Page:Zodiac stories by Blanche Mary Channing.pdf/213

196 the days to come shall there be a cripple in thy house.' And it has been so," Bertrand said in a strange, low voice; "Ever since that day, there has been a cripple in our house." He stopped abruptly.

Ellie had grown quite pale.

"Oh, Bertrand!" she said. And then they sat still and gazed into each other's faces. Ellie had never been so much shocked in her life. She could hardly believe the story; and yet Bertrand's manner showed that he thoroughly believed it himself.

Then a bright idea came into the little girl's head. In the weird stories of spells and enchantments she knew, there was always a charm somewhere by which the spell could be broken—the enchanted prince set free. Her pretty face glowed with hope and enthusiasm, as she leaned toward the boy.

"Oh, but I am sure that that is not all!