El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-07-05
Condensed Classic Series-One a DAY.
nunnuunnuu nHnuH HunnH - nnnHauHH a H
The Last Days OF Pompeii
By EDWARD BULWER-LYTToN
Condensation By Prof. William Fenwick Harris.
OF Cambridge. Mass
the Athenian. thy time

D
VI has come said a loud and clear
voice; the lion awaits thee
I am ready said the Athenizn.
He had bent his limbs so as to give
himself the firmest posture at the ex-
pected rush of the lion. with his small
and shining weapon raised on high, in
the faint hope that one well directed
thrust might penetrate through the
eye to the brain of his grim foe.
I But 10 the unutterable astonish-
ment of all, the beast seemed not
] even aware Of the presence of the
criminal At the first moment of its
release II halted abruptly in the
arena. raised itself half on end. snuff
ing the upward air with impatient
sighss then Suddenly it sprang for
ward, but not on the Athenian. At
half speed 1t circled round and round
the space, turning its vast head from
side TO side with an anxious and per-
turDed gaze, as II seeking only some
avenue Of escape; once or twice it en-
oeaveSed 10 leap up the parapet that
divided II from the audience. and on
failing. uttered rather a baffled howl
than lis deep toned and kingly roar.
1t evinced no sign either OF wrath or
hunger its tail dropped along the
sand instead of lashing its gaunt
sides; and its eye, though II wandered
At times TO Glaucus, rolled again
listlessly from him. At length. as If
tired Of attempting to escape, it crept
with a moan into its cage, and once
more laid itself down to rest.
Inc first surprise of the assembly
at the apathy of the lion soon grew
into resentment at its cowardice; and
the popuiace already merged their
pity for the fate Of Glaucus into angry
compassion for their own disappoint-
ment The manager called TO the
keeper:
How is thisg Take q goad. prick
him forth, and then close the door o.
the der
Then saIIust Intervenex.
As the keeper, with some fear. but
more establishment. was preparing to
obey, loud cry vas heard at one Of
the entrances OF the arena; there was
a confusion, hustle, voices of re-
monstrance suddenly breaking forth
and suddenly silenced at the reply
All eyes turned in wonder towards the
quarter of the disturbance; the crowd
gave way and suddenly Sallust ap-
peared on the senatorial benches, his
hair disheveleds breathless, heated.
half exhausted. He cast his eyes
hastily around the ring. Remove the
Athenian, he cried; haste, he Is inno-
cent! Arrest Arbaces the Egyptian;
he is the murderer Of Apaecidesi'
Art thou mad, O SallustT said the
praetOr. rising from his seat What
means this raviugT
Remove the Athenian, Quick! or
his blood be on your head. Praetor.
delay, and you answer with your own (:
life 10 the emperor 1 bring with me I
the eye witness TO the death Of the /
priest, Apaecides. Room there. stand ]
backi Give wayi People Of Pompeii. {
FIX eevry eye upon Arbaees; there he |
sits Room there for the priest /
The Priests Revenge.
Pale, haggards fresh from the jaws I
Of famine and OF death. his face fallen, I
his eyes dull as a vulture's, his broad /
was supported into the very row in /
which Arbaces sat. His releasers had Z
given him sparingly Of food; but the 4
chief sustenance that nerved his 4
The priest Calenusi Calenusl
cried the mob. Is it he? No it is
lead mani
- It is the priest Calenus.' said the
nraetor, gravely- What hast thou TO
sayg
Escaped From Dungeon.
.Arbaces Of Egypt IS the murderer
of Apaecides. the priest Of Isis these
ayes saw MIN deal the blow Il is
LIam the dungeon into which he
3lU.-ed me, il IS from the darkness
and horror Of death by famine that
he g5ds have raised me 70 proclaim
lis eIimei Release the Athenian-he
s innocentr
It is for this, then, that the lion
spared him. A miracle! miracle1
cried Panss-
A miracle, a miracler shouted the
people; remove the Athenian-Arbaces
% the uonp
The power Of the praetor was as a
ICED beneath the wirlwind; still, at
lis word the guards had drawn them
selves along the lower benches, on
which the upper classes sat separate
rom the vulgar They made but Z
eeble barrier; the waves Of the hu-
nan sea halted for a moment, TO en-
.ble Arbsces TO count the exact mo
nent Of his docmi IN despair and in
terror which beat down even pride,
le glanced his eyes over the rolling
nd rushing crowd, when, right above
hem, through the wide chasm which
lad been left in the velarias he be-
ield a strange and awful apparition;
3 neheld, and his craft restored his
ouraget
HE stretched his hand on high;
yer his lofty brow and royal features
here came an expression of unutter-
bic solemnity and command
Behold he shouted with voice
Z thunder which stilled the roar OF
be crowd; behold how the gods pro-
sct the guiltlessi The fires Of the s
venEiug Orcus burst forth against
be false witness Of my accusersP
The Authors Climax. II
The fires Of the .aVenging Circus Z
lany as a dancer. I dance and teach
ar~- 90 Il inc