The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1854-03-29
SUNITERVHLHE. So Co.. MARCH 29. 1854.

myself among the rest. Ancus Mar
tinus, however, hath not the same
origin
Ut is not claimed for him yet he is
a good and q pious king.
We'll ralc-you know not the name
of the Vestal g
1T is not SO. None but stranger
in Rome should be ignorant of it.
And |, sir citizen am that stranger.
For the last twelve years | have follow
cd the banner Of our good monarch
without stepping foot in Rome till this
blessed day. Father Jupiter! Ihavc
lost much Of pleasure whilst spending
my time among the barbarians. Will
you name the vestal'
'Rhca Sylvia, daughter Of Tarquinus
Priscus of Cornth.
The soldier started with an expression
OF the deepest astonishmcnt but without
asking further questions, badc the
adicu cautiously, and gathering up his
toga, walked swiftly in the direction
the rcstal had taken.
Mercy !, oh! beautiful and holy
priestess, mercy for the love of Vcsta
upon q wretch condemned to instant
death. Rhea Sylvia made sign to
her guards to halt, and demanded of
the officer having the supplicating
prisoner in charge, for what offence the
man had been condemned 'For fra
tricidc,' was the reply, and on the
clearest testimony. The wretch still
clamored for mercy in the most pitc-
Gus terms, whilst he offered sundry
excuses for the foul act. cannot
pardon one SO attrociously guilty, said
the VcStal, her check turning pale and
her lip quivcring, as she cut off by her
refusal the last hope of the condemned
man. The officer and guard moved
on instantly to the place of execution.
The gentle pricstcss delighted in acts
OF mercy, and would gladly have cx-
erciscd her high prcrogativc had the
offence permitted as it was, the pain
she endured from being compelled to
refuse, induced her immediate return
to the temple.
1t was night--thc moon cast a pale
and A!ckeFimg light over the highly
cultivated garden of the temple,
whilst the balmy fragrance of the air
seemed to invite the young pricstess to
soolh her agitated and over wrought
feelings, by rambling amidst the sweet
influences of the lights and shades Of
her tavoritc walks. The voice of
fratricIde still rung in her cars and
PANIED and excited her more than she
was willing 10 allow. But gradually
she recovered her composure, though
not her usual tone of mind. Her
though were pure but earthly. They
were OF her falher-of the home and
companions OF her youlh-and that
deep blush bctrays hcr-Scrvius Tuli.
luS was remembered in her wandering
mood. w hence came that strange
and mysterious association by which
the boyiSh image of SERIOUS long
since hanishcd from her memory was
:" wildly called up? Why does she
feel anxious to learn of his fate, to
learn if the man has realized the prio.
misses Of the ardent boy.
In the changctu vagarics of her
thoughts, she remembered soldier
like young mans gazing intently upon
her rs she passed the streets, and in
fact following in sight of herself and
guards until she entered the Temple.
Twas not that she had traced single
feature she could idcntify-but there
was some undctinable associated with
Servious Tullins.
She leaned against the outer wall Of
the garden: resting beneath the foliage
OF an oversprcading tree.
Can it be possible" size murmured
uncnnsconsly, "can it be possible the
soldier was SERIOUS?
Without doubt, virgin of the Sun
was the immediate response, and a
man jumped from the tree to her feet.
wv hat sacrlcgcous madman is ths?'
demanded the young priestess haughti-
ly-'who has dared to intrude into the
gardens Of Vcsta?'
"A deep crimson ovcrsprcad the
Ecstal's neck and face, and whether of
pleasure or anger might have been
difficult for her to determine.
4 was the subject of your thoughts,
Rhea Sylvia, he continued, AS YOU
holy Maiden, have long been mine.-
Little did | think when first gazed
upon you today, and admired your
transcendant beauty, that you were the
bctrothcd Of my boyhood, of W HON
the mandate Ola tyrant had robbed
me-
may not deny | thought of you.
It wa, almost the first time in ten years.
You forced yourself upon my attcn-
ton to-day, by following me.
Thanks, gentle, priestcss, Survius
Julius was not forgotten by you"
In truth your were. know not
your atnrcs,-Though some vague
"reminiscences associated the supposed
stranger with your memory.
My Memory! Thank Jupito. or
Vcsta, my memory is not that of the
dead thouuh If woro nf f,,o frroottop