Show CHAPTER V the old woman with the black cat and dickon bend abe bow now found themselves standing on the pebbly shore ot a lake with waters clear as the purest crystal in the center of this lake tood a verdure covered island and from the center of the island arose the bentely towers aad lofty domes ot a snowwhite marble palace and from the center at the marble palace sprang upward a dome more lofty by far than the others and crowned with a blaze ot light my mother lies in ron beautiful palace antly steppe into this boat and bade the huntsman row her to the island dickon bend the gow grasped the oars and in a short time the two bad reached their destination from the place where hey landed marble stairs led up to a strong gate la the wall surrounded the palace before the gate sat an old woman and in her lp fay a great black cat lew minutes the old woman would lay down her knitting and tenderly stroking the glossy back of the fat with glicr white pour into its cars the words of endearment SWEET said my mother with the golden hair the eyes the gentle hand and voice ever loving and lovable uy mother oh my own dear wronged mother lies in yon air marble pile I 1 and the soft blue eyes cooled wistfully over the lake and rested longingly oa the marble glory near the pot where and dickon bend the bow stood was a light canoe tied with a rope to silver elake driven into the pebbly shore arcs now tills strong gate was fast locked by mael and would open only to the right spoken the old woman alone knew alila word end she had been torild den to uter tt save only at the command o her master once she had dared to also 0 bey him and in hla wrath at her disobedience he had struck her only son with the palm of extended land on the forehead aua doomed him to walk on four feet and to t fal on rats and mice until the one for whom tha gate was opened was safe back i a within the palace again and from that moment the son had been a black cat when and band the row reached the top ot the flight of marble stairs the old woman lifted her head and looked out keenly at them from her sunken eyes whither sweet maid she inquired sharply and wherefore has that rough 1 I seek my mother and tats strong man Is my then going near to te old looked up into her face and Is it possible that our old dim ago or Is it bo causo her heart 1 cold that she no longer her fon allda tho old woman dropp edher knitting and started to her feet sa at the cat was tumbled out of fotr lap nicas rny hear it my little lady come back again he exclaimed seizing hand andin rrt alpher lips to it again and again bood nurse fondi ll Saaid gently alth her hand goa within to my mother canart thoa 10 lo speak word again jorj herkalo and for my bako wo bring jhc thc tady ot the beart 1 I darn pt replied tho old woman sadly itar walto head when thou pon allda for love of theli blakc tho forbidden word and benoid my and she pointed to alio blac fecat tho cat lonu llda and rubbed almfelt gly against her seel exclaimed beara me no lit will andalia good curse dost thou not remember alip words ot alit curse until tho doiy pat the gate was opened was the again I 1 who alila chryc on you remote it I 1 wall enter the palace speak but tho word son shall bo again toy mother saved and thyself and boy rescued irom the chuel thralldom of the lord of tata unholy place my bicart li cart cried tho old woman joyfully iio dad apak those bleared words como what will for thy sake and my isahc and thy sweet mothers sake the gate shall open it would mate ay old heart young to took pu my boy again i 1 attic old woman hobbled quickly to the gate followed by cat and putting her mouth up tAni nall ear 0 cold fastened la tu gate whispered ohp magic word i noiselessly tho mas ot metal swung open and dickon bend tho bow and noiselessly tho gate flint TO ab nb front room miss ashes down in the dining room arima mistress thought it was nonsense but to satisfy the girl who was evidently frightened she swept to the front room and flung the door open calmly seated upon the couch was a perfectly strange jomaa only a few degrees removed from a tramp she could give no account ot herself except that she just walked in and ahe was sad to relate not in a condition to know or care where she was when it was found that there was nothing missing she was allowed to go then came hour of triumph never was email doggie more petted and praised and overfed to think that we had all tried to make her keep quiet when she was bravely warning us of danger dont you think it was very wonderful tor that little dog to understand that the woman who was in there with the door closed had no had it not been for cleverness there Is no telling what dreadful thing might bave haps 9 W |