The Vinton record. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1866-1891, 1866-03-22

VI ASiiPP"'
"ls not your father Christian.
Does ,he not worship man who
was executed as a malelactor.'
"Asain you ask a daughter TO
betraY herlather. When you have
foundllim, he shall answer for HIM
SELF He is a man of truth and will
!, not deceive YOU"
Surprised at the mingled dignity
and sweetness Of the beautiful mai
den, Octayian was forced to with
draw, bailled in his search But he
could not forget her. She came
like a vision. He could see the
flush Of her face as she had defcn-
ded hsr father; and he asked him
self foe question, which he had not
beenhble to ask her, so awcd had
he been by her presence;
Cam she, also, be one Of those
Christians whom we have underta-
ken to eXterminatc of the face of
the earthp
Her image sank deeper and dec
per into his heart. Her presence
her sphere, as modern philosophers
have termed it-her spiritual being
had impressed itself upon his mem,
ory and heart in ineAaceable char
acters. A sensuous woman makes
her impression upon the sensual
nature. An intellectual one i'm
presses the intellect; but Il pure,
high, spiritual. loving woman goes
home to the most sacred recesses
of the human heart: and when it
is said that the Greeks and Romans
knew little Of the love of senti-
ment, we must remember that the
reason is, there were but few wo-
men fitted to inspire it.
The prosecution ragged on. Oc-
tavian was not so Jealous as GOrm-
erly; but the taunts of his compan-
ions spurred him forward. One
day a spy brought him word that
he had found the entrance to one
of the secret hiding-places of the
Christians. Losingno time, he took
a file Of soldiers, and, following his
guide, came to the entrance of one
Of the catacombs. They descended
to the dark passages, their steps
lighted by the torches. Octavian
read the inscriptions on the graves
Of the martyrs Of past eras of per-
secutiOns, He heard music in the
far distance, sounding as if it came
from the bowels Of the earth. Then
came the smoke of incense. Fol
lowing the guide with stealthy
steps, they came to a subterran-
can chapel crowded with worship
ers. They were all upon their knees
in posture Of alteration, while a
white-haired priest, robed in flow
ing vestments, stood before an al
tar made of q martyrs tomb.
The armed men gathered in the
dark space, in the back of the
chapel, for the altar was lighted
with tapers, and lamps were sus-
pended from the ceiling. All was
hushed in a profound silence for a
few moments. Then the worship
ers arose; and a woman, turning
her head, discovered the sold
iers, and was surprised into a cry of
alarm. The venerable priest turn
ed from the altar, and approached
Octavian.
as it | for whom you search!" he
asked. 81 am ready. Lead on"
But before Octavian could give
an order to his soldiers, another
form stood before him. Claudia, in
her white purity; Claudia, in her
more than mortal beauty, as it
seemed to Octavian, threw herself
between him and the aged priest,
and said.
81 am the one he seeks. Look
upon me. | am a Christian. Car
ry me to your judges bring me to
the emperor. You will need no
proof avowit. am Christian.
Leave this old man-leave these
poor people. You want a victim
| follow YOU"
Agrippa, her father, took her
gently by her arm. and said.
"Not so my child; what can he
have against thy youth and inno-
cence2 1t is | for whom he has
come. This is he who sought for
me at home. Here | am, sir; you
shall not be a second time disap-
pointed"
Alas a! for Octavian. The spy
who brought him was also a spy
upon him, and would not fail to
give notice of any lack of fidelity
to the emperor and the laws. The
co16iarc foo ontino ,nJor b;c or