The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-11-03
CHAPTER III.

PyrTho, king of Sicily upon his throne of gold and
precious stones and about him few of the hardened,
cruel, subservent men whom he dared to trust HI
mddleaged man; short and clumsy in stature; with
face broad and brutal in its expression and strongly
marked by dissipation and debauchery. If he had
the brave he had lost it
now, aud his only hopes of safety were in the willing
swords about him and in the which his cruelty in
spred The light from three huge chandeliers of massive
gold cast strange ustre the large apartmentthe
beams being here reflected from polished mirrors there
from pillars of marble and porphyry and taking
deeper hues from the gaudy tapsty that hung the
walls.
Il would like to know who this stranger can be- said
the monarch turning to his chamberlain. "Ah! here
comes the lieutenant. We sha Il see
There was Il movement among the guard at the lower
end of the chamber, and presently officer approached
the throne, leading Alaric by the arm.
'Is he unarmed? - the king cried his eye rested
upon the youths tall and snnewy frame.
'He is, sire. We found only simple sword upon hi m
and that took from him."
contemptuous look overspread the youths face as he
thus found monarch fearful but when he gazed full
upon the features Of the tyran who had slain his loved
kindred, expression of deadly hate swept his
Bile brow, and keen fire burned in his dark eye.
He gods! " gasped the king, as he caught full view
of the youths face with this deep expression from his
soul upon it, what have we here? Come nearer !!
guard him well! Who art thou?
Had the sword of death been at that moment suspended
hero's head and ready to fall at breath he
could have curbed the emotions that swelled in his
soul In all his there principle ncen-
tive that could lead him bow and cringe before
whom he so utterly essed and detesed lad he thought
of the future he might have spoken differently; but he
thought only of the present and the past he thought only
Of the bloody that had been done and he allowed
J.
Il am Alaric, he answered. looking full into Pyrrho
''Illcric! 11iaric, What Alarc art thou?"
Hold sire, nelrosed the chamberlain, who had been
regarding the youth narrowly, Methnks thou shoudst
know that face He is the son of Orneus.n
Ia! Now, by the gods, know him " cried the king,
starting up in his seat, but quickly sinking back again
Art thou the son of the patrcian Orneus?''
when my noble father lived was his son., the priSo
replied.
And when your noble father died you fled from the
country? " said the monarch with sarcastic emphasis
the words he had repeated from the youths speech
Il did 1ee,' was the reply.
And have you been absent ever since?'
..Where?"
''In Greece"
''Why hast thou returned now?"
''To see the land of my BIRTH
'Nhn came with thee2''
81 landed alone upon Shores your majesty, and
had no thought but to find friend and them if need be-
to leave the country again.
And who is the friend you sought ?''
"A bosom friend of my early youth, whose influence
tends not beyond the walls of her home"
! aha female, Ell"
''And lives she with the artisan Bellerus ?n
Il went there to seek her -
And there You found her -
| Il heard Of her there"
'Answer me- cried the king, in q voice of rage. "By
the sacred crown of Jupiter thou hadst better bite off thine
own head than answer again thou hast done Who
/ is the maiden thou hast come to seek 20
Aaric hesitaed ere he replied to this He mbered
the warning he had received from Beerus and he began
to feel that he had been rash in his speech But he
had no choice now If he refused TO answer, the king
could easily gend to the dwelling of the mason and
matters might be only made
''She is the daughter of Belerus' he finally said
The monarch gazed into the youths face for mo-
mcnts without speaking. There was look of deadly
meaning upon his hard features and his fingers
neFvousy over his knees At length he turned to his
! chamberlain and said:
| s'This is curious freak of circumstance But the
young man is like a stranger in CITY, aud must
provide for him-at least for awhile" Then turning to
| Aiaric, he added:
"Since have had thee brought hither against thy will
| thou shalt be provided for during the night
| Il can easily provide for myself, sire'
"Aye-but do not choose that thou ShouldSt be put
to that Inconvenience We have enough and tc
spare and it will afford US true qualification to know that
! thou cared for
Alarc could not mistake the meaning Of these words
The look which accompanied them sufficient key tC
their import But he could do nothing to help him
self He could only trust TO circumstances they should
! present themselves
The king called of his officers to his side and whis
! to the youth
ut is waxing late and all have need of rest,
lie said $50 thou shalt be conducted to place of safety
until the morrow
Put, sire interposed our hero. why should you
keep me here tonight? can be found when you wan
we are rot so sure Of that But it is our will that yor
remain Nippon you will conduct him TO place of rest
! and report to me when thou hast done it,"
The man thus addressed approached our hero and PLACED
his hand upon his
Alaric started he heard the of that voice.
they sounded like knell. The word not spoken
speaks one who leads guest quiet chamber.
| 500 with him. spoke the king.
| Alaric turned, and was led away. in ante-room h
conductor joined by four dark sinister looking
who had more the appearance of common rufans thar
walters upon king, and then he seized by both hi
arms, and hurried on through vauted passage to dim
lylighted corridor. Presently the officer was Ftp
pom, the jaer, stopped at deep niche, where guarC
was posted and procured torch by the garing light
which he led on once more
On, through dark and narrow passages-and down
down. down. long and steep sairways the youth led
and when his conductors finally stopped Nippon opened
door of solid metal which swung out from jagged wall
and the prisoner forced roughly in and the massive
door closed. 1t was shut with dull heavy sound
reyerheratonS being I'D by he n
they fell upon the airand the prisoner lef
in utter darkness He closed his ewes and then
them again. to if some gmmer might be found Il
| break the horrible gloom but it all in vain. II
CROPPED his way the WALL and leaned against sup
port, for there was no seat save the floor.
The youth not long in making up his mind that h
had doomed to death. He knew the character tn
monarch and that deed would be too evil for him. IL
knew also how fear could make the tyrant more crue
before and to what deeds Of darkness the stric
en- usurper can descend.
It was terrible th rught and for while Aaric in
clneu 70 Ddlue uu.sef for what he had done but whe
he to reflect upon the transactions OF the day,
could how the present result could have Dee
avoided. 1t had flown from over which he cou
have exercised control without the power of fore
knowledge. lie thought Ianhe, and he wondered if h
should again. The chances against il
but he was not prepared to give all hope be had Jus
heard the sound OF footsteps without and presently IN
moving of bolts fell upon his In few moment
more the door of his dungeon opened and three me
entered one of them bearing flaming torch They wer
huge fellows clad in sombre garbs and each bore make
sword in his hand.
tnOse garDS lOr seen litii
before and he knew that only the execuoners then
The moment his rested upon the grim vsiters he kne
that his COON had been spoken and that the time for
cution had comet Insnctively he placed his hand upo
his hip, but there was weapon there. He was all III
armed and seemingly poweress against the gigantic
fans The who held the torch leaned up against Ii
wall where projecting point of rock helped support
and then the three approached the prisoner
SLOW now" spoke Alaric. What is your bushes
| here.' Lt
"a foul business, you'd say, you knew it, my ma.
ter replied the leader Of the Internal trio in an unfee
ing tone shut when tits DONE wen do it so well, yo
| won't know we've done it ALL
II to die ~ the youth said, with his hands caspe
| upon his bosom. tH' ii