Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1920-01-20

"I am ready said the Athenian.
He had bent his limbs so as to give
himself the frmest posture at the
expected rush of the lion, with his
small and shining weapon raised on
high, in the faint hope that one we'll
directed thrust might penetrate
through the eye to the brain of his
grim foe.
But to the unutterable astonish-
ment Of all. the beast seemed not
even aware of the presence of the
criminal. At the first moment of it's
release it halted abruptly in the
arena, raised itself half on end, snuff
fling the upward air with impatient
signs; then suddenly it sprang for
ward, but not on the Athenian. At
kalf-speed it circled round and round
the space, turning its vast head from
side to side with an anxious and per-
turbed gaze, as if seeking only some
avenue of escape; once or twice it
endeavored to leap up the parapet
that divided it from the audience,
and, on failing, uttered rather a baf-
fled howl than it's deep-toned and
finging roar. 1t evinced no sign
either of wrath or hunger; it's tail
dropped along the sand, instead of
lashing it's gaunt sides; and, it's eye,
though it wandered at times to Glau-
Gus, rolled again listlessly from him.
At length, as if tired Of attempting
to escape, it crept with a moan into
it's cage, and once more laid itself
down to rest.
THE first surprise Of the assem-
bly, at the apathy Of the lion soon
grew into resentment at it's coward
ice; and the populace already merg-
ed their pity for the fate Of Glaucus
into angry compassion for their own
disappOin tment. The mana ger call
ed to the keeper.
How is this? Take a goad, prick
him forth, and then close the door
of the dem
LAS the keeper, with some fear,
but more establishment, was prepar-
ing to obey, a loud cry was heard at
one of the entrances of the arena;
there was a confusion, a hustle,
voices of remonstrance suddenly
breaking forth, and suddenly silenc-
ed at the reply. All eyes turned in
wonder toward the quarter of the
disturbance; the crowd gave way,
and suddenly Sallust appeared on the
senatorial benches, his hair disheVel-
led, breathless, heated, half exhaust
ed. He cast his eyes hastily around
the ring. Remove the Athenian,' he
cried: haste, he is innocent! Ar
rest Arbaces, the Egyptian; he is the
murderer Of Apaecides!
Art thou mad, o SalIustr said
the praetor, rising from his seat
What means this raving"
Remove the Athenian! Quick!
or his blood be on your head. Prae-
tor, delay, and you answer with your
own life to the emperor! 1 bring
with me the eyewitness to the death
Of the priest, Apaecides. Room
there! Stand back! Give way! Peo-
pie of Pompeii, fix every eye upon
Arbaces; there he sits! Room there
for the priest Calenus'
Pale, haggard, fresh from the laws
of famine and of death, his face
fallen, his eyes dull as vulture's,
his broad frame gaunt as a skele-
ton, Calenus was supported into the
very row in which Arbaces sat His
releasers had given him sparingly of
food; but the chief sustenance that
II
The priest Calenus! Calenusn
cried the mob. is it he? No, it is
a dead man.!
"Tt is the priest Calenus,' said
the praetor, gravely. What hast
thou to say?'
"'Arbaces of Egypt is the muir
derer of Apaecides, rne priest of Isis;
these eyes saw him deal the blow.
1t is from the dungeon into which
he plunged me, it is from the dark
ness and horror of a death by fam
inc, that the gods have raised me to
proclaim his crime! Release the
Athenian-he is innocent!
"Tt is for this, then, that the
lion spared him. A miracle! a mir
.acle! cried Pansa.
GA miracle! a miracle" shouted
the people; 'romev the Athenian-
Arbaces to the lion"
"The power of the praetor was as
"a reed beneath the whirlwind; still,
at his word the guards had drawn
themselves along the lower benches,
on which the upper classes sat sep
arate from the vulgar. They made
but a feeble barrieN the waves of
the human sea halted for moment,
to enable Arbaces to count the exact
moment of his doom! In despair,
and in a terror which beat down
even pride, he glanced his eyes over
the rolling and rushing crowd, when,
right above them, through the wide
chasm which had been left in the
veIaria, he beheld a strange and aw-
full apparition: he beheld, and ms
craft restored his courage!
"He stretched his hand on high;
fp9-
t11res there came an expression of
un,1tterable soIemnity and command.
Behold! he shouted with voice
of thunder which stilled the roar OF
the crowd; behold how the gods pro-
tect the guiltIess! The fires of the
avenging Orcus burst forth against
the false witness OF my accusers!
The fires of the "avenging Orcus"
were those of the great eruption OF
Vesuvius in 70 A. D. Toward such
2 meIodramatic climax, furnished
him by Nature, the author had been
spinning the lives of his characters
in the little city which nestled under
the shadow of the volcano.
The converging threads of tn
story are many, giving in the final
weaving A complete picture OF the
1vife of Pompeii-its shops, tiny pal
aces, baths, forum. theater, circus
and all that daily took place in the
energetic life of this toy copy OF
Eome at the beginning of the Chris
tan era. The story centers around
GIaucus the Athenlan, brilliant, gay,
witty descendant of a nobler race
erivolling himself away amid the
coarser pleasures of the Romans, ur-
til finally all that was fine in him
was brought forth. by his love for
lone Of Naples. who like himself was
child Of Greece. And alongside
this tale of love runs the pathetic
story of Nydia, the blind slave girl,
who centers all her hopes or hap
piness in winning the affection Of
CIlaucus. To this end she gains