Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-10-17
A roor.RAce eoR FREEDOM
A Christian Lad Gives the Victory 10
Greek Slave.

A Chrlstian Lad Gives the Victory 10
Greek Slave.
The amphitheater was enormous. All
around the oval sandy level Of the
arena the seats rose, tier after tier, and
from them eighty thousand spectators
were looking down In eager expecta.
ton. Cyril hardly saw them, although
the Emperor himself was there, and
oil the splendid array Of the richest
people of Rome itself, with kings and
mobiles and chiefs from all the world
tributary to Rome. For one moment
he was thinking and he was listening.
He and Apollos were side by side, in
the foremost rank. and lie heard the
Greek boy murmur:
"Aiother--fathcr-my brethren and
my sisters-lf l win not their freedom.
l hope Tallienus will slay me"
Cyril did not turn to look ut him, for
he was thinking:
"The first prize or the quarries-I
must win, or shall not be with Jesus
Of Nazareth when lie enters Jerusa.
LEM"
The trumpet sounded again from near
where the Emperor sat. and the racers
were or, all together. Not one Of them
but was good runner, and there were
several smaller prizes: but the race
was little more. after all, than an occa.
sion for gambling to the disslpated. cor
rupt, Idle pOpulacc Of Rome. 1t was
evil. evil. evil, like all the other games
Of the Roman circus!
A splendid runner was Apollos. and
he shot ahead with great bound that
called forth plaudits from the spectn.
tors. Close behind him. quickly. came
several others, but before the runners
were a third of the way around the
arena one Of these trippcd and fell
and another fell over him.
.,rhey will be scOurged" thought
Cyril. "Nfore than half the rest are
behind me now. But the pace Is toe
fast ut the beginning"
Several more were shortly compelled
to slacken their pace and Cyril passed
them; but still. away In the front, with
nm elastic, springlng step, the tall young
Greek kept the lead.
"The Greek will wln!" growlcd Va.
lerianus to Crispus. who sat beside
him. "The Greek Is twenty PAGES ahead
Of thy Galllean. l will send him to the
galleys"
"Only ten PAGES now" said Crispus
calmly, after few minutes. 10 noble
valcrianus, 1t Is the last circuit that
tells"
Just then the runners came nearer
and valerlanus was silent until they
had passed. The race included one
more complete round Of the arena.
"Ail are out OF the race but those
two" muttered the noble Roman. ct
shall lose half my fortune II that Jew
ish boy fails me. What! See-they
are abreast! Bacchus! My Jew Ii win
ning!"
Not yet. There was still a long rae,
before him. but he and Apollos rni
side by side, and the circus rang will
the loud applause Of the multitude.
Other runners were not far behind
but 1t seemed evident TINT the frs
prize was between these two. Unit
that moment, Cyril had had no though
but Of winning II he could; but sud
denly he cast swift glance ut the fac
Of Apollos. 1t was somewhat pale In
stead Of flushed. and Cyril saw a lool
Of terror. almost Of agony, In his eyes
"Hc Is breathing with difficulty,
thought Cyril. land I shall beat him
But-he md his family will be slave,
forever X win!'
Cyril was ahead now, and the plaudi
sprang out again.
"Thy sestertia are SAFE" said Crispu'
to Valerianyis.
II will Stay that Greek. Missed Tai
iicnus.
Cyril heard a gnsplng cry as Apollos
put forth all his remaining strength
for they were nearing the goal.
II can give him his freedom" fash
cd into the mind Of Cyril. "They may
slay him--or me. Shall II"
Then It was a. II he heard certain
words-but In truth he only remember
ed words he had heard the Master
say long ago, upon the mount In Gall
lee. Cyril could not have told Iii
thought, but In the next moment b,
spoke In Greek to Ap0llos:
"Win thou, Ap0llos! Jesus Of Naxa
rcth has hidden me to set thee free"
Cyril had to slacken his speed, fol
the Greek was beginning to falter.
One moment more. and they were
over the line. with Apollos the winner
by only half a pace.--St. Nicholas.