The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-04
NEW BOOKS.
Continued from sepsrth Page.

upon the car after Veranildas speech
Never have heard tone so soft so gentle
The first word she spoke thrilled through
me as never did voice before and listened
listened, hoping she would speak again,
Ardent. az we have said. and yet care
fully constructed The author tells ~
more OF Veranllda AT page 81. but here the
manner ia that OF the historian rather than
the poet We read
"Veranida was "A great grandchild OF
Amalafrida. the sister OF King Theodore
being born Of the daughter Of King Theoda-
had and her father was that Ebrmu whose
treaohery az the beginning Of the great
war delivered Rhegiuh into the hands OF
the Greeks Her mother Theodenantha
4 a woman OF noble spirit, scorned the I'm
z worthy Goth and besought the conqueror
, 10 let her remain in Italy. even a. a slave,
rather than share with such n husband the
donors of the Byzantine court She won
| this grace from Belisarus and was per
| mltted TO keep with her the little maiden
\ just growing out OF childhood. But shame
/ and grief had broken her heart: after a
! few months OF imprisonment at Cumae
she died And Veranilda passed into the
! care Of the daughter OF MaIImus
Not quite az sonoroup and felicitous as
Gibbon, perhaps but for elaboration and
| structural suficiency reminder of him
We pass to page 3d. where we have marked
the record OF a tender occurrence. We
read with an interest which We do not
hesitate to declare
His voice made tremulous music. in
audible a few PAGES away; his breath was
on her cheek; his eyes. as she gazed into
them, seemed to envelop her in their glow.
My fairest Let me but touch your
hand. Lay it for moment in mine-a
pledge forever'
You do not fear to love me- o lord Of
nv lifeg
The whisper made him faint with JOY
What has fear TO do with love. o thou
with heaven in thine eyes, What room il
there for fear in the heart where thy beauty
dwels' Speak again, speak again, my
beloved, and bless me above all men that
live
Basil Basil Utter my name once
more. never knew how sweet it could
sound
Nor !. how soft could be the sound OF
mine Forgive me o veranilda. that
out OF nv love pain has come 10 YOU You
will not ever be sad again You will rot
''Aiih tNNi hkdiil va lHOst uNkOIt AtITONNt
She bent her head low
Can you believe in nv truth. BASIL
Can YOU forget
All save the nobleness Of her who bore
YOU, sweet and fair one
Let that be over in your thought said !
Versnlda, with radiant look She sees
me now; and my hope. your strength and /
goodness. bring new JOY TO her in the life /
eternal
Say the word | wait for whisper low
the word Of all words
Out Of my soul, o Basil. love you'
As the sound trembled into silence his
lips touched hers. In the golden shadow
Of her hair, the lily face flushed warm. vet
She did not veil her eyes vouchers of life's
loyalty
Who would believe that Basil could ever
1oubt Veranilda' Yet he doubted her.
We find him formulating wild and whirlinc
thoughts at page 253. With reluctance and
'ain We reproduce two OF them Basil
hought; % villainous harcianl O fckle.
vanton Veranilda," We will say at once
hat he vas right regarding Marcian
That charming and plausible man was
eally villain He had abducted vsrn-
iilda He richly deserved the fate thar no
eader at this point will doubt was coming
o him. But Veranilda' The Jealous mind
y course, ia not distinguished for its sweet
easonabeness. aud the story teller may
'e as merciless az he pleases. but We wish
hal Basil had not said tickle and .wau-
on OF one whom no reader NJ least will
louht. and whose eyes into which Basil
iad 50 profoundly looked. as we have saen
4 page 81. were vouchers Of life's LOYALTY.
'asil's punishment Of Marcian was swift
nd terrible The false friend was slain
n the presence Of Vera nilda and NJ a priest
Ne read
Liar, Traitor Devil"
At each word Basil's dag ger drank blood
ip 10 the hlt With his furious voice blended
yell OF terror of agony from Gaudiosus.
nd woman's scream. Then came silence-
The priest dropped TO his knees by Mar
ian's PROSTATE form. Basil. the stained
Weapon in his crimson hand, stared AZ
'eranilds. who had also fallen
Mani What hast thou done7 easped
iaudosus
Tho trembling senie tones wakened
iaSl az il from n trance. He thrust his
agger into it's sheath, stepped 10 the back
the room, and bent over the white lowell ,
ess that lay still
Is II DEATH he murmured
II was not death. yeranids ha d tainted ,
1erely. Basil reproached her with dread ,
al words. They were incomprehensible TO :
Grand indeed he was mad Il know Won .
OF, she said. Alas, know YOU notir :
4 bitter speech he recalled the treacherv :
her father. At that she was quite over +
ome, AS though smitten by cruel blow. 8
eranilda bowed her head, shudderino +
noe more she looked at Basil for a n instant n
18th wide eyes of fear; then hid herself be-
cath the veil and was gone
The author did not live to finish his story
ut we must rejoice that il is continued >
IT enough TO include the reconciliation OF Ii
aSl and Veranilds. Basil had been in il
onastery and had received the instruction o
that abbot of famous memory. that Bene- 4
CT whose holiness already numbered him I,
it'll the blessed saints rather than with r,
ortsl men, He had served Totila. the {,
iumphant young king whom the Goths y
,ce had borne upon their shields. Now
'sii and Veranilda sat again together. =
; holding her hand, and their eves met 81
long gaze of love and trust and hone Il
q read y
She had hidden her face in her hand. al
asil threw himself upon his knees beside v
" n
Though I speak in madpeEs ~, 49,. n,