The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-15


mental agitation. My uncle noticed
my gloomy state of mind but attributed
it to the excitement and worry inuuced
by the anticipation of the holy office
to which he intended to ordain me
to make me a priest of the Druids.
That, indeed, was the primary cause of
my anxiety; but while he thought l
was overpowered with joy, 1 was
harassed with perplexing doubts. The
more he pressed me to the ceremony
the more l shrank from it, until, one
day, there came a crisis that decided
the matter forever.
THAT morning, when arose, l
found Divitiacus still on his bed. his
aged cheeks flushed with a fever. All
that my art could do l did to ease his
sufferngs, burt my herbs seemed to
have lost their potency, and was filled
with grief Perceiving my mental
trouble my uncle said:
"'Do not sorrow for me, my son, for
my choice is not for this world. My
race is rum / am useless and feeble.
If chose 1 could battle this disease,
but 1 would rather sleep peacefully
knowing that l leave behind me one
more worthy than myself, to perpet-
"Divitiacus was the only human be-
ing whom 1 then knew, and never since
have l met his equal in humanity and
kindliness SO, when i heard him
speak in this way could no longer res
train my grief and 1 commenced to
weep. My sorrow panied him and he
rose from his couch, and then seated
on its side bade me bring his wand and
robes, the very ones 1 now wear. Then
as 1 knelt before him he invested me
| with the priestly robes, and placed
| the golden wand in my hand. l was
little mindful of the ceremony for in
my anguish the doubts that had tor
tured me for so long, assailed me with
redOubled force an. burst forth say
ing:
90 o, Divitiacus, my uncle, my pro-
| tector. my only friend! Why do you
need to sacrifice yourself and leave me
alone? Now l am the only one of the
| Druid priesthood. Our people are scat
tered far and wide, our ancient glory
has departed Even the stars foretell
| the doom of our religion. Why seek
| to preserve it against the will of heav-
| en-? l am not fit to do the work you
! have allotted to me. If you possess
| the talisman of life keep it and use
! it for yourself. l will devote my life to
| you, and when my time comes we may
depart from this world together
Divitiacus smiled,a beautiful, plying
| smile, it seemed, and laid his hand
| upon my head.
"'For thy great love for me 1 will
| forgive thy distraught words he said.
! But thy selfish doubts shall be re-
moved. You say that the doom of the
! Druid religion is close at hand, and
| even as you have said it so shall you
witness it, for you shall live until the
old faith is no more
He took the sacred serpent's egg and
| laid it upon my breast, saying: i
! give to you a talisman that will bring
wealth, power and fame at the will
of him who doth possess it. But that
is the least it can do. 1t possesses The
power of prolonging, .at will, the life
of its human possessor. Take it then,
mark we'll what I say, and refuse me
not what 1 ask of you
Whatever you ask of me I will do,
I replied.
"It is WE'LL he said. When l am
gone and you have placed my body be-
meath the ground go out into the world
and use the talisman as you will for
your own profit. But mark me, at the
end Of four cycles $50 years) go out into
the world, on our Night of Sacrifice, in
the 18th month of the year, and offer
to the first man you meet the gifts of
wealth, wisdom and power, if he will
bow to Efus and wet with his blood
the sacred angneun. If he refuse
Al.,s IT..
if he accept you will live until four
cycles have again passed and you will
again make the offer to a man. And
so shall it be with you until you find a
man to refuse your gifts. This, then
is my legacy to you and remember
Until men cease to love wealth, wis,
dom and power the dominion of Efus
shall not end upon the earth.
Then having kissed my brow and
placed his hands on me in benediction
he closed his eyes and his spirit passed
away. Reverently l paid the last du-
ties to the dead.
Half crazed with grief and loneli
ness 1 longed for death and cursed
the hated talisman that gave me life
| know not how long l wandered about
like hunted animal, until one day
while near the coast l espied a Roman
camp. A great hatred rose up within
me against the Romans for l attributed
to them all my sufferings. Does not
the talisman give me power?' | said
/ would go amongst them and learn
their ways and use that power for Their
destruction. With this idea in my
mind l went back to my mountain
home and taking the store of gold
which had lain untouched for years
l made my way to the coast and Sc
cured passage on a Phoenician trad.
ing vessel bound for Rome. We had a
stormy passage. My moroseness anC
retioence caused the rough crew to re.
gard me with distrust, and severa
times l was forced to defend myself
against them. When we arrived at the
imperial city / lost no time In seeking
and gaining admission to the army
My learning and apparent bravery
and sobriety won me rapid promotion
and l was soon made commander of Q
company.
after the destruction of the Ro
man army under Quintillus Varus by
the Germans, Rome lost much of hei
former military spirit, and thus dis
tinctloin was more easily gained.
had no fear of death, for l knew tha
l could not die; and l fought with q
desperation that astonished the gen,
erals and won for me the plaudits Of
the populace and many imperial IA
vors. The new emperor, Tiberius, ad
vanced me still further, and, had
wished, l might have become com
mander in chief Of his armies, but
bided my time. l ingratiated mysel
with the common soldiers and tn,
masses, for / knew they were the bul