San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-12-10


she could not be prevailed on to take in
terest in state affairs King Briar be-
came perceptibly more and more feeble,
so that his subjects felt it incumbent ON
them to entreat him to select husband
for the Princess Vigilia, so that he
might rejoice in having grandchild be-
fore ne left them forever
"My child, said he, soon after the
above conversation, sit is time that 1
sought husband for thee. Do any of my
subjects please thee?'
"Oh, no, my father" replied vi
gilia. 81 would not marry one of those
men who flung stones at me; could
not forget that circumstance and should
never be able to love such a husband!
My husband must descend from above,
to the height Of which none Of our peo-
pie have been able to ascend in spite Of
all our winged stagsP'
Scarcely had she spoken these words
when vast cloud appeared in the heav-
ems, from which strains of celestial
music seemed to proceed. The cloud
lowered itself gradually and slowly and
revealed to view beautiful youth, with
long curling hair, carrying in his arms
harp with golden strings and resplen-
dent with all the colors of rainbow. He
struck the chords with vigorous hand,
but even 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 SPELL
bound! He sprang lightly to the earth
after dispensing the cloud by a motion
of his hand, which sent it far away in
the distance. The youth advanced to-
ward the young maiden and offered his
hand, saying:
81 am son of the air and am called
Viscol Wilt thou be my spouse? Are
we not of the same racer"
YES" answered Vigilia, as if in a
dream. 81 will be thine for all eter-
nifty"
But King Briar frowningly said:
"How dost thou love this being al
ready, my child? Beware of him, for he
will not bring happiness either to thee
or to thy people. He will wander afar
and leave thee solitary and alone, and
thou wilt lose authority over thy sub
jects. Child. this will end badly for all
of us, but thou wilt be the most unhap-
py"
Happy or the contrary it must be
so, my father 1t will be all the same to
me, for feel that 1 cannot exist with
ont this godlike youth; better to be
miserable with him than happy with
another.
Very reluctantly the old king yielded
his consent to this marriage, and with
an impatient gesture checked the string
of promises which the young man had
begun to pour forth.
"Time will show" he said roughly.
At the commencement all went bright
and merrily with the young couple, but
later ON the king could not close his |
ears to the complaints of his people, |
who deplored the arrival of this stranger |
in their midst and the disorder which |
reigned since mis- advent. Gradually, |
too, Viscol began to neglect his young |
wife and to leave her at home with only |
her father as companion, while he |
chased round the world. And now |
Vigilia became silent and sad. When
she was questioned as to the where
abouts of her husband, or the date of his
return, or the reason of her not accom-
panying him, she invariably answered:
81 know not"
When he did return, his manner was
rude and violent toward her, and while
she grew more silent and submissive he
grew rough and overbearing. The white
beard of the old king often shook with
anger when he witnessed the treatment
to which his once high spirited daughter
was subjected. He bowed his hoary head
toward the earth, saying: II fear me
shall not live to see the birth of my
grandson. May the Great Spirit grant
to thee through thy child the happiness
which thou hast lost through its ia
ther!'
Shortly after this the good old king
was taken to his rest, and his devoted |
subjects mourned for him and lamented
him nine times nine weeks.
Vigilia's grief and bitter tears were
only assuaged when she brought forth
ler little son, a child so wonderfully
beautiful of countenance, but so ex-
remely delicate in constitution, that
The looked with trembling on his tiny
lace and lost herself in conjecture at the
thought of how he would ever be able
% govern her turbulent people, or how
ar he would be capable of resisting his
ather's severity.
Night and day she held him in her
rms. She never trusted him from out Of
Ter sight; even when she passed judg-
nent on offenders and accorded state
interviews her baby lay ON her breast.
zephyr was the name which she gave to
Ter son, who grew daily in beauty and