The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-04-12


Dionysus here soon to descend upon earth,
and to whom offered my life. has protected
me this day. He has surely protected me, and
has received with favor my endeavor to rescue
from brutal power an oppressed and innocent
young couple. The most extraordinary incl
dent connected with my undertaking, I say, is
not yet known to you. Last night, 1 could not
sleep soundly. At last, long before daybreak,
1 rose, dressed myself, and, kneeling down,
besought that Being who is to appear among
us to remember that was trying to please
him by this enterprise, and that was acting
just rs Dionysius and had concluded it would
| be agreeable to this beneficent being. An in
| expressible feeling of calmness and confidence
arose in my heart, as rose from my knees.
then took my hat and went out Of doors.
first strolled yonder, up and down that laurel
walk in the garden, and afterward sauntersd
into the fields and wandered pretty far, but
observed not whittier. Presently 1 began to
feel that inclination to sleep which had de-
serted me in my bedroom and knowing the
sun would soon rise, chose shady spot under
a clump of trees, and, lying down, fell fast
asleep Immediately. IHad no dream but was
walked by feeling hand upon my forehead.
Opening my eyes, 1 beheld woman, very
aged ana VeucTaDle, DuI WIFI u uOSU DeauIlIul
coun tenance, despite her years, bending over
me. Her conntenance was solemn as the stars,
and know not how, impressed me like the
face of the heavens at midnight, when the air
is clear and calm. Her hair was not gray but
white-white as milk. She wore a long, black
mantle, the hood of which was brought over
tho head, but net further than the middle of
the head, SO that could see, when l rose to
my feet, Gas I instantly did) that her long
flowing white locks were parted evenly and
fell below the shoulder on each side. She
held in her left hand q long staff, and her
right was extended toward me as If bespeaking
attention. She said to me in Greek these
words by means of fire you can subdue the
6e,ooious beast. She then laid the hand which
was stretched forth upon my head for a second,
drew tho hood further over her head, and de-
parted with swift steps, leaving me to gaze
after her in amazement-an amazemsnt which
increased when I perceived that her words
could be applied to the Sejan horse. 1t was
those words, mother, and nothing else which
gave me the idea of employing the torches,
which my good Thellus hero afterward pre-
pared for me out of some gladiatorial exercise
weapons which he possessed; and / may for
certain say that, without the torches, 1 must
have been destroyed by that horrible brute"
+ "You truly describe this incident as extra
ordinary, my son." said the Lady Aglais, after
a pause.
"Paulus," said Diouysius, you hare seen the
SybH You must accompany me in few days
to CumT, where we will seek interview
with her upon the subject concerning which
all the Sibyls sing and prophesy-the general
reparation Of this dsorder-tortured world"
CHAPTER ".
Two days afterward, Dionysius the Athenian
called at the inn, and informed Aglais Paulus
and Agatha, that after the banquet in the
Namurrau palace at Forms, that evening,
there was to be great gathering of the witty,
the noble, the fashionable, and the wise, and
that he was charged to invite Aglais and her
two children as friends of his.
| Aglais declined the honor for herself and her
daughter, but said she wished Paulus to 60
with Dionysius. Paulus, therefore, laid aside
| the outlandish costu me in which he had tray
eled from Thessaly, and dressed himself with
care in the fashion suitable to young Roman
of equestrian rank. Dionysius remained to
join the family in their repast, which was vir.
tually what We should in modern times cal
the early dinner, after which the two friend:
mounted Dion's chariot, and proceeded TOWARD
Formis at an easy pace. along the smooth
pavement of the "queen OF roads"
During the drive they had q conversation
which was for good reasons, very interestin g
to Paulus.
"a most capricious course said Diony sius
is Your suit or claim running. In seeking tc
recover your family estates, you prudentl!
avoid at first bringing the holder into q cour
of law; for the judges might shrink from
voiding title which not only arises out of al
express gift of Augustus, but 10 identical will
the title under which half tie land of Ital,
has been held since the battle of Philippi
Instead of an immediate lawsuit, therefore
you try direct appeal to Augustus, offering
to show him that at the very time when you
fathers estate was taken away he had jus
rendered the same services for which, had b
been willing to accept it, he would, like s.
many others, have had a right to be endowe,
with o new estate, taken from some member o
the defeated party. But Augustus refers yo,
20 ha rtS h. 40