Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-11-06
COLU NJ B U S.:
wednesday Morning, Nov. 3, 1852.
The ROman Senator.
AN INTERESTING TALE.

AN INTERESTING TALE.
The aisles of the chapel lately thronged with
many worshippers, silent The sounds of
prayer which had echoed through the grained
roof were hushed. The assembly which had knelt
in solemn, but erroneous devotion, had disappear
cd, and the stone image-the senseless object of
their devotion smiled grimly in the gloomy lone
lness as his chiselled features displayed them
selves in the temple erected by supersttious wealth
to his service.
But one individual remained, long robe of
sombre hue concealing his person, who leaned, as
ii in deep thought, against the pedestal on which
stood the deity. He was the priest.
A long shadow was cast on the floor, and in
stantly after tall gaunt figure appeared at the
door a mantle Of spotless white overhung his
shoulders, scarcely concealing his broad and
pie chest. The erectness of his carriage, the Dig
nifty of his attitude, the fire of his eye, the bold
ness of his step, and the proud curl upon his lip,
proclaimed him to be man of rank and ambition.
a contemptuous sheer played upon his counter
gnce-as he cast his eyes about the sanctuary he
glanced towards the stern deity itself, as its de-
formed features seemed to assume an expression
Of indignity at the audacity of the intruder The
stranger then turned toward the altar on which,
in a golden vase, richly studded with Jewels, burn
I'd an offering of Irankncense, emitting pale blue
smoke, which rose and festooned from pillar to
pillar, disseminating its perfume through the adj
Icent space None of these, however, seemed to
produce either awe or respect in the mind of the
roman for striding past the shrine, he cried,
Priest, dost thou sleep %
The individual whom lie addressed slowly turn
Cd his head and muttered '''Tis he p and then,
drawing his robe more closely about him. lie an
swered-
No, sleep not The priest of this deity, is
not as other men; he needs no sleep"
cease this folly" cried the Senator, impa-
tienuy well | know all til tricks and jugglcs o!
thy craft save thy precious craft to dose the yui-
aar-reservethy lectures for the fools who kneel to
this thing of stone"
Beware rash man." exclaimed the priest,
chow in the sanctity Of this house, you brave bis
vengeance what thou thlnkest stone may have
power to strike terror even to thy stubborn heart y
"Forbear all this idle talk" exclaimed the
0 her.
.Idlc talk p repeated the priest with solemn
tv; "obdurate as thou art this deity, through
me, can disclose that which would make thee trem
bic -
Il would fain witness the skill of which tho,
yauntest" exclaimed the Senator, in more serl
Gus manner, for he was unconsclouy imbbing
portion of the awe which pervaded the place.
Thou shalt be gratlfied, remarked the priest
.'what | now tell thee thou thinkest buried in thin
own bosom, unknown by others if l disclose
to thee doubt not that he who presides here ca
read the hearts of all who approach him, whethe
to worship or to scott
Proceed, proceed" cried the other
Twenty years since, Armcnius, thou vert
general, and commander of legion
"Well done for the omniscience of thy god,
cried the Roman jeeringly MY many triumph
have chronicled the truth of thy remarks in the al
chives of the republic. Is this thy wonder 20
Interrupt me not" answered the priest calm
"; ''when l finish, speak what words thou hast
mindful then, listen. Twenty years since, whe
thou vert a general, thou hadst a friend--ha
start'st thou now ? Twenty years since too he
friend but do not trembe. Thy friend love
served thee and shared his all with thee.
Through his high influence, when accused b
fore the Senate, thou savedst thy name, thy homo
and thy life. Although thy junior, thou sought
him for advice and, using it, did't bind thy bro
with the laurels of victory. When surrounded
barbarans, and the plum taken from of thi
own band, was hurled at thee, his buckler ward
off the we-direc!ed blow-but,' and his mann
became more impressve-his voice more melot
ous ''that friend alas loved an Indian girl, SO
pure, and lovely the sky which arches over L
native land--see, thou start'st again did
tell thee l would make thee tremble +? Yes,
loved the girl, not with the vile feeling which TEN
ed thee to gaze upon her charms, and admire |
for them alone. His fondness was for herself. /
rich angelic mind, more than even her dazzli
beauty. Treacherously thou ddst strive to S,
plant him in her affections by the splendor of n
itary rank, knowing, he had confided to tn
that their vows had been EXCHANGED. TT
foundst thy arts useless, and did'st CHANGE
love to hatred. The girl became thy friends W
when thou falsely accused him of crime, di,
use thy power to tear him from her arms, sell
into bondage, confscate his property, and ST
his name from the list of citizens. His wife
vived her miseries but year, whilst thou didst
turn to the capital loaded with the spoils of
enemy. Yet with the red hot hand of guilt gr
ing thy conscience, and even now proud and
tentatious before the world, the god tells me
thou art a coward, starting in a alarm if the
noise breaks on the midnight"
"Who art thou that dost know all this % c
the Roman in evident alarm.
81 am the priest, answered the other, ''oi
deity who can unnerVe even the Roman Senat
A paleness overspread the face of Armer
as he looked first on the craven image and
on his oracle but; by violent exertion, res
ing his wonted carelessness of demeanor he sa
"WeIl, if it is SO, let it rest-though IT'S
false as thou hast said, yet here is purse
sent it to thy god or to thee, / suppose. it
same thing. will tomorrow add another
may be all thou'st represented him, but be
IN neither stocks nor stones-howeyer / hay
object; but FIRST priest, canst thou keep
cret %