Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-06-05

doorway. he found Myrrha in The yestibul
awaiting him.
Dear Myrrha," be said, as she drcy
near and claspcd his arm "lct US 60 with
out the city. There arc too many eye
here, ever ready 70 watch the priest Of Al
tennis"
| .What made thcc a priest, Cleonl"
The first thinking Of, The first longin,
for the pure and the truc. The Aamcns 0
the huntress deity were held up before m
As model Of holiness and excellence
With all youths fire, in my cagcrpess 70
good l joined them; and when my mins
become matured and the heart with it,
learned too late the falsity of the creed"
"Falsityl Clcon. may the goddess for
give thccl'' at
"Ycs, falsity, Myrrha. Where looked
for good, there l found abundant evil
where / looked for purity, there the mos
loathsomc depravity: where sought rcli
gion, therc-but my oath! my oatI!" Anc
he clcnched his hands ard strobe forward
| fiercely.
"Cleon," she murmured, and the music
Of her utterance calmcd him; "Cleon, yor
are now enraged at something; let it pas,
and you will soon be at peace again"
"Myrrha, that is no true creed which
parts what nature hath joined"
-"You speak in Riddles, Cleon."
Il mean the hearts of man and woman
And then the young priest poured into hel
ear the confession Of his love for her. The
knowledge Of himself had smouljcred il
his bosom, but the torch of Eros had kin
died il into fame. 1t was nothing new tc
Myrrha. Her quick woman's wit had long
seen it; and her Greek heart had long beer
ready for it. They had attained the out
skirts of the city, and had been some hour.
walking on in silence.
See, how lonely yonderlight appears, =
said Myrrha. "None others are visible
around us. Let us walk towards it Gloon.
As they approached they saw that it pro-
cccdcd from the low, humble tenement ol
an artisan; and drawing nearer they heard
a low chant Of music, SO sweet and mourn
full that they stood still until it had finished
Then they went forward to the house.
The doorway was vacant, its gate had
been torn from its hinges and now lay bro
ken upon the ground. Here-themselves
concealed by the shadow without-they
could easily see all that passed within. 1t
was low and somewhat dilapidated room
lighted up by two waxcn torches. About
twenty people were assembled there. A
long table, covered with snow white
cloth, occupied one end of the apartment,
and behind it stood an old man, with hands
and eyes uplitcd, uttering fervent prayer.
At his side was smaller stand whercon
lay some manuscripts and simple cross.
In front the people were gathered. One
tall figure attracted the notice of the hamcn
and his companion, standing erect with the
head bowed and the face concealed in the
robe-you could trace habit Of command
in the very stateliness of the figure. When
the prayer ended, the head was raised, the
robe fell, and Myrrha started with aston
ishmcnt. 1t was her father, governor OF
Ephesus!
Then again at sign from the old man
evidently, from his simple white robe,
The priest of this worship-for that it was
worship the gazers could not doubt--at a
sign from him, again rose the notes of a
hymn. 1t was sung: and then lifting the
manuscript reverently, the priest read a
single sentence from it. "a new COM
mandmcnt | giveunto you, that yc love one
another"
The words thrilled through the heart
of the famens of Diana. Could this be
that which was wanting in his creed ? He
listened while in simple eloquencc fell from
the lips of the Oldham the pure doctrine Of
love due from man to man, and from man
to his Creator. The soul Of the young
man grew full of the beauty of the only
beautiful faith faith not then inculcated
by terror and denuncatlon,but made allur-
ing past impression by its winning affcc-
tionateness not then deprived of the glo-
rious poetry which is its very soul, and ur-
gcd only upon the ground of uninviting
reason; but spoken to the inner heart of
man, and claiming from the last rooted
affections the adherence which it sought.
And when the old man ended again they
sang hymn.
M