The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1852-11-13
DAILY JOURNAL.
THE ROMAN SENATOR
AN INTERESTING TALE.
concluded,

dear to her. She placed her fragile arm
about his manly neck, and in tone OF gentle
reproach, "Rebuke me not, my loves" she
said, "thou knowest if Agrcola is slave,
Sylvia would share his bondage with him.
Her love should make his slavery sweeter
tnan freedom"
"Desist, ;" responded the youth, encircl;ng
her waist with his arm, with respectful ten
derness, softening his tone, remember your
father is Roman"
al know it well,'' she answered eagerly,
"yet still love theey'
IL know it, Sylvia, alas! too well, but were
/ to wed thee, it would draw his Indignation
on both. For myself, care not, but for thee
the gods know, sooner would / give my
head 10 the executioner than those bright
eyes should lower before the frown of an an
CRY father. Sylvia, it must not be-" and
clasping his hands in agony, he added, ''let
me remain slave-thou the worthy daughter
of Il Roman"
''Cruel as thou art, still love thee" she
whispered through her tears; "none but thee
love, or care Tor. Ny fathers wrath heed
not; so that possess thee, care"
''Hist!' said her lover, carefully leaning to-
ward the spot tn, v had just quilted; "when
last we met heard noise like that which
"Ncver" cried the girl. with loves desper-
alton, and clinging more closely to him,
"never, till thou'st promised; will die with
thee, A gricola, but will not lose thee.'
faint noise, resembling football, broke
on the silence, Agricola strove to disen-
gage himself from the virgin who twined her
arms wildly about his neck.
''Begone, Sylvia, | beseech."
"'TIilyou promise, neVer!' she exclaimed,
nearly choked with emotion.
Again the noise was heard--if they were
discovered, ruin would belall the idol of his
heart, and he degraded by the lash. a mo-
ment more II would be too late; he put his
lips 10 her eai-'-l PROMISE
In the next instant the light form of the fe-
male was lost among the columns, and look
ing hastily around, he saw the shadow, evil
dent.y that OF man, cast upon the pavement
near him, but 50 instantaneous was the dis
appearance, that it had vanished ere he WAS
fully aware OF the reality. lie kneeied and
placed his err upon the stores, but ali was
silent.
The immovable features of the pagan idol
were dimly visible in the breaking day that
stole through the portico of his temple, while,
equally inilexible, the priest sat at his feet,
his face hid in the ample folds of his mantle,
presenting only the undeined outlines OF u
man,
As the gray haze Of morning yielded to the
Strengthening dawn, the Senator, with deep
irown settled ON his brow, walked in and
Lifted the priest, WIN rose to receive hila.
"Why here So early!" demanded the father.
81 could effect no,hin. in the short period
since we parted yesterday"
Ills not for that | sought thc','' answer ed
his visitor
Then why this visit!'' returned the priest.
For vengeance!'
''Thou shalt have H." replied the priest,
gathering his robe around him.
"Thou knowest not what | mean. foolish
priest"
''Still, thou shal; have vengeance"-and a
cry cough, like Il death-ra;tie, sounded in the
throat OF the prest--it might have been a
laugh.
"Silence.' said the Senator, sternly, laying
his clenched hand upon the altar; 'the new
made laws have deprived us of our innate
right to punish our slaves with death--yet
have slave must die"
An Involuntary shudder passed over the
heather preist, but he pulled his robe more
closely about him, and the start passed unob-
served.
IL have niece, my brothers. daughter
She lives with me my adopted child. This
save has dared TO love her. could let that
pass, but she, the daughter Of u freebOrn son
OF Rome, forgetting her birth, returns his pas
sion. heard her swear faith to him at mid
night. That seals his DOOM and the slave
shall die! Were it not that suspicion resting
on me sai ght blight my brilliant hopes, this
hand had cone the deed; but | am unused to
tricks; leave it to thee; thy trade is craiti-
ness, and thou canst lull suspicion. That's
but my iee,' he said, castinga bag of gold up
on the altar; "my reward shall make thee
-rich.''
''Tis WE'LL" answered the priest; show cal.
lied thou the slave!''
"AgricOla."
The sudden start and half word which es.
capped the priest caught the others atten-
ton.
"Why startest thoul" ne demanded.
81 started,' returned the priest, recovering
himself, and stretching forth an arm much
withered and shrunken, "because this hanC
was never dipped in blood"
"a wise priest" said the Senator scorn-
Efully,"I see thy object-well, be it SOP anC
he threw another purse upon the altar.
~Thy words must be my law" said III,
priest, in a low tone-"but away; the people
come II worship"
Inc senator cast searching glance q!
the mufiied face of the priest-he drew hi'
robe about him, and, casting disdainiul looS
on the throng which now commenced kneelins
about the image, left The chapel
When the worshippers had concluded the
devotions they retired and soon the prizes
was left alone with one person, who sti.
knet at the altar. The priest having fasten
ed the door, the devotee arose, and casting
aside the gray mantle which disguised him
exhibited the fine form of Agrcola, the