Butte record., 1854-11-25

one OF ueHanCe.
aHa! Now by the gods. It's well met, ?
said Romeus in triumphant tone /; and
at the same time stepping back and draw
ing his sword"
And who are youl'' said Marco,
fearlessly-
a." said his enemy. ''I am Ro-
meus Consarat A Roman Captain un-
der general Caesar"
1 am but simple soldier. under
Pompey. and have not yet gained the
right to carry an eagle and hold a com
mand but, now, as you say, its well
met, and I will show, by overcoming
you, that Marco Remexes places his
trust in the gods, and does not even feaI
to meet Romeus Consarat."
And when he had concluded, the
young soldier drew from out of its iron
scabbard his broad short bladed sword,
and with firm, erect step advanced TO-
wards his enemy, who Immediately raised
his own weapon, which was exactly sim
liar to the others.
While the above conversation proceed
ed, Maei Carmona had maintained a 81
lence and indifference amounting almost
to apathy but when she beheld the OBJ
ject of her dearest love about to engage
in mortal combat with the most feared
captain of Cars army, she rushed fran
tically between them, and with her arms
outstretched she turned from one TO the
other, beseeching them to desist. Ro-
meous heard her with disdain, and Mar
co, no matter how noble bis heart, was
still votary Of Roman laws and codes
Of honor, and to refuse to fight would
make him a coward among his fellow
soldiers and he, besides, was common
enemy to his adversary, belonging, as
they both did, to different parties who
were then in conflict He, therefore,
endcayored by every means in his power
to pursuade Maei to let the combat pro-
ceed but she was alike deaf to all his
entreaties. At length Romeus turned;
and lifting bis sword, commanded her to
retire but she refused, and, drawing
herself up before her lover, she awaited
the stroke of the upraisod weapon with
an heroic determination. And she
would have been slain, had rot Marco,
with no thought but for the safety of bis
beloved, suddenly dragged her aside, and
caught the decending blade on bis own
sword. Maei could no longer interfere,
fer the two rivals were engaged in des-
perate combat The adversaries were
well matched, though Romeus was the
stronger and more cool-headed. The
weapons clashed and changed fearfully
together, as strokes and blows were par
ried and returned. At length the con-
test was decided. Romeus having gath
cred up his strength for another tremen
dous effort, lowered his short sword and
gave a terrible thrust at the stomach of
his foe, but the weapon only passed
through the short skirt that covered its
mark, and the hand of its wielder sud-
denly grew stiff, the half opened fingers
dropped the sword Romeus Consorat
fell to the ground, his head cut into by
a crashing blow from Remexes. At the
same instant shrek of jpy burst from
Maei Carmona, and she fell Senseless at
the feet Of the survivor, her lover
Marco stopped to raise her, but a noise
near him arrested his attention.. He
looked up, the space around him was
He'd with body Of fierce looking sold
iers. They were the company COM
manded by Captain Romeus Consarat
The one in command stepped forward
to see the corps of his commander, then
he commanded Marco to be tied to a
tree. But the young man Iefused to be
bound, but stood with folded arms await
ing his death. A soldier stepped from
among his comrades, and placing an ar
row on his bow, drew the string, and
the arrow was buried in the heart OF
Remcxes. The men then removed the
body of Consarat, and left the dead and
insensible alone together.
When Maei came to her senses, the
body of her lover lay on the sod near
her. She laid his head on her bosom,
kissed his bloodless lips, and then laid
down. The roses faded from her cheeks
in the darkness of the night, and the sun
rose next morning on the dead They
were buried in an humble gave, side by
side
b9- Determine with yourself to en-