Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1880-11-11

freed man. EponIna was conveyed
in the darkness OF the night to til,
retreat Of her husband, and brough
back with equal secrecy to iier owr
house before the dawning of tht
ensuing dav. These visits were
repeated, with the same precautioh
aud with great peril, dnring sever
months, till it was at last determin
ed, AS plan which would be at
tended with less Inconvenience, and
even with less danger, that Sahinns
should be conveyed by night t" hi.
wn house, and kept concealed in d
remote and private apartment. But
this project 10 it's execution WAS
fonnd to abound in unforeseen
difficulties. The extensive house
hold and numerous visitants o:
Eponina, who feared to change her
manher OF life kept her in continual
terror Of discovery, and iarr4ss4d
her mind with iusapportahle in
1uictlde. Sahinu9 WAS therefore
again removed to his subterranoan
abode, whose darkness love IL
lutnincd.
The intercourse between the
husband aud wlte thus continued
for nine years, during which perioG
Eponina frequently visited the
cavern OF her husband, under pre-
tence OF visit to distant province,
where she gave birth to twin sors,
whom She nnrtur, d and reared in
this gloomy retreat.
Couj juyaI AMI nattrna, affection
thus united, while tini- aud i'm
puuity had iii some measure allsyei
her fears, drew IL r more frequently
tu the place which contained the
objects Of her cares, till her alb
scnces gave rise to curiosity and
suspicion. She WAS AT length traced
10 the cavern of the i,l-t.sed
Sabinas who, being seized and
loaded with irons, was, with III.
wife and children, conveyed to
Rnne.
Eponina, distracted at the con
sequence OF her iinprudAnce, rushed
into the pr, ecnce Of the Emperor
csraeIA-i, aud presenting To him
her chi.drcn, Frustrated herself at
his feet. With the cloqneucc Of !.
wife aud a uother she pleaded the
cause of her husband, aud, after
having cxtenaated his tailt AS pro-
cee.iing t'r"ul the Disorders of the
ficIes rather than from pcrsonal
ambition Fl ON the calAmities OF the
civn war aud the evils OF oppress-
ion, she proceeded to address The
emperor: "Bnt we have waited,
sire, till these bows shall be able to
Join to those Of their mother their
signs and tears, in the hope Of dis
.rniny y"nr wrath 10y our united
supplicaio ions. The. come forth,
as from a scpulchrc, to ilnplore
vo;sr mercy or the first day in which !
they have ever hehe!d the light.
Let our sorrow, oar mistur,Gnes,
and the sntfcrinys we have alre;ti,
move y"d TO compas-
sion, and obtain from you the liz,
Df Il husband and a tather.' The |
spectators melted into teniern. S.
snd pity at the affecting spectacle !; !
every heart was moved, every eye
WAS moist, but that of pitiess |
tyraut, deaf 10 the voice of nature,
and in accessible to her claims.
In vain did this heroic and ad-
woman humble herself be
fore monster whose heart ainbi-
ton hat scared, inexoratle in cruel
ty and stern in his resolves. To
political security the rights of hu-
Inanity were saritc d, and the hus-
band and iather coi4ly doomed to
death. ~
Eronina, Determined to share
the fate of her husband, wiped
away her tears, and, assuming All
air of intrepidity, thus add essed the
emperor: BE assured" said she,
in firm and dignitied tone, "that
| know how to coniemn life.
With Sabinus l have existed nine
years in the bowels Of the earth,
with a delight and tranquility un-
tasted by tyrants amidst the snlen-
dors of a throne aud with him
am ready to unite myself in death
with no less cllcerlulness aud for
tltutie."
This act of ill-tilued severity
threw stain npon the character of
Vespasian, whose temper in other
respects had not been accounted
sanguiuary. The generous affection
and heroism Of Eronina was con
secratcd in the admiration OF future
ages.
A crash Is heard in the kitchen
The head of the family calls ont to
tile cook "What have you broken
now, you black idiot 2" Matildy
f,n,c o;pf,in,r a bx,,,,n fr opsxrar