Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1858-11-06
ALARIC;
A sICILIAN STORY OF EARLY TIMES
CHAPTER /.
ALARAC.
OR,
THE TYRANT'S VAULT.

N SANAHAhN oAoR1 We GAhL1 11m6o'
CHAPTERI
ALARAC.
Not far from the city of Syracuse, when it was
the metropolis of all Sicily, an object of longing
to ambitious conquerors, and one of the finest
cities in the world not far from this place, up
on.the shore OF the sea, stood a man who had
just landed from vessel that was now sailing
away towards the North. He was quite young
NOT over five-andtwenty-ta and well-pro-
portioned; with muscular system finely de-
veloped and possessing face not only strik-
ing in its manly beauty, but remarkable in one
SO young, for its stern, resolute, and sef-relant
expression His dress was light and simple,
and evidently of Greek manufacture; the lower
limbs being clothed in closc-ftting goat-skin,
above which he wore a shirt of white linen, con-
fined at the waist by belt of fine mail Upon
his head was cap of woven stuff, the top droop-
ing over the right ear and his feet were shield
ed by pair of sandals. His only weapon was
short, heavy sword, which hnng in a leathern
scabbard, from his belt of mail. He stood for
awhile, gazing about, as though undecided what
course he should pursue; but finally he es-
pied an old fisherman, not far off, who had just
come down upon the beach, and towards him he
made his way.
"A bright, pleasant morning. good sir" said
the youth.
The old man cast his net from his shoulders
and gazed up. lie carefully scanned the features
before him, and then replied:
"Aye, fair sir, it is pleasant morning We
have many such on the coast
"And yet 1t storms sometimes, / suppose"
suggested the first speaker.
ale is wise man who little heeds the storms
he cannot quell." said the fisherman, with nod
of the head which seemed to give his words
moro meaning than the circumstances under
which they were spoken would imply.
"lou are right there" responded the other
"But tell me-where can | find Artabanus. the
hermit ?'
The fisherman took another careful look into
his interlocutors face, and then answered:
HE lives upon yonder mountain, which is
celled Catalano. DO you wish to see him."
Yes"
"Then follow the path that leads to wonder
cot, until it brings YOU to small stream. Cross
that, and then upon your right hand you will
see beaten track. He lives in a cave near the
top of the mountain, and this track will lead you
directly thither."
The young man thanked his informant, and
was upon the point of turning away, when the
latter resumed:
81 mean no ofense Your face looks famil-
lar. 1t has the cast Of countenance fancied
had seen before"
you'll at leastremember of having seen such
an one on this morning." said the young man !;
and as he thus spoke he turned away.
AYE" muttered the old Scilian, half to him
self, but yet loud enough to reach other ears !;
land call on Neptune to witness that have
seen it before. Such faces are not multiplied
they are not plenty in Syracuse these times
Alas more's the pity
The yDuth hestatp1 for a ,nonopt oe tho,cl
he would turn back, but he overcame the dispo-
sition, and kept on. When he had begun to
ascend the mountain, he stopped and looked be-
hind him, and saw that the fisherman was al
ready upon the water.
"Can it be-" he said, to himself, "that nv
face is so little changed? | think l remember
that old man, for he has spread his nets long in
these waters; but how should he remember ME
pray the gods that there be not many in Sy-
racuse that will yet be so observant."
With this the traveller kept on up the noun
tain until he had reached broad table of rock,
from whence he could see the bay, and the city
beyond. The great metropolis was spread out
before him, with its massive walls, its temples,
and Its palaces, and a tear started down his
cheek as he gazed upon the scene. He clasped.
his hands upon his bosom, and, with few NUT
tered words, he started on again. He crossed
the stream, and took the path to which he had
been directed; but he did not follow it rs one
who was stranger to its windings. He pur-
sued his way with an ease and assurance and at
times, with an abstractedness which could have
been induged in only by one who knew well
the way he was going. Up the Steep rocky
hight he climbed, and, when he finally stopped,
1t was before the entrance to a cave-a cave
which Nature had fashioned in the mountains
side, and sheltered from the suns fervid heat,
and the fury of the storm. At the mouth of
this cavern sat an old man. over whose head
some fourscore years had rolled His hair and
beard were white as the fieecy cloud that sailed
above the mount, and foated in silken, wavy
masses over his shoulders and breast. A man
tie of gray cloth enveoped his frame, and his feet
were shod with heavy sandals. He 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 said with look
of simple welcome.
"Kind father, greet thee" the youth return
ed, at this same time extending his hand.
"How !" cried the aged man, starting to his
feet, as the accents fell upon his ear He shaded
his eyes with the palm of the left hand, and gaz-
ed eagerly into his visitors face "Do see
Alright ?" he added. sis it Alaric-my old pu-
pilP"
"Aye, good Artabanus, am Alaric-come
once more to see thee"
For some time the hermit gazed into the
young mans face in silence, but finally he said :
"Sit down-isit down, my son. Thy presence
has startled a host of varied emotions TO life
within me, and must recover my thoughts ere
! can talk with thee in reason"
"Thank the gods, find thee alive and in
health" replied the youth, as he let go the old
mans hand, and took seat upon a wooden
bench close by.
"Ays-I am well in body" returned Artaba-