The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

at him , and then at the empty goblet , and his wine-stained gown . " Thrice has it happened now , twice before . The first time , let me see , Avas when I became acquainted with Balbus , aye I remember the night .

The furies were in the dice that night , for I threw nothing but the Canns , while Balbus at every throw flung out a Venus . Yes I remember it well . That night I spilt my wine . " A stormy shudder passed through the

unfortunate frame , as he spoke ; Balbus turned slightly pale , while the others appeared surprised in the last degree . Genua ' s sombre tones , the mystery of the dice , and the evident vexation of Balbus , told them that some dark story was laid under the words . Cenna still looking at the goblet

continned" The second time was long after that ni ght . I had squandered much , the dice had gone against me , the dog was ever in the box . I was deeply in debt to Balbus—to Balbus , " he continued , with a bitter sigh , seemingly unaware or forgetful of

anyone present . "Yes , again it was night , the . dice once more rolled from out the box , and I lost , lost heavily , and again to Balbus . I called for wine , for my vitals were on fire , my throat was parched , my tongue like a piece of leather . I raised the

goblet to my lips , and a second time I spilt my wine . A moment after the tidings were brought me that my father had died , died suddenly , and I was not there to close his eyes . " At these words he fell forward upon the table

sobbing convulsively . Murenna and the others Were aghast at his mysterious words , and gazed suspiciously at Balbns . Although lawless debauchees , they had still honour enough left to scorn a player with cogged dice . Balbus saw their

suspicious Avritten on their faces , and with a gesture of supreme contempt he crushed down his own emotions , saying , — " The fool is very far gone , he babbles in his cups . "

He filled another goblet with wine , and poured the rest of the liquid from the phial into it , which he placed before Genua , removing at the same time the empty one . " Come Cenna , are Ave to pledge that bum-?

per " Cenna looked up , and seeing a full goblet before him , rubbed his forehead in perplexity . "Why , it is full . I thought but UOAV it was empty , and that I had spilt it . A bumper with you !

The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

Well , I am glad I did not spill it—the third time it would have brought me death . " His hearers shuddered at the words . It had brought him death . Cenna pushed the goblets away from him .

" No I have had enou ° * h wine , I shall drink no more . I shall go home . No more wine for me . " "Come , Cenna , this one goblet and then to bed . " "Good , one goblet more , and then to bed , "

cried Cenna , once more relapsing * into intoxication . " See , now I Avillgive you a pledge . 'Fortune to honest men , deatb to knaves ' . " He drank off fche goblet , and threw ifc on tha table . For an instant he lay stupified with the

fresh draught , but gradually a dim horror gathered in his eyes , his flushed cheek paled , and raising himself on his elbow he stared at Balbus . Lifting up his stained gown he muttered " The third time —death , " and fell back a corpse . The Bacchanals

gazed at him in affri ght , even the iron nerves of Balbns unbraced for an instant , but it was only for an instant .

" All is over , " he whispered , " let us hurl him into theiTiber . " " Into the Tiber ? " said Murenna , " Aye , would you have ifc told in Rome that he was found dead in our society . Pitch . hini into tbe Tiber . It will appear a suicide or an accident . Come . "

They lifted the body from the couch and bore it to the garden , where the Tiber flowed yellow and deep , and swift . ¦ They flung it in , a splash and ifc went hurling down the tide to laud at the very gates of Rome . Next morning the High Priest

Cassius learned that Cenna Avas dead , drowned in the Tiber . He shook his head gravely . " Cossus and now Cenna . " ( To be continued . )

Masonic Notes And Queries .

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

IHE GOD 03 ? XSSOrHAXES AUD THE GBEAT A . BOHITECT 01 ? THE rSTVEBSE—A 3 TAXAG 0 EAS—SO CEASES . In answer to the letter of a brother who sends me some remarks respecting the God of three Greek philosophers , Xenophanes , Anaxagoras , and Socrates , I say as follows—first , as to Xenophanes . Nofc

many years ago I came accidentall y upon his two famous lines : — El ' s Seos sv re 8 $ oiai aai avSpairoicri fieyitrros . Oure OEjiias dvqrolirtv o / xoios oure vori . aa . Being much struck with these lines , I looked into the Fragments of Xenophanes , and into the various