Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-11-02
SPrice Two Cents


"Aye-you were older than 1 thought"
said the hermit, musingly.
land l remember that there was some
mystery connected with the good kings
death, remarked Alaric. cam not right"
"Ihere was not much mystery" answered
the old man. "He was weak and weary. and
he had left the throne that he might die in
peacei and death soon came to him. But
why hast though returned to Syracuse p
"Can you not guess ?" returned the youth.
81 might guess many things, my SON.
"And yet but one of them would be right
l have said that left no relative behind me
when 1 made my escape from this place hut
did not leave one whom loved-one about
whom my affections were entwined with
life that could not die. You know of whom
1 speak,"
"Aye-you speak of the mason's daughter,
Ianthe."
eyes father. is she alivei'
"She isl
''And well;'
"And," pursued the youth, in more eager
tone, 'Ts she still free "
"Why? Have you thought that she would
remember you in love through the years that
have passed.
40 co not tell me that she has ceased to
love me. True, she was child in years, but
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 y
"1 GU may warn me of danger, if you will,
out 90 not seek to place the barrier of fear
between me and my desire, for l know not
the emotion. You, Artabanus, taught me
when was boy, and your wise lessons have
not departed from my mind. You taught
me that there were many things more to be
be feared than death, and have come pre-
pared rather TO die than live all alone in a
distant land, with the sad memories of my
unhappy country for my only heritage"
sand you would not turn from death,
should it raise its threatening front between
yourself and Ianthe - The old mans gaze
grew more earnest as he thus spoke, and
spark within which seemed to CLEAN some
newly awakened hope, burned in his eye.
My father" answered Alaric, with a
flushed cheek, 81 could almost feel offended
did think you doubted me, but l do not
THINK so. Show me that Ianthe 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 oy the hand.
Noble Alaric," he cried, with joyful
enthusiasm, "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."
40, the gods be praised p 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 the
fear and enslavement of the people, and he
knows 1t. Your father was one Of his bitter
est enemies, and he was also one Of the first
whom the usurper found it necessary to put
out OF the way. You are not only the veIy
image OF your noble parent, but you must re-
member that you had arrived almost at the
iull stature OF manhood when you fed from
Syracuse. You were then seventeen, and
from seventeen to iye-and-twenty, especially
IN one so early developed as you were, there
is not much change. You were a man then.
and you are no more now. So you must ex-
peet that 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 fur
Their"
81 shall find her with her fathers'
YES and his. house is just where it was
eight years ago."
81 will go and see her, then, and"
Hold, my son. You had better wait till
nlghttall ere you enter the city. and also ex-
change that Greek shirt for garment less
likely to attract attention, for 1 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
IN O. H. i
old teachers side again-sat as he had sat
years before, 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 heavens !" cried tile youth fred
almost TO frenzy by the recital, q how have
the people borne all this ?"
They have borne it under fear of their
lives. Pyrrhos soldiers are posted at every
place where murmur can arise"
And how long shall it lasts"
" Till some spirit with heart big enough
to love Sicily more than life, and soul that
Tears not Inc tyrsnt, shall arise in Syracuse %
pronounced the old man solemnly.
Alaric started as he met the glance Of his
aged companion, fol there was a meaning up-
ON 1t OF more than mortal import. He dared
not trust himself to speak then, for the feel
lngs 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, and ever and anon, as his eve
rested upon the distant city, the tumult in his
soul came to startle him again. He did net
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
touched him upon the shoulder.
Alaric," spoke the old man, /" it is wax.
ing late, and we may be on the move. Let
us eat crust of bread, and then we will de.
scend the mountain together. l must 20
with you as far as the Rsherman's cot. for we
must ma there more fitting garb for you.
Glycon Is my friend, and may be- trusted to
the verge of the grave"
The frugal supper was soon dispatched, and
then the two descended the mountain togeth-
er. AT the fshermans cot they stopped, and
found that Glycon had Just returned from his
days labor. Artabanus took him apart, and
having explained to him as much of Alaric's
story as no deemed advisable, he asked for
some garments that would answer for the
youth to wear.
The fishermen led the way to his scantv
wardrobe, and the necessary garments were
soon selected. Alaric's leggins Of goat-akin
were replaced BY long hose of blue cloth. and
his white linen shirt was exchanged for darL
brown frock, beneath which he could easily
conceal his short sword, After this the her.
Nratf na. III L