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

marriage at all. The pleasures of society, the
attractions of the circus, the gossip of the
court, seemed equally tasteless to him. There
was no zest for him in the command of money
none in the consideration paid to him by
great personages-none in the popularity he
enjoyed among the soldiers-none even in the
glory of fame. He always met Thellus with
pleasure and cordiality, and he enjoyed the
conversation of Diopy sius. who (still living
with the family had accom- panied them to
town. With Charicles, also, he showed an in
terest in comforting; and he used, whenever
they were at leisure, to engage both these
Greeks to discuss before him the Immortality
Of the soul from different points of view
Though physician, and pagan physician,
Charicles was too able q man not to see that
there was something in each human being
which shared in nowise in the mutations of
the flesh and that the consciousness of per-
sonsl identity either was an illusion, or the
existence of this immutable essence in each of
us was fact. He called it his chemical proof
of the deathless thing which thinks and he
developed it in the most beautiful and con-
vincing as well humorous manner. This,
and Dionysius's demonstrations of the same
fact, on both metaphysical and moral grounds,
were now Pauluss only real delight
To his mother and sister he was as gentle as
tender, as devoted as ever; but there was
languor, melancholy in his whole bearing
which smote them to the heart.
One night, returning on foot with Charicles
and Dionysius from party at Germanicus
Cesar's, where the commander-in.chief had
unexpectedly warned Paulus to hold himself
in readiness for new wars, they met four SOL
diers carrying corpse on a trestle to neigh
boring dead-house. Paulus happened to know
one of the soldiers by sight, and asked me-
chemically whose was the corpse. At this the
bearers stopped, and fifth soldier, who bore q
torch, uncovered the face and held the light
over it, saying, "The unhappy young knight
was accidentally killed, half an hour ago, in a
drunken brawl at thermopolia."
Charicles hurried Paulus away, and said, "I
know the face 1t is that of your cousin Mar
Gus. He has led mad and bad life with
young Caligula and Herod Agrippa. Now that
he is dead, there is no harm in telling You
what your mother and sister and your uncle
all knew, but kept from your acknowledgement
he was partly the cause of Agatha's abduction
from Monte CircelIo. All, well, he has paid
for it
Panlus shuddered little, saying, 81 wonder
is he still living anywhere ="
Still upon that theme :" replied Charicles.
" L. there nothing, then, in the whole world
that can interest your Here is my street.
Yale"
AS Dionysius and Paulus Pursued their walk,
Paulus said, " The Jews also believe, like you
and the Sibyls, that we shall meet those for
whom we care in another world. 1 wonder
whether the Great New Teacher who is to
come in this our own generation will teach the
same"
Really, my friend" replied the Greek, " 1
am glad you will have something to turn your
in this new German war. Forget |
yonder Hebrew lady think of her as if dead
1T is just what I do" said Paulus, with
melancholy smile.
ITO be continued)