The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-20
EOLF, THE MARTYR,
Aeolf-a Christian!

Aeolf--a Christian!
All Rome smiled at the idea, and the
smile %deepened into rancous laughter
when it was said that he was to die
for the faith.
Who could not recall a score Of Won
drous tales of his strength, which no
man could withstand, no wild dissipa-
ton sap, and no mad riotous excess
diminish?
But a. Ch~ristian-and to be thrown
to the beasts!
Yet it was true-truc as truth or
love; and, indeed, because Of both. For
1t was the work Of the Christian witch,
Dorcas.
BY then a painful change had been
wrought in Dorcas. Fear Of the wild
beasts had broken her. Their staring
eyeballs, gaping blood-neckcd jaws,and
cruel, cleaning fangs, g%cinned at her
from every + CT her cell. She
seemed even to feel their hot breath
as they crouched In readiness for their
spring. Memory brought back the
horrors she had been forced to witness
when others of the faith had died; and
out of the awful b~lackness came echoes
Of the gasps and scream Of pain and
terror which the moment OF attack had
wrurg from wen the stanchest.
1T is not death fear. but the dying,
Aeolf. The beasts, the beasts" she
said, and covered close to him, az the
roar OF the brutes came again. God
help me to be strong. Christ help
me. Pray for me, Aeoif. Pray for
mel"
mot death, but the dying" repeat
ed the man to himself. under his breath
and slowly, for the words had started 4
thought.
Then he set to praying as though
fervently. But to save her by human
means from the torture she dreaded
was more in his thoughts than the idea
of any help from heaven.
He was to die for the faith, indeed;
but his own faith was shallow enough.
His God was the shivering, timorsome,
beautiful girl by his side; and his faith
the love he bore her. 1t had pleased
her to make him a Christian: anu
Christian he would be to the death,
since to urn back would but grieve
her.
That such a fragile thing as the girl
at his side should have such horror Of
the beasts was natural enough; but he
would have thought better of the God
she w%orshiped SO ~fervently II he had
given her an end more suited to the
dainty slightness Of her strength. Save
her life he could not. No power In
Rome could do that, save the emperor,
and the emperor was stone. But he
had a plan.
Il can save you from the beasts.
Dorcas," he said, but I cannot save
you from death. dear"
1T Is not death I fear. but the
beasts"
AS they passed between the lines OF
soldiers along the dim corridors, at
the end Of which, through the narrow
gate, she could see a part Of the huge
sea Of eager, expectant faces and hear
the Kisses and howls Of eXecration
which greeted the appearance of the
first victims, she trembled for an in
slant and closed her eyes. But Aeolr
took her hand.
Your death will be easy, love-" he
whispered; and at the assurance she
lifted her lids and smiled, and then
went out.
AS he neared the gate Aeolf fingered
a pace or two. letting Dorcas get first
into the arena. Then with a swift
sudden movement he sprang upon the
soldier guard, who made only a faint
resistance, wrenched the short sword
from him, and springing through the
door, closed 1t with almost superhu-
man strength.
A cry Of surprise, starting in a shout
from the soldiers, spread like a fire all
round the vast c%oncourse OF people,
and the shouts deepened into a roar of
wonder and expectation when 1t was
seen that the gladiator whom all Rome
had come to see die had armed himself
n held the gate against the soldiers.
Then the guards at the other side, mis-
taking the signals, opened the dens and
let the beasts into the arena.
You are not to look at the beasts,
Dorcas. l am to guard you from them;
but your hour has come, child, though
how you die you will not see. 1t will
be a painless death. Quick, kiss me
once"
She put up her face. and for an in
slant his towering head bent over her
from behind and his lips rested on
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