The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-05-03
Morning Star and Catholic Messenger.
HxW oRLEANs. SUNDAY. MAY .. 1874.

ont into Wow tHelE lips "ciS ColhPieoSSe
their feet were stoadied strongly upon the
floor; their shoulders quivered, and-nfter
doubtful period of nearly three minutes-down
with crash went tho knuckles of Longnns
upon the elm table.
Now for the next" said Chrrias.
"Do you mean to challenge mcV quoth
Panlus.
"Eyen So" said Chrrias, with an amicable
smile.
The ensuing struggle was much more severe
than the last. Cassius Ch,erias was consider
bly, older than Paulus; but Paulus had been
trained in the Athenian Iancratta, and IL was
impossible for the energy and muscular power
of Chnrias to break down tho scientific re-
sistance Of his youthful opponent, nor could
Paulus pretend to bend back by main force the
mighty arm of the famous centurion. Indeed,
Paulus had, throughout, downward but yet
an unconquered arm. Again and again CLn.
rias thew his whole vigor into the effort, pant
ing and gaspng and each time Pau)ns, who
had never opened his lips during the struggle
smiled at the end Of it.
"You cannot do it, can you ChIras'" cried
Tbeilus who also was smiling.
"Well, scarcely" said Chsrias; " in fact, l
cannot. But you would be just as powerless"
A laugh met this, that was not unlike the
laugh with which Paulus, few days before
had greeted Claudiuss panic. stricken dcpre-
cation of being selected to break the Sejan
horse.
GAS powerless" cried the ex-gladiator;
"why, you have had the best of it against our
chick here who when lie comes 80 his plenary
powers, will have the best of it against us all.
Rat tiDu IN TbalIps-T m
have gone into q wrong calling, or, if it be
allowable, 1 may yet have Iashly chosen it;
but, once upon the sands. have walked them
q king-give us your hand, and hold it up if
you can"
Cassius Charias-brave, handsome, youth
full, and vigorous-seized the mighty hand
proffered to him, and found his own arm in
stantly bent powerless back upon the table.
al would not do that" said Thellus d" to
young master Paulus our present leader, for
hundred thousand sesterces. He must meet
he has to meet, alas! tho notifications of
life but do not want to be- in his case, the
early vehicle even of the least of them"
Paulus bowed to Thellus, and said, smiling
have known q few already; and it would
be no shame to be beaten by You in vigor,
Valor, or skill"
Chmrias rose, stared, frowned and laughed.
He marched up and down the room once or
twice, and then exclaimed:
"Wby, Thellus, what an Internal establish
ment the arena must be Such men you
ought not to be sucked into that kind of vor.
tex"
"Thellus, though smiling, hcaved sigh
"Come, friends" cIi1d Paulus moving to the
centre of the large chamber, enough of pas.
time. We have work to do. Sit round me
here, in the middle Of this room, while l tell
you something Walls, you know, have ears
Forthwith his three companions brought
cushions. and placed them near the settle
which he had set down in the middle of the
apartment ard, sitting before him, waited for
his communication.
"Yonder beautiful grandchild of the I'M.
canny looking jews poor clerk or scrivencr,"
said Paulus in low tone, almost o whisper,
after q moment two of reelection, " not
only made one or two singular disclosures in
the remarks you all heard, but whispered to
me very serious fact"
Here Cassius Chnrias, whose curiosity had
been already much spurrcd, appeared the very
embodiment of attention. But all were keeuly
attentive. Paulus pursued:
LedTu, tHell, lDat III lnlS Quccrly Dullt OIL
qucerly arranged house, there is, at this mo
ment, crowd of men of dangerous appear
ance, and doubtless of desperate disposition
some of them, friend Thellus, men who hav,
been in the arena. Nor is this all. They hav,
comrades outside, watching our ten soldiers
LonGinus uttered that low whispered wills
tie by which some men express the cool appre
citation of n sudden calamity
"Twclve millions of scstcrces, my friends,
continued Paulus, care to many men here
abouts an object of great interest. l am Ger
tain that We are to be attacked on tho road
and yonder chest is to be taken from us
While here, or in Rome, first the Jews owl
safety is our hostage, and next, Lucius PisoI
government of the city will be our safety
But once we on the road, the Jew calcu
lates on part of the booty as n reward fol-
betraying us, to be got ont of the robber,
themselVes-while he looks to recover tn,