The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-11-18
EVILS OF AMBITION.
BY BARRY PAIN.

PossSO hin III IHtlF Buueu eQulpdSeS,
fiinging the mud of the road in his honest
but unprepossessing face, and thought him
of no Importance. So far as that went, they
had guessed it all right the first time.
He had at one time been scullion to Prince
Ferdinand de Colorado Claro, but had been
degraded for ignorance, for contumelious-
ness, and for intermittent intoxication. He
was now just plain varlet, and not doing
at all we'll at it.
But he had ambition.
This, the intelligent reader will remem-
Der, was in the old days. The venerable
how to help itself. The possibility of get
f1easkips had not inspired volume. There
tempt young varlet away from the coarse
pleasures of skittles and "a pot of four mead
to dispassionte consideration of Keats
Education, thrift and industry had not been
pointed out as the legitimate weapons of
the poor but ambitious Consequently the
varlet never SO much as thought of rising in
the world by these means. He though.
rather of matrimonial alliance, which is
as effective and as rule easier
| His proud masters often thought that the
varlet was at work when in reality he was
asleep. And they often thought that he
was asleep when in reality he was plotting
He was splendid plotter, and he knew it.
He was ready to plot against any varlet of
| his own weight in the united kingdom, if
some gentleman would provide purse. 1t
was his ambition to marry princess, and if
varlet means to marry princess he has to
plot considerably. And even then he may
miss the first princess and have to wait
| for the next.
| Our varlet saw clearly that it would be
hopeless for him to marry princess by
birth, but he saw hopes of princess by
marriage. Prince Ferdinand de Colorado
| Claro was unmarried. He might be in
duced to marry the herdsman's daughter,
| Serafina Imperiale Maduro, with whom the
varlet had an understanding; and later the
varlet would marry the princes widow.
| The varlet had some splendid receipts for
making widows. He had only to drop a
little powder in the princes metheglin-and-
soda and send in his proposal after the fu-
neral. You may, perhaps jump hastily to
the conclusion that tic varlet was las-
| tard: so he was.
But how was the Prince Ferdinand de
Colorado Claro to be induced to marry the
low-born Serafina Imperial Maduro? l
cannot say that Serafina was actually beau
tiful. Her friends said that she looked
better some days than she did others; her
enemies said she looked worse other days
than she did some. The varlet had gone to
her in his cringing and dastardly way, and
said: 'Wlll thou marry me, Serahna!"
Pass, said Serafna.
But can [ make thee a princess"
"Ah, now you're talking!" said the sim
pie maiden.
Now the varlet knew well that next tc
the real thing reputation for the real thing
is effective, SO he proceeded to get for Sera
tina reputation for the most wonderful
beauty, and few other things.
In those days you could get as many
bards as you wanted-at seven for siXpenct
by putting your head out of the window
and whistling In some respects the worlc
has changed surprisingly since those Crane
old days. The varlet got shillings worth
Of best bards around him, and gave then
their instructions.
'You will go and sing in the palace anc
grounds OF Prince Ferdinand de Colorado
Claro"
Pardon said the senior bard, "but doe:
the prince keep dogs, because"
"The prince has ten bloodhounds, but il
is l who am appointed to feed them. To
night they will all have nasty accident"
"Quite So You don't mind my asking?'
"The question was natural. And you vii
all sing the immaculate virtue, the icy pride
the glorious beauty, and the general heart
breakingness of Serafina Imperiale Ma
duro."
And the bards began practicing at once
20 Serafina!
Have you ever seen her?"
In those days the simple folk rhymed a
was absolutely horrid.
A week passed, and then the varlet wa
summoned to the princes presence.
'Narlet," said the prince, Il had in
tended to slay you for the nasty acciden
that happened to my ten bloodhounds.
forgot about it. Pm sorry"
Sire" said the varlet, politely, "the de
lay has caused me no inconvenience"
Con one condition l will spare your life
Bring to me that damosel Serafna Impe
riale Maduro of whose surprising fame
hear so much. The bards have not her ad
dress"
The varlet had been much too cunning
to give it to them. "Then slay me, sire, y h,
said "For that ice-cold maiden will com,
at no mans bidding. But if you will deigl
to visit her at her lowly cottage, will b
your guide"
$50 be it" said the prince. "And w
will start at once" He was already wear
ing his Sunday suit of armor. He took hi
helmet down from the peg, lifted his lane
out of the umbrella in the hall, ant
mounted his piebald steed. He looked lik
picture. The varlet led the way to Sera
tina's cottage. So far the plot had worke
admirably, but just here the bottom of i
dropped out.
Had Serafina been looking her best sh
might, with the help of an established rep
utation, have managed to pull through. Blu
that day she had taken honey from he
hives, and the bees had shown their irri
tation in the usual manner. Her face wa
bound up in red flannel One OF her eye
was sparkling, but the other was invisible
Her mouth was twisted up one side OF he
face, and her nose was swollen
"Serafna?' asked the prince.
81 am She"
"Well-er--Ill think about it and let yo,
know. I've got some business with tn;
varlet here just at present"
He galloped towards the varlet; and tn
varlet ran n c long IS he could and then ora "