The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1837-10-14

agony, he added, "let me remain sla'o'
though the worthy daughter of a Ro-
mani"
"Cuel as thou art still will love thee,
she whispered through his ears; "none but
thee | live or care for. My fathers
wrath heed not, so that possess theei
care"
Hist said her lover, as he carefully
leaned toward the spot they had just quit
ted, swhen last we met heard a noise like
that which Just struck upon mine ear
Sylvia, away!
Never cried the girl, filled with loves
desperation, and clinging more closely to
him, "never, till thou'st promised. Will
die with thee Agricola, but will not Loose
theer'
A faint noise resembling football broke
on the silence. As Agricola strove to dis
engage himself from the virgin, who twined
her arms wildly about his neck.
'Begone, Sylvia beseech!''
It'll You promise never!' she articulated,
nearly choaked with emotion.
Again the noise was heard--if they were
discovered ruin would befall the idol of his
heart, and he be degraded by the lash. A
moment more; it would be too late; he put
his lips to her ear
Il PROMISE
In the next instant the light form Of the
maid was lost among the columns, and her
lover, looking hastily about saw the shad-
ow, evidently that of man, cast on the
pavement near him, but so instantaneous
was the disappearance that it had vanished
ere he was fully aware of the reality. He
kneeled and placed his ear on the stones, but
all was silent-save the short beatings of
his heart.
The immoyeable features of the pagan
idol were dimly visible in the breaking day
that stole through the portico of his temple,
while equally inhexible; the priest sat at
its feet, his face hid in the ample folds Of
his mantle, presenting only the underlined
outlines of a man.
AS the gray haze of morning yielded to
the strengthening dawn, the senator, with
deep frown settled on his brow, walked
in and saluted the priest who rose to re-
ceive him:
'Why here, and so early3" demanded the
latter. i could effect nothing in the short
period since we parted yesterday"
"Tis not for that sought thee" an
swered the visitor.
''Then why this visit!' returned the
priest.
"For vengeance!"
"Thou shalt have it," replied the priest,
gathering his robe about him."
"Thou knowest not what mean, foolish
priest"
"Still thou shalt have vengeance;" and a
dry cough, like death rattle, sounded in
the throat of the priest-it might have been
laugh.
"Silence,' said the senator, sternly lay
ing his clenched hand upon the alter, ''the
new made laws have deprived US of our
innate right to punish our slaves with death
yet have slave must de!''
An involuntary shudder passed over the
heather priest, but he pulled his robe more
closely about him and the start passed un-
observed. Amenius continued.
81 have niece, my brothers daughter.
She lives with me, my adopted child
This slave has dared to love her. | could
let that pass, but she, the daughter of
treebom son of Rome, forgetting her birth,
returns his passion. heard her swear it to
him at the last dnight.-That seals his
doom, and the slave shall die! Were it
not that suspicion resting on me might blight
my brilliant hopes, this hand had done the
deed; but am unused to tricks, leave it
to thee; thy trade is crafliness, and thou
canst lull suspicion. That's but my fec"
he said casting bag of goldupon the altar,
''my reward shall make thee rich!''
"l'is well muttered the pIiest, 'how call
est thou the slave!" "Agricola."