The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-06-14
T III E S B Y L s +.
A CLASSIC, CHRISTIAN N0VEL,
MILES GERALD KEoN,
Author of Harding, the Money.Spinner," etc.
From the Catholic World
fContinued} .4L
PART "a.
CHRISTIAN NOVEL,
From the Catholic worid.i
fContinped.I
PART ~.
CHAPTER Xxx.

The evening of that day was dark and
stormy, aud the m DON had not yet risen, when
Paulus (who was leaning against o tree in the
Calpurnian garden, gazing at the house in
which his beloved sister lay sick, desolate and
despairing) heard, close to him, low murmur
Of voices Immediately after which eight or
nine men passed near where he stood, without
seeing him in the shadow, and FASTENED
towards the house, into which he could just
perceive by the dim light that they were
admitted No words could convey the feelings
with which he maintained his post for about q
quarter Of nm honr longer, until figure ap-
preached him quietly in the dusk, and he
heard The1lus asking, care you still there Z"
YES" he. replied; "and / have dreadful
news for yen. Lygdus, whose voice imme-
da ely recognised, has Just passed here, and
gone into the house with o gang of ruftlans'
What can this be fort"
Thellus replied "that the fellow must have
entered the garden by the entrance ut which
he had the last-in fact, only that moment
stationed q watch. No more can enter now"
he added Z" all the gates of the enclosure are
guarded; and We have still thirty men to
spare. Let us proceed at once to operations
If they will not open one Of the doors Of tho
fortress-like house to our knocking, the last
and only resource is to use the combustibie
materials which we have collected. So soon
as they perceive within that the flames are
kindled. at one door they will parley, and,
upon condition of our extinguishing the fire,
will admit as at another"
THAT is quite certain" returned Paulus;
/" and none can leave the house meantime, on
any side, without falling into the hands Of one
or other OF our posts"
While they were speaking, about thirty
armed men, who had followed Thelius, gath
cred around them and Paulus said:
"The wind blows against the face of the
house; bring the pitch barrel to the front
door-follow meT
GAY! we'll follow lead on the barrels are
there already"
The assailants, without another word,
moved swiftly in body to the poEtico of the
Calpurnian House, the grounds and garden of
which they had secGfscd against the intrusion
OF any but an Overwhelming force.
Within, leaning her bowed head upon her
arms, which were stretched cPosswise over .
marble table, poor Agatha sat alone in the
innermost triciinium of the ground floor. 4
bright lamp burned on the top Of \ pole in q
corner. She had just driven tho Lady Plan
cins out of the room by the necessarily
reiterated entreaty, "Leave me, leave me,
abhorrcd womanr As Lady PiAncsna retired,
abs exclaimed, grinding her teeth. "Then be
1t 80; iii s-nd Jon pleasanter companion
Agatha. when her dI0Adful hostess haa
retired, spraBS from her settle, ran 70 the door
aud locked it on the inside. This done, she
paced the foTlorn room, Wringing her banda
add moaning, till, worn ont with fatigue and
anguish Of body and mind, che fang hsrsslf
npOn the couch and fell into = miserable
Olnmber Sliod Nth dreadful drcans. A load |
knocking at she door Of the apartment made |
her spring from the couch. The knocking |
continued.
Who is thsrsl" said sbo, fall Of terror.
"openi7
: "Is it Cbsrioles p she persisted but 70.
As wOald nat knock 90 Fudely. 70 Tighten
helplsss gil -.
aCpensg
~ IS d e -
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