The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-06-14
CATBoC MESSENGER SUNDAY JUNE ID 1874

l
and purchases, went to settle in that great
| castle upon the Liris, which had attracted
| their admiration the very first evening of their
arrival in Latium, and within sight of which
| Gas the reader remembers at tho opening of
this narrative) they had been all arrested by
order of no other than the man who now, lib
orally and considerably, put them in possession
| OF the mansion whore the ever-burning brazier
had cast its glimmer upon the Lares of SO
/ many generations of their own ancient and
| famous Emiian line.
The beautiful ladies, Agrippina Julia and
| Agrippina Marcella, had left in the castle some
elegant fixtures and even movables (including
certain pictures and the statues on the roof,
which they gave at a nominal price to- Ger
manicus's favcrite staff officer. Claudius lin
whose stead Paulus had ridden Tiberius's I'M
tamable horse) had by this time been welded
to little Benigna; and the incoming proprie-
tors Of the neighboring property easily pre-
vailed on tho newly-married couple to live
with them the husband as o sort of steward,
who should oversee all the outdoor slaves, and
could, when Paulus wished, act ably as his
secretary too and the wife as the bousekeeper,
with supreme authority over all the indoor
servants.
Crispus and Crispina often found time land
made it) to stroll over the fields for Wait to
the castle; and fer a loving talk with the lord
and ladies whom they deemed without their
parallels upon the earth. Moreover. Agatha
had persuaded Josiah Maccabeus and Esther
not to leave them just when their far wander
ings, wild adventures and dreadful trials had
| come to SO happy term. Esther had con-
ceived a tender affection for the beautiful
damsel whom she had been largely iustru
mental in saving from SO dire O fate, and de-
livering out of so appalling a captivity, while
Agatha returned this feeling with enthusiasm
She spared no eloquence then, to persuade
Maccabeus and his lovely daughter to postpone
their return to Syria-till whenf Here IT was
that Paulus appeared in a new character, that
of more consummate orator than Dionysius
himself. He stated that he had formed so
sublime an estimate of Josiah's ancestors that
he could not be happy till he was able to read
the Book of Maccabeus in Hebrew and he
urged arguments so touching that Josiah (who
really had far more urgent reasons for quitting
Eleazar than for Immediately returning to
Jerusalem) consented to stay until he had
instructed Paulus in the language of the Pa
triarchs and the Prophets. In this course of
study, Paulus gradually discovered that
Esther taught him more effectuaIiy than her
father knew how. But what learnt he from
the sweet mouth and wondrous Eastern eyes of
the noble maiden who had saved his sister,
lie really learnt Hebrew and as it was the
| exploits OF her own glorious ancestors which
she was expounding to one who could well
appreciate them, the sympathy and en- til usiasm
which they shared together knit their hearts
into fond, a natural, and complete unison.
The Lady Aglais, as she contemplated youth
and maiden whose spirits were not unworthy
of each other thus occupied, saw far beyopd.
as she imagined, what either of those students
dreamt OF anticipating; and saw it with sat
| sfaction.
Philip the old freedman of the family, was
| installed at Iridium, it was called, in q ca
pacity not unlike that of the seneschal of sub
! sequent ages. Melina, the slave, received her
freedom, but would not practically take it;
and she remained the special personal servant
| OF the Lady Aglais. Paulus pressed Thellus
| to give up the army, (for which Paulus would
get him permission), and settle near them
with his daughter Prudentia, in little cot
tage which stood about two miles down the
river, surrounded by rhododendrons, oleanders
and myrtles, and which, being part of Paulus's
new property, he earnestly begged Thellus to
accept from him as a gift
"o' ooiu AholluB, aIGef thanking him.
you have not quilted the army yet yourself
and why should II Germanious vows. am
told that he will never rest till he has found
the bones of Varus and his legions, and given
them solemn burial. 1 mean to be at the
funeral, and SO must you."
Well, if we come back SAFE" persisted
Fanlus, you will settle near us in that cot
tage with your daughter, and eat fresh fish of
your own catching for breakfast"
And SO it was agreed But for a while there
were no more wars, and during the lull MANY
visitors came to Iridium. Among them. moor
Longinus never came; he had been foolish
enough to fall in love with Agatha, and, DEEM
ing his love hopeless, avoided the family alto
gether' Dionysius had been persuaded to give
up his pretty miniature mansion in Rome, and
pass altogether under the roof of his beloved
friends (who, indeed, owed the place to bim) |
the remainder of his soiourn in Italy: for
to Athens be had resolved to return. and in |