Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-08-03
CHAPTER XI.
THE INTERVIEW.

Early on the morning following the
events mentioned in the preceding chap
ter, Maximin despatched young barba-
bring him hither
1t was late in the afternoon before the
aged Homedus made his appearance at
the palace, and it may well be imagined
that one possessing the impetuouS temper
of Maximin. had been exceedingly anx-
ious for the interview with the old astrol-
oyer. Suspense had hung about his
thoughts the entire day, for we'll he knew
that Homedus had been reading of his
fate in the stars the previous evening.
At the first interview between MaXimin
and Homedus, the latter had sufficiently
whetted the keen and sensitive, as well
as ambitious mind of the soldier, to Gre
ate an almost insurmountable anxiety
within his bosom.
The sun was rapidly falling from meri-
dian into the deep wales of the western
waters, and lighting up the sable hills of
the region round about, as Maximin dis
covered HOmedus creeping along one of
the steep mountain paths, at consider
able distance away, picking his way as
well as he might, while his trembling and
feeble limbs were supported by two stafs,
one in either hand. Maximin went out
to meet him, and as he approached near,
thus accosted the aged man:
Methinks, good Homedus, thou art not
so deeply interested in the affairs of Max
imin as thou hast seemed.'
NAY, nay. noble youth" returned the
old man falteringly, 'thy star is up, and
| have not forgotten thee"
g Where then, hast thou been the long
day! sent for thee this morning; ere the
second hour" ...
Put by thy idle thoughts now, Max
imin, and sit you here by me upon this
turft of earth, and shall tell the why
have not more quickly answered to thy
summons"
When both were seated old Homedus
began:
"MaXimin, brave youth, thy star is up.
See yonder," cried he, pointing to a bright
star just above the horizon in the eastern
sky, for it was now almost dark. esSee
yonder star, tits the larger dog, and lies
near the scorpion. Dost look, 'tis now
like an eye, and now It's as blazing dag
ger: yonder lieth the scorpion, which in
the burning summer tells of plaques and
wars. MaXimin, in Rome, upon the
throne, is worse than scorpion, and
beside him there is worse than all the
precursors of yon raving star. | know
not, of myself, who is Emperor now, may
be, nor who his mistress be, but there
they are in yonder sky, and they would
sting and gnash thee, too, as would yon
dog'd star and that scorpion constellate,"
:" Ha! say'st thou so old man," cried
the warrior 20 who told thee of Carracalla
and Julia? Ha, ha, thou hast been
biting on some pebbles to sharpen thy
teeth, hast thou not? Who told thee of
Carracalla and Julia e'
"Tis the first [ have yet heard of these"
simply replied the old man to the impetu-
Gus sally of Maximin. s'But if these be
their names, | read of them there last |
night" he continued, pointing with all !
the fingers of his right hand toward |
Canals Major and Seorpio. q i there read |
of things, many and strange, last night, |
but ali saw [ need not now tell thee. |
But this, again, thy star is up; and it |
rides higher than even those wonder,
which do but portray the Emperor and
his mistress. Thy star is up, Maximin |
pursue it in its course, and thou a goal
shalt find more noble than yet has ever
fallen on Thracian head" ,....... /
sand is this all, old man ?n asked |