The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

" Aye , wherefore not ? we all must die , and if we must drink , why should we not drink to Him , who perhaps is with us now . " " To death , " laughed Lais uneasily , " we shall not die these many days . "

" Out , ribald , " exclaimed Phryne , turning upon her the look of a Sybil , and enunciating these words slowly , " Your horoscope is cast , it is written upon your forehead , thou shalt die this night . "

Lais trembled , and raised her hand to her forehead , as if to obliterate the shadowed scroll , while Murtius burst out impatiently with " Tush , girl , is death a fit subject for your silly mirth . By the gods , my blood runs cold at his

name . Your jest has given me a turn . ' Phryne drew herself up and gazed at her companions , who stared at her with terrified astonishment , as they saw the terrible unseen shadowed in her eyes , ancl thus she addressed

them" Hear me , you twain , you , who have battened on my flesh , ancl tortured me as never did the bird who prej ^ ed upon the vitals of the shackled Titan . You have driven your chariots to the goal , ancl there death waits to hurl you down . Think

you that I am carved from stone , or that my heart is ice . Think you , your brutal taunts , your villainous injuries , have had no power to wound my heart , or that a Grecian maiden forgets how to revenge herself ?"

"A Greek thou art undoubtedly , " said Lais , with a sneer , " although thou art not a maiden , fair girl . Yet Caius need not know that family secret . " " Who made me what I am ? " cried Phryne ,

fiercely , and with a look that daunted even the indomitable Lais . " Thou , and thou alone ! Who brought ruin ancl disgrace upon my father ' s house ? Thou , and thou alone ! Who seduced my father , and poisoned my mother ? Ha , thou hast it now .

Thy sleep betrayed thee . " " Gods , what is this you say ? " said Murtius , but unheeding him Phryne continued"Who led the vulture to the sleep-drugged dove ? Who killed my innocent , my helpless

babe ? Thou , and thou alone . Aye , thou incarnate hell-hag , thou lump of sin ? But why should I rail at one whom death has struck . " "Heavens ! " cried Lais , falling back helplessly on her couch . " I am cold , ancl a deadly faintness clouds my sight . What hast thou clone ?" " Poisoned the Chian wine , " screamed Phryne ,

her features flushing with the divine wrath of Nemesis . She stood before them the image of an avenging justice , before which they trembled . A . profound silence ensued . Then Murtius spoke in low , solemn

tones" Girl , hast thou poisoned thy father ?" "My father ! " replied Phryne , bitterly , "hast thou been such to me ? Fathers have hearts , have gentle winning hearts , who guard their young with anxious care , nor will permit a blight to fall upon

their bloom . But thou , then , art a beast , of whom the earth is weary . Death has thee now . " Thenaddressing Lais , she said : " For you , who thoughfc to rise upon my shame , know , Caius understands all my infamy and all thine . To-day

hecame and bade me a last farewell . Where areyour fine-blown schemes now ? Die in th y terror ,, wretch , die in thy wild dismay . " " Mercy ! " screamed Lais . " Mercy ! " answered Phryne scornfully . " Aye ,-

the mercy that thou didst show my mother ; the mercy that thou didst show me , the time yousold me to the hoary wretch ; the mercy that thou didst show to my new born babe ! Mercy ! ask it of the Eumenides , but not from me . "

" What noise is that ? " exclaimed Murtius ,. wakening up from a stupor into which he had fallen .

"Ah ! dost thou hear it at last ? " cried Phryne . " It is the sound of fire creeping up through the house . Now , take me , Death , since my dread purpose is accomplished . " Into her goblet of wine she poured the contents

of a golden flask , which she took from her breast * . For an instant the wine bubbled ancl hissed , and then settled . Phryne drank it off , and fell back , dead on the couch . Murtius and Lais gazed upon her with horror , unable to rise or stop her rash act . But their own hour had come .

Help , Lais , help V cried Murtius . " I burn in awful pain . Bring me wine . Quick , quick , for my brain is on fire . " "I cannot move , my body has turned to stone . 0 thrice accursed fool to fall now and success so

near . Hark how they roar , these angy flames ! The smoke streams up , and all will soon be over . " Then , in accents of the bitterest hate , she cried , " Hell curse the fool . " As she spoke , the flames burst into the

chamber . " Help ! " cried Murtius , the flames lick off my flesh—one hour to pray—mercy—mercy—rner—"'