The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-22


gers elittered with diamonds. But her
hands were cIasped Idly in her lap. and she
looked very, very sad.
Mamma" said the boy, 'tell me what Is
the matter You always look as II you were
Just going to cry. You never laugh like
other mamnas"
She smiled and stroked his head, and after
locking, in a strange way, toward the sky
for moment she answered: "Abow, I viii
tell you story. Do you want to hear it?'
He locked well pleased and nestled near
her.
"a long time ago." she began. "a rich mer-
chant in our country OF Hindostan drove
his con away from home because he had
done wrong. The sons name was sisunsh.
He went out, dressed himself in clothes that
made him lock like beggsr, and sat down
under tree near the river"
She stopped here for moment and
thought.
Why don't you go on2" said the boy with
childish impotence.
did you ever hear of the Peris.my child?r
she said
'Ab, yes,' he answered; ''nurse has told
me OF them. They are beautiful great fairies
with wings, good AID more lovely than any
thing else in the world"
did she tell you so. my boy? 1t is true
anc you never saw 5ach beautiful clothes q
they wear. BY means Of these clothes they
can change into any form they please"
well, while Siaunsh sat by the water
four white doves fell down to the edge.
While be watched them he saw them become
beautiful women, more lovely than he had
ever seen before. They took off their gan.
ments and laid them down, while they went
into the water to battle. With wicked
thought in his heart, Siaunsh stole the cloth
ing and hid it,
bow unkind," said the boy. But what
did the women do? They were Peris, were
Yes" she answered, 'they were Peris,
and when they cav their wonderful gar
meDts gone they did not know what to do,
for without the clothing they had no power
to turn into any other form, and could not
hy back again to their fairy home in the sky.
But seeing Siaunsh, and supposing that he
bad taken the garments. they asked him to
return them.
But be had begun to love the beautiful
creatures. aud TO long for one of them to be
his wife, and he told them that If they would
promise TO live with him he
would give back their clothing They
did not know what To do. Siaunsh told
wonderful stories about how happy they
would be. and at last one of them Consented.
He gave back the garments. and three of
them dressed and file " away like great angels
into the blue sky, but the other went sadly
to her earthly home
'Siaunsh believed that be would make the
Peri happy. He bought for her silks and
satins and velvets, gold and pearls and da
monds. He loved her very dearly, aud his
friends loved her, but every day she grew
more sad At last she had lovely child,
and sometimes she would forget, bat not
often"
Where were tie other clothes, mammal
asked the boy.
1.-THE husband hid them, my child" an
swered the mother. the Peri never saw
them after she came To her husbands home"
The man was wicked to keep ner" said
Allow"
But she could not help loving him, :" said
the mother. her eyes filling with tears. He
was very, very kind to her. aud her boy was
beautiful, oh, more beautiful than the sunt"
and her eyes were full of tears when they
rested on Allow.
Eyes she loved him, and she loved his
friends and she loved her boy, but she longed
oh, she longed to go back TO her sisters.'
Poor Peril" said the boy. eff had been
the son that she loved go much would have
hunted and hunted and hunted till found
these magic clothes. and then would have
given them back to her, and she should have
gone home to her sisters.n
Dear child" she said and began looking
out OF the window once more toward the
sky, which sunset was Just tinging with the
golden glory of evening
us that all?' asked Allow
Yes. that is all; you must leave me now,
for must bathe and dress"
Didn't she get homer" asked Allow.
No, my dear, mol" she answered.
"Ihen | wish you had not told me tn
story. like to have stories end right" said
the boy.
While they bad been talking the nurse
bad sat quietly By, listening, and when the
beautiful lady rose to dress she came to help
her.
Lady" she said, why do you make your.
self sad by telling your story to Abow?n
Il can not tel" she answered. II can
think OF nothing except those days long
ago, when Il hew over the cath in different
forms with my wonderful fairy sisters"
But can you not be happy with your hus.
oand, who loves You SO much, and with your
beautiful son?"
NO" she answered. s'Beverl never happy
But nurse, how did you know that was
telling my own story?"
THE Great Siaunsh told me before he left
for his far away journey" she answered.
Did be tell you where he had hidden my
magical clothes?'
Yes, lady" she said.
The lady did not answer. but went on
ccmbiDg her waving am Der hair and making
herself lovely with the luxuries OF the East
The nurse. watching her, was dazzled by
the wonderful beauty Of tbs face sad figure.
Lady she asid, "surely 10 being lives
who is as charming "a yor."
THAT is trueI' sighed the cad mother
But what IS my loveliness worth when 1
must be slave?'
"Oh, nurse" she said eff you could see
me crossed once in my own magic dress: il
YOU coulc see me as / look when / am q
Ieri ana lot q poor. earthly woman, you
wouio see sight such as your. eyes never
saw bsfole. Get the othei for NE Just
once, q 'ss,' aud her eyes filed with tears
Il en- SO beautiful, Would you not like to
see me wesr them? jest oucsp' And she
threw her srms around the woman's neck.
The nurfe could withstand no longer.
nOulY for a nonanr nh< tbou.st 80