Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1891-03-07

clash of the hctors and the shouts o.
the slaves who usually followed the
Emperor sounded in the courtyard, and
the young prince glanced out just as
Nero ives descending from his COLDER
chariot. Flushed with pleasure and
knightiy pride, the boy emperor rushed
gayly into the atrium. How handsome
he looked. in his purple toga and his
embroidered buskins, his long silken
hair perfumed with precious unguents
and sparkling with gold DUST Little
resemblance was there between that
happy, boyish face and the cruel, bestial
Nero he afterwards became.
His quick eye fell on Britanicus.
"Hal my cousin, hast thou been to
the forum and drawn thy name? Why,
thou art luckyl" as he read the tablet.
"Octavia is our cousin and very lovely.
congratulate you.
Il know not what to send her," MUIR
INJURED Britanicus.
Send her a chariot and a span of
Phrygian horses, or a Grecian am
phora," suggested Nero.
Thou knowest very well, my Cousin
Domitius, Zone of Nero's names) "that
1 have no gifts like those to bestow upon
my friends"
what! the cousin of an emperor, and
as empty of sesterces as a plebian !?
Then you shall be so no longer. What
named shall be thine. A slave shall
be despatched Immediately with the
span and chariot to our cousins palace"
Nay rather let me choose one of
those elegant Green vases in the cabi-
net" said Britanicus
at shall be as you wish, cousin, but
use despatch; for 1 am impatient to
learn how the fair Octavia will receive
thy gift. And the emperor walked
away humming gay air that he had
learned that very morning from his Cor
inthian dancing master.
So black Nubian was sent with a
beautiful vase of Samian workmanship
to the young princess, and Britanicus
waited with ill-concealed impotence for
the message which should tell him of
the fair girls decision. It came at
last.
Britanicus was dining with the en-
peror in the great banquet hall amid
murmur of fountains and odor of flow
ers. Brilliant entablatures shone on
the walls. A hundred guests, reclining
on couches, sat around the board, and
throngs of slaves waited the nod of all.
The young prince had just quaffed a
goblet of sparkling Falerian,l when the
Nubian placed the expected missive in
his hands. With bright flush on his
boyish countenance, he eagerly perused
its contents. A delicate waxen tablet,
with lordly monogram, and the en-
craving of Venus in car drawn by
pigeons, and underneath a few we'll
chosen words, signifying her acceptance
of his princely gift, and proftered cour-
tesies. That was all, but it gave Joy to
Britanicus. As he slipped the tablet
under his tunic, he caught the stern
glance of his aunt.
What have you there, Britanicus?"
she said, reaching her hand forward;
and an obedient slave carried the boys
gift to the fierce-eyed empress. She
read it with frown, aud retaining it,
she called Nero to her, and they left
the room together.
What could it all mean? Britanicus
wondered what he had done to make his
aunt scowl so savagely, and he felt
little indignant at her treatment of him.
He could eat no more; and, rising, he
threw the garland from his head and
walked out into the atrium.
There Nero met him half an hour
later. Without any appearance of
change In his manner, the Emperor told |
him that Octavia would be at the palace
that night with other company, and that !
the evening would be spent in pleasure.
Britanicus hardly knew how to wait |
for the night-coming. He anointed his |
hair AMI put on new robes, and when |
the guests had arrivel, made his ap-
pearance, as gay ard happy boy as one |
could wish to see.
What merry company it was! The /
old palace was bright with light, much |
sounded, and the laughing voices of the
children made pleasant chorus on the |
evening air. Games were introduced;
and, in one which was called, Who
shall be King?" there promised to be
much excitement. Nero had been
chosen by lot for the king, and the
interest of the game depended on the
of the monarch in command
ing such things to be done by his various
subjects as would most amuse the COM
pany. When it came the turn of Bri-
tanicus to receive orders, Nero directed
him to go into the middle of the room
and sing song.
Now, in those days, princes were not
to know much about such
things. Singing was not considered a
manly accomplishment at all, and slaves
were always hired to sing and play at
But, notwithstanding
the degradation imposed on him, and
the severe requirement for one so young,
the boy, without any hesitation, stepped
forward and began to sing. His theme
was about a young prince who loved a
beautiful girl, and how a fierce old
witch kept him in dreary palace, away
from the light of day, and would never
let him see his love. The entire assem-
bly, listened with profound attention,
by the artless simplicity of his
song and the grace and beauty of his
person. There was q hush when he