Delaware State journal and statesman., 1862-04-15

further" he said, not at all In a seofing voice.
Z" But he will never remain where he is, and
though may have passed away into dust, the
time will come when he will renew the trial OF
tonight, and will, in fear and trembings per-
h0ps, wait the revelation he now dreads to en-
counter. The time will come-he who has once
laid the incense on the altar Of our gods will lay
il again, and they will claim the victory
| answered that be had entrapped inc into a
folly, of which | was ashamed, and that | should
be more ashamed could l believe that should
ever repeat it.
"Yet you fear to extinguish that lamp
| replied that did not choose to be his agent in
any further Bickedness, that | did not know what
his next device might be, and that my errand
to him had been one of kindness, and that had
not expected such reception. But for all this
could not rise up, laugh his devices TO scorn,
aud bid him either to talk reasonably OF to dismiss
mt.
M matter, be said a l am passing away,
but have devoted you to the old gods- II may
be that shall hear Of you when | am at rest
The deity, at whose shrine you will complete the
vow Of tonight, may be pleased in time to come
to let me know that my work is accomplished
You are hers, to be claimed in her own good
time"
Ills reiteration of this hideous assertion agita-
ted me in way which now find it difficult to
understand, and | concluded that my agitation
must have been visible to him, for he said
3" Let me offer you some refreshment. should
have done go before. You will find wine in the
closet behind you, or Eudoxia shall get it for
you il
But refused to take anything, welcome as it
would have been; for l knew not whether Mr..
Marcham might have drugged the wine, or to
what idol use it might have been applied.
Then," he aaid, Is it only remains for me 10
say that which brought you hther to hear
You will already have guessed at il, probably,
but let it be said plainly, and bear it in mind
until the time comes Of which have spoken.
know not, Mr.. Helsham, whether you are aware
that not only in the great cities Of the continent.
but notably in London, the old religion, that
which the world calls Paganism, is making large
but almost silent and secret progress"
l had not heard of it, aud scarcely believed
anything so humiliating as well as so painful.
"Do not use words which you may live to re-
| pent. Yes, my friend-for after what has passed
tonight may call you so without profanity
the old worship will be restored. AT present the
temples Of the gods are hidden, but they are in
creasing in number, and ere long the creed Of
Rome-of old Rome--will be tolerated-soon
after to be embraced by the nation"
He then went on to tell me- to my utter aston
ishmeut, that several great and well known per-
sons in England had notoriously become converts
to the religion Of Jupiter. That in several coun-
try houses Of the nobility small but exquisitely
beautiful temples had been constructed, and that
the rites Of pagan Rome were daily celebrated
therein. That many idols, as we called them,
which had been undoubtedly the objects Of wor-
ship in Rome, had been secured by some of the
richer Of the converts, and had been in the
sacred temples. That several statues, which
in past ages had been adored, had dis
appeared from the sculpture gallery of the
British Museum, and that though it was
we'll known whittier they had gone, such
/ Ntxa 49, Nl.a IN ruhO tharf
could be traced, that no stir was made, and thar
substitutes were hastily provided in order to de-
ceiye the public. That 10 one Of the most aris-
tocratic squares. there was temple to Apollo,
adorned in the most lavish manner, and that
select body of persons of the highest position,
resortcd thither under the pretext Of music, and
that hymn had been written by no less person
than u < Il himself. That the Duke Of.
the Marquis Of, and many others whose
names must not give, and therefore il is useless
TO insert references to them, have become priests
of the gods, and that some refnsals TO marry,
which are said to have ast0nished the fashionable
world, which have arisen from the secret foun-
dation of an order of Vestal Virgins With many
other details of similar description, of the
accuracy Of which have no means Of judging
have only set down what Mr.. Marcham told me
on the eighth of last month.
, al have long-very long" he said " been a
convert to the old faith; but my name would
have done nothing for it, nor were my means,
though comfortable, sufficient TO enable me to do
much towards gArnishing the altaTs. Iresolyed,
therefore to dedicate my life 10 the service, and
to propagate the faith which could not other
! wise assist To this end have worked for many
years. For this purpose have devoted myself
to the profession Of school master, and now
that my career is closing, | can look back with
triumph upon what | have accomplished have
! had some hundreds of children under my care,
and you generally have heard that have done
|, them Justice, aud done it with Kindness Nc
= child, with a spirit that has been wounded here,
\ is eager for the day when he shall be man, thai
l l he may batter the cruel pedagogue who has made
young life misery and a shudder, no child
with an intellect crushed by brutality here il
, dragging ont listess and dreary existence,
y :, which might have been glad and happy one bu
y for his master. have done my duty. have
y sent out hundreds Of young Pagan missionaries
y y but the future shall speak for me, and fear II
!. not Now, give me your arm" la4
rose and aided him 10 rise. He did so NOR
II easily than had expected from his fragile ap-
pearance As be stood on the Aoor perceived
IL that his feet were bare, save that he wore san
m das. Gu his fingers were many rings, apparent
" ly costly ones.
I al should remove these" he said, observing
v my look at them, " and thought to have done D
Ie sooner. But am stronger, and they may renal
ID as yet"
.. Leaning on my arm, he walked into the end Q
the room, and opening door, Hight Of ston
90 steps appeared. They led downward. We deE
: cended them but there was nothing Of the dam
odor of vault. On the contrary, perceived
he renewal of the perfume which had made me Ia
\, upon the altar We entered passage diml
A. lighted with pendant lamp and turned to th
left. A strong door, with semi circular to
nv was before us. ltwas carefully hung, however
re for with the slightest exertion Mr.. MArcham dre
an it open, and then, pushing aside blue curtai
nd studded with stars, he led me forward.
We were in a temple paved with marble.
ow was small, but very richly adorned The ro
was Of blue, with silver stars. Two rows
lat white marble columns supported the roof, au
we between each hurg tiny silver lamp, which vi
burning, | saw no window. The walls we
inlaid With strange figures, upon some OF Uhie
an l cared not to look twice, for they we're Il
nd figures Of demons small altar, like that up'
led which had burned the incense, but either god'
OF or eilded stood near the cenhe, and behind 1t
ice tall marble figure Of q man, unclad, and in q
tho act Of discharging bow.
ss- A young wompn was kneeling before the alta
and singing 10 low voice, with an accompar
ed ment that proceeded from some unseen instr
hat ment The melody lasted some minutes. ~
- GIRL il was she whom had seen above, and wi
di- vas dressed n blue with her arms and feet bar
.ar rose and bent her eyes upon the face OF q
owe IMAGE. Then the music became louder, and th
,di- suddenly ceased. The lamps all went out, al
Ter there was q stiffness.
ON Then there came sound as If plate Of sils
had fallen on the marble pavement
r a faint blue light rose from the altar, and
md could see the the figure of the girl, who rails
'ool the plate from the ground, and sought to de
lhaa auuQn nf