Louisville messenger. (Louisville, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-05-13
No. NJ.

heard a ll0iHa, like that which Just
struck upon mine oar-Maria, n.
wayf
6Ncvu,n cried tic girl, filled with
loves desperation, aud olinging moro
closely 10 him, "nevcr, iill thou hast
promised. will die with tboc, Ag.
ricola, bet will not lose thee"
A lainnoisc resembling football
broke "a the silence, rs Agricola
stroyo 10 iisenguge himself from the
virgin, who twined her arms wildly
about his neck.
"Begorc, Maria, | besecchw
"Till you promise, noyerl" she ar.
lticulated, nearly choaked with emo
ton.
Again tlcnoiso was heard--If they
were discovered, ruin would bciall
the idol ofhis heart, and he be degra-
ded by the lash. A moment more;
il would be too late; he put his lips 10
her ear
81 promise"
In the next instant, the light form
of the maid was lost among the col!
umns, and her lover, looking hastily
about, saw the shadow, evidently that
of a man, cast on the pavement near
him, but so instantaneous was the dis
appearance, 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 immovable features of the pa
gan idol were dimly visible in the
breaking day, that stole through the
portico Of his temple, while equally
infexible, the Priest sat at his 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 yield
ed to the strengthening dawn, the
senator, with deep frown settled on
his brow, walked in and saluted the
Priest, who rose to receive him.
I"Why here, and so early?' demanded
the latter. 81 could effect nothing in
the short period since we parted yes
/, terday."
cts is. not for that sought lhas"
answered the visitor.
"Then why this visit?" returned the
Priest.
"For vengeancew
"Thou shalt have it," replied the
Priest, gathering his robe about him.
"Thou knpwest not what | mean,
foolish Priest"
"Still thou shalt have vengeance;''
and dry cough, like a death rattle,
sounded in the throat of the Priest
it might have been a laugh.
"Silence,r said the senator, sternly
laying his clenched hand upon the al.
tar; "the made laws have deprived
US of our innate right to punish our
slaves with death-yet / have slave
must dep
An involuntary shudder passed
over the heather Priest, but he pulled
his robe more closely about him, and
the start passed unobserved. Arme-
MUS continued:
"My niece, my brothers daughter,
lives NTH me, and she is my adopted
child. This slave has dared to love
her. | could let that pass, but she,
the daughter ola freeborn son of
Rome, forgetting her birth, returns
her passion. Iheard her swear il to
him at the last midnight. That seals
his doom, and the slave shall die!
Were it not that suspicion resting OIL
me might blight my brilliant hopes,
this hand had done the deed; but |
am unused to tricks, leave it to thee;
thy trade is craftiness, and thou can'st
lull suspicion. That's but my fee,"
he said, casting bag of gold upon
the altar; "my reward shall make thee
rich.o
"Tis WE'LL" muttered the Priest,
show callest thou the slave?"
"Agricola."
The sudden start and half word
which escaped the Priest, caught the
others attention.
"Why startest thou?7 he demand
ed.
81 startedw answered the Priest re-
covering himself, and stretching forth
an arm, much withered and shrunken
"because this hand was never dipped
lin blood"