The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-02-15

-" AIUerluS cesar, 8alO Cne OGner, Don(
!. ing upon him those closely set, prominen
biood'shot eyes with no very assuring EXPIRE
sion. am Tiberius Caesar, and you will
pleased to wait one moment before you COZ
time the journey in question. The accusatio
against your father was this that, after Phi
ippi, he labored for the interests first of Sextu
the son of Pompey, and afterward of Mar
Antony, in their respective impious and parr
cidal struggles and the answer to this charg
) "a charge to which witnesses neither were no
are wanting) has always been, that it was sim
ply impossible, seeing that Paulus Lepidu.
your father, persisted at Philippi before tn
alleged treasons had occurred. Wherefore, n
your father had done good service, especiall
in the great battle where he was thus supposed
to have fallen, not only his innocence de
elared certain, but, for his memory's sake
Marcus Lepidus, the triumvir your uncle, was
forgiven. Yet now we learn from you, the sor
OF the accused, that the only defence ever
made for him is positively false; that your
father, were he still living, would probably
merit to be put to death; and that your uncle
at the came time, is stripped of the one pro-
tecting circumstance which has preserved his
head. must order your arrest, and that OF
all yonr party, in order that these things may
be at least fully investigated"
As this was said, the lady in the litter of
ivory and gold contemplated Paulus with tn at
bewitching emile which she was accustomed
to bestow upon dying gladiators in the hippo
drome; while the other lady gazed at him
with compassionate, forecasting, and muse
| like look.
II mean disrespect whatever to 80 great
"appeal from Tiberius Caesar to Cesar Angus
tus ; to whom again remind you, am on
my way"
No sooner had he uttered the words, II an.
peal from Tiberius," than, before he could
finish the sentence, the malign- faced man on
his left with great suddenness drew the sword
he was carrying for Cneius Piso, and, avail
ing himself Of the first natural sweep of the
weapon as it left the scabbard, sought to bring
the edge of it backward across the face of
Paulus, exclaiming, while he did SO, Speak
you thus to Caesar ?"
Had this man, who was the future assassin
of Drusus, and slave to Cneius Piso, who was
the future assassin of Germanicus, succeeded
in delivering that well-meant stroke, the sem
tence which our hero WAS addressing to Tib-
erlus could mover have been said out but said
out, as we see, 1t was, and said, too, with due
propriety of emphasis, although with q sim
gular accompanying delivery. In fact, though
not deiguing to look round toward this man.
Paulus had been wildly aware of his move
ments, and, swift as was the attack, the de-
fence was truly electrical. Paulus's rainier.
the hilt of which, as we have remarked had
been for some time in his left hand, leapt from
md hnip 1,,Il
for one moment, the point down and |
the hilt little higher than his forehead, met !
the murderous blow at right angles after |
which the delicate long blade flashed upward,
with graceful ease but irresistible violence |
bearing the assassin's weapon backward npon |
small seml-circle, and remaining inside of it, or
in other words, nearer 30 Lygdus's body than
Piso's own sword, which he carried, was 1t |
looked like q mere continuation of this daz-
cling parry, but was, in truth, vigorous de- |
Walton from it, which none but q very pliaut !
and powerful wrist could have executed 4
when she emerald pommel fell like hammer
upon the forehead of Lygdus the slave, whom
hat disdainful blew stretch at his len 9Th upon
The ground, motionless, and to all appearance
lead. AS Piso was standing close, the steel |
,uard OF the hilt, in passing, tore open his |
BROW and cheek.
The whole occurrence occupied only five or
'eVen seconds, and meanwhile the youth |
finished his sentence with the words already
recorded, "From Tiberius Caesar to Cesar
Augustus, to whom again remind you, 1 am
IN my way"
An exclamation of establishment, and per-
laps some other feeling, escaped from Tiberius.
saJanus smiled; the woman with the pale face
and black eyes, who sat in the unadorned plate
of-gold palanquin, screamed; and the other
ladies laughed loudly. Among the prmtorian
guards, who from the road wore watching with
attention tho group where they saw their
general and the Cnsar, long, low murmur o f
ran. At this, Tiberius turned and
looked steadily and musingly toward them,
Paulus, instantly sheathng his weapon, said
Il ask CDsar's pardon, but there was no
time to obtain his permission for what have
ust done. Ny head must have been in two
pieces had waited but one moment.n
Just half moment for each piece" said
"but your left hand seems we'll
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