The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-04-10

rounded by her faithful stays. who began
to fan her heated face with their wings:
while her favorite doe Mititica offered her
udder full of milk to her parched lips, SO
that she might Quench her thirst.
Very loath she commanded these affec.
tionate animals to leave her presence. re-
luctantly they giided away to their rich
fields and fresh pastures.
Long and weary were the hours of trial
to Nigilia, tor the sun burned with such
force that 1t even scorched the tips of her
bright golden hair. but still she remained
immovable.
At shutdown q large bowl of water was
placed before her: she only touched her
lips with it. and thea calling ''Mititica.
Mititica." when the pet winged doe
bonnd forward at her call, her
quench her thirst. and refused any other
food. The old King Briar looked on his
daughter with anxious eyes, but she re-
assured him with loving smile. and tell.
ing him that the first day of her ordeal had
passed quite rapidly and without fatiguing
her much.
At niEhtfall she went down to the river.
and plunged many times into its icy waters;
she then seated herself on q messy stone
while the moon gradually rose over tho
chanting beauty of the maiden. 1t
the drops of water which fell
from her streaming tresses to shine
IL
how this beauteous body was to be
bruised. and crushed, and stoned on the
morrow. she would surely have yelled her
face in thick clouds because of her sorrow.
At daybreak. VIgilia. fresh and gay as
usual. mounted her swift stag Graur. and
went forth to meet the men who were on
their way TO summon her to the ordeal of
the second day. On seeing them approach
she alighted, and dismIssing her stag by
caressiDg gesture of the hand, seized hold
n a M II
down into the valley. and placed 1t on the
bank of the river; then walking through
the water, she commenced gathering the
stones. which she heaped upon the rock as
high as possible.
Now help me to lift it on to my shout
der" said she, but none of the men could
move the heavy burden.
Then she bent her 1.-THE, agile body, and
flung the heap on to her left shoulder, the
stones that had rolled to the ground from
the rapid movement were collected and
placed with the rest. and she. laden as she
was. ran up the mountain. outstrirping
her followers, deposited her burden. and.
without moments pause, returned to
the valley.
KING Briar looked down from the heights
above on his intrepid. courageous child,
and oomplacently stroked his white beard.
for the sun was still high in the heavens.
when Vigilia had completed her task. She
crossed her arms on her chest, and gazed
unfiIncbingly on the vast heap of stones
which she had accumulated. although she
knew for what purpose they were destined
on the morrow. The Kings heart waxed
sore within him when he saw his daughter
standing thus, and he passed a sorrowful
and sleepless night, while Vlgilia. on the
contrary, slept peacefully under the out
while the moonbeams fell on the face of the
beautiful sleeper. who lay with her head
pillowed on her arms. her lips parted In
the sweet rest of child. When morning
broke she rose, and put on garments of
strong white linen, spun anc woven by her
own fair hands. the stoutness of the text
ure of which she knew could bear the
strain it must undergo during the days
trial.
At the sight of the maiden thus Glad, her
beauty enhanced by the simplicity of her
ralment. the hearts of many of those who
" ere elected to fling stones at her. tainted
within them at the thought of having to
put her to such cruel test. Nevertheless
the heap quickly diminished. for each man
armed himself with stone and came
around the princess. forming circle. She
raised her magnificent tresses and fast
ened them above her head, saying:
ut shall not be said that protected my
self with my mantle"
1t was the old King duty to cast the first
stone, while gazing steadfastly in tho face
of his beloved child.
She kissed the place where the stone had
wounded her. and then lovingly kissed her
hands to her father. 1t was a sight to see
her stand there firm as rock under the
shower Of missiles which assaulted her on
every side. Once only did q sigh escape
her. as she crossed her arms over her
let them fall again immediately by
her side, and turned her patient
eyes towards the snn which was
her quondam assaifants knelt' at her Feet
with Bonded bow and couched lance, and
sw0re in voices OF thunder eternal On un-
faltering fealty to their Princess.
heaven and said: II swear to work, to
fight, to suffer for you and with Won to my
King she added in low voice, "Give ME
yonr hand, dear father, for am somewhat
weary"
The old men placed bis arm round and
covered her with his thick mantle; he was
about to lead her towards their home, her
head resting on his shoulder. when all at
once. to her great joy. che heard the cry of
sight
claimed, kissing the warm downy nostrlls
of the animal: then. springing on to his
back. she quickly disappeared from sight.
Graur carried her down to tho rivers
edge. In which she bathed her bruised and
swollen limbs; she drank deep draughts of
the Icy water, by which she was envei-
Opeu. bDu einerGeu LnefeIrOm gay ana
fresh. as if she had not endured such ter
rible suffering. From this time forward
her life continued it's usual course; she was
again the same boisterous, impnlslve child
she had hitherto been, and she could not be
prevailed on TO take interest in state af-
fairs. King Briar became perceptibly more
and more feeble 90 that his subjects felt it
incumbent on them to entreat him to select
a husband for the Princess Vigilia, so that
be might rejoice in having grandchild be.
fore he left them forever.
MY child" said he. soon after the above
conversation, 1T is time that / sought a
husband for thee. Do any of my subjects
please theeP
"Oh. no. my father" replied vigiIia; 81
would not marry one of those men who
flung stones at me; could not forget that
love such husband! My husband must
descend from above, to the height of W hich
none of our people have been able to
ascend. IN spite of all our winged stagsw
Scarcely had she spoken these words
when vast cloud appeared In the heavens,
from which strains of celestial music
seemed to proceed The cloud lowered itself
beautiful youth with long curling hair,
carrying in his arms . harp with golden
strings and resplendent with all the colors
of rainbow. He struck the chords with
q vigorous hand, but oven when he only
breathed upon them he evoked such sweet
strains that all hearts were touched
by the melody. Vigilia looked upon him
as If speli-bound, He sprana lightly 70
the earth after dispensing the cloud by O
motion of his hand. which sent it far away
in the distance. The youth advanced to.
wards the young maiden, and offered his
hand. saying:
Il am a son of the air. and sm called Wis.