Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-09-30
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bic elearness on Of her lover
Lucius Emilius | amS Ia Christian 4
Lucius went forth that night from the
chamber of his betroshed an altered man
for the chill of disappointment had fallen
on his proudest and fondest hopes. He
had tried all his persuasive powers to in
duce the girl to forsake her new opinions;
he had tried in vain, 50 now nought re-
NAMED for him to do, but to fulfill the
engagements in which his honor was con.
cerned, and then to return to love her
still and to protect her, if necessary
with his life, He bore within i two pre-,
cious gifts to console him in his absence.
as far as anything can console him the
golden casket and the carrier dove.
Berenice was again alone not, as here
%tofore, in the solitude Of her own luxuri-
GUS apartment not surrounded, as she
was won't to be, with her books and mu.
sic and flowers she was alone in the sol
itude of a gloomy prtpa chamber. A
small aperture near h kceffing, guarded
by iron bars, admitted Just light enough
to show the dismal emptiness Of the place,
no tapestried hangings to hide the cold
damp walls no warm carpets to cover
the stone floor. 1t contained only a low
couch, and on that the maiden was seated,
sometimes raising her clasped hands in
the deep earnestness of prayer, sometimes
covering her red and swollen eyes, to
hide, it might be from herself, the tears
she could not restrain. Presently a low
knock was heard at the door, and her
father entered. Rereuioe shuddered, and
said, mot this oh, LEI me be spared this
worst grief! Yet, no the sacrifice must
be complete give me only strength to
bear it y" Then she advanced, and led
Flavius T%erquatns to her couch, and
meekly kneeling before him, prayed him
yet once more to lay his hand upon her,
and to bless her.
The old man It is not for
this | come, unhappysN. come to tell
you that all my entreaties are in vain
the orders of the emperor must not be
disobeyed, and his orders were, that all
of your inatical sect should be extermina-
ted. Were Marcus here, the tears and
prayers of his old servant might avail
but he is beyond the Danube. To-mor,
row, a general executioni Oh OH Bere-
nice nay child my child must | live to
see your blood flow forth by the hand Of
a common executioper !"
u came not, as | came yesterday" he
continued, after a long pause, with tears
and entreaties to move you. Yesterday
| knelt to implore you to save your faith
er's heart from breaking; and all in vain
To day | come with harsher purposes
You ask me but now to- take you in my
arms and bless you, as | did when you
were a little child. Bereaice, if you do
not abandon your infatbktiQn, if you per
sist in bringing eteras1 bssnor on your
line; Berenice listen MAY the curse OF
your father ;"
The girl pressed his arm heavily she
tried to speak, but her parted lips were
white as marble, and refused to utter a
sound. ~
The old man looked on her, and the
curse on his lips RAJ stayed. He looked
on her. and kissed her, ere he went, for
he had tenderly loved her mother.
My sister" she family murmured, as
he moved away but Flayius answered,
I" You will never see her again /; you
would infect her with your superstition.
l cannot be left childless in my old age"
And the old man went, and as the last
sound OF his departing step died away,
Rereniee thought her worst trial was over,
and she withdrew her thoughts from this
world, and sought TO prepare her soul for
death.
Of Rome assembled in Aitheatre,
to witness the martyrd62 the Chris
tians. Horrible deaths they died. Some
were torn to pieces by wild beasts ; 9th.
ers were burned at a slow FIRE ; some
we're cruciied, and they counted such a
death an unmerited homer, Berenice was
reserved for the last, and because she
was of Rome and patrician blood, she
was to suffer the milder punishment of
decollation. The sign was given, and
when it was proclaimed by The herald that
the christian maiden was coming forth
there was SO deep a silence among the
vast multitude, that even the advancing
steps Of the girl, and her conductors were
heard. But what was the surprise of all
present, when they beheld, not n but
two young maidens, both dressed alike in
white raiment, both coming forth with
the same quiet step and placid demeanor;
and one, it might be the most tranquil,
advanced a step towards the seat where
he who governed the city d9ging the alb
sence of Marcus Antonius sat, and thus
addressed him ;
1T is |, most noble perfect, who am
Berenice the Christian. This girl, my
sister, for love Of me, would fain take my
name and punishment on herself ; but
credit her not it is I who am the con-
demned.
Then arose a touching dispute between
the sisters sisterly love lending the
eloquence which the other derived from
truth. Many, Of their friends, and even
of their relatives, in the alnphitheatre,
were called on to come down and decide
between them ; but some spoke for one
and some for the other. Veronica in her