The Washington times., 1907-03-09

cordially, and the latter. having by q
gesture brought his chariot to stand
still. dismounted and linked his arm
through that OF his acquaintance.
The two strolled down the gay and
crowded tnOroughfare IN the direction
OF those splendid baths which every
Pompelian OF fashion was expected 10
enjoy at least three times q dav sud
denly their steps WeTG arrested ~ a
crowd gathered round an open space
Where three streets met. and just where
lHe porticos Of a light and graceful
temple threw their shade. there stood
q young girl with a basket OF flowers
on her right arm ana 2 small three
sttinBed musical instrument in ner left
hand, TO whose low and soft tones she
bEric air
At every pause IN the music she
waved her Hover basket, inviting the
!0.terers 10 buy IL was Nydia. the
blind flower girl Of POmpeiL
she was Of "A singular and nathetic
beauty, a Greek girl from Thessaly,
slave 10 BurbO, the rx-gfadiatOr who
kept a wine shop for the heroes Of the
arena. As she was Greek. Glaucus
mad taken an interest IN her. and every
summer she tended the little garden in
the peristyle. or courtyard. Of his
Pompeiiau residence anG uove gar
lands for his feasts.
As they turned 10 leave the flower
girl. two men encountered young
LluE. her race covered DN a Veil and
a tended by two female slaves. old
DiOmed's daughter, the rich Julia
cried CIodiUs. Fair julia. we salute
thee" Julia partly raised her veil
u display. with some coauetry, a bold
Roman profile. full dark eye and a
cheek over whose natural olive art
shed 2 fairer and softer rose.
She expressed a pleasure which il was
easy 10 see was not teigned al seeinE
the young Greek again in POmpeii. and
a. she dropped her veil at parting she
let her last glance fail on the Athenian
with affected timidity and real bOldness.
a glance which bespoke tenderness and
TeprOach
The next person to attract the atten-
tiOn OF the two lOiterers was a tail, dark
man. clad in sweeping robes OF foreign
fashion and sOmber hue. whose brOnzed
skin and peculiar cast Of features be
spoke him as a man whose cradle had
been beside the Nile Il was Arba ceS,
The Egyptian-pTiest OF that Isis whose
worship had become popular recently IN
POmpeu. His eyes. large and black as
the deepest night shOne with varying
and uncertain luster. and deep.
thoughtful and half melancholy calm
seemed fixed unalterably on his ma jestiC
and commanding gaze
he had come 10 POmpeii with his two
wardS-A Caecides. whom he had inijiac-
ed into the priesthood. and the young
priests sister. lone whose rare beauty
and intellectual attainments already had
made her house the center OF culture
and refinement for the city.
After the bath ClOdius and Glaucus
repaired 20 the house Of the latter
where q select company assembled
around a table upon which was spread
a feast such as only a Roman epicure
could devise or enjoy Reclining on
cOuches around the table the guests
drank wine from richly jeWeled cups
slaves hung garlauds or flowers about
Them, and they ate Ambracian kid and
other strange deicacies. while mUsi-
clans. stationed under the cOlOnnade OF
peristyle. played lively airs.
During ,he dinner there was sore
talk % lone ana of the intellect with
which she lad charmed the luxurious
city. little given 20 serious matters, IS
a rule.
As the Romans dined early. the even
Ing was stall lOcug when q was pro
salon OF the maiGeu who had. as ClOdiUs
expressed it. the soul 9f NeSta and
The Eirdle 0f Venus So the young and
noble Lepidus. the poet Fulvius. whose
verses were extremely in fashion just
then, Pansa. the pompous aedile or city
magistrate. SaliUst. ClOdiUS twhO LETT
1 the dice az which they were engaged
| with reluctance. and the other guests
/ Of the Young paJrlciau Wended tnelr
/ way To the house OF lone
Some months before. while paying his
deVOUOnS In the temple OF Minerva. IN
/ \esuOiis GiaucuS had seen there a
I learned but who had made so deep
( an impression upon his heart as they
I knelt together at the sacred shrine that
her image had been with him ever since
[ and her presence haunted his dreams.
I What was MS astonishment, what was
/ his rapture. when, upon being presented
/ 10 lone. he discovered in the fair hostess
the object OF his alteration
{ A. the same time lone recognized m
( GlauCUs the youth OF the temple and
I greeted him in manner which .e-'
no doubt as TO her pleasure IN meeting
/ him once more These JwC young
/ hearts flew together 50 naturally that
! IL seemed as If they had always known
and loved each other. and within a Wees
/ all Pompei knew that the Athenlan
| was the accepted sUitOr OF lone
J This did not suit the plans OF the
| dark and mysterious Arbsces-
| The second chapter Will appear in The
| Washington Times tomorrow
! Copyright. 1907. by irving king)