The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-07-05

moment; that the veil of the Temple here has
been rent in twain and that he who expired
amid these and SO many portents, Esther, and
IN the 1ali elimination of the prophecies, ID
again living speaking, acting, the Conquero,
OF death, as he was the Lord of life 7"
Let us go to Athens; let us bring our
friends, the Lady Damarais and our dear Dion,
to learn and understand what we have our
selves been mercifully taught"
so spoke Aglais, offering at the same time to
Esther mothers protection and love along
the journey. Paulus was silent but gazed
pleadingly at Esther.
1t was agreed. But in the political dangers
OF that reign, Faulus, owing to his fame itself,
mad to take so many precautions that much
| time was navoidably lost.
Meanwhile, be had again asked the Jewish
maiden to become his wife. Need we say that
this time his suit was successfuli Paulus and
Esther were married.
| Christianity in the interim grew from month
TO month and from year to year, and our wan
derers had but inst arrived at asst in Athens
In time to hear, near the statue of "the un-
known God," while Damaras, the friend of
Agials and Dion, the friend of them all, stood
near majestic stranger, q Roman citizen,
him who had sat at the feet of Gamaliel, the
glorious Apostle of the Gentiles, who had
been faithful to the heavenly Vision"
Lhongh be had not seen the Resurrection, ex-
plain to the Athenians him whom they had
ignorantly worshipped." And when the SUBJ
lime messenger of glad tidings related the
circumstances of the Passion, the scenes which
had been enacted in Pilates house $50 we'll
remembered by them), the next days dread
event. and when he touched upon tho prefer
natural Accomplishments of that final catas-
trophe, and described the darkness which had
overspread the earth from the sixth hour of
tnat DAY, Dionysius, turning pale, drew out
the tablets which he carried habitually, exam
lned the date of which, at Heliopolis, he and
Apollophanes had jointly made note, and
showed symptoms of an emotion such rs he
had never before experienced.
He and Damarais, as> is we'll known, were
among the converts of St. Paul on that great
occasion. How our other characters felt we |
need not describe
Yielding to the entreaties of their beloved
Dionysius they actually 1otered in Greece for
few years, during which Christianity had
outstrlpped them and penetrated to Rome,
where it was soon welcomed with fire and
sword, and where "the blood of martyrs be-
came the seed of Christians" Esther shud-
dered as she heard names dear to her in the
murmured accounts of dreadful torments.
ResumlnS their westw ard course, how Pau
lus reJoiced that he had in time sold every
thing in Italy, and WIS armed with opulence
IN the midst of new and strange trials! They
gave Italy wide offing, and passing round by |
the South of Germany, with armed escort |
which Thelus who had also become Chris |
tian, and had, while they were in Greece, sent
for Prudentia) commanded, they never ceased |
their travels till they reached the banks of the |
Seine and there, undiscernible to the vision |
OF homan tyranny in the distance, they OBJ
tanned, by means of the treasures they had |
brought, hundreds of stout Gaulish hands to
do their bidding and soon founded peaceful |
home amid happy colony. Hence they sent
letters to Agatha and Paterculus.
Two arriv ais from the realms of civilization
walked into excitement the peaceful tenor of |
their days. Paulus himself, hearing of the
death of Paterculus, ventured quickly back to
Italy, in the horrible, short reign of Caligula,
and fetched his sister Agatha, now q widow,
to live with them. Later still, they were
surprised to behold arrive among them
one whom they had often mourned rs
lost TO them for ever. 1t was Diopysius
de came to found Christianity in Gaul, and
settled, amidst the friends of his youth on the
banks of the Seine. Often they reverted, with
clear light, to the favorite themes of their
boyhood; and often the principal personages
who throughout this story have, we hope, in
serested the reader, gathered around that
same Dlonysius (who is, indeed the st. Denis
OF trance), and listened, near the place where
Notre Dame now towers to the irst Bishop of
Paris, correcting the theories which he had
propounded to the Areopagus of Athens as the
last OF the great Greek philosophers.
one other arrival greeted, indeed, the ex-
pstriated lut happy settlement. Longnus
1ouhd his way among them; and as the proud
Ideas OF social system upon which they had
turned their back no longer tyranniz over
Ag'als OF Paulus, the brave man, biding his
time and watching opportunities, found no in
surmountaole obstacles in obtaining q fair
reward for twenty years and more of patient
aud unalterable love. He and Apatba ware