The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-06-14
NornIng Star and Catholic Messenger.
aTN onINANs. sUNrAY JUNE bal ls74.


her, and she gazed on it spell bound. Thus
she bsheld tho encounter between the assassin
and her brother They met neither at the
door nor where Lygdus had been standing ex-
peotant the assassin, now desperate, making
q spring like that of O wild beast, and bring
ing at the same time the long knife he carried
with . downward, searching and rayenous
blow, scientifically aimed at Pauluss bare
throat above the breastbone.
The young tribune, as we have intimated,
had neither waited for nor in any way evaded
tho assault, nor yet had he, like the other
sprung in the air but with quiet, unfrowning
brow, and his largo eyes Turned upon his
enemy, he made stride forward to meet the
panther.like rush, caught in his left hand the
right arm of Lygdus, before the excellently
intended blow was delivered, and nearly
-vrenohed it from the shoulder, causing him
by the sheer pain of the grip to drop his knife,
and flingipg him fairly against the side wall
ACROSS the whole width of the chamber.
There Lygdus lay, astonisbed and still
while Paulus ran forward and knelt by his Sis
te1's aide, taking her fair young head in both
hands, and kissing her again and again.
Thellus, following, and seeing on tho couch a
largo woollen mantle or wrapper, took it, and,
STOPPING down also by Agatha's side, with
Paulus's aid raised her gently, folded the
mantle round her, leaving uncovered only the
face (now smiling, and down which welcome
tesrs were at last streaming), and took the
young maiden in his arms as If he had been her
father, or, indeed, as q mother might carry her
child.
"Lead on" said Paulus.
Upon which Thellus moved swiftly to the
door, Paulus following, and Cherias and Long
linus making way. In the corridor, Paulus
called Cherias and some of the armed men to
form the advance along with himself, and babe
Longinus and the others march behind Thel-
lus, who, with his burden, was thus protected
ON every side. They quickly emerged from the
house Thellus the way explaining to
Agatha who seemed as light as o baby in his
mighty arms, that female slave had admitted
them Through downright terror into the
house only after they had set fire to o pitch.
barrel in the porch ; that they had experienced
even some trouble In extinguishing the flames
and that she would Gee the smouldering OF
burnt wood as they passed He occupied her
attention in this way to prevent her from
noticing the mortal traces of the late strug gle
As they passed through the garden they
were silently encompassed by group after
group of armed men, till they arrived through
clumps of trees at postern in the enclosing
wall.
"Whither are we going :" asked Agatha.
"To your mother" whispered Thellus.
The young girl closed her eyes, and actually
slept in the warlike mans arms.
Just as Cb@rias was opening tho postern
the measured tramp of soldiery (and appar.
emily in vast number too) was heard in the
street outside, as we'll words of command
not to be mistaken, given in cautious tones
by the officers to the men. Paulus looked
uneasy. Ch@rias hastily closed the posterp.
announcing that the whole street was lined
with Pr~torians. "Let us hasten" said
Thellus, to the other side of the garden. ;,
Arriving there, they found exactly the same
phenomenon. "There is yet another door, ,,
whispered one of the gladiators, "leading to-
ward the Esquiline and the Prenostina road
They hurried thither but before they could
reach 1t they became aware that soldiers were
now in tho garden itself, aud that the whole
place was regularly beleaguered. Retracipp
their footsteps in extreme anxiety toward a
thioket, they saw torches in front of them and
perceived that they were intercepted and at
this moment the horrible fact became eyident
that in every part of the enclosure, near the
middle of which they had taken refuge in
little shrubbery, torches were faring and
troops swarming; and that, like drag-net
which is being closed in the soldiers under
some intelligent and intended plan, were con-
verging from III. sides toward the centre.
"Alas! alas y cried young Paulus "our
lastho has come Men, will you stand bv
me and this innocent maiden ~
'HTo tho death !" they answered.
"Who goes there 2" called out some one.
close at hand, in the tones of an educated
man.
Paulus stepped to the front: Honest peo-
ple," said he.
"Methinks," returned the same person, chat
j ought to know that voice. Are YOU not
Paulus, the new tribune"
''Yes," said he, " and who are your"
'T am in search of YOU" replied the other
I" but primarily in search of your sister, the
young daughter of the Emiliaus"
"What would you with us 2"
II have the orders of Augustus CAESAR to de-
liver her into your hands"