New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-07-09
Written Tor the New Orleans Crescent
ATHENAI5-
By ELLIS AMMoNETTE,


died. even as they do in the rush and tumult OF our
own day and hour.
Where the white walls of Athens reared themselves
to shelter population which comprised the greater
part of the talent and lore Of the then known
world, IeOntius made his home, passed his life
mid the elegance of inherited wealth, won for him
self the reputation of sophist, and died pagan.
Three children had been born to fim-two SONS
and daughter-and these, without distinction be-
cause of sex, he instructed in all the branches of
learning that years Of study had made him 80 COM
petent to impart.
As his offspring grew in beauty and intelligence,
he could but perceive that though all fair and
bright, his daughter Athenas far surpassed her
brothers in every natural gift Of mind and temper
ament, and as his years advanced he came to dote
on her with the intensest fervor Of parental love
Notwithstanding this, his last act towards lfer was
Of apparent injustice, for dying, lie bequeathed
bis vast wealth to his sons Afcadius and CIaulian
leaving her but n hundred pieces of money, be-
cause her learning and beauty, which raised her
above her sex, where in themselves sufficient for
tune.'
twas spring in that delightful cline.
IT was evening. The sun hanging on the hori-
zon's western verge, bathed the world in purple
and golden splendor, while the winds that had lain
hushed all day walked 10 new wanderings, bringing
coolness from the wave, bearing odorous incense
from the flowers, and mparting refreshment to all
animated nature.
1t swept through court where fountains and
exotic plants, and brilliant plumaged birds united
their charms TO create d place Of enchantment,
into spacious chamber where lay the dead Leon
tius his body wrapped in the simple white cere-
ments OF the sepulehre.
He was unmatched save by the eyes of filial love.
Athenais Jealous of the few remaining hours that
his features would be granted to her sight, refused
to leave him, and exercised the dear privilege of
guarding him alone.
The deep hush which marks the presence of
death prevailed unbroken save at intervals by the
quiyering sobs that came deep from the orphaned
heart Of the young girl, she bent TO press kisses
the cold and irresponsible lips, or by the monoto-
nous trail of the golden selvedge Of her neglected
robe, as she wandered slowly to and fro the length
of the marble-paved room.
As she paused and gazed in fearful contemplation
on the placid face, words parted the curved por-
tails of her mouth.
ooh, dearest father, no thought of unkndness
filled thy tender heart when thou conceived the
idea Of denying me share in thy inheritance-t
was to mark plainly to the world thy faith in
the merits with which thy fond imagination had
seen fit to adorn me. But alas am woman.
cling to the fond associations of home, and would
fain shelter me here where every object is token
of love from thee. Already, though l am an alien,
Arcadius and Claudan greet me but coldly, and
their wives look askance, as if wondering when
they should be rid of the intruder
Utterance was lost in tears, as fresh sense of
isolation pressed upon her. and she threw her fair
form on the cold, unyielding MARBLE in aban-
donment of grief and desolation.
As she lay thus overwhelmed, the drapery sus.
pended at the arched doorway was put aside, and
her brothers and their wives, clad in all the trap
pings of woe, entered with noiseess steps. The
forced exterior of sadness worn by Arcadias and
Claudian gave way to gances Of contemptuous dis
approval when they discovered Athenais, and it
was with no gentle grasp Or tone that the elder
brother urged her to rise.
"Athenais, why this affectation of exaggerated
woe? The loss we have sustained is but in the or
der of nature; when we have paid tribute to the
virtues Of the departed it becomes us to submit to
| the irrevoeable.a
| "The privacy Of thine own apartments were
most seemy in the present state of thy disordered
attire, spoke out the wife of Claudian with angry
| quickness.
The impetuous flow of grief stilled by the cold,
harsh words that fell upon her ear Athenais lifted
her beautiful head put aside the disheveled locks
Of tawny gold and rested her tear.dimmad eyes Of
heavenly blue on the faces of those who had not
yet spoken, the wife of Arcadus and Claudian
himself.
No ray Of sympathy met her prayeffnl gaze,
and she turned away to bury her face in the hang
ings OF the bier as she yielded to another conpul-
siye agony of grief, When ii passed away, she
rose to her knees and addressed herself to Ar
cadius.
Dear brother! thou who hast taken the place of
our father, look not upon me 50 unkindly. Be
thine continuance of his protection. Grant me a
shelter under this our natal roof the simplest ap-
parel and the plainest food will suffice for me- if
they but come garnished and seasoned by love,,''
.'Thy home will be here, most certainly, until
those superior that have been vaunted for
thee shall have provided better,i' was the sneer
ing answer.
But, remember, thou art no longer mistress"
added his wife with taunt of triumph.
Oh, my father the refuge of thy tenderness is
lost!', cried the wounded girl. "Glandian,a she
plead rising to her feet, and advancing towards him
with supplicating hands, thou art the nearest to
ME IN DNEn, lliOu nedfeSI tne unedlHentS VI our
mother, whose gentleness and goodness is our
earliest memory; we have often recalled how her
hands have rested on our heads at the same moment
in love and blessing: grant thou home to her
child; l cannot accept that which Arcadius yields
so grudgingly.''
Claudian's GOODNESS wavered at this appeal but
Zoe, his wife, answered for him.
Thy father did not so demand in his last testa-
ment and Glaudians substance will not yield sup
port for others than his family"
Athenaisi head sank, her breast heaved, and her
breath came gaspingly; but after a moment she
forced herself to something like composure, raised
her eyes and looked upon the group, not unkindly,
and then replied gently and with simple dignity
BE it even as you desire,a pressed "a long
clingng kiss to the lips of the dead Leontus. and
turning slowly left the room, alone and unsup-
ported.
CHAPTER IL.
1t was that period of the Greeian Empire when
the spiendors of its capital were centered in Con-
stantnople, and presided over by that admirable
being Aea Pulcleria Augusta, so justly called
Virgin, Empress and SAINT
Raised by the voice of the people to an equal
power with her brother, Theodosius Second, she
ruled the kingdom with PREDICTIONS wisdom, and
I