The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-02-20

ian saint who lived in Rome about tive
hundred years after Britanicls, aud
whose festival the early fathers of the
church confounded with that of the
ancient Lupercalia.
Britanicus stood one morning in the
marble courtwly of the palace looking
out upon the street. His fine bOyish
figure was clothed after the fashion OF
IA prince!y Roman lad. His oIivc-col-
ored legs were bare, and his head with
its long, dark hair, had no covering.
Bat the tunic Of full, rich silk, bclted mt
the waist and descending to his knees,
and the cloak, with its purple border
and its heavy embroidery and clasps Of
gold, were all in the newest style and
showed his graceful person TO advant.
age.
1t was the fourteeth day of Februa-
~, the Roman Lupercalia, and Brita-
nicuS had already been To the forum
and drawn a name from the urn. He
now held it in his hand, dainty tab
let, with the name of Octavia Julia in
Roman characters upon it. The girl
was his own sister, of whom he was
fond, and the only trGe friend that he
felt he had in all Rome.
He was sagely considering what she
should send her for preseat, when
the clash of the lictors and the shouts of
the slaves, who usually followed the
emperor, sounded in the courtyard, and
the young prince glanced ont just as
Nero was dismounting from his golden
chariot Flushed with pleasure and
kingly pride, the boy emperor rushed
gaiiy into the courtway. How hand
some he looked in his purple toga and
his embroidered buskins, with his long,
silken hair, perfumed with precious
and sparkling with gold dust.
Little resemblance was there between
that happy boyish face and the cruel
bestial Nero that he afterward became.
His quick eye fell on Britanicus.
lila my brother, hast thou been 10
the forum and drawn thy name? Why
thou art lucky" as he read the tablet.
81 congratulate you. Our sister is very
lovely"
''She is good, too; but / know not
what to send her" murmured Brija-
nicus.
''Send hera chariot and span of
Phrygian horses or q Grecian ampho-
ra,n suggested Nero.
Thou knowest very well, Domitius,"
one Of Nero's names, "that haven
gifts like those to best0w upon any of
my friends
what the brother of an emperor
and a. empty ofsesterces as plebian?
Then you shall be 80 no longer. What
| named shall be thine. \ slave shall
be dispatched Immediately with the
span and chariot to 0ctavia's door"
NAY, rather let me choose one of
those elegant Greek vases in the cabi
net said Britanicus.
at shall be As you wish, brother,
only Use Dispatch" and the emperor
walked away, humming a gay air that
he had learned that very morning
from his Corinthian dancingmaster.
so black Nubian was sent with
vase of Samian workmanship
10 the young princes, who was staying
with an aunt in a palace on the Esqui-
line. Britanicus would have liked to
go in person, but all his actions were
narrowly watched and he disliked be-
Ing followed like IA criminal. lie knew
however, that Octayia would send him
a message of acceptance, and for that
he impatiently waited.
1t came at last. Britanicus was din
ing with the emperor in the great ban
quet-hall, amid the murmur of fount-
aims and the odor of flowers. Brilliant
shone on the walls. \
guests, reclining on couches,
were around the board, and throngs of
slaves waited the nod Of all.
The young prince had just quafi,'d a
goblet OF sparkling Falernian, when
the Nubian placed the expected mis-
sive in his hands. With bright flush
on his boyish countenance, he eagerly
reads its contents. \ delicate, waXen
tablet, with a lordly monogram and
the engraving of a Venus in a ear
draw by pigeons, and underneath Il few
well-chosen words, signifying her ac-
ceptance of his princely gift and prof
cred courtesies-that was all, but it
pleased Britanicus.
As ne slipped the tablet under his
tunic he caught the stern glance of his
"What have you there, Britanicus ~
she asked, reaching her hand forward,
and an obedient slave carried the tablet
to tine fierce-eyed empress. She read it
with a frown, and 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
scowl 50 savagely, and he
felt little indignant at her treatment
of him. He could eat no more, and
rising he threw his garland from his
head and walked OIt into the court.
There Nero met him half an hour
later. Without any appearance of
change in his manner, the emperor
told him that Octavia would he at the
palace that night with other company,
and that the evening would b. spent
in pleasure.
What a merry company it was The
old palace was bright with light, music
sounded, and the laughing voices of the
children made pleasant chorus on the
perfumed air. Games were indulged
in, and in one that 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 glme de-
pended upon the ingenuity of the mon
arch in commanding such things to be
done by his various subjects a would
most amuse the company. When it
came the turn of Britanicus to receive
orders, Nero directed him to go into
the middle of the room and sing a