The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-05-31
..It is really very curious olscov-

Ould you have me believe IN q
wine Of Cecuba 1900 years old?" asked
Louis, laughing.
s.Why not %
ssAbsurd T.
ssListenl'' The landlord shook the
amphora, and they heard the gurgling
of the liquid within.
SIS this a trick? How is it that
Vesuvius itself did not dry it up2''
''Pompeii was engulfed and buried.
but not burned
'.That does not sufficiently explain
it.
Chi 10 sa don t try to explain
it. I hear the wine murmur in it's pris-
on. Will you try it? It was TOO tart,
too crude for the @dile Pansas, but for
you it is just at the right stage.
..No, indeed. I should not care for
its favor Of pitch, its resinous aroma,
picatum, as said the Pompeiians. and I
would much prefer the growth Of your
own vineyard, the black, sweet wine,
warmed by the heat Of the sun and the
volcano. It is rather heavy, but palata-
BILE I don't feel much confidence in
this fossil CecuDa.
.sYou are wrong"
..Come, my host, if I were inclined
to be superstitious- I should distruet
you and your wine. No sooner do I ask
for such an impossible wine than you
bring it, and in an amphora. over
which at this very moment, have no
doubt. is lowering the spirit of the elder
Pliny.
cat least, signor. you might taste
it,
Irreverently breaking the inviolate
seal, the landlord removed the wrapping
around the amphora's mouth, skinned
off the drop of oil, which protected the
liquor from contact with the air, then,
handing an antique goblet to his guest,
he filed it with half the contents of the
amphora, the famous Cecuba wine, ard
smilingly Withdrew.
Louis watched him without remon-
STRANGE. He held the cup up before his
eyes, and, in spite of his incredulity adj.
mired the ruby red color of the wine,
with burned topaz sparkle, as the
sun shone through it.
But no sooner had the wine passed
his lips than sudden heat, as Of liquid
fire, ran through his veins, a subtle
exalation rose to his brain.
The goblet, falling from his hand,
struck and broke the glass in which the
lizard was confined. Instead Of escap-
ing. it glided with the swiftness of
tightening along the neck of the am
phora and disappeared within it with
out being perceived by Louis, entranced
in reverie.
s.Zoe..' suddenly exclaimed clear
and melodious voice.
Louis started, woke. drew his hand
across his eyes and stared at the spot
from which the voice seemed to come.
The room was now in darkness, save
for fading glimmer of the SUMS last
ray, and cut CT this vague twilight
there glided toward him the slender
form of young and marvelonsly beau
tifnl woman.
s.How came you here?" he asked in
.bewilderme;,t.
Dreamer r. murmured the young
girl. laying her white. jeweled hand
upon his and gazing softly into his
eyes
Through the silken waves of her jet
black hair. smooth as satin, perfumed
with rarest easences, was drawn white
fllet, like the line of a silver stream in
the darkness Of the night. The net
which embodied them sparkled with
pearls and brilliant shells. Her rounded
chin. touched with a soft dimple, the
straight classic nose, the voluptuous
curve Of the lips were modelled on the
lines of an antique cameo.
The long gray cloak in which the fair
unknown was enveloped half concealed
white garment. the long tunic or
stola. which gave her the appearance
Of some ancient Pompeiian beauty.
spared by, the centuries, rescued from
the lava Of Vesuvius.
But what perplexed him more than
her strange costume was to recognize
in the cleaning eyes Of the young wom-
an familiar glance whose sparkle had
once before shone into his, but yet he
could not recall where he had ever seen
her.
.sI am called N@voleia Tyche, !" said
she in clear, musical accents.
The architect started in astonish-
ment.
..N@voleia Tyche, the freed woman
Of Julia?''
ssYes
..Tbe beloved of Caius Munatius
Faustus?"
81 am she.
.sToday looked at and admired your
tomb. Tell me, are you dead or living 2"
"Listen'' And her voice was touched
with tender melancholy. "That tomb
I built while living for myself and for
Caius Faustus, to whom the decurions
had awarded the honors Of the bisel-
lium. and / hoped some day to find
there eternal rest The gods willed it
otherwise. Often, returning from my
evening drives, before entering the
town passed and looked with pride at
my superb mausoleum, on which were
carved my own features and form. But
who remembers now the beautiful and