Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1870-12-09

panions for me. How answered | the
herald? I dashed the villain over this
parapet! The vultures and hyenas did
their duty; and there flies all that is left
of him"
Antiochus skunk away. He had bis
answer. He knew he must be wary OF
this Egyptian; in him he had foe to
dread.
Zabdas mused as he slowly entered the
palace.
Rome pauders with him." he mur
INJURED. Julia the price! 0 Isis! price
of treachery and yet what angel but might
turn a devil to win so exquisite a need
for sin? If be wrong her" he continued.
passionately-"if he betray Palmyra-if
be should bleach the roses from her cheek,
or set the current of her tears abroach.
may thunder rive me, if I will not fall
upon him like an avalanche and crush him
into dust!'
These words revealed the secret of bis
heart; the stern and iron man Of war loved
the gentle Julia. But he was soon to
learn how hopeless was this passion.
Zenobia had sent her answer to Aure-
liau, and informed him that she would
give him battle to the last. Zabdas ap-
proved her decision. for he was her chief
counsellor, and she consulted him upon
her every action; but there was one who
seemed i'll at ease at the prospect of the
continued war. This was Zabdas' favor
ite officer. young Roman named Grac-
chus. who. forced from his native city by
some dark injury, had sought shelter at
Zenobia's court. The beauty and grace
of Julia had at once enthralled bis heart.
and bis young and manly bearing made
him rival to be feared by her other sui
tors.
Finding him thus moody, Zabdas ques-
toned him as to its cause.
Should Zabdas fall and you wear still
this lovesick character" he said. "who
then will lead the soldiers of Palmyra a.
gainst the foe %
..Antiochus," answered Gracious.
moodily; Ito whom, If he survives the
fury of the battle. and Persia's aid should
fail her. the queen has promised the hand
of Julia"
The Egyptian was startled by this reply.
"You dreamp be cried, excitedly.
Dare I trust your asked Gracious,
swayed by sudden thought.
with your whole ssul, Gracious" an
swered Zabdas, impressively.
''Can we hoop our hearts like mortal
things 2" cried Gracious, impetuously.- -
"Can We shut out from them their mon
arch love p
"Why ask me this 2" answered zabdas.
with emotion. '.Think you love :"
mo. Zabdas; for I know your soul
hath but one mistress in the world. and
that is Palmyra's glory" -
bitterly. 'Well then, your love-"
Il tremble when speak. lest you des-
pise me. but it masters me-itis my breath.
my sunlight. my religion! How I love
Julia"
''Julia!'' echoed Zabdas, gaspingly.
Like the birds love daydawn," con-
tinued Gracious, too much absorbed in
rhapsody to heed his friends emotion, ''or
the flowers the fresh rain that brings them
life and beauty out of heaven. And she
returns the love" aF.aa
Zabdas shivered at these words.
Returns it?" he cried. tremulously.
"You are sure of that? She told you 80
with her own lips 7"
Gracious smiled at the eagerness of the
question.
Hath nothing else voice but the in
animate and bell-like tongue that answers
but the will?" he asked. IA look, a
sight is with these Julia declared her
love. and these alone will nerve me to dis
pute the golden prise with proud Autio-
chus."
He. Antiochus, love p cried Zabdas,
scornfully, land such an incarnated gen
tleness as Julia's and why not Z the man
is human. Go seek her!" he added,
quickly. Il would speak with her; and
If she loves you-go. go"
Gracious FASTENED away. and the E gyp-
tian was left to his own bitter thoughts
Still he had kept his secret-held it in.
though it came spouting upward like q
food of burning lava and he was resolv-
ed it should burn him up-consume him
into ashes before it found an utterance. -
Now if Julia really loved Gracious, what
was to be done? Why, let them, and be
would call on Heaven to bless them both
A noble heart had this same stern Egyp-
tian u y,
A shrek aroused him from his sad re-
verie. and Julia came rushing towards him
in frantic manner. The cause of her
alarm was quickly told. Gracious had
been that instant slain struck by base
assassin in the CORRIDOR man muffled 10
mantle She had seen the blow. but
not the face Of the striker. Her brain
seemed bursting. as with distracted &C.
cents she told this dreadful story.
As be fastened to the scene Of the as.
sassinstion Zabdas, burning to revenge biz
friend. briefly interrogated her.
''You say you marked not we'll the man
who struck the blow p he asked. "Wat
he tall or short p
I'm the one glance l had Of him." an.
swered Julia. '.he seemed somewhere .,
bout the stature Of Antiochus.