Year: 1876

WILLIAM GILBERT.


"You may remember left off,"
said Hassan when he met bis audi
ence the following evening, sat the
point where Rachel found the gold
pieces lying en- the floor. The painful
thought had then flashed across her
mind that herfather must have possess
cd himself ef4he purse of monev-yet
she could hardly believe him capable
of such an act. Then again she re-
membered being disturbed by some-
thing like q aperson's hand moving un-
der her pillow. In All agony of ap-
prehension she inquired of her moth
er where she had placed the purse.


"'Under the pillow OH your side,
Rachel was the reply.


"There was now no doubt about
the matter. The wretched man had
been compelled by the demon Kordi-
Gus to take the money, and he was
doubtless at that moment max ing his
way to the tends dwelling to offer
him the plunder he had taken from
his wife and family, Rachel told her
fears to nor mother, who concurred
toe readily in the conclusion she ar
rived st. Rachel now went to call
her brother, but it being night he
could not understand the words she
uttered. He seemed, however, to
conceive the idea that something was
wrong, and hastily dressing himself
came into the next room. There,
most painful scene occurred. His
mother aud sisters endeavored in
vain to explain to him, by all the
meaus they could think of, the dis
honest action Of his father, and that
immediate steps must be taken to
prevent him from reaching the dwell
ling of kordicus. But all was in vain
l-he could understand nothing. At
last Rachel drew him to the spot
where he had seen his father lie down
to sleep, and when he found he was
not there, she led him to the door.
Isaac now began to understand that
his father had left the house, and he
ought to find him. They searched
ali around the cottage, but there was
no trace of the unhappy man. Day
light now began to appear In the east,
aud Rachel at length was able to
make her brother understand that
their father had taken the money.
Isaac immediately hurried off TO the
dwelling Of Kordicus, taking Rachel
with him, with the Intention of ex-
postulating with their father on his
FOLLY; but when they arrived, the
demon, who then wore his most ami
able aspect. told them he had not
seen their father, aud although Isaac
looked into the different rooms in the
house, he could neither see him, nor
| find auy trace of his having been
there.


"They now returned home, trying
in vain to find their unhappy father
as they went. Day after day passed,
and the country around was search
ed, but no tidings could be heard of
him till nearly week after his dis
appearance, when he was found in
the wood almost starved to death.
They spoke t, him, but although life
was in him, he could not understand
them. He was then taken home, aud
some food given to him, which he
ate ravenously. As soon as he had
somewhat recovered his strength, he
behaved in a most absurd manner,
stating hekwas a king, and they ought
to obey-hah, aud doing many foolish
and extravagant things. The poor
family hoped that this was merely
the effect of the privations he had
undergone, but they were in error.
The Prophet in his mercy had de-
prived him of his reason, and being
thus an object of pity 10 all true be-
LEVERS, he was placed in an asylum,
whore the fiend had no further power
over him. What he mad done with
the money was never discovered.
Intelligence of the misfortune
which had occurred to the poor wood
mans family now reached the lord
my master, i'll letter addressed to
him by Isaac. He informed him Of
all that had taken place, the couscieu-
ti0us attempts his poor father had
made to escape from The thraldom of
kordicus, the different traps the de-
mon had set to catch him, how, for
some time, his father had escaped,
but at last had falleG into the fiend's
power, and again become his victim.
He then explained 10 him how, one
dark night, his father had secretly
possessed himself OF the gold, one or
two pieces only of which had been
found on the floor and recovered, how
| that the remainder had been lost, aud
his poor father had afterwards been
discovered wandering maniac in the
woods; and that he had been placed
at last in All asylum for the distract
ed, where the demon could gain no
admission. He concluded his letter
by asking his lordship what steps he
| ought 10 take, whether to return with
his sister to the city, or remain where
he Was. II the former, he hoped his
lordship would send him money, as
the family was at the time in q state
of the deepest distress.


ellis lordship, without moments
hesitation. determined to assist the
poor family. He then called his
| steward before him and said,-


81 wish you and Hassan to go to
the woodman's family, and when
there 10 do all in your power for their
benefit. lleave in great part to your
selves 10 settle the way in which it
| shall be done. At the same time, bear
III mind that l wish the poor woman
10 be placed in some dwelling near
my castle, where she is to receivs
every attention and comfort. The
blind girl will remain with her moth
er to wait on her, and assist In taking
charge of the younger children. The
boy Isaac is to return with you, and
l snail take him into my service. He
is u very clever lad, and through the
instruction and learning which has
been given him by my friend the
| Enchauter, 1 shall be able to make
him OF great use. AS the twelve gold
coins We're lost, shall send 10 more
money to the mother, especially as
you will arrange so that she will want
for nothing that is absolutely neces-
sary and l wish you TO take with
you twelve magic copper coins which
you will give to little Saba as a pres
ent from me. Tell her that each Of
these copper coins has genie espec-
tally attending Oh it, who, if she
wishes to do any kind act for her
mother, or any beneficial work what
ever, will perform 1t, no matter how
enormous may be the labor required,
provided only that the work she de-
sires to be accomplished is such as
shall carry with it the blessing of the
Prophet. Now l have no further in
structions to give you. Depart as
soon as you please, and after YOU
have done all that is necessary, return
to ME with the boy Isaac


"Ws left the capital the same after
noon, and arrived late at night at the
woodman's cottage. There we found
the family in great distress. The gold
pieces which they had found on the
floor had all been expeuded in tho