The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-06-10
A Story of Old Rome.

illuminated banks, Far down the Tald
tine Hill, from the Imperial Palace,
long line of radiance flashed uponthe W
S1crG, and across the clear water, iron
Apollo's temple, came the evening chan
OF priests and the sound OF music
The temple of Vesta, alone, upon the
southern hill-slope, was lit BY the moon
beams that clothed with silver lustre It's
marble port1co, and glittered through the
thick foliage of the sacred oaks embosom
ing it. Naught burned there but the
pure fire of the alter, around which cir
- Gle of white-robed virgins bent IN their
evening prisons.
And now the mystic rite is ended, and
she chant of the vestal train slowly retlt-
ing through the distant alsles' SOUNDS
family in the distance. One Is lett the
virgin. who. through the still night, must
watch the alter frame, and offer to one
snotless PRAYER for her tavorite shrine
Why gagss she SO fxedly at her departing
sisters? Why casts she an anxious glance
around the lonely court? t.s
A shadow sole across the marble pave
ment, and the figure of man stood forth
in the moonlight The maiden flew to
meet him. ara $50
"My brother thou art here. Oh! hap.
pay" a
"Hist! they seek, my life !" cried the.
Young man. casting his eye around.
- aAIy brother what Ineanest thou Pr
"Germanicus is slain,n said the brother
n, in a .stlfed voice. y3d3 toy 1isg D9Vl1TH
!, The maiden gazed into theyouth's face,
as if she would fain have read there the
contradiction of his words; but she saw
that his features were deadly pale. "Ah,
nv brother" she murmured, cit is not so.
Oh, say not that our benefactor is"
SITS true; even at the banquet. L
stood beside him; held his cup. .Sejanus
the tvrant filled it from his own.and my
master fell dead at his feet. escaped,
out the slaves of the tyrant follow me"
"And he-Germanicus--is no more"
cried the sister. ute l1a ItF5
X cay, Livia; poisoned by the wretch
who aims at the imperial purple. But
bark they come. hear the tramp OF
their feet within" 1855 a13sa5
e. 'sThey will not harm ye here, my broth
sr; they dare not tear thee from the shrine
Of VestaP hea dsg 1o aIsls
"And what is Vests to Sejanus? cried
q voice, as band of soldiers entered the
temple gate. "Drag the slaves away, tits
che Emperor's will" isaalI3 -f.'al1
+. "Bewarol" cried Livia as snatching a
torch from the alter, she sprang to her
brether's side Beware ere the insulted
goddess ayengs her shrine Back lay not
yeur hands on him who claims the aid of
Yesta." r9 g36rB Bst9i5 hra hF
4, The sister stood by her brothers side,
like the very goddess whom she served.
The rude, superstitious soldiers trembled
before the gaze of the virgins eyes. But
their leaders voice aroused them. a s
"Foolsr' he cried, 'are you frighted by
a woman ?" and he grasped the malden's
arm. s a5
The sword of her brother circled over
the soldiers head and rang on his iron
helmet But ere the blow could be re
peated, lights cleaned along the corridors
and the voice, Of the high preistess was
heard. 5 er,as, & .seI
"What means" said she, ethis clash of
steel Is Rome SO sunken in crime that
the temple of her gods are not reVered !?
Speak, Livia, why are these men here ?" &
so ga stranger sought the protection of our
altar Hens the freedman of Germanicus
whom they have murdered. These men
would drag him to cruel DEATH Oh save
him, heis my brother' And, the spirit
that upheld her giving way, she sank
trembling at the feet of the prlestess. q
"Fear not .Liyia. Tiberius himself dare
not desecrate the shrine of our goddess.
Returnl' said the high priestess to the
soldiers, 'and say to Sejanus that the pow
er OF Vesta protects her servants" aaao 8
g"AdyanceP n cried the centurion. "Pluck
Aim from the affairs foot. Think you that
the vengeance of the gods is surer5 than
the wrath of Sejanus? Advance upon
the slave"" agideo rasg 1853 a6
Tho soldiers, accustomed to obey, hest.
tated no longer. Throwing themselves
g togsther upon the freedman, who, grasp
nag hissword had awaited the interference
of the priestess they wrested the weapon
! from his grasp, and dragged him from the
temple court
Livia had fallen senseiess at the foot of
e the altar. But the high priestess needed
hernot. Her own proud heart was swell
ingat the thought of her insulted goddess.
Tie sanctuary violated! sacrilege at the
very altar ht-s ~
''Tremble!n she cried, as the corselets OF
the retreating soldiers flashed in the blaze
that streamed from the Imperial palace
"Tremble, Sejanus THY fate is sealed
Whom the gods would destroy, they frs
made mad" .E s.,T AL. + lsf4fsfss
ga9g 0t--1 eos loda .#e
Seianus reclined ct the banquet Riya
OF his master in assimilation, he knew
how to preserve in public an auster1ty
~ that effecttalty hid the grossness of hi
Iah ,sensuality.- He, was at the pitch of hi
p subordinate power; for Tiberius, sunk il
the enervating pleasures of his Caprmal
H..