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

prcscnliments of Some impending evil
forced themselves upon his considera-
| ton. His vision was vague and un-
definabIc yet he felt Chat some mighty
power was at work within Lim-that
the crisis of his own fate was not far
distant.
True to his appointment, ANGUS was
early at the temple. In his character
of Pontiicx Maximus he directed the
whole order to assemble, mothers.
priestoses and novices, to bear and
witness the investigations
Canulcia was directed to make her
statements, and as she did SO, Rhca
Sylvia heard with feelings of astonish-
mcnt and alarm, 4 full and particular
account of her interview with Servius
in the garden Of the temple. The
proof, circumstantial and positive
coupled with the pardon ofServius,
she saw was overwhelming against her.
That she was IN fact Innocent of the
gravcr charge of having broken her
vow of chastity, she at once saw would
avail her nothing, unless she could free
erselffrom the suspicion of having
dcsignedly met Servius on his way to
execution. An oath 10 declare the
whole truth was administered to her.
"Now pricstess of Vcsta, answer"
said Ancus, ''stan not thy soul with
perjury, least the gods, whose altars
thou has dcsccratcd make thy punish
ment. greater than man can infiict.-
Answer. Art thou guilty ofthe crimi-
nal meeting in the garden Of the tenn
pie? Didst thou meet Servius Tullius
by design or accident. when chou didst
pardon the justly condemned traitor?"
Thus adjurcd-thus answering un-
der the soleInnity ofan oath, the young
Vcstal scaled her fate by answering
truly. Her guilt was apparent. The
king believed her even unchaste and
pcrjurcd Her sentence was in accor-
dance with the laws and customs Of
Rome. She was condemned, within
three days, to be buried alive in The
vault beneath the CoIlinc Gate, with
the usual forms and ceremonies.
None who saw the gl.astly cspres J;
sIon--the dull and heavy eye Of the i
PontifcN MaXimus-thc tremor a:d
debility OF his frame, would have
doubted the deep sympathy with the
doomed Vesta. Yet snch opinion
would have been wide the mark Of
truth. ANGUS Martnus was but mott
al. \ fell disease revcllcd in his sys.
tenn, leaving him neither time nor feel
ing for sympathy with the sorrows of
another. .
The day of burial arrived. Rhea
Sylvia, rcdolcnt with life and health
and beauty, was on her way to her
tomb. The litter was at the door Of
the tempIc--,he people with detected
looks and heavy hearts stood around,
anxious to catch last flew Of the frail
and lovely Vestal.
"A horscman is swiftly approaching
his painting animal strains every
muscle to meet his riders wishes. He
aights at the door of temple at the
very moment the condemned Vestal
appears. 1t was Servius Tullius.
'Joy-liberty pardon'-he cried,
to the daughter Of Priscus. No lon.
ger Vestal. ! claim thee, my be-
trothed Srrvius Tullus has won his
Vestal bride.''
The bewildered maiden cold scarce
realize the glad lidings. 'How is it?'
she asked. HAS Ancus Martinus re.
Tented? have YOU proven my inno-
cencc?
A%cus Mar,inus no longer reigns in
Romc- the grand son of Numa sleeps
with his sircs.'
who then yeigns in his place r.
Who? Thou shalt hereafter, az tby
father dost already. The good Tar
quinus Priscus, by the free election of
the Senate, is now fifth king of Rome.
Father Jupiter! thou vert very kind
in taking of the good ANGUS at the
lucky moment
We follow the fortunes of the Vcs-
tai 10 farther. Every reader Of Ro-
man History knows, that upon the
death of Priscus, his son-in-law, Servi-
us Julius, was accepted as his success.
sor. Ills Vestal bride was long the
loved mistress of mighty Rome-the
cherished queen and wife Of her sixth
king.