The Indianapolis journal., 1885-02-15

I q y,
we can possess ourselves of these two-you OF
the mother and of the child"
Ambitions eyes sparkled. He longed for the
| beautiful mother
Tell me how may win her." said he to
/ Death, "and you shall have the babe"
/ so Death and Ambition walked in the street
| and talked of Griselda and her child.
Grlselda was famous singer She sang in
| the theater of the great city, and people came
| from all parts of the world to hear her songs
| before been heard, and Grseldas fame was
/ equaled only by the riches which her art had
brought her. In the height of her career the
little babe came to make her life all the sweeter,
| and Grlselda was indeed very happy.
I Who is that at the doora' inquired Char
| iotte, the old nurse 1T must be somebody of
| consequence for he knocks with certain conf
dence only those in authority have.'
/ Go to the door and see, said Griselda,
| so Charlotte went to the door, and To- there
was messenger from the king, and the mes
senger was accompanied by two persons attired
| IN royal robes.
These companions were Ambition and Death
| but they We're so splendidly arrayed you never
would have recognized them.
Does the Lady Griselda abide herel" asked
| the messenger.
''She does" replied old Charlotte, courtesying
very low, for the brilliant attire of the strangers
dazzled her.
Il have message from the king" said the
messenger
Old Charlotte could hardly believe her ears
A message from the king! Never before had
such an honor befallen one in Grseldas station.
The message besought Griselda to appear in
the theater that night before the king, who
Knew OF her wondrous voice. but had never
heard It, And with the message came a royal
gitt OF costly jewels, the like Of which Griselda
had never set eyes upon
You cannot refuse" said Ambition in a se-
ductlve voice. Such an opportunity never be-
tore was accorded you and may never again be
offered. 1t is the king for whom you are to
sing"
Griselda hesitated, and cast lingering look at
hex babe.
"Taye no fearfor the child,' said Death, ''for
L will cave for him while you are gone"
So, between the ipsinuating advice Of Ambi-
ton and the fair promises of Death, Griselda
was persuaded. and The messenger bore back to
the King word that Griseda would sing for him
thatnight.
But Ambition and Death re.uained as guests
in Grseldas household
The child grew restless as the day advanced
From the very moment that Death had entered
the house the, little had seemed very
changed, but Gfiselda was so busy listening to
the hattering speeches of Ambition that she did
not notice the flush on her infants cheeks and
the feverish rapldity of his breathing.
But Death sat grimly in a corner of the room
and never took his eyes from the crib where the
little one lay.
You shall so please the king with your beau
t'ttsll face and voice." said Ambition that he
Will confer wealth and title upon you You
Will re the most famous woman on earth; better
tlan that, your fame shall always live In his
tory-it shall be eternal~
And Griselda smiled, for the picture was most
rleasne.
'.The child's hands are hot y said old Charlotte
the nurse ''and there seem to be strange tremors
in his little body and he groans as he tosses
from one side af his cradle to the other"
Grselda was ncomentarily alarmed, but AM
bition only laughed:
Nonsense quoth Ambition, istis an old
woman's faucy. This envious old Witch would
have yo-e dlsappoint the king-the king who
would ioad you with riches and honors"
SG4 the day heightened, and Griseldalistened to
the grateful batteries of Ambition. But Death
one in the cradle. The candles were brought,
and Griselda arrayed herself in her costliest
robes.
II must look my best" she said, 'for this is
to be the greatest triumph of my life"
'You are very beautIful; you will captivate
the King" said Ambition.
1.-THE child is very ill.," croaked old Charlotte
the nurse; ''he does not seem to be awake nor
yet asleep, and there is a strange, hoarse rat
\ Ting in his breathing"
"For shame~ cried Ambition "See how the
+ glow of health mantles his cheeks, and how the
| fire of health burns in his eyes"
| And Griselda believed the words of Ambition
I She did not stOop to kiss her little one. She
II u
\ tened to her carriage in the street below The
| child heard the mothers voice, raised his head,
and stretched forth his hands to Griselda, but
| she vas zone and Ambition had gone with her.
| But Death remained with Griseldas little one.
The theater was more brilliant that night than
| ever before. It had been noised about that
| Griselda would sing for the king, and lords and
| ladies in their most imposing raiment filed the
| great edifce to overfowing, while in the royal
| box sat the king himself, with the queen and
1 eI,o md fhay
| "It will be great triumph" said Ambition
| to Griselda, and Griselda knew that she had
| never looked half so beautiful nor felt half so
| ready for the great task she had to perform.
! There was mighty cheering when she swept
| before the vast throng. and the king smiled and
| bowed when he saw that Griselda wore about
| her neck the costly jewels he had sent her. But
! il the applause was mighty when she appeared
what was it when she finished her marvellous
| song and bowed herself from the stage! Thrice
| was she compelled to repeat the song, and a
| score of times was she recalled to receive the
homage of the delighted throng. Bouquets of
! beautiful flowers were heaped about her feet
| and with his own hand from his box, the king
| threw to her ieweled necklace far costlier than
| his previous gift
| AS Griselda hurried from her dressine-room
| to her carriage, she marveled that Ambition had
| suddenly and mysteriously quite her presence.
| In his place stood the figure of a woman, all in
black. and with large sad eyes and pale face
WHO are your asked Griselda
| II am the Spirit of Eternal Sorrow" said the
| woman.
| And the strange, sad woman went with Girls
| elda into the carriage, and to Griseldals home.
Old Charlotte, the nurse met them at the
| door She was very white and she trembled as
| if-with fear.
Then Griselda seemed to awaken from
dream.
my childf" she asked. excitedly.
''He Is gone" replied old Charlotte, the nurse
Griselda few to the chamber where she haG
left him There stood the little cradle where he
had lain, but the cradle was empty.
.sWho has taken him awayf' cried Griselda
sinking upon her knees and stretching her hands
ia agony to heaven.
death took him away, but an hour ago." sait
old Charlotte. the nurse.
Thea Griselda thought of his fevered face ant
his pitiful little means and sighsi of the guilefu
batteries Of Ambition that had deafened he
mothers ears to the pleadings OF her sick babe