The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-05-29
CHAPTER ILL.,
aas
The Blind Girl

EyERAI. days elapsed before Arhn'eS
< could ,ompletc his Hrrang, menus "l
y thc snar,s he was laying Tor ION,
~ aud iu the meantime, events noN'"
rapidly In the gorgeous. me bnn.o,," bn,,a,,o,s
the doomed city Ot Pomp'll, ,"a", "',
,fttr that night when. with hls gay
C..nds ne had visited the house oi lone,
SS,'r,,n ~ Ewalk today
through the beautifully painted rooms ,
and the marble COlOnnades where 'hu-
Gus listened TO her songs ana hlao' no
suit to her ro,t ,,.,,Ich
't,cr, tcnDnted not by the lords OF pleas
ure. but by their minions ana victims
the huunts of gladiators ana ptl1e',sn'
ora. Of the vicious, the pennileSs, ana the
ohsbccnc tho Iisatin Of the ancient Guy
we are now transported hlse ,",' n
opened on "A confined and crowded lhnt.
Before tho door was u group ol Iva
whose iron muscles whose hhtuy an"
reckless countennnccs, indicates 'he
ChpmpioN Of the arena
ON u shelf without tho shop were hr
ranged lars ~ wine and oil, ana ilsh'
over this was inserted IN tbc wal
coarse painting which cNhlhlteu shu
b,tory drinking within the room were
arranged several small tables and around
them were assembled knots OF men
some drinking. some playing Az dlcc' yer
despite tho situation Of the house ana
"a character. II exhibited nothing or lhe
sordd squHlor which would chhfacleIlh'
a modern resort Of the sam" klnd. Ih'
gay dispositions OF the Pnmpeihns, VINO
sought, at lcHst. to grntiiy the sense
while they neglected The mind, was typl-
ned by the gHudy Colors that adorned the
walR and the shapes fantastic hut ole
CANT. iu which the lamps, the drinking
cups and the commoncst household ut'h.
sils were wrought
Rurbo, eN-gladiator and landlord " the
place. GENERALLY moved about among ms
guests with barred arms. whit" apron
Innd napkin tucked cuTelcssly within ms
ciidIr tie had already passed the hu'
tumn Of his Years. but his form was stiI
so robust and athletic that n" might
have shamcd even the sinewy shapes be
side him save that his muscles ind
seeded, ny II were, INTO flesh, That inc
checks were AWcllcd and hlnHtcd. Dnd
the increasing stomach threw into shade
the vast aud massive chest which rose
above H. Hut hc was just now In IN"
wine room
when the glndntors. influenced by
wine und natural fcroCity, bcCame too
violent they were brought to order by
tll" wife NJ the host StrnutouCc. who,
Ike himself had fought IN the arena
even under the cmprtur's rNc. This COM
pany WIS discussing ghdiatorial and Wild
beast shows ana awaiting with cNpccth-
ton the coming Of n party Of young
patricinns who were that day To visit the
resort and examine the gladintors before
betting their scstcrcos upon their blood
Burho and Cplcnus. priest of Isis. were
comforting apart. for Rurbo was the only
relative Culenus had In Pompcii and ho
had come. ~ he had come often before
on like errnnds 10 engage the Services
n Burho's slave. Nydia, for the orgies
AihnCcs WAS preparing and IN which ho
hoped iO overcome the fair lone NJ
thrsc secret festivals of Arhnccs Nydin
/ had s'vcrn tunes appeared 90 sing unt
{ 20 rciHUrhtN uymph. or grace
/ suddenly the door of the apartment
INTO which The Two had rctircd opcnc,
and Nydm entered she had overheard
JhciT conversation "Nustrr Npu mui
I ! VIII so no more 10 that house" sob
I NNdm. How fool rsbclliOusn" Crie,
/ llutho - have said II " replied the girl
Wen, II YOU go not ~ your own ACCORD
We W'll Cnrry YOU there" said Rurbo
'Ni'lrh"d that | am" C'icd NNdia and
hurst into tears
How nov. what are you doing with
my shye' Wld the gentle Stratonico.
"" quiet, wife. vcnturcd Rurbo "Oh
mlSh'ss. YOU are n woman" sohhcd
Nydin. You Ind sistors--you have been
youne Ike myself | win ro To these hor-
flblc i'nNls no more. ' 'Stuff. ' auil the
hag She seized the child with one hand
and with tho other reached down from "a
hook rope which had. pus. often hern
applied Go the snmc purpose. and the
next moment tho pgouiycl cries of the
blind giil nug through m, house .
NJ the Hrmc time Clodiug. I.epldus.
GllucuH 'ud others NJ their cotcrlc. Wcrc
lu the main room " the WiuUynup look
lug over tho Eludptors and booking their
bots NNdn's loud cy ~ uain and
terror startled the group "Oh. pallng'
] know that voice said Glhucus "ll
is my poor blind girl Ito hurst opcr
the door to the inner apartment and
( hehrld Nydp IN the grasp ~ the infuri.
/ ttrd has Fury cried Glnuruy ns. viii
/ MI. lrll hnul ne caught the flower gir
/ from the hng- grasp "llow dpr, Not
use thus gil' Ms NNdin. nv, pool
/ infant Ctlruu. disappeared
In spIt" ol the rank ~ GlAucuq a.,
hng was about go spring upon him. nu
hcr husband and Clodius restrained hc
and threatened het with the loss NJ tn,
srndc " all the patrons ~ sports" I
sn' dd noi d"sisi Nv good man." soi,
ilDuvus to Uutho. "this slave is "a floVa
girl she yiugs--l wish 10 make A preson
ui Su,n slave IN n lady WIN No
sell hcr io mo" "rho Girl is worth be-
wclght In gold to mo sn,d purb,
scratching his hcod "a paid sis scstr,
'rs for hcf vh" is Vorth twelve nnv
pu' in Stnigui,r YOU shall HAY
twenty" pid Ghurus AN d,nin
said Glnucus In the formal question ,
| sale ANA h1rlrr "Ithitut.' -ptutpg
| mrho oud NNdN Vns tho slave ,
| GlUurus.