St. Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (St. Charles City [Charles City], Iowa) 1857-1861, 1858-07-15

I
in the street Of Fortune, in front o
the baths of Antoninus, the broa,
portico of which was already crowded
with the gay youths of the city, dis
courslng of the games preparing il
the circus of fresh Numidian liol
of the new sect of Christians, al
ready establishing itself in spite o
the hcrcest pcrsecutions-of an appal
ing rumor forctclling dreadful erur
tIon of Vesuvius, to be expected dali
of the lovcliness of Theseis, daughte
of the renowned tribune, Mcdon--an
of matters still more trivial or gene
raj. As the patrician, whose nam
was Labeo, descended from his biga
and gave his horses in charga to slave
attending the bath, his quick ear
caught the sound of the beloved name
spoken by one whose voice made tin,
quick blood tingle hotly at his heart.
Turning, he beheld richly-garment
ed, highly-scented gallant of the city
whom he recognized with naughty
and negligent bend of the head, mur
muring as he went through the crowd
So, so! Eumolpus here, when
deemed him in Sicily; and with he
name on his vile lips, too ! He, VIII,
worships Mercury and a pair of dice
For three nights in succession, have
dreamt of evil, coupled with him but
| am here now, and that shall be pro
lection sufficient
In his turn, Eumolpus muttcrcd be-
tween his teeth
$50, Labco hath arrived, then
and, as | hear, betrothed to Medon's
daughter. To avenge an insulting re-
lection, and to bear off the prize, it is
necessary no time were lost. This
very night be it, then /! Now to my
familiars, and next to the feast--and
then-then-' and, so muttering,
the rOuc' went his way.
Meantime, Labeo had threaded his
way through the curie or assembly
rooms of the baths, and, calling for
the assistants, was led to the hypocaus
tenn, or hot rooms of the bath, whence,
the indispensable duties of this much
priced luxury being over, his garments
re-arranged, with some slight change
of form, once more over his Antinous
limbs, he emerged, again rcmounted
his biga, and, winding now by the
palaces north of the Amphitheatre-
among which were the Villa of Julia
Felix and the Forum Boarium-he
went forth by the gate leading to the
Sarnus, and, winding through groves
of olives and n".--.I--, ~rr. ."-L-i -.
last a small hnt elegant villa, who's,
gilded dome arose out of a mass of fo
liage, and which was built on a pictur
esque peninsula formed by the course
of the river, and not many furlongs
from the sea itself. Entering at the
gate, and descending at the door, he
found frank and hearty soldiers wei
come at the hands of the tribune Me
don, and the next moment stood in the
presence of Thcseis, whose loveliness
he admitted himself, though of a grand
and stately order, had not been over
drawn.
She was seated beside frame filled
with a curious network glowing with
colors, and so engaged with this tapes
try, that she had not remarked the en-
trance Of her father and the youth
who gazed upon her in quiet rapture
The majesty of beautiful woman was
struggling for mastery, as it were
with those charms which form the rich
graces of girlhood. Her affluent hail
was gathered into a net and fastened
by kind of fillet. The long, flexible
fingers, as she piled her task, moved
to and fro with practiced dexterity
which proved the employment to be
familiar. At distance from her sal
her attendant, dark-haired girl from
Rhegium.
Welcome, noble Labeo ! thou ART
welcome by the head of Numa " crieG
the soldier, frankly clasping his guests
hand once more. Glow now, Theseis
hast thou no welcome here :? Mcthinks
those cheeks tell different tale
Aha, ! thought sol"
As she arose and advanced, a ricl
carnation sutfused her checks, but
with undemonstrative dignity, sht
held forth her hand, and bid her be
trothed welcome.
Happiness and health wait ON tn,
fair Theseis said Labeo.
81 thank you, am WELL" she re
piled.
"Thc household gods have riva
in their worship, eh, my Labeo y salt
the tribune, laughing /; "but come, i
draws nigh the hour of dinner, and
must hence to Gaeta, ere the eve set
in. Ho, there !" and he clapped hi
hands, Ibid the slaves to furnish tin
tables. Let us hasten ; ye will hav
time enough to exchange thought
and words when am on my way
The moonshine and the myrtle groves
they say, aid lovers when they're dumb
but, come, lead in, Labeo, lead in, an
let's to our repast."
The reader will have judged by thi
that the young patrician and the trit
une's daughter were by no mean
strangers to each other-that they ha
met, and loved, aud were betrothed I
each other. 1t is not here essential
enter into the story Of their earle
attachment. Labeo had distinguishe
himself in the wars under the eye +,
the tribune, and the latter held IL
young man in respect. That the prof
gate Eumolpus had sued for the har
of Theseis, and been repulsed, may |
easily guessed how he succeeded
the base designs he had formed, wi
presently be seen. Leaving ourfrien,
for the present to their repast, we W
now change the scene.
At the house of the rous' Eumolpu
in the southern suburb, We're also q
sembled his guests, crowned wi
flowers, and clad in festal garment
The dinner was already over, and Il
| rich and ruddy Falernian was passln
rapidly around. Gushes OF melod
: from unseen musicians filled up u
} pause in the conversation, which Ju'
, now began To flag. The guests wei