WOMAN'S WIT

master that he shall have my daughter for his wife if he
will build over yonder a palace such as no man ever saw
or no king ever lived in before.”

“Tt shall be done,” said the young man, and then
they all went away, as the others had done the day
before.

The next morning when the Demon appeared the
Tailor was ready for him. “ Build me,” said he, “ such
and such a palace in such and such a place.”

And the Demon said, “It shall be done.” He smote
his hands together, and instantly there came a cloud of
mist that covered and hid the spot where the palace was
to be built. Out from the cloud there came such a bang-
ing and hammering and clapping and clattering as the
people of that town never heard before. Then when
evening had come the cloud arose, and there, where the
king had pointed out, stood a splendid palace as white as
snow, with roofs and domes of gold and silver. As the
king stood looking and wondering at this sight, there came
five hundred young men riding, and one in the midst of
all who wore a golden crown on his head, and upon his
body a long robe stiff with diamonds and pearls. ‘“ We
come,” said he, “from the Tailor of Tailors, and Master
of Masters, and One Greater than a ue, to ask you to
let him have your daughter for his wife.”

“Tell him to come!” cried the king, in admiration, “ for
the princess is his.”

The next morning when the Demon came he found the
Tailor dancing and shouting for joy. ‘‘The princess is
mine!” he cried, ‘‘so make me ready for her.”

“Tt shall be done,” said the Demon, and thereupon he
began to make the Tailor ready for his wedding. He

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