Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-09-30
FAMILY JOURNAL AND BUSINESS DTRECT0RY--HB AIM, TO
FREEHOLD n. J, THURSDAY NQRNINGy SEPTEMBER 80 1858.

before a iAirrer, her vest bf satin. hei
flower wreathed robe. herszone of BRILL
ants, told that she was preparing for {
festival. At the farther end of the room
Berenice was seated. She was arrayec
in a plain white dress, and her loug hail
fell unbranded, in its rich luxurience
about her threat and shoulders. Will
one hand she fondled q snow white dove
and eve aRd anon her dark long hail
fell over the gentle bird, and it nestled
lovingly within it the other rested on 8
parchment which appeared to engross
the maiden's deepest attention.
+" Come now, Berenice,p said her sister
playfully fixing the wreath of roses, pre-
pared for herself, ON her sisters brow
+" lay aside for once your melancholy
book. and send your dove to his rest, anc
come down with me to the b~anquet.n-
Berenice looked up. and answering gent
ly,
mot so, Veronica, not to night. 1t is
the anniversary ofAIics's death and die
she not die for love of me, watching and
waiting when all others slept?a Her i'm
age has been with me through the day
cannot join the banquet with my hear,
full of sad memories. Leave me sister >
and Berenice took off and returned the
wreath.
" Yet listen one word more. Thou
knowest who will be there this evening
My father will frown, and Lucius Emilius
will again sigh wheuI go in alone. Lu
CHS departs to morrow for the battle
and shall he 60 without one benson from
his afianced n
I" No." replied her sister, speaking low
and faltering you, Veronica, will Eel
him that l wait to see him here before his
departure"
" Berenice! my sister, bethink you o.
our father remember my ~patrician pre-
Ijudicas. Surely this}step =
Go dear sister, 1sanswelel Berenee
mildly YET ArmIy for the love TIA
you bare me, do tits errand. | would
not any other eye should mark the weak
ness ! fear te beffay at parting with ONT
whom my father has commanded me tc
love. Tell my father am unwell and
it is true my head and heart ache &c
dearest.' and Veronica, unconvinced, vel
persuaded by the tears Of her sister,
which ia truth were flowing fast, left hen
alone.
81 Berenice resumed her reading, but moi
for many minutes she arose and shut
the volume saying, Not thus, not thus
with divided attention, aud wandering
thought, may ! presume TO reap this holy
record" She placed 1t within a small
golden casket. locked it carefully, and
then walked further into a balcony, OIL
which the windows Of the apartment
opened. The moon had just risen, and
shed a soft light on the magnificent build
ings of the eternal CITY the cool
thin air swespt over the brow of the
maiden, and caltned her agitated thoughts
she had a.bitter trial before her, for she
was about to indict a deep wound on the
heart Of one whom she loved with all the
Innocent farVor of a girls FIRST affection
and she trembled, as She pictured to her.
self his surprise and sorrow. Then Be
renice looked up at the quiet Of the
evening sky, and thought of the time
when earths interests would be over for
her and could she thus look and thus
think, and still hesitate All, no i
When she heard the step of Lucius
drawing nigh, she plucked asinglc flower
from a creeping plant, that pvershad
owed the balcony, and, keeping it in her
hand asa token to recall her better res.
olatiois, she advanced I'd meet hiA.
fit was not for this | sent for you
hither,p she said, in.reply to his passion
ate expressions of regret aud love /" you
are a Roman soldier, Lucius, and know
1T was neither your destiny, nor your
wish, to be ever at a lady's side, Be,
leiFe me, have learned to look on tais
parting as IA q thing Inevitable !" but
even as she spoke, her voice faltered.
Aucius leaned Forward to console her,
to whisper Of reunion, of lifelong re-
union Your father has promised, dear
est" he said. { that this campaign ended
the Marcomanni once defeated, | shall
be rewarded, at my return, with the hand
of Berenice.n
1t may be so" she answered sadly
1t you still wish it,
If | still wish It'll Befepice, o. what
are yoa dreaming
am not dreaming, Lucius Emilius
{ am speaking the words Of sober reality
You think OF me, as of the beloved child
of Flasius Torquotos the co .heirness Of
his wealth and honors ; of one whose
hand will confer distinction. Ii on your
return from Germany, you should find
.despoiled of all these advantages, an
alien from my fathers house, it may be
from his heart, scorned and forgotten by
my friends, despised by maakind.n
You would still" replied Lucius, be
to me the Herenice, whom, in her hour Of
prosperity, / had vowed to love and cher
ish. But what can be the meaning o.
your terrible words? Why do you tor.
ture yourself and me by such utterly
vain imaginings? Z"
Berenice Withdrew from the aacircline
arm that supported her she leaned
the Slight column Of serandali
her voice was softer than the softesI
-bs1-.- 49, -~1-l Ell II 49,.