The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1911-10-31
Culpurnia
A Story Of Aneien, Rome
BY F. A. Mitchell
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.


called Curiales. had formerly been one
of the governing elements of Rome
and was considered very honorable
But becoming impoverished they were
constantly selling out to or coming un-
der the protection of those persons
who held thousands of acres where
they held but few.
There was in one of the Roman
provinces family, the Fabii, who
had accumulated very large landed
estate. Lying at the foot of hill on
which was the castle Of Lucius Fa-
bus, lived one of the Curiales, Sido-
MUS, whose affairs were getting into
very bad shape. Sidonius was an old
man and had but one child, daugh-
ter, Culpurnia. One day her father
called her into the atrium or living
room of their dwelling and said to
her:
my daughter, we must sell our
farm. Like so many Of our class,
have found 1t impossible to keep my
head financially above water. In a
few days i, being a tax collector, must
return to the government the taxes
levied upon my district and am re-
quired to fill from my own purse any
deficiency that the people cannot pay.
Go to the castle and tell Fabius that
am ready to accept the sum he has
offered me for my property. This will
enable me to make up the deficiency"
"But. father, what shall become OF
usT'
II see nothing for us but to grad
ually sink into slavery, as has been
done by so many Of our class"
Culpurnia could only obey her ia
theirs order Passing over the ground
between her fathers farm and the hill
on which stood the castle, she was
starting up the incline when she met
young man coming down. He sa-
luted her and asked her where she was
going. She told him that she was 60
ing to the castle to see Fabius to tell
him that her father must make up a
deficiency in the taxes he was unable
to collect and would sell his farm for
the purpose.
II have just come from the CASTLE"
said the young man, "and Fabius Is
not there. Return to your home and
go again tomorrow, when you will see
him"
So Culpurnia turned back, and the
| youth walked beside her. He told her
that Fabius was very grasping man
and would make very hard terms with
| A. e.. -. ,s.l. oh tnH hn
the terms would make no difference,
for her father would be obliged to sell
her into slavery and was himself old
and broken in health so that he had
at most but few years to live.
When they reached point where
the roads parted the young man took
leave of the girl expressing his sor
home and told her father why she had
returned without going to the castle.
The next morning the young mar
whom Culpurnia had met came to the
farmhouse
"How much" he asked, ''is the de
ficiency in the taxes your father mus
return to the government"
Twenty thousand sesterces." replied
the girl.
The young man turned wallet up
side down over the table and dropped
heap Of coins
Count from this enough to dis
charge the debt and II there is any
thing over keep It till return"
And 80 the sale of the farm and Cul
purnia into slavery was avoided at thu
time. The young man who had fur
nlshed the money to pay the take
came occasionally to the house ant
told Culpurnia that when they needed
more money to let him know and ol
no account to so to Fabius, who woul'
take their farm and send them out int
slavery.
There was no courtship among tn,
Romans. marriage being arranged b!
parents. Bethrothed persons did no
even usually see each other till the!
came together to be married. One da.
an uncle of Culpurnia came to tn,
farm and, after an interview with he
father, It was announced to Culpurnii
that marriage had been arranged 70
her This lifted burden from he
shoulders, but cast her Into gloom. be
cause she had come to love the youni
man who had loaned the money 70
the taxes. All she was told of him sh
was to marry wns that he had SOM
means, belonged 10 her own class nn'
was not much older than herself. HI
, name was Marcellus
When the day for the betrothal cam
round a chariot stopped at the farm
and the groom came into the house N
! tended by large retinue. AS he Ell
tered the room where his bride await
, ed him dressed In wedding costum
! she started II deep blush came upon he
I cheek, and her eyes lighted with pleas
, ure. In Marcellus she recognized tn
young man who had loaned the money
After the betrothal ceremony cameth
preparations for the wedding, and ali
I er the two were made man ana vii
= Marcellus took his spouse TO his ow
9 home Culpurnla was ST.. .ael Il
r their taking the road 10 tnS btha
o castle, and when they began % aagen
the hill she asked where they went.