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

and ready aid. The gods whom serve
will not forget the service rendered me
in time of apparent need. But, who
is tho criminal in your charge? What
is his name and ohencc?"
''Scrvius Tullius, by name, convicted
of treason and condemned by the Cen
turiata to the Tarpeian Mount"
"Ihe offence is serious onc-the
punishment most severe. How many
have suffered ON account of the late
conspfracy!'
81 know not the exact number,
bautiful daughter of Vesta; this man
however, is. the last Of the traitorous
band-the rest have paid the penalty
which now awaits the prisoner"
1t is blood enough to spill for exam
pie. Our pious Ancus Martius asks
none for revenge. The man shall
escape"
The officer bowed low to the Yes
tai. To set the prisoner at liberty
seemed no ungratcful task to him.
"Servius Tullius, you arc pardoncd;
nay, no thanks. ! wish not to hear the
sound ofyonr voice. You are pardon
cd. Let this fortunate escape make
you cautious and loyal in your future
conduct. Return to the service of
your lawful sovereign, and redeem
your last errors. Quit Rome;" she
added emphatically, "qnit Rome, with
out moments delay: or you may
meet with q worse fate than YOU have
just escaped"
The Fcs'al returned to her temple,
TO return thanks in secret for the for.
tunate termination of her days aIvcn-
turc-to still, ,ff possible, the compunc-
tions ofconscicncc which forced her to
remember she had been guilty Of fraud
and deception in saving the life of her
iover-to brood over that love so
dangerous to herself and its object
to still the violent b atings of t. at
gentle heart. now all too earthly for Il
prestcss of Vcsta-to hide that burn
ing brow, teverish from the feelings
that agitated hcr bosom, within the
deep and sacred recess of the temple.
ANGUS Martins, mcrciiul and amiable
rs he was i'll feeling. had determined
that Servius TuIIius meritcd and should
endure his fate. He had some vague
rccolcctions that Rhea Sylvia once
was the bctrothcd Of Servius, and
could not believe, notwithstanding the
clear and apparently satisfactory re.
port of the officer, that their meeting
was entirely accidental. Chag,ined
and angered at the escape of Tuliu~.
he vented his i'll humor in reproaches
ofthc prIcstess, and worked himself
into state ofmind unE.vorable to
his former and favoritc protcgc.
Jealousy-cnvy-malice-wcrc not
unknown in the temple Of Vesta.-
khea Sylvia had an enemy among the
guardians of the sacred fire, who hated
her for her beauty, accomplishments,
noble birth, immaculate purity and
high favor with the people and Ponti.
fex Maximus. Personally, the mild
and amiablc Virgin had never givcn
her aspiring rival the slightest cause OF
offence. Yet she could not disarm
her OF her enmity or conquer her hate
which, petty as it was, seemed un.
dying and uncxtinguishable. Thi. yam
corous enemy by the nearest chance
had witnessed the Vcstal's interview
with Servius in the garden Of the tenn
pie. Too distant to hear the precise
words that passed between them,
she was prepared by previous en-.
uttered feelings, to put tho worst
construction upon all she saw, and all
she heard. Determined on the YES.
tails destruction, she buried the secret
in her bosom, until she could find a fit.
ting opportunity to divulge it. When
it was known that Rhea Sylvia had
pardoned Servius, this enemy sought
the Sovereign. Pontiif' to lay her charges
before him, cxultng in the belief, that
they were sufficient to ensure the con.
dign punishment Of tho being she SO
causclessly hated, and sought to dcs.
troy.
a few days after the pardon of
Servius, the Fes,ai Canuleia demanded
aprlvatc interview with Pontittx Max
mus. II was granted of course, and
the splteiul woman told her tale of
malice and revenge, with all the am
pllllcatlon necessary TO excite the hor-
ror and disgust of the pious ANGUS.
"Ihis shall be strictly inquired
into" said the PontitfKing. "IfRhca
Sylvia be guilty of the charges YOU
bring against hcr-if she has dared to
pollute the affairs Of Vcsta, she shall
abide tho penalties Of the law in its
utmost rigor. Tomorrow, oly Ca.
nuleia, expects us at the temple to
prosecute this investigation"
After the Vcsta had withdrawn. An.
Gus long continued walking with unea.
sy and asitatcd steps. There was n
heavy depression Of spirits in his man.
ncr--a contortion of tho brow, that
spoke of ofinward pain and suffering.
an uncar'hly sparkling of tho eyes,
that indicated some bodily or mental
struggle. 1t was not Of tho souns
Rhea Sylvia and her probable fate