Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1858-09-30

1 b6HAA&tuS lC0A6, TAU 100L LIC llHHLH aHC
Joyous expression of her c~ountenance
and Berenice's meek and holy hopes had
chased the deep melancholy from her face
and mein.
One or two brutal voices arose and
said, They both call themselves Chris
tlans let them die the death |" but one
Of the maidens answered, Think not,
most noble perfect, if you thus decree,
that you will be guiltless of my sisters
blood. She is not a Christian at heart /;
would to God she were then would /
no longer oppose her sharing my early
death. Veronica, acknowledge the truth,
and let me suffer %alone.n But Veronica,
if she it were, persisted in her first declar-
alton, and none could tell how this dis
pute would terminate, when a new Incl
dent attracted the attention of the multi
tude, and s~ilenced every doubt.
A speck was seen in the air it came
lower and nearer. 1t was a .milk-white
Edove. The bird huttered round one. then
drew near the other. no caressing hand
was held out to receive him, but his in
stinct was not to be deceived he settled
on the shoulder of her who had answered
the harsh voice from the crowd, and
sought to nestle as he vas wont in her
long hair. Many were present who knew
the pet belonged to Berenice, so tie peo-
Pile were satisfied with this decision. and
the weeping Veronica, still protesting
against her own identity, was torn from
the arms Of her sister. Then the project,
who had been much moved at this singu.
lar scene, turned to Rerenioe, as she stood
alone in the arena, and said, 1t is not
yet too late, young maiden, to preserve
your life. Have pity on thy youth and
loveliness, and on the grey hairs of thy
aged father. What harm is it to swear
by the fortune of Caesar, and to sacrifice
and be safe +? Rgt she answered more
GrAly than ever, 4 | am a Christian, and
cannot sacrifice to yonr false Gods. You
condemn me to death, but l fear not to
die in defence of the truth |" She advanc;
ed, %unbidden, to the fatal block, and
knelt by it, yet ere she Joined her hands
in prayer, she bent once more fully over
her little messenger bird, as if to bid fare
well to the last object hat told of earth
ly ties. There was a small scroll of
parchment under its wing /; Berenice felt
it, and thinking perhaps that it might tell
her of the only tidings she now cared to
hear, she rose again, and holding it forth
she prayed permission to read it. The
perfect did not refuse, and Bereuice read,
first in silence, and then aloud. "The
Emperor Marcus is dead, and Commodus
is already proclaimed Caesar" A loud
shout rent chs air. 1t was well known
that Commodus, in his heart, favored the
despised sect, and in spite of their preju-
dices, the beauty and heroism of Bere-
nice, had moved the hearts of her ooun-
trymen in her favor, A general outcry
for her release was heard, but this the
perfect dared not grant, Berenioe was
remanded back to prison until the pleas
ure OF CamuioduS should be known re-
specting Christians. 1t was not very
long ere, wearied with the hardships Of
the camp, he returned to his capital, and
his first order was that all Christians
should be released, and restored to their
privileges as Roman citizens. In his train
came the young Lucius he had found
leisure, amid all the excitement Of glory,
and the hardships of his campaign, to
study the precious gift of his betrothed !;
at first for love of her, and afterwards
from a wish to know the truth. So when
n~uptials, delayed a while by the death O..
Flayius Torquatos, were at last solemf
nized, Berenice had the happiness o
knowing that the husband of her choice
shared the true faith and pure hope of
her own spirit. They remained not long
in Rome ; the follies and cruelties Of
Conlmodus rendered it distasteful for
them and although Lueius stood high in
his favor, as he was very oapricions, they
knew not how long itsmight remain in
their own power to depart or to abide in
safety. They therefore babe aGieu with
out a sigh, to the pomp and Injuries OF
The capital, and embarked for a little
island in the northwest of Europe, with,
out the range OF civilization, where they
knew they should enjoy safety and free
dom.
Berenice was perfectly happy !; she
gave not Que regret to the magnlhcence
she abandoned, for Lucius was with her;
and as she stepped into the boat, a tremb-
ling, caressing girl chung to her, and a
soft voice whispered in her ear, " My.sis.
ter wither thou goest, / will go thy
people shall be my people, and thy God
my God"
NJ o. .-- NJ D.o-- Oanaorl