The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-05-29
HERCULES WARNING,
Bv F. q. mitchell.

SIdltOA.l
In a garden behind one of the prin-
cipal dwellings of the ancient city
of Herculaneum sat q youth md
maiden. Beside the girl, lis base rest
ing on the marble seat. stood harp.
the strings Of which she now and
again struck plaintively. Above them
to the east lowered the cone of the
| Vesuvian volcano. to the west reposed
| the pale blue waters of the Mediter-
ranean. while to the south were visi-
BILE the tiled roofs Of the temples OF
the neighboring s1ty Of Pompeii.
"Heraclea,' said the youth gloomily.
"this intention of your father to make
YOU a priestess in this religion of the
Egyptians will surely bring down upon
him the wrath Of the true gods. Yet
it may be that you and shall go free
to wed in a foreign land
"Have you consulted tie oracles,
Gavius?"
mo: but Hercules. from whom your
city was named and whose name your
father gave to you. last night appeared
to me in a dream and told me this
"Oh, Gavius. be not deceived! There
is no hope Tomorrow. as surely as
Jove dwells on Olympus, must go to
Pompeii' to be initiated in the mysteries
in the temple Of Isis there My father,
like many others. is infatuated with
the worship Of this foreign goddess.
and though | have wept and pleaded
with him he will not foreSo his in
tent"
Trouble will surely come from this
slight to the true gods. The senate at
Rome has forbidden it."
Nevertheless there stands the tenn
ple at Pompeii On the slope near the
ampitheater. You may see its roof"
Meanwhile the young man was re-
garding the summit of Vesuvius,
which was emitting fitful puffs of
smoke.
81 have not for several days" be
said, s'liked the looks of the mountain.
| fear the earthquake. Do you know,
Heraclea, have feeling-perhaps it
has been planted within me by the
immortal gods-that in some way the
volcano is connected with our fate
| that rather than see you q priestess OF
false goddess Hercules will emerge
from the crater, descend upon her
temple and destroy it.
"And us. too, perhaps" replied the
girl, giving a frightened look up at the
cone, which at that moment uttered an
ominous growl.
Enough of these melancholy words.
dear heart. With our approaching eter-
nal separation and the volcano mutter-
ing above us l am plunged in gloom.
Sing the song love so well. that old
air brought by your ancestors from the
isles Of Greece. 1t may be the last
time shall hear it."
The girl commenced to sing in low,
plaintive tone. accompanying herself
on her harp. The air, though monoto-
nous. was sweet. rising and falling at
intervals. The words were recital
of their grief at their coming separa-
tioa. The song served to deepen their
gloom. When it ceased Gavius clasped
Heraclea in his arms. and they wept
silently. Then after an impassioned
farewell they separated.
The next day. as Heraclea. under the
guardianship Of her family. was leav-
ing for the temple Of Isis, Vesuvius
gave shudder. then sent up that col
umn from the bowels Of the earth
which destroyed the cities at it's base.
Gavius. maddened at the prospect Of
losing his love. collected number Of
his friends W, were opposed to the
worship Of the Egyptian goddess
among them priests from the temple Of
Jupiter-and. sallying from his house,
on the main street crossing Pompeii
north and south. turned into the one
leading to the Herculanean gate. There.
supported by his band. he stood ready
for a desperate attempt to rescue Her.
aclea on her entrance into the city.
But Heraclea did not come. At the
hour appointed for her initiation both
Herculaneum and Pompei were being
covered by showers Of ashes and earth
rained down from Vesuvius. while the
mountain roared and the earth quaked.
Gavius started to Hercuaneum to
die with his love- but in the darkness
lost his way. Painting. he lay stupe-
fed by gases from the volcano. but
was taken up by one Of his slaves and
carried to the sea. Later when all was
again serene he went and stood
on the crust above the buried Hercu-
laneum. There wandering, he was re-
garded by those who were trying to
dig their way down to where they
might recover treasures as having lost
his mind through the terrors attending
the late eruption. When night came
they left him there and found him
there again in the morning. The only
words he was heard to say were:
80 Hercules. direct me-"
On the evening Of the second day
after the eruption as the twilight deep
ened Gavius was still wandering above
the buried Herculaneum. The sea.
| the mountain, the ground on which he
stood, were still. A stream had foved
on either side Of the site Of the town.
Wandering aimlessly toward one Of
these streams. out of the silence there
| came to him sound. GaviuS listened
| and heard the Dlaintive strains of harp