The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-11-03

Of gray cloth enveloped his frame, and his feet
were shod with heavy sandals. He was engaged
over an old manuscript but as he heard the sound
Of approaching footsteps he closed the volume and
raised his head.
Good morning, my son. he said, with look of
simple welcome.
kind father, greet thee" the youth returned,
at the same time extending his hand.
Howl cried the aged man, starting to his feet,
as the accents fell upon his ear. He shaded his
eyes with the palm Of the left hand, and gazed
eagerly into his visitors face do see arightgT
he added. us i Alarc-my old pupili'
AYE, good Artabanus, am Aaric-come once
more to see thee"
| For some time the hermit gazed into the young
mans face in silence; but finally he said:--
"Sit down-sd down, my son. Thy presence has
started host of varied emotions to life within me,
and must recover my thoughts ere can talk with
| thee in reason"
"Thank the gods, find thee alive and in health"
replied the youth, as he let go the old mans hand,
and took a seat upon wooden bench close BY
"Aye-l am well in body" returned Artabanus.
But, he added, thoughtfully continuing 70 gaze
earnestly into his companions face as he spoke,
the body is but a small part OF man, and the ills
OF the flesh are very joys when compared with some
Of the pains to which the soul may be subject.
| But tell me Of hyseli. Where hast thou beenF
81 have been in Greece" replied the youth
when fed from these shores, eight years ago, l.
| sought refuge there, and there | have remained
| ever since. Oh! | wept this morning, as gazed
down upon the city Of my birth. l had Tough !
| had done weeping over those memories; / Il when
again gazed upon Syracuse they came crowdng
upon me with power which could not resist. l
I saw the very temple beneath the walls of which
| my father and my brother were slain; and could
see the roof beneath which my mother died. Arta-
banus, there were not many OF the patriciaD fam-
| lies escaped that foul butchery."
| "No, Alarac. OF all who were loyal to tho true
| interests of the people, have seen only yourself
return. There were few escaped, but not many.
mo, father escaped alone G :. | saw my noble
| parent cut down. saw my brother fall-and when
knew had no relative left in the city, fed. For
tune favored me. found small boat by the sea
shore, and put out alone upon the dark waters.
l foated away to Melita, and from thence gained
q passage to Greece. The tyrant still reigns in
l SyracuseY'
| '"Alas yes And his deeds are evil, and the peo-
| pie suffer. We have had peace in Sicily since
! good Helxus died. Thou vert but mere child
4 them
| IL was seven years old. remember the good
king well; for my fathers you know, was one Of his
| chief officers"
"Aye-you were older than thought" said the
| "And remember that there was some mystery
connected with the good kings DEATH remarked
Alaric. IAN not rights"
| There was not much mystery" answered the old
man. Z" He was weak and weary, and he left the
| throne that he might die in peace; and death soon
came to him. But why hast thou returned to SYRIA
| cusey"
| "Can you not guess?" returned the youth.
| II might guess many things, my son."
| And yet but one Of them would be right. have
1 said that left no relative behind me when made
L
whom loyed-one about whom my affections were
entwned with life that could not die. You know
| of whom speak"
"Aye-you speak Of the mason's daughter,
| Ianthe.n
Yes, father. Is she alive?'
| "She is.n
| "And welf"
| "she is well n
And pursued the YOUTH in more eager
tone, " is she s still free free !. .,.,u,. ,,..
member you in love through the years tAat have
| passed ~
40 do not tell me that she has ceased to love
| me. True, che was a child in years, but loved
| her then, and my love has grown stronger in the
| separation which has followed. know there is
| danger to me here, but came with will to meet
| it,
But suppose your very life were in danger II
| you sought the maiden ~
You may warn me Of danger, if .you win, but
! do not seek TO place the barrier Of fear between
me and my desire, for I know not the emotion.
| You, Artabanus, taught me when ! was boy, and
your wise lessons have not departed from my
mind. You taught that there were many
things more to be feared than death, and have
come, prepared rather 10 die than live all alone in
distant land with the sad memories Of my I'M
| happy country for my only heritage"
| And you would not turn from death, should It
| raise its threatening front between yourself and
Ianthe y The old mans gaze grew move earnest
| as he thus spoke, and spark within which seemed
| To CLEAN some newly awakened hope, burned IN his
my father,' answered Alaric, with a flushing
cheek, 81 could almost feel offended did think you
| doubted me, but l do not think Show me that
| lanthe loves me, and not even PyTrho himself with
the blood stained crown Of Sicily upon his brow,
shall have power. to star,le Inc from my course
! while life Is mine
Artabsnus started to his feet and grasped tho
youth by the hand.
"Noble Aaric," he cried, with joyful enthusi-
, asm, thou art worthy Of the madens hand She
| does love thee-she cherishes thy memory within
her heart rs the most precious thing Of earth, and
| for long years she has lived upon the hope that
| thou wouldst return 10 her.
"0-,hc gods be praiscd' calculated the young
| man.
But added the hermit in changed voice,
there must he danger in thy path. Pyrrho
holds his throne only through the fear and en-
| slayemcnt Of the people, and he knows IL Your
father was one Of his bitterest enemies, and he
was also one Of the first whom the ururper found
II necessary TO put out Of the way. You are not
only the very image Of your noble parent but you
must remember that you had arrived almost Mt the
full stature Of manhood when you fed from SYRIA
cuse. You were then seventeen, and from seven,
teen to fveandrwcnty, especially In one so early
developed a. you were, there N not much change.
You were a man then, and you are no more now.
30 you must expect that You will be known and re.
cognzcd. But ict us speak Of that hereafter First.
| do You see Ianthe, and when you have found all
right in that quarter, We win consider further"
u shall find her with her iatheri"
years ago"
~ will 90 and seek her then, and ---
| Hold my son. lou had better wait till nghtfdI
ere you enter the city, and also exchange that
Greek shirt for garment less likely 10 attract at
tention, for assure you that too much care cannot
| be taken.n
Alaric was impatient 20 see Ianthe. hut he saw
| the force of the hermits reasoning, and he was
| willing to wait 80 he sat down by his old teach
ers side againsat as he had sat years before when
receiving instructions from the same ps-antH
listened 10 the story Of the wrongs that had been,
done IA Sicily during the last eight years Hour.
after hour passed away, and Artabanus had etiu
more TO tell Of the tyiants cruelty:
| "Mercifu heavens cried the youth, fred almost
| TO phrenzy by the recital, "how have the people
| borne all ihisg"
They have borne !, under fear of their Ives.