus-
bands own good
"Women everywhere have hard
time of 1t, but In particular do pity
the woman that is married to one of
you moonstruek artists She has not
half husband, she has but the tend
ing of baby with long legs"
ut is SO much later than thought,
that really now" observed Ninzian,
inetfeetively.
And | might have had an earl,
or a well-thought-of-baro who would
have had the decency to remember our
anniversary and my birthday, and In
any event would never have been In
the house twenty-four hours day.
Instead here l am tied to a muddle-
head who fritters away his time con-
triving dreams that nobody cares about
one way or the other. Yet If only you
would be sensible about your silly bus
mess could put up with the nconven-
ience Of having you underfoot every
moment People need dreams to help
them through the night, and nobody
enjoys a really good dream more than
/ do when l have time for 1t, with the
million and one things that are put
upon me- But dreams ought to be
wholesome, they ought to point an up
lifting moral, and certainly they ought
not to be about incomprehenslble thin
nonsense that nobody can halfway I'M
derstand. They ought, in other words,
to make you feel that the world is
pretty good sort Of place after all"
But, wife, / am sure that II is,"
says Mlramon, mildly.
"Then the more shame to you and
the very least you can do is to keep
such morbid notions to yourself and
not be upsettlng other peoples repose
with them"
II employ my natural gift, ] express
myself and none other. The rosebush
does not put forth wheat, nor flax
either" returned the wizard, with
haveT
"Oh, great deal It means to you
what | prefer But II / had my wish
your silly dream-maklng would be
taken away from you so that we might
live senslbly"
Now as she spoke Gisele slapped
viciously at the black cross. And n
thing happened to behold which would
have astonshed the magl and the en-
chanters who had given over centuries
to searching for the cantrap which
would release the bees of Toupan. For
now without any exercise of magic
the securing rag swept from the stone
one of these insects. Koshchel, who
made all things as they are, had de-
creed, they report, that these bright
perIls could be freed only in the most
obvious way, because he knew this
would be the last method attempted
by any learned persons.
Now for nm instant the walls of the
ivory tower were a-quiver Ike blown
wells. And the bee passed glitterlngly
to the window, and through the clear
glass OF the closed window. leaving a
small round hole there as the creature
went to join its seven fellows In the
PleIades.
Toupan, aflont In the void, Enclosed
his ancient unappeasable eyes and
Jacy returned to his aforetime estate
in the moon, and all plants and trees
everywhere were wlthered, and the
sea also lost Its greenness, and there
were no more emernlds. And the High
Gods were appalled, to see their doom
SO near at hand, and they cried out to
4. Il IL.
KOshchei answered: "Have pa.
tlencel When Toupan is released !
fall with you. Meanwhile / have made
all things as they are"
And In that instant Miramon Llua-
gor as he stood blinking In his ivory
tower, was aware of touch upon his
forehead, as If damp sponge were
passing over II, and he perceived that
he had forgotten the secret of his wiz
ardry, Something he could yet recall,
they say, of the magic of the Purin
and the cast stones, Of the Horse and
the Bull, of the Water, and most OF
the lore OF the Apsarasas and the
faidhin rune remained to him. He
could still make shift, he knew, TO con-
trol the bitter Duergar, to build the
fearful bridge of the White Ladies', or
to contrlve the dance OF the KOrred.
lie kept his mastery Of the Shedeem
who deyastnte, Of the Shehireem who
terrify, and of the Mazikeen who de-
stroy. But such accomplishments, as
he despalringIy knew, were the stock
In trade Of any fairly competent sor-
cerer anywhere; and that supreme Sc
cret which had made Miramon Lluagor
the master of all dreams was gone
away from him completely.
He was very angry. "Aecursed wom-
AM" he cried out, nov indeed has
your common sense completed what
your naggng began This Is the doom
Of all artists that have to do with
well conducted women. Truly has 1t
been said flat the marriage bed Is the
grave Of art. Wen, | have put up
with much from you, but this settles
1t, and | wish you were In the middle
Of next week"