The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-06-07

! as they went on that he had some here heard
the girls voice now. Thellus also had he
said. They found Aglais waiting up for them,
and stated to her that the freedman Claudius
was not yet apprised where Mistress Agatha
might be detained, but would quickly and pri-
vately inform them when he discovered the
place.
"But I know it already" said Aglais, who
looked pale and haggard, but full of lion-lke
wrath and courage. She then related that a
reverend old man, with q most beautiful girl,
had ascertained, at one of the military posts,
Pauluss residence, and, on calling and being
informed that he was out, had asked for Aglais;
that she, Aglais, had only just seen them that
they had given her all those particulars which
Lepidus, the trumvir, was unable to furnish
concerning Agatha's Interior fate and had
positively stated that her principal captor,
being tipsy, had referred to Cueius Piso and to
| Sejan us as the persons under whose authority
he was acting.
"Tiberius's confidential officer and private
assassin" said Thellus. "We can prove noW
who is the criminal. Well, they said where
your daughter isl"
"In house on the viminal HILL surround ed
by willows and beeches."
II know it WE'LL" cried Thellus. "Why, it
|
Piso's wife, the Lady Plancina."
ooh" exclaimed Aglais, bitterly, do you
remember, my Paulus, at Crspus's Inn one
morning, our darling telling us that she had
received an invitation from q dreadful, pale
faced, black-eyed woman, to just this very de-
scriptien of house in Romef"
" Distinctly" replied Pauius
"The invitation, it seems, has been renewed, "
| H.
, the way, my young tribune, we can guess who
the old man and beautiful girl are. You
brushed by her in the street."
y Yes" answered Paulus, "Josiah Maccabeus
r and his bewitchiug and noble little daughter.
I met her just now in reality meet her often
, in my dreams"
a At this moment some distant shouts and one
long shrek Every family heard, however), dis
If turbed the mighty quiet of that great city.
o. They listened, but except q much lower
il confused, vague, ominous murmur, far away
could distinguish nothing.
a Has Longinus or ChDrias returned 7" asked
Thellus.
"No.n
"Well, tomorrow nothing can be done. One
more day we are compelled to give to the
=. wicked man the gladiators and my prepare.
as the shades of evening begin to rush down
. tomorrow. am glad it is the Calpurnan-a
detached dwelling.
eve will burn it, and through the flames
carry Agatha away, dead or alive. If alive
g we'll if dead, down goes Tiberius Caesar; 70,
:, that PH ansrer. 1t is not certain that nen
- this be not true one"
He took hia brass halmet tn lava uba
:, steps were heard in the passage leading to the
3 inner room, where they conferred. Knocking
:. at tho door, and being told to enter, Ch~rias
;, appeared, followed by Longinus.
"Work done 7" asked Thellus, in a low voice.
> "Overdone" replied Cherias. "The news
- flew like fire in dry grass among the troops
just come from the Rhetian valleys and Vene-
tia. 1t is exactly that kind of Tarquinian
tale which would madden them if touching
themselves, and every man among them really
make the case of the young tribune his own.
Three hours ago some of them assembled in o
thermopolium, and began to drink and discuss
the story. Who will henceforth, asked one, go
to distance from wife, or sister, sweet
u heart, or even mother, it, while he is fighting
y for Cesar, Cesar himself makes this internal
use of his very absencef They worked them.
selves into such frenzy (whife we were else
!" where, kindling the like fury far and near)
|" that, without concert or forethought, out they
marched straight to the palace of Tiberius,
. and demanded the immediate liberation OF
Agatha, daughter of the IEmilians. Being
> told that no one knew what they meant, or to
!, what they alluded, and being ordered to dis
perse quietly, they resisted the guard.
"Thereupon, not half an hour ago, the Prs
torians were set like dogs upon the poor
drunken brawlers, and some balf-dozen of
i them were slaughtered. The rest fed"
1--WE heard just now q strange sound" said
: Thellus. " Well, let this be known in addition
d 1t SERVES"
: And, taking leave he and the two who had
i last come, went away together. Truly q little
:, yeast, capable of leavening the whole mass
" had suddenly been cast into Rome.
CHAPTER XIX.
At this period of the reign of Augustus,