The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

of mournful plaintiveness , " alone on earth , a monster on the earth , that , snakelike , would have crept into his heart , and when he had warmed and cherished me in his bosom , my huge guilt , ingrate , would have waked up and murdered him . "

She burst into a fit of low moaning weeping , rocking herself backwards and forwards iu the extremity of her woe . "Alone , henceforth alone , for ever alone . No sympathy for me in father ' s heart . The gentle

Myra fears me , too ; for I have been a wild and wicked thing , too wild and wicked for the gentle child to love . Oh ! wherefore slept thy thunder , Zeus , when the great wrong was done me ? What had I done to anger thee , that thou couldst have

put hatred in a father ' s breast to crush me with dishonour and foul shame , which racks mywonian ' s heart with misery , and makes me show so vile beside my sex ?" Then starting up , like some wild creature , struggling with the fatal dart , she exclaimed ,

" He ' s gone , aud gone for ever . Never , no never to return to me ; never more to turn his eyes of love upon me , and make my sadness joy . He will not curse my memory . He said he would pray for me , for me , < vho made a plaything of his

love , and would have sold him as a precious gem , an empty casket filled with loathsome sin and crime . But for my broken heart , dishonoured name , they shall pay dear . The seed that they have sown in hellish joy , they will reap the grain

in quaking bitterness , and know when it is too late that their guilty precepts , ripening into fruit , will turn to ashes in their mouths , and death within their hearts . " Myra entered the room , dressed in

walkingattire , as if about to go forth . On perceiving the haggard appearance of her sister , and her face covered with blood , she gave a shriek , and flung her arms around Phryne ' s neck exclaiming" Phryne , my clearest sister , what aileth thee . Thou art deadly pale , aud thy face is covered with gore ?"

"I stumbled , love , and falling cut my brow . It is nothing—a passing faiutuess . See , it is already gone , " and she smiled , but it was a ghastly smile to behold . " It is not gone ! " exclaimed Myra . " Oh ! go

to bed , my sister , and rest thee . Come ; I will take my lyre and sing thee to sleep . Come , dearest Phryne . " " It is needless , for I cannot sleep . Nay , sweet

one , believe me , it is nothing , " and she rose to her feet . " But thou art going forth . Whither ?" " I was . The lady Lucidora invited me to spend the ni ght at her house , but since thou art so ill I will stay at home with thee and send her my excuses . ''

"Not so , my Myra . Thou wilt return tomorrow , wilt thou not ?" " 'Twas so purposed , but I will return to-night now . " " No , no , Myra , not to-night , " cried Phryne ,

eagerly . Theu noticing a surprised look upon her sister ' s countenance she said . " Drain out thy cup of innocent delight . To-morrow will be soon enough for thee to return . Kiss me , my dearest sister . If in the past I have been at times harsh

and cruel to thee , forget it . I have had woes to bear , " she continued gloomily , " which thou shalt never know . Kiss me again , and vet again . " " 0 Phryne ! " exclaimed Myra , her eyes filling with tears . "I have wept at thy coldness , but I

have never blamed thee . Now that thou openesfc wide thy heart to me , let me abide therein . Come allow me to stay with thee to-day , and let me send a slave to the lady Lucidora . Thine illness will excuse my failure to appear at her past-time . "

" Go , go , my child , " said Phryne ; " I have some things to settle which will keep me busily engaged to-day . Go . Thou would'st only hamper me . ' '

I " Thou lovest me now ? " said Myra , eagerly . " Most dearly , my sister . " " And wilt thou for ever love me ?" "Aye , till death , " responded Phryne , solemnly . " I do not wish to leave thee , now I know thou

lovest me . 0 , many a night have I prayed for this , and now that I am certain of thy love , I dread to go . A fear awakes within me , and whispers me when I shall return thou wilt have ceased to love me . "

" Nay , fear not that , my Myra . Now go , my darling , go . Kiss me , my sweet gentle sister . Thou wilt return to-morrow . Adieu , my love . " Phryne was once more alone . " And so I bid farewell to the last tie that binds

me to earth . I have done with love and home ' s affection . Yet thanks be to Zeus that I have made my peace with her at last . My heart beats easier in my breast . The task which I have undertaken will not be vengeance , but an act to save this opening flower from blight ; for she , in her young innocence and virgin bloom , would weigh