Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1850-1854, 1852-10-29
VOL. XIII-NO. 10.


ters for their aged parents the curses that poilu
ted the air, the neighng of horses and the cat-
tering OF their hoofs they came laundering
over the bridge of tabriclous reached not the ear
OF Antonlus as he poured forth his soul before
God in prayer. His cell door opened cautiously
and Nina entered. Thro"ing herself upon her
fathers neck, she wept bitterly. "Thank Heav-
en-, said the old man, IL can see thee before die
feel that my days upon earth are few, aud wish
ed To besIow upon thee and Nerea my blessing
Where Is thy sister"
'She is writing to our brother for an army to
overthrow the tyrant Bat he can do nothj3o
Yet his influence with Galba is very great. A
conspiracy is already on foot planned by Vindex.
l0elleve NeTea only writes to hasten its execu-
ton"
The jalor now appeared to warn Nina that it
was time to leave. May not stay to receive my
fathers blessing ?" "My orders are strict, can
allow thee no more" But he may not live till
10 morrow" Nevertheless thou must CO.
Farewell, then, dear father, God preserve thee
TIL the morning"
After leaving the prison, Nina broathed more
freely, for under the mask OF age and infrmitv
she was not likely to be suspected Moreover
though the soldiers were continually on guard
and she was likelyto be seized at every moment.
with evasion and authority, and in the feeble vet
shri tones OF an old beldame. Yet the iailor
was her friend, but not for that would he uisobey
his orders. This Nina knew and inwardy res.
pected him tor II, a belt many paug came across
her heart when she thought Of her desolotion in
that lone prison house.
After crossing the bridge of Ces,ius, Nina
wound her way to the summit of lanicuium.-
Gliding swiftly along winding pathway she dis
appeared behind some bushes, and entering the
mouth Of huge cave, disrobed herself of her an
cient habiliments. Creeping onward througha
narrow entrance, she emerged into large room,
furnished by the generosity OF Octayius, who had
been banished to Sicily for being Christian
Here sat Nina's nurse watching the dying en-
bers.
"CIaudi, where is my sister" said Nina
AT the palace of Nero" rejoined the tg ID
dame. "She would 60, and could not prevent
her.
Success to her crrand. am glad her cou:.
age did not tail her
After the departure of Nina. Nerea directed
her course to the imperial palace, ard applied tor
admission. She was at first repuIsed, but her
urgent entreaty at length secured her an audi,
ence with the emperor. Touching the top of hi,
extended sceptre, Nerea bowed at the feet Of Ro-
man tyranny. With fearful eyes and lremuIou>
voice she recounted the trials OF her venerable
sire, and beSought that his lie might be spared
SIS not Antonius OF the sect OF the NaZa-
renes p
"He is follower Of Jesus of Nazareth"
Would he abJure his faith il Nero should pro-
nounce the word live p
Wouldst thou resign thy crown, should
slave command thee p
"Caljest thou me a slave Ramcmbarest thou
not that have power over thy life {"
Thou hast not, thou shadow of a man." ex-
claimed Nerca, rising; and pointing upwards to
Heaven she said, My lite is in the hands Of God
and thou canst never harm me :"
The tyrant gaZ-d with admiration upon her no.
bic form and fair countenance, lit up with the
glow of conscious sincerity he gazed aud tclt
awed by her look and tone and felt half inclined
to grant her request without condition. Bat re-
hecting on the calm defiance of his power. he
tell resolved as to his course Girl - said he
steruIy, "knowest thou in whose presence thou
art p
"ln the presence of God" answered Ncroa,
with lock that appalled, tie tyrants heart. Yet
it was but tor moment, for the current of his
crimes might not easily be stayed
Tiny fathers life shall! pay for this insolence!"
said Nero, with look OF triumph.
"What! my father die for my fault 2 Wreak
not thy vengeance on the innocent, but on the
guilty, Lot A. - r--i-y-, 9, '---
did the wrong !"
lila doat thou desire death so much! Well /
thou shalt have the comfort of dying with him. (
Guards, seizi this trGoress and her father. and 7
at the sixth hour lead them forth, smear them with
pitch aud set them on fire. Let Us see whether /
their God viii save them"
The morning rose clear and beautiful, III suited
f., tr,, t,IcqI .rppn abrtrf 4, bn crart,l
sixth hour came, but orders had been given to de-
lay the execution OF The sentence to the third
hour OF The nght all lights were to be extin-
guished, that the blazing pitch might afford more
marked contrast to the surrounding darkness and
that the death struggle Of their victims might ap /
pear to better advantage.
On taat evcn,fm morning, Nina paid her last /.
visit to the cell of Antonius. Entering its Qloo- /
my precincts, she saw her father upon his knees. !
his hands clasped, and his eyes cast upward to
Heaven. A mild serene smile beamed on bis
countenance, and though hi, lips moved not, his
looks bespoke the nature Of tat silent prayer
She waited in vain fortha aiacGJnate welcome
and the promised blessing Those lips were
still in death. and those letters chained fees
mass of clay. Oh, happy soul to take thy flight
in such rapturous manner yea rapturous to
wing thy way from these cold prison walls, in
comparison tutay ascent irouI body Wrealh!ng
in agonips to which Nero had doomed uec.-
Thank God that he releas I'd thee ere thou weri
permtte thus to suffer. Nina reioices in Thy
happy death. So let it be with my sister, if il
accordance with thy holy viii
All! Nina, little didsi thou dream the fate that
awaited thee Little Lidst thou think that Thy
Young flower was to be blightcd thus early
The afactionate daughter was still gazing on
her aged fathers face, when O>torious. an officer
OF the Prutoran Guard entered. Sciztug tie
arm of Nina, he rudely tore her from her SIRE
and taking the veterans lifeIess head between
his hands, ye, feeling lot the warm pulsaiions Of
the blood in his frozen temples, lie exclaimed
"ll1! old man, thou thoughtest to escape our
vengeance by voluntary DEATH we'll no matter
so much the less trouble for u :" MY f,her
had no need 10 Kill himself, nor Ion to kill him
in any other way than that which thou hast atrea
dy taken. . cruel monster, exclaimed Nina " tn
impassioned GESTURE, her frame duiverng with
emotion, betraying herself Immediately.
Girl, who gave thee liberty to visit this old
dog in his dungeon. Thou haIst well nigh es-
capped our vigilance in that uncouth dress Of thine
Well Aggrippa, we shall lose nothing this cir!
can take that wretch's place"
But we forbear to touch upon the death Of
these devoted sister, suffice il TO say that they
died happy in the service Of the man of sorrows