The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-11-02
ALAi}IC
ALARIC;
OR,
THE TYR4NTr.S T4TLT
A sIClLIAN STORY OF EARLY TINES.
CHAPTER

away towards the North He quite young-nnt oy
hve-and twenty-tall and well propurtinned with mn
cular system finely developed; and possessing face n
only striking in its manly beauty but remarkable in
so young for its stern, resoute and sereliant EXPIRE
sion. His dress light simple and evidently
Greek manufacture the lower limbs being clothed in c
lifting goat skin, above which he shirt of whi
nen confined at the waist by belt of fine mail Upr
his head there was cap of stuff the top droo
ing over the right ear; and his feet were shielded by
pair OF sandals. His only weapon short heay
sword which hung in leathern scabbard from his be
OF mail lie stood for while gazing about as though II
decided what course he should pursue but finally he
pied an old fisherman, not far Off who had just come dow
upon the beach, and towards him he made his wav
bright, pleasant morning, good SIR said Il
The old man cast his from his shoulders and gaze
up He carefully scanned the features before him.
aye, fair sir, it is pleasant morning We have man
such on this coast
And yet it storms sometimes, suppose" suggeste
He is wise who little needs the storms he cannc
quen said the fisherman. with nod of the head whc
seemed to give his words meaning than the circuu
stances under which they spoken would to in
ply; lyy,;,.
me-where can find Artabanus, the hermit?'
The fisherman took another careful look his inter
luctor's face, and then answered:
He lives upon yonder mountain which is called Cata
lano. DO you wish to see him?n
| yes"
Then follow the path that leads to wonder cot until
brings you TO small stream Cross that and then upo
your right hand you will beaten track He lives i,
the top of the mountain and this track will
lead you directly thither.''
The young man thanked his informant, and was upor
the point OF turning away, when the latter resumed:
| II mean no offence. Your face looks familiar 1t ha
the cast of a countcnance had seen before
GU II at least remember of having seen such
! on this nornng - said tho
"Aye mutered the old Scilian, half to himself, but
yet loud enough to reach other and call Nep
tune to witness that have it before Such faces
not multiped-hey plenty in Syracuse these
! times. Alas, more's the pity
The youth hesitated for moment, though he would
turn back but he the disposition and kept
When he had begun to ascend the mountain, he stopped
and looked behind him, and that the fisherman
already upon the water
'Can it be- he said to himself hat my face is so lit
tie changed? think ! remember that old man. for he
has spread his nets long in these waters but how should
he remember me? pray the gods not many
| in Syracuse that will yet be so observant.'
With this the traveller kept up the mountain until he
had reached broad table of rock from whence he could
the bay and the city beyond The great metropolis
spread out before him, with it's massive walls its
temples, and its palaces and tear started down his
cheek as he gazed upon the scene He clasped his
hands upon his bosom and, with few muttered words,
the path to which he had been directed but he did
not follow it as one who stranger to its windings.
He pursued his way with and and
times with an absractedneSs which could have been in
dulged in only by who knew well the way he GO
ing Up the Steep rocky height he climbed and when he
finally stopped, it before the a cave-a
which Nature had fashioned in the mountains side
and sheltered from the suns fervd heat and the fury of
the Storm At the mouth of this cavern sat an old man
over whose hoad some fanrScore years had rolled His
hair and beard were white as the er.y
above the mount and noated in ske wavy masses
his shoulders and breast mantle OF gray cloth envel
oped his frame, and his feet sho with heavy sandals
lie 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 siid with look of simple
welcome.
'Kind father greet thee the youth returned at the
same time extending his hand
"lIow cried the aged starting to his feet the
accents fell upon his He shaded his eyes with the
palm of his left hand and gazed eagerly visitors
face. DO see Alright? he added. as tAlaric-my
old pupil ?"
AYE, good Artabanus, am Alaric-come once to see
thee"
some time the hermit gazed into the young mans
face in silence, but finally he said:
'Sit down-sit down, my Thy presence has start
ed host of varied emotions to life within me- and must
my thoughts can talk with thee in reason.
Than the gods, find thee aliveand in health replied
the YOUTH as he let go the old mans hand and took seat
upon wooden bench close by.
"Aye-1 am well in body returned Artabanus "But''
he added thoughtfuy continuing to earnestly into
his companions face he spoke, the body is but small
part Of man. and the ills of the flesh very JOYS when
compared with of the pains to which the soul may
be subject. But tell me of thyself. Where hast thou
been ?1
81 have been in Greece replied the youth s'When
fled from these shores, eight years ago sought refuge
there, and there have remained ever since. Oh wept
this morning gazed down upon the city of my birth
had thought had done weeping those memories;
but when again gaZcd upon Syracuse they crowd
ing upon me with power which | could not resist.
the very temple beneath the walls of which my faith
er and my brother were sla and could see the roof be
meath which my mother died. &rtaEanus, there
many of the parcian families escaped that foul butch
cry
Of the people, have only yourself return. There
were few escaped but many Where there any went
with YOU to Greece"
''No, father escaped alone I saw my noble parent
cut down. saw my brother fal-and when knew had
relative left in the city fled Fortune favored me.
found small boat by the Shore and put out alone
upon the dark waters oated away Melta and from
thence gained passage to Greece. The tyrant still
'Aas yes And his deeds evil, and the people suf
fer. We have had peace in Sicily since good HeliXus
died Thou vert but mere child them
81 years old. / remember the good king
vel fD nv f1 Of Iii
GERS
"Aye-you were older than thought said the hermit
And remember that there mystery connected
with the good kings death,'' remarked Aaric. "Am
not right?'
'There was not much mystery answered the old
e 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 Syracuse?'
"Can you not guess 2" returned the youth.
II might guess many things my son.
'And yet but of them would be right have said
that left relative behind me when made my escape
from this place; but did leave one whom oyed-one
about whom my affections entwined with life that
could not die You know of whom speak,
''Aye-you speak of the mason's daughter lanthe.''
Yes, father. Is she alive?"
''She s.''
"And WELL
''She is we'll"
"And'' pursued the youth, in eager tone sis
"Why? Have you thought that she would remember
you in love through the years that have passed?'
O do not tell me that she has ceased to love True
she child in years, but | loved her then and my
love has grown stronger in the separation which has fol-
lowed. know there is danger to here, but came
with will to meet it''
But suppose your very were danger you sought
the maiden"
You may of danger, if you will, but do not
seek place the barrier of fear between and DESIRE
for know not the emotion. You Artabanus taught
when boy, and wise lessons have not depart
ed from my mind You taught me that there were many
things to be feared than death, and have come
prepared rather to die than live all alone in distant
land with the sad memories my unhappy country for
my only heritage"
.'And You would from death should it raise its
threatening front between yourself and Ianhe?" The
old mans gaze grew he thus spoke and
spark within which seemed to gleam newly awaken
ed hope, burned in his eye.
''My father" answered Alarc with a flushing check,
81 could almost feel offended did think you doubted
but do not think so. Show that Ianthe loves me,
and not Pyrrho himself with the blood stained
of Sicily upon his brow shall have power to sare
me from my course while life is mine"
Artabanus started to his feet and grasped the youth by
.sNoble Alaric, he cried with a joyful enthusiasm
hou art worthy of the maiden's hand. She does love
she chershes thy memory within heart the
precious thing of earth and for long she has lived
upon the hope that thou wouldst return to her.
0-the Gods be praised y calculated the young man.
But added the hermit in changed voice, there
must be danger i'll thy path. Pyrrho holds his throne
only through the fear and enslavement of the people, and
he knows it. Your father of his btterest enc
found it necessary to put out of the way You not
only the very image of noble parent but you must
remember you had the full stature
of manhood when you fled from Syracuse You were then
seventeen, and from seventeen veand twenty, espe
cialy in early developed there not much change
You then. and you So you
expect that you will be known and recognized. But
let speak of that hereafter. First do you anthe
and have found all right in that quarter
will consider further
81 shall find her with her father?'
Yes-and his house is just where it eight years
ago"
81 will go and seek her, then, and
IIold, my SON. You had better wait till nightfall ere
garment less likely attract atehtr6n, 4SRir f"-
that too much cannot be taken.'
impatient lntne, Dut ne saw tlc
of the hermts onng and he willing wait Sc
he sat down by his old teachers side againsat as he had
sat years before when receiving instructions from the
same lips-and listened to the story of the wrongs th
had been done in Sicily during the last eight years
Hour after hour away, and Artabanus had Stl
more to tell of the tyrant's cruelty.
ssMercfu heavens y cried the youth, fired almost Z
phrenzy by the recital show have the people borne all
! this ?'' .
sThey have it under fear of their lives Pyrrho:
soldiers posted at every place where murmer car
arise"
s.And how long shall it last? :"
It'll some spirit with heart big enough to love Sic,
more than life. and soul that fears not the tyrant sha
arise in Syracuse' pronounced the old man solemny
Aarc started he met the glance of his aged compan
ion for there meaning upon it of more than mor'
import dared trust himself to speak then, for t
feelings that had sprung to life i'll his soul were
wild and strange that they fairly startled him. He aros
and walked out upon the mountain, and ever and amor
as his eve rested upon the distant city the tumult in HI
soul came to sarte him again He did not seek to ana
I'VE the emotion for it bold and gigantic, so gem
like misty proportions that he he dared not hand
it with reason.
After while Artabanus came out ana touched MI
upon the shoulder.
sAaric,i spoke the old man. sit is waxing late, an
we NAV he on the Let eat crust OF bread an
then we will descend the mountain together. must
with you as far the shermans cot for there we mu
find fitting garb for you. Glycon Is my irleh'
and may be trusted to the verge of the grave"