Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-11-06

child then"
al was seven years old. remember the good
king well, for my father, you know, was one of
his chief officers"
"Aye-you were older than thought" said
the hermit, musingly.
"And | remember that there was some mys-
terry connected with the good kings DEATH" re-
marked Alaric. "Am / not right ?"
"There was not much mystery" answered the
old man. 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 re-
turned to Syracuse ?"
Can you not guess?' returned the youth
81 might guess many things, my SON.
"And yet but one of them would be right
have said that left no relative behind me when
made my escape from this place but / did
leave one whom | loved-one ABOUT whom nv
affections were entwined with life that could
not die. You know of whom | speak,
"Aye-you speak of the masons daughter,
Ianthe"
"Yes, father. Is she alive?"
"She is"
"And well ?"
"She is we'll"
"And,' pursued the youth, in more eager
tone, sis she free 2"
"Why? Have you thought that she would
IOuiSmOCi Nou III lONc lilIOuEn lnt Years ITaL
have passed ?'
80! do not tell me that she has ceased to
love me. True, she was 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 a
will to meet it,
but suppose your very life were in danger
if you sought the maiden ?"
You may warn me of danger, if YOU will,
but do not seek to place the barrier of fear be-
tween me and my desire, for know not the
emotion. You. Artabanus, taught me when |
was n boy, ond your ,riso lnssnns have NOT de-
parted from my mind. You taught me that
there was many things more to be feared than
death, and have come, prepared rather to die
than live all alone in distant land, with the sad
memories of my unhappy country for my only
heritage"
And you would not turn from death, should
it raise its threatening front between yourself
and lanthe ?" The old mans gaze grew more
earnest as he thus spoke, and a spark, within
which seemed TO CLEAN some newly awakened
hope, burned in his eye.
"My father" answered Alarc, with flushing
cheek, 81 could almost feel offended did think
you doubted me- but do not think so. Show
me that lanthe loves me, and not even Pyrrho
himself, with the blood-stained crown of Sicily
upon his brow, shall have power to startle me
from my course, while life is mine"
Artabanus started to his feet and grasped the
youth by the hand.
Noble Alaric," he cried. with a iovful entbu-
siasm, "thou art worthy of the maiden's hand.
She does love thee-she cherishes thy memory
within her heart as the most precious thing of
earth, and for long years she has lived upon the
hope that thou wouldst return to her."
"O-the gods be praised" calculated the
young man.
But added the hermit in a changed voice,
there must be danger in thy path. Pyrrho
holds his throne only through fear and en-
slavement of the people, and he knows it. Your
father was one of his bitterest enemies, and he
was also one of the first whom the usurper found
1t 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
at the full stature of manhood when you fled
from Syracuse. You were then seventeen, and
from seventeen to five-and-twenty, especially in
one so early developed as you were, there is not
much change You were a man then, and you
will be known and recognized. But let us speak
of that hereafter. First do you see Ianthe, and
when you have found all right in that quarter,
we will consider further"
81 shall find her with her father?"
'les-and his house is just where it was
eight years ago"
81 will go and seek her, then, and"
"Hold, my son. You had better wait till
nightfall ere you entur the city, and also ex-
change that Greek shirt for garment less like
ly to attract attention, for assure you that too
much care cannot be taken.'
Alaric was impatient to see Ianthe, but he saw
the force of the hermits reasoning, and he was
willing to wait. So he sat down by his old
teachers side again-sat as he had sat years be-
fore, when receiving instructions from the same
lips-and listened to the story of the wrongs
that had been done in Sicily during the last
eight years. Hour after hour passed away, and
Artabanus had still more to tell of the tyrant's
cruelty.
"Merciful heayens" cried the youth fred al
most to phrenzy by the recital, chow have the
people borne all this
"They have borne it under fear of their lives.
Pyrrho's soldiers are posted at everyplace where
a murmur can arise"
"And how long shall it last P"
"Iill some spirit with heart big enough to
love Sicily more than life, and soul that fears
not the tyrant, shall arise in Syracuse!" !" pro-
nounced the old man solemnly.
Alarac started as he met the gaze of his aged
companion, for there was meaning upon il of
more than mortal import He dared not trust
himself to speak then, for the feelings that had
sprung to life in his own soul were so wild and
strange that they fairly startled him. He arose
and walked out upon the mountain, asd ever
and anon as his eye rested upon the distant
city, the tumut in his soul came to startle him
again. He did not seek to analyze the emotion,
for it was so bold and gigantic so genie-like in
its misty proportions, that he dared not handle
it with reason.
After while Artabanus came out and touch
ed him upon the shoulder.
"Alaric," spoke the old man, at is waxing
late, and we may be on the move. Let us eat
a crust Of bread, and then we will descend the
mountain together. must 60 with you ss far