The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-02-26


sition had not been discovered till they arrived IA
| the place OF execution.
Claudius answered not Il word; he was unwll
ing to desecrate the bencvolenco Of his faith, by
making it the purchase Of his pardon. Hehad lei
his PRISON, but it was TO save his enemy. Deaf!
| to him more welcome than life, and he soot
before the Tyrant Eresolved TO keep the secret o
last nights interview. The darkness of the cham
Der, and the agitation of Nero, had so far con
cealcd the Christian as to prevent his recogn Iior
now.
HIa! Nazareno,' he cried with rage his eyes fuI
and flashing, 'by the Gods thou hast broken Thy
cage once, but | will bind thee where Freedom
shall only gve;thee to beasts.'-Ncro was not more
eXaspcrated at his alled2Gd escape than that OF III
IA from the palace, and love 10 the Christians
which presented an obstacle to his lust. Tur.
ming to Tita, and with difficulty moderating the
passion he could not conceal 'and thou, too, maid
en-, hast sported with our power within our very
palace. Have n care; the lion is strongest in his
own den. This was the act of Rufus, but he and
his confederates are in chains, The guard shall be
rustier lie whispered Epaphroditus The mai
den looked not up; if she bad, the malignant smile
on the Tyrant's lip would have qucnched the last
ray Of hope
CHAPTER Ix-THE MISTRESS AND THE CHRISTIAN.
The Christians were separated but their destina-
tons were as opposite III place as IN character,
Claudius had but exchanged ono dudgeon for anoth-
err, while Tita was conducted to apartment cost
ly and luxurious,-but what is splendor 10 the
heart sick and unhappy prisoner 1t resembles
the golden bars to the cage Of the bird; they catch
n,
and whose broad expanse gave no limit to lis fight;
aud how il flutters on TO remind il of its bondage,
aud the melancholy gifts notes pines for the
tain and the breeze.
None were permitted To approach her the
Freedman, whose lif- was 20 answer the violation
of his charge. She foresaw The ryrunt's design,
and anxnusly prayed for he hand Of death a.
vert it. She flung ie self or the couch in despair,
but the form of Claudus stood by her side, and
whispered words Of comfort and support. He seem
TO exhor the earno$tneSs Of prayer, and confidence
in the protection of his God-She from her
couch, and endeavored 10 abstract her MUD in
prayer. She was strengtheued her feelings
Iranguilizcd, and she sank 20 sleep.
1t was midnight; the lamps but family lit the
chamber, whose deep silence was broken only by
the respiration of the sleeping maid Slnw!y and
cautiously secret panel connected with the silver
cloth of the apartment was opened and speedily
closed A delicate female approached, whose dark
cline 1t was Acte. The Emperor had left
his apartment that night, and free trow suspicion
she had passed TO the chamber of her rival. She
had not forgotten the passion he exhibited TO 1ita
in the hour ola drunken revel, and jealousy, deep
er for the protraction of revenge, still ranked
within her breast She loved Nero, Tyrant and
Monster as he was the more so, perhaps as he
bad continued the connection in spite of the
mohSrance and dssuason Of his mother, and the
warm passions Of her climate, while they lent
dor to her love, gave depth also To revenge.
She cautiously surveyed ihe chamber, and stood
in silence as to ascertain that none approached In
preached the couch She bent the uncon-
scous form of her victim, but the calmness of sleep
was on her brow, and with ii it brought iorgetlul
ness of danger. She touched her. Tita started
from her couch. 'Claudius, is it lhou?' broke
from her lips, she looked round her wildly, I'M
conscious of time or place
Acte extended the cup to her Guilt and fear
cor it success worked within huI; her hand trem.
Ded, her lips qulvered in the attempt to speak, and
rs she faitered, Drink, maiden lis draught for
care, she sank exhausted by The couch Of Ti,a.
Suspicion darted through the mind of the maiden
rs she recognized guilt in the hesitation of
Acte's manner; she dashed from her the goblet, *
Is her scream of terror rung through the apart
nen, the door opened, and the Freedman rushed in,
,e disappeared for IA moment, but immediately re.
urned followed by Nero and Claudius.
To xplain their sudden appearance, it ia neces-
airy to retrace Il few steps.
The enmity which Nero felt 10 the Christians
lad been embiered IN the Of Candius by the
owe which bound him to Tia. As long as he
wed tho Tyrant coulds not hope for the posses
ion of her person; he therefore resolved up
n his immediate death under precxt of his
reed.
That night he had entered his cell and had an
ounced to Claudius his fate. TO the Christian
Death had no terror, and amid the crleltics which
.oro,s ingenuity in sport devised for his victims,
,laudins' toriltude remained unsllnken. Grant me
ut request said the Christian.
Speak, rejoincd the Tyrant.
Il how in silence to thy will answered CLAUDE
s, 'if but sec Tita ere die.
Follow me, replied Nero They were already in
nc passage conducting to her chamber, when Epa
hroditus, W no watched at the door, hearing The
cream, rushed in followed by Ner" and CLAUDE
s. {
a dead serce prevailed, as Nero and the Chris
an gazed on the figures, unable to explain their
citation or its cause. Aote still chung TO the couch
u support; the goblet lay by her side, while Tira
God in the centre oflhe apartment, her hair fall.
,g in disorder on her shoulders her eyes fixed in
acant unconscousness, while her avericd hand
embed as pointed to Acte. To one whose pal I
ae witnessed frequently scenes of death, us =
lose Of conviviality; the present one, as his eye
III on the goblet, needed no Interpretation for
Gro. |
Poison, reachcry,' lie cried in voice OF pas l.
on. +,
Acte, mistress of every art which could assuage
sierccst moments, dreaded not his anger much
, discovery She ielt conceament vain, and with
he subtlely Ut mistress who knows the weakness
Ler lover will forgive fault which originates t
ON the fdepth Of love, falling at Nero's feet, c
nplored pardon. Forgive me, sho cried Il share
~ throne, but cannot share thine heart with a
other. My Lord knows the depth of that love q
icb bati tha enctb tic 4 l.,