Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-06-27

Nina wound her way to the summit o.
! lsanlculum. Gliding swiftly along a wind
ing pathway, she disappeared behinG
some bushes, and entering the mouth Of
a huge cave, disrobed herself of her an
cient habliments Creeping onward
| through narrow entrance. she emerged
into a large room, furnished by the
generosity of Octavius, who had been
banished to Sicily for being Christian
Here sat Nina's nurse watching the dying
embers
"Claudi. where is my sister," said Nina.
"At the palace of Nero" rejoined the
aged dame 'She would 60, and I could
not prevent her.
Success to her errand. I am glad her
courage did not fail her"
After the departure of Nina, Nerea
directed her course to the imperial palace,
and applied for admission. She was at
first repulsed, but her urgent entreaty at
length secured her an audience with the
emperor. Touching the top of his ex-
tended sceptre, Nerea bowed at the feet
of Roman tyranny With fearful eyes
and tremulous voice she recounted the
trails of her venera bic sire; and besought
that his life might be spared.
SIS not Antonius of the sect of the
Nazarenes ?"
'He is follower of Jesus OF Nazareth
"Would he abjure his faith if Nero
should pronounce the word live 2n
"Wouldst thou resign thy crown, should
slave command tbee2n
'Callest thou me a slave ? Remember
est thou not that have power over thy
life ?"
g Thou hast not. thou shadow of man
exclaimed Nerea, rising; and pointing up
wards to Heaven she said, My life is in
the hands of God and thou canst never
harm me ln
The tyrant gazed with admiration upon
her noble form and fair countenance, lit
up with the glow of conscious sincerity
he gazed and felt awed by her look and
tone, and felt half inclined to grant her
request without condition But rejecting
on the calm defiance of his power, he felt
resolved as to his course. Girl said he
sternly, " "knowest thou in whose presence
thou art p
In the presence of God" answered
Nerea, with look that appalled, the ty
rants heart Yet it was but for a moment
for the current of his crimes might not
easily be stayed
9 Thy fathers life shall pay for this in
science ~ said Nero, with a look of tri
umph.
What my father die for my fault?
Wreak not thy vengance on the innocent.
but on the guilty let me suffer the penal
ty it was l alone did the wrong l''
Ha dost thou desire death so much
Well thou shalt have the comfort of dy
ing with him. Guards, size this traitor
ess and her father, and at the sixth hour
lead them forth, smear them with pitch
and set them on Gre. Let us see whether
their God will save them"
The morning rose clear and beautiful,
i'll suited to the tragical scene about to be
enacted The sixth hour came, but or
ders had been given to delay the execu-
tion of the sentence till the third hour of
the night all lights were to be extin-
guished that the blazing pitch might afford
more marked contrast to the surrounding
darkness, and that the death struggle of
their victims might appear to better ad
vantage.
On that eventful morning. Nina paid
her last visit to the cell of Antonius
Entering its gloomy precints, she saw her
father upon his knees, his hands clasped,
and his eyes cast upward to Heaven a
mild serene smile beamed on his counten-
ance, though his lips moved not, his looks
bespoke the nature of that silent prayer.
She waited In vain for the affectlonate
welcome and the promised blessing -
Those lips were still in death and those
fetters chained lifeless mass of clay -
" Oh, happy soul to take thy fight in
such rapturous manner, yea rapturous
to wing thy way from these cold prison
walls, in comparison to the ascent from a
body wreathing in agonies to which Nero
had doomed thee. Thank God that he re
leased thee ere thou vert permitted thus
to suffer. Nina rejoices in thy happy
death. So let it be with my sister, if in
accordance with thy holy will.
All Nina, little didst thou dream the
fate that awaited thee Little didst thou
think that thy young flower was to be
blighted thus early.
The affectionate daughter was still ga
zing on her aged fathers face when Osto-
rious, an officer of the Pratorian Guard,
entered. Selling the arm of Nina, he
rudely tore her from her sire. and taking
the vetrans lifeless head between his
hands, yet feeling not the warm pulsations
of the blood In his frozen temples, he ex-
claimed, i" Ha, old man, thou thoughtcst to
escape our vengeance By voluntary death !;
we'll no matter. so much the less trouble
for usl "
g NV father had no need to kill himself,
nor thou to kill him in any other way
than that which thou hast already taken,
O cruel monster" exclaimed Nina with
impassioned jes.ure, her frame culver
ing with emotion, betraying herself imme-
diately
Girl, who gave thee liberty to visit
this old dog in his dungeon. Thou hadst
we'll nigh escaped our vigilance in that
uncouth dress of thine Well. Aggrippa
we shall lose nothing; this girl can take
that wretch's place"
But we forbear to touch upon the death
of these devoted sisters; suffice it to say
they died happy in the service of the