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

| dCinncd 10 the Iarpeian Mount, and
he prepared himself for the fate he felt
to be inevitable. He found means to
have his last farewell borne to the
Vestal, with the assurance that his
late was preferable to that of living
without hcr-that for her he had risk
ed all-darcd all--and true to his
vow, having failed, was ready to suffer
all which the laws could inflict.
l,hea Sylvia was not ignorant Of the
course Of public events. She heard
of the arrest and condemnation of Sur
vius, and that information laid bare
the secret of her guiIeless heart before
her. She loved. No sophistry could
c"nccal--no art hide it from herself.
She loved. Mad and dsloyal as was
the project of Survius, it was under.
taken on her part, and she, above all
others, could not ccnsure and abnn.
don him. She had learned what it was
to love, and supposed impossiblitics
lost their character. To save him now
was her whole thought. She had pow
or to pardon even Il traitor, could she
find the proper time to exercise her
indisputablc prerogative. To do this,
required some management, as her
meeting with the condemned must have
the appearance Of being accidental
not sought for. 1t was a part of the
superstition of the times, and was so
admitted by the laws, that the acciden.
tai meeting by Festal of criminal
being led to execution, was an inter
position of the gods, in favor of the
condemned, and gave her the power of
absolute pardon, if she thought proper
to grant it. twas seldom this power
was abused by the velgins, and public
opinion generally, sanctioned their
humane decisions. Rhea Sylvia could
hope for as much indulgence from the
people OF Rome as any one of the
order, and doubted not her interference.
would meet with cheerful acquics-
ccncc on their part, as well as from the
Pontifey Mnyilnns. The young Yes
! tai easily ascerlained the time Survius
was to die, and took her measures ac-
cordingly.
Two hours before meridian on the
day OF execution, the pricstcss dressed
in her white robes of office, passed out
of the temple, attended by n more
numerous guard than usual, inclining,
by circuitous route, her walk towards
the Tarpian Rock. The streets of the
city were alive with the teeming popu-
lation fastening towards the fatal
Mount. The Vestal had calculated on
meeting the guard Of Survus, rs she
issued out Of u narrow street into the
main road leading to the rock; but in
this she was disappointed; the dense
multitude having blocked up the pass.
age SO rs to delay her passage until
the attendants of Survius had passed.
She had made an impatient gesture to
her guards, who advanced their faces
and struggled stoutly to make the
crowd give way. The delay, howev.
cr, Was evitable, and the fair priestess
saw her last hope Of saving her lover
cut of. To hasten forward would
bctray her design Of meeting the pris-
oner, and render the intcrposition use.
less.
"Back ''cried tho angry guard in
front; give way for a daughte er of YES
Ia" And in his impatienco he struck
the man nearest to him. Under the
impulse of the moment, the blow was
returned. a shout of horror was
raised by the surrounding multitude,
who pressed forward to seize the sac
rileglous assaultcr Of the guard Of a
Vestal.
The confusion amounted to riot
At the loud and angry shout of the
multitude, tho commander of the
escort having Scrvius in charge, halted
his men, uncertain what the Shout
might indicate.
The deep agony of the young Vcstal
as she saw her hopes of safety to Ser
vius blasted, brought deathlike pale.
ness to her checks and tremor TO her
limbs, that rendered her insensbe for
moment. She was sinking to the
ground, overpowered by her emotions,
when casual opening in the crowd
discovered the guard still standing,
where she had last caught sight ofthen.
Love in woman is as prompt rs cncr.
gctic in action. The pricstcss discov.
cred at glance the true cause of the
tumult and delay, and her determine
ton was formed instantly. She rush
ed forward, rs ifundcr the impulse of
terror, and flying towards the officer,
cried out, Protection for a daughter
ofVesta save mo, sir officer, from the
populacc--resone for tho guards of q
Priestcss of tho sacrod fire. Tho mon
opened their ranks to receive her and
Immediately closed around the Vestal
for her safety; whilst she, painting
sinking with her cXertons and alarm.
found herself supported by the strong
arm of Scrvius Tullius.
a fcw moments sufficed to restore
tranquility to tho agitated multitude.
The assanlter Of tho guard had made
his escape in the confusion, whilst they,
soon extrioating themselves, advanced
fnr, rrl -, IL