Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1850-08-09
FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST o, 1850.


the Christians for her recovery. Berenice
listened in still attention she had heard
to her surprise. the meditation of a Being
lmplored, OF whose very existence she
was totally ignorant; she saw Alec rise at
last with an expression of resignation and
holy hope in her meekly raised eve, which
she had never Witnessed in the votaries of
love. She called the trembling girl to her
side, and bade her quickly explain her sa-
cred faith. Alec hesitated she knew the
danger she would incur, for both, and some
remains of the fear of man yet fingered
about her heart but she conquered the
unworthy feeling, and drawing from the
folds of her robe roll of parchment, she
! read aloud to her attentive auditress the
most surprising event in the history of
mankind.
Many months had passed away. One
evening the sisters were together in their
own apartment. Veronica stood before a
mirror; her vest of satin, her flower
wreathed robe, her zone of briliants, told
! that she was preparing for festival. At
| the farther end of the room Berenice was
/ seated. She was arrayed in plain white
dress, and her long hair fell unbraided in
It's own rich luxuriance about her throat
and shoulders with one hand she fondled
snow-white dove, and ever and anon her
/ dark hair fell over the gentle bird, and it
nestled lovingly with it; the other rested
on parchment which appeared to engross
the maiden's deepest attention.
! Come, now, Berenice," said her sister,
/ playfully fixing the wreath of roses, pre-
pared for herself, on her sisters brow,
lay aside for once your melancholy book,
and send your dove to his rest, and come
down TO the banquet" Bcrenice looked
up, and answered gently.
Not so, Veronica, not tonight it is
the anniversary of poor Alce's death and
did she not die for love of me. watching
and waiting when all others slept! Her
image has been with me through the day
| cannot join the banquet with my heart
full Of sad memorials leave me, sister,"
and Berenice took off and returned the
wreath.
Yet listen, one word more; thou
knowest who will be there this evening.
My father will frown, and Lucius Emilius
will sigh when | 90 in alone. Lucius de-
parts tomorrow for the battle; and shall
he 90 without one benson from his aff-
anced ?"
No" replied her sister, speaking low
and faliering; YOU, Veronica. will tell
him that wait 10 see him here, before his
departure" :"
''Berenice my sister, belhink YOU of
our father; remember his patrician pre-
JUDGES; surely this step"
Go, dear sister," answered Berenice,
mildly yet firmly " for the love thot you
bare me, do me this crrand. | would not
any other eye should mark the weakness
| fear to betray at parting with one whom
my father has commanded me to love
tell my father that | am unwell, and it is
true, my head and heart ache-go, dear
est" And Veronica, unconvinced, vet
persuaded by the tears of her sister, which
IN truth were flowing fast, left her alone.
Berenice resumed her reading, but not
for many minutes she arose and shut the
volume, saying, Not thus, not thus with
divided attention and with wandering
thought, may presume to read this holy
record" She placed it within small
casket, locked ii carefully, and then walked
forth into a balcony, on which the win
dows of the apartment opened. The |
moon had just risen and shed soft light on
the magnificent buildings of the eternal
city; the cool, thin air swept over the /
brow of the maiden, and calmed her'agi- !
tated thoughts she had bitter trial be- /
fore her, for she was about TO inhict deep
wound on the heart of one whom she +
loved with all the innocent fervor of girls /
first affection and she trembled as she !
pictured TO herself his sorrow. Then Be
rence looked up at the quiet of the even
ing sky, and thought of the time, when
earth's interests would be over for her !;
and could she thus look, and thus think, !
and still hesitate All, no When she
heard the step of Lucius drawing nigh,
she plucked single flower from a creep
ing plant that overshadowed the balcony,
and keeping it in her hand as token to
recall her better resolutions, she advanced
TO meet him.
at was not for this, | sent for you
hither," she said, in reply to his passion
ate expressions of regret and love ; "you
are Roman soldier, Lucius, know it
was neither your destiny, nor your wish
to be ever at lady's side. Believe me,
have learned to look on this parting as
thing inevitable )" but. even as she spoke,
her voice faltered.
Lucius leaned forward TO console her,
to whisper of reunion, of long reunion
50 Your father has promised, dearest" said
he, that this campaign once over, the
Marcomanni once defeated, shall be re-
warded, at my return, with the hand of
my Berenice.
"It may be Sc" she answered sadly,
Z" if you still wish it."
If | still wish it! Berenice, of what
are you dreaming -