San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-12-11
The StdO'S V0II6y.
By CARMEN SYLVIA Queen of Rou-
mania).
copyright, 1885
Continued from yesterdays issue

with twlgs ana uung stones AT MN, anu
when his laughter changed to tears she
upbraided him with cOwardiCe and bath
ed him with icy water.
On the morrow she would beat him
even more severely, until he learned to
overcome the sensation of pain and to
laugh in spite of suffering.
Viscol had always hated his son, and
now his absences became longer and
more frequent. Once he was in so great
a hurry to get away from them that be
left behind him his beautiful harp. This
instrument became a source Of great
pleasure both to his neglected wife and
child. Vigilia possessed great musical
talent, and she would play dirges and
melancholy airs, but when the young
Zephyr breathed on the harp strings it
was as if the whole air sang with a song
of rejoicing.
The people now hated Niscol so in
tensely that they no longer allowed him
to enter the country, and when he made
his appearance in the clouds they dis
charged such a shower of arrows at him
that he was glad to beat a speedy re-
treat.
Some of these brave men loved their
young prince because of his resemblance
to his beautiful mother, but others de-
spised him because of his weakness and
delicacy. All were agreed as 10 praising
his enthralling music, and when he
stood by his harp, his long silky hair
reaching to his shoulders, he seemed &C.
them a being from another world.
Twas true he could not drive four stays
abreast, as could his mother, the queen,
but he had become much stronger than
she ever expected that he would be.
When Zephyr attained his sixteenth
year, the people pronounced it to be
time for him TO go through the test in
order to ascertain if he were capable
and worthy of becoming their king, for
should he fail to pass the required Or
deal they would compel Queen Vigilia
to take one of themselves as consurt, SO
that they might have a suitable man to
reign over them.
On the day appointed Zephyr bore the
heat of the sun bravely, and no one was
aware how he lay painting with fever
the whole night through tended by his
devoted mother.
On the second day, while he collected
the mount of stones, she never quilted
his side, bnt helpei him in secret, and
in the evening, when he tainted from
fatigue, she was there to catch him in
her arms.
Next dawned the day which she most
dreaded, when every stone which struck
his tender body wounded her heart to
the core. When she saw him falter, she
encouraged him with cheerful words
and caressing signs, which brought
back the color to his cheeks and the
smile to his pale lips.
Only few stones now remained to
be hurled, when a treacherous hand
flung sharp edged stone, which struck
the boy on the temple. His mother
sprang forward with cry OF anguish
and caught him to her breast. Then she
knelt down and pressed his curls, drip
| ping with blood, to her aching heart.
Once only did Zephyr open his eyes,
Bring me the harp" sighed he.
They ran quickly to bring it for him.
He took it in his arms, and his pure soul
passed gently over the celestial chords,
whose divine vibrations foated in airy
waves away into space.
Then the poor mother arose with set
features, and with arms appealngly
raised to heaven she exclaimed:
80 We men Of stony hearts, be ye
also turned to stone! Listen, great
spirit, beseech thee, to the cry of
mother for vengeance! Turn to stone,
ye traitors, ye who have ruthlessly TAX
en- the life Of the purest being on Gods
earth. Be We turned to stone ~
Then before her eyes this nation Of
giants, who had been gathered in a
semicircle around her. became instantly
petrified, while she sighed so deeply that
her heart broke with a plaintive cry,
which revealed to the world mothers
anguish and the enOrmity of the crime
which had been committed by mortal
men.
As for the stays, they spread out their
heavy wings and few away forever out
of creation.
THE END