Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-11-13


Beerus started towards the door.
eve must meet it now," he said, though l
wish had known your coming had been notic- |
ed. Ianthe, you had better withdraw"
"Not while"
"IIushl In this must be the Judge. For
the good of him you love I bid you seek your
own apartment"
"Aye," added the youth, leading her towards
the inner court, "do as he bids you. ! shall be
safe enough. Atall events, will see you again."
He kissed her and blessed her and she pass
ed from the apartment just as the host unbarred
and opened the outer door. She stopped and
caught hold of her lover by the handere she lett
him, and, with heavy fear upon her heart, she
asked him to be careful.
"The thought of thee shall be inducement
enough to that end" he replied. "And now
may the gods be with us both"
In few moments moye Belerus returned,
and with him came four soldiers They were
stout hard-looking men, whose hearts perform
cd no other Office than to furnish them with ami
NAL life that they might do the bidding of their
master. OSle, who wore the uniform Of lieu
tenant, advanced from his companions and gazed
into our heros face.
"You entered the city this evening ?" he said.
| Alaric hesitated for moment, but during
that short moment his mind was made up. He
quickly judged that any falsehood might only
injure him and he resolved to tell the whole
truth.
~ did" he answered.
"And you landed from Greek vessel this
morning."
| ayes"
"1hen you will go with us to the royal pal
ace''
"But why is this?"
"Because the king has so commanded"
"Shall see him tonight"
"We came not to answer questions-only to
command your attendance at the palace" said
the lieutenant, gruffy.
"Our gracious monarch will evidently see you
tonight" interposed Bellerus, who saw the
fash of Indignation in Alaric's eye, and feared
that he might make matters worse by giving
way to his feelings.
The youth saw the old mans meaning, and he
curbed his rising motions.
"Are you ready to go ?" asked the officer.
"At any moment"
"Then we have nothing further to detain us
here
Alaric put on his cap, and as they passed out
through the narrow passage Bellerus found an
opportunity to whisper in his ear
"Be cautious-keep guard upon your ton
gue-mention not lanthe's name, nor suffer any
allusion TO her to drop from your tongue. Let
us hope that the danger is not great"
And yet there was tremulousness in his
tone-a terror in his very breathing-that be-
lied the words of hope he spoke Until this
moment the youth had not felt serious alarm,
, but, as he caught the look of horror upon the
honest artisans face, the bolt struck to his own
heart.
"The gods be with thee Y spoke Bellerus, as
they reached the porch.
But Alaric made no reply. Atthat moment
a weighty thought was upon him, and before he
could call his senses back for an answer he was
: hurried out into the street. The officer walked
by his side, while one of the soldiers led the
{ way, and the other TWO fell in behind.
2 A variety of thoughts occupied Alaric's mind
as he passed on through the narrow, dimly light
= ed streets He remembered how he had seen
his father cut down, and how his brother had
been butchered and the same bloody tyrant
who had done it had now sent for him. Is it a
wonder that, with all his bravery, the youth felt
5 a cold chill creeping about his heart as he ap-
preached the lair of the remorseess monarch ?
CHAPTER III.
DARKNESS AND GLOOM.
Pyrrho, king of Sicily, sat upon his throne OF
gold and precious stones, and about him were a
few of the hardened, cruel subseryient men
whom he dared to trust. He was middle-aged
? man short and clumsy in stature F.; with face
marked by dissipation and debauchery. If he
e had ever possessed the assurance of brave man
he had lost it now, and his only hope of safety
e were in the willing swords about him, and IL
the terror which his cruelty tyinspired. The light
from three huge chandeliers of massive golc
f cast q strange luster over the large apartment
e the beams being here reflected from polished
0 mirrors there from pillars of marble and por
: phyry and anon taking deeper hues from The
4 gaudy tapestry that hung upon the walls.
$ 81 would like to know who this stranger car
/ be-" said the monarch, turning to his chamber
S lain. "Ah-here comes the lieutenant. w,
shall see."
e There was movement among the guard a
the lower end of the chamber, and presently al
officer approached the throne, leading Alarc b,
the arm.
"Is he unarmed ?" the king cried, as his ey'
rested upon the youths tall and sinewy frame.
"He is, sire. We found only simple swort
, upon him, and that we took from him."
- A contemptuous look overspread the youth
face as he thus found a monarch so fearful bu
= when he gazed full upon the features of the ty
# rant who had slain his loved kindred, an ex
y preston of deadly hate swept over his nobl
i brow, and keen fire burned in his dark eve.
: aye gods" gasped the king, as he caught
fnll view of the youths face, with this deep ex
:, preston from the soul upon it, "what have w
l. here? Come no nearer! guard him well =
Who art thoup"
Is Had the sword of death been at that momen
e suspended over our hero's head, and ready t,
: fall at breath, he could not have curbed tn
emotions that swelled in his soul. In all his ma
70 ture there was not one principle or incentiv
y that could lead him to bow and cringe befor
y one whom he so utterly despised and detested
3. Had he thought of the future, he might hav
v spoken differently; but he thought only of tn
l. present and the past-he thought only of tn
bloody wrongs that had been done, and he al
,e lowed his soul to have full sway.
" II am Alaric," he answered, looking full int
,e Pyrrho's face.
'"Alaric! Alaric, What Alaric art thou P'
"Hold, SIRE" interposed the chamberlain VIII
,e had been regarding the youth narrowly. "Me
a, thinks thou shouldst know that face. He is tn
n son of Orneus."
N "Ha! Now, by the gods, know him ~
m cried the king, starting up from his seat, br
,e quickly sinking back again. "Art thou the SO
ir of the patrican Orneus~
ID "When my noble father lived was his son,
at the prisoner replied
ne sand when your noble father died you fie