Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-11-06


frown settled on his brow, walked in and saluted
the priest, who rose to receive him.
"Why here SO early % demanded the father.
81 could effect nothing in the short period sincewe
parted yesterday
g IT'S not for that sought thee,'' answered
his visitor
"Then why this visit 90 returned the priest.
''For vengeance p
'Thou shalt have it, replied the priest, gath
ering his robe about him.
Thou knowest not what mean, foolish priest.
"Sill, thou shalt have vengeance"-an dry
cough, like death-ratte, sounded in the throat
of the priest-it might have been laugh.
"Silence p said the Senator, sernly, laying his
clenched hand upon the altar ''the new made
laws have deprived us of our innate right to pun
ish cur slaves. with death-yet have slave must
de-.
An involuntary shudder passed over the hea-
then priest, but he pulled his robe more closely
about him, and the start passed unobserved.
| Il have niece, my brothers daughter. She
lives with me as my adopted child. This slave
has dared to love her. could let that pass, but
she, the daughter of free born son of Rome, for
tgetting her birth, returns his passion. | heard
her swear faith to him at midnight. That seals his
doom, and the slave shall die Were it not that
suspicion resting on 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 canst lull suspicion. That's
but my fee,'' he said, casting bag of gold upon
the altar, "my reward shall make thee rich.''
&C IT'S well,' answered the priest, chow called
thou the slave 90
''Agricola."
The sudden start and half word which escaped
the priest caught the others attention.
''Why startest thou 90 he demanded.
81 started" replied the priest, recovering him
SELF and stretching forth an arm much witlIered
and shrunken, ''because this handwas never dip
ped in blood"
GA wise priest" said the Senator scornfully,
81 see thy object-well be it so,'' and he threw
another purse upon the altar.
Thy words must be my law" said the priest,
in allow tone--''but away the people come to
worship
The Senator cast searching glance on the muf-
fled face of the priest-he drew his robe about
him. and, casting a disdainful look on the throng
(which now commenced kneeling about the image,
left the chapel.
When he worshippers had concluded their de-
votons they retired and soon the priest was left
alone with one person, who still knelt at the altar.
The priest having fastened the door, the deyotee
arose, and casting aside the gray mantle which dis
guised him, exhibited the fine form of Agricola the
slave.
/ Father said he, 81 crave thy blessing
Thou hast ever been kind to Agrcola and he is
poor, and all that he can return he now presents
to thee--the love that springs from his heart
"'Tis all ask" cried the priest, casting aside
lis mantle and embracing him ''the love Of the
t good and vrtuous is the greatest treasure. But
my son. thou hast failed in confidence to me, anc
dangers beset thy path thicker than the pixies O
i the Macedonians'
Agricola bushed, and sunk his head on hi
If breast.
: ''Its true he replied, ''that have not tol,
thee all--but now
1t Mind it mott know ALL The youth glanced
increduous in his face, when the priest, taking hi
% hand, continued, eyes, all-thou lowest thy mas
ters adopted daughter, and she returns thy love
Is it not so %
s'Alas alas F! too rightly hast thou said,,'' an
u swered the young man, despondin9ly;
st 'Say not alas p cried the priest his eyes bright
ening with delight ''sbe shall be thy wife
ID MY wife p repeated Agricoa, retiring fe'
ID PAGES, regarding the other with astoAishmen
st ''ano | a slave p
OF "Fear not if thou would be happy, obey me-
. At midnight fly hither with thy bride, and l wi
unite thee"
n ''But remember said the youth, tortured wit
); many conflicting emotions, ''the populace Wi
- Stay thee ifthou doSt unite slave with freebol
k, girl p
is Now away return at midnight"
n. At the same hour as on the previous mornin
an Armenius repeated his visit, but the priest m
him at the altar, and as he was about to spea
er said in a holder tone than he had hitherto use
IS, "The deity hath spoken of thee p
is ''Hast thou punished the slave ?" demands
Armenius eagerly.
yet First must relate the words Of the God
serve, then to thy question
, "Be speedy with thy fooleries p said Armel
us us haughtily, 81 have weighty business to- da
.he and but few minutes to spare"
he "Last night said the priest, .'the god call
yer upon his servant, and said, The friend Attcl
it whom Armenius exiled still lives Start n
my Senator of Rome, Atticus yet lives, and in d
or guse has returned to Rome, found proof of t
baseness, and received honors from Augustus.
lis He has learned, too, that before her death,
ve wife was delivered of a child-that thou di
hat seize the infant and didst bring him up sla
that highest feast thy hellish hate in seeing
to- son of thy rival eat with bondsmen p
last t'Hast thou ended ?" asked the Senator.
uck 81 have" answered the priest.
''Then know that god of thine speakest fal:
era for to surety know that Atticus is long ST
yer, dead. Now, answer me: hast thou slain
gri- slave p
''To satisfy myself how faithfully have exc
on ted my commission" said the priest, 'raise y
lim- der veil and behold his body
Idly The>senator strobe in the direction pointed
and drawing aside the curtain, beheld Agrio
with Sylvia in his arms. He reeled at first,
ned, in an instant exclaimed,
s'Wretch, thou hast deceived me ''-unshe;