New Orleans daily crescent., 1860-07-09


niagncence Of the corridors and halls Of state she
traversed, while following an officer Of the palace.
Having crossed lstticed gallery which served
as connecting link between two buildings the
very atmosphere seemed changed. No more in
toxicatng odors from the burning of aromatic pas
TILES, but the cool, pure air of nature; no more
draped and decorated wallis but stones of simplest
white; no more sumptuoas carpets that sank lux
urious beneath the feet but the bare floor resound-
ed to the tread: and here, when a signal for ad-
mission was made, she found the great Empress in
an apartment of austere pIainness, in company
with her two sisters, and surrounded by band of
young girls who had devoted themselves to the SER
vice Of the Lord.
My Empress. seek thy protection,o said
Athenais, she clasped the kindly extended hand
and fell at her feet.
Rise, my chid,H was the answer given with
benignity by the young Empress, who seemed
scarcely so old as her supplicant. "whence are
you come2n
:" From Athens, royal mistress. I am Athenais,
the daughter Of your once loyal subject Leontius,
the sophist. He is dead, alas! and / have no
home.n
The plea was sufficient. Pulcheria pressed a
kiss of ssterly love on Athenais' white brow, and
noted with admiration the pure Greek contour Of
her beautiful face.
She placed her among her maiden band, pro-
vided her with suitable occupations, instructed her
in the tenets of Christianity, and had the joy, in
the course Of time, to see her a convert to the
faith.
Athenais' inclinations did not lead her, nor did
Pulcheria influence her to vow herself bride of
the Lord. She encouraged her in the pursuit Of
science and literature, decorated her rare form
with beautiful robes, yet preserved her safe from
the snares OF the court in the privacy of the royal
apartments, and treated her in every respect as
cherished daughter.
Theodosius, then in the dawn of early manhood,
blessed with a disposition OF great amiabiiity and
believer in the Christian religion, resolved to
celebrate his assumption of the reins Of govern
ment by his marriage, it suitable alliance could
be procured, Lake ms SISTER, ne deprecated the
contentious that might follow the taking spouse
from foreign nation, and already, for many
months, ms friend Paunas mad traVersed the king
DOM visiting the daughters OF the nobiest families
without success IN nnding the desired OBJECT.
Iheodosius was restless and dissatished.
Desrous OF avoiding the lasclyions and ener'
vatlng customs OF ms country ms ardent and
youtnial ieare nevertheless nevertheless Weariea itseii WIN
lohgihss ior happiness ana the ehaeafineh's Oh re-
clprocated ioVe, though ne turned WIN disgust
from the thought OF aught that DID not I'LL ms
ideal.
Whie ~ this frame q mind, ne one DAY wander
ed away from lie nome young companions VINO
shared his hours Of leisure, to the solitude and
cooiness OF garden, the pleasures OF winch were
enjoyed mutually by himself and his sister, to
muse without interruption on the fair vision Of his
Jars.
AS lie walked the shaded laltarynths Of the plea
sure ground, absorbed in meditation, female
voice, clear and penetrating and Of singular sweet
ness singing plaintive love song, swelled upon
the air, and mingled in without disturbing his
| reverie.
He paused, turned his eyes to heaven, clasped
his hands in rapt ervor, and calculated the prayer
of his being: g Heavenly Father grant her to my
sight, s4
A turn in the walk and his petition was answered,
his ideal realized.
In breezy nook, where creeping vines had been
trained to give their gGBeeful shelter he saw
through the interstices woman Of chaste and
perfect loveliness. She was without companion
ship save the Jewel studded manuscript now idly
clasped in her slender fingers. 4afrecning on a
mat spread upon the grass, which constituted her
simple place Oh repOSe sHe BdZeu alaF upon te Siil-
ing surface of sheet of water, the bare mention Of
which brings to US at this day visions of waveets
| gsting in the sunbeams, and bearing their
breast the fleet whte-sailed, hird-like caiques-the
beautiful, the famed Bosphorus.
| Theodosns gazed breathless, not daring to be-
tray his presence, winch might put TO hlght that
WINCH pefcna'ice "ouio heNef stees MS eyes asaih
-ahq eaeeiy s'uaieu every ue''l', oi lace, ioti.,
~ - ST - - usas ~
y II
.iqr eoi- t,'.A4on. t,.a,,..,a,
s ~
,aa,,,oa ~
~
,s1o, t,a Id, s,,Ia,ao1. of
an,oxta1 ,,ao,,iiobt III nnon "a and ,and tbay
stas =, a. e;,,,,1o hoioa,,, o,,o,nr ;,,to tho
,,araAn WHARF Tbeodos;us Ind first seen her. He
WAS onnressad Inv the overwhelming passion that
t;lled his breast and tn which no exnresson had
eyer been oiyen save nv those understandable mes.
saoes which The ewes will send. Claspipe her white
hand in his. Theodosius said in accents low, and
tramhlina with feeling:
..c.n,a .thana;s and wandar ,v;th mo n the