The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

¦ advantage of what I am to tell thee , for many lives depend upon it , not mine alone . " I swear by the memory of my mothe * , " said Adrian , raising his hand to heaven , " to hold for ¦ ever in my heart secret and close whatever thou

mayest tell me . " "Dost thou ever go to see the wild beasts £ ght ?" "I ! Avhat could I learn from that gross sight ?" " Sometimes the beasts have noble foes to fight

with—men . " " True , but they are slaves or worthless characters . "

" Call you the Christians worthless ?" Adrian started at that Avord , a Avord heard in Koine and by Roman ears with detestation . He . seized Myra by the hand , and gazing into her eyes , which met his camly , said" Thou lettest loose upon me a flood of light . 'Thou art a Christian . "

" Yes . I am . " " Strange child ! " replied Adrian , gazing upon 'the girl , who had confessed that which , told to the priests , would have doomed her to the lions in the Colosseum . " Oft have I wandered at the tales

they tell of that stern might which makes men , women , even children spiu- n at life and cling to death , rather than barter what they deem to be truth . What is this truth Avhich tides them over

¦ fear , and makes the dreaded future to them a joy ? Tell me , what is this truth ?" " I may not tell thee , but I shall send one to thee in whom thou mayest trust to teach thee . " "How shall I know that he comes from thee ?"

" Thou knoAvest him already . "I ? His name . " " Thou Avill knoAV it in good time . Give me th y . signet ; he will bring it thee , and soon . FareAvell for the present , " and Myra left him .

Adrian stood amazed , gazing after the young : girl , and then pacing sloAvly along the Avalk

mused" I toss like floats upon the Tiber s flood . A Christian brings me tidings of a God more glorious and omnipotent than those myriad gods of ours . 'Tis passing strange ; and yet who knows but this God may be that great Spirit whose presence

faintly appears in all our mysteries , like a broken ray of fight , falling upon the black darkness of superstitious rites ? This God the wise and noble Lemo knoweth not . Yet what dim tradition did he tell me once , as we sat beneath the stars , of a

people who , slaves to the Egyptians , by the might of their God , spread ruin and destruction in the land , and marched like conquerors from out of their bondage . Can this God be the same ?" From his musings heAvas aroused by Caius

catching him in his arms , and exclaiming : " Say , Adrian , how likest thou our host and his family ? 0 , my friend , my heart bounds with a joy unspeakable . Pardon me , if I have hid from thee one secret hope !"

"In loving Phryne ? " said Adrian , with a smile . " Why , hoAv didst thou discover that ?'' asked Caius , in astonishment , who imagined , like all lovers , that he had kept his love a profound secret .

" Mine eyes are good , although given to the study of the stars . Think you I could not see the blood flush up when she did turn her lustrous eyes upon thee , and crimson thy forehead as the sun reddens the virgin snow ? Go to , mine eyes

are not moles . " "But dost thou know she gives me love for love ? " "I like not that . "

"What ! Adrian , Avouldst thou kill my newborn joy . I did not think thee so cruel !" " And is it joy , my simple , honest Caius , to have Avon her heart ? Yet wherefore should I , on a dim report , blast his happiness ? " thought he , " it may

be false , but strict inquiry can yet be made . " Then he said aloud . " Dream on thy dream , my loving cousin . I see a cloud upon the sky . " " The Aveather is cold and the sky is full of clouds . "

"Hast thou forgot thy muse , my Caius ? I talked not of vapour cloud , or stormy Aveather , but of a cloud upon the sky of life ; let us trust no thunder-bolt couches beneath . Dream on , dream on . Believe women to be as virtuons as they are

fair , as constant as they may be kind , as loving as they may be true . Dream on , and be glad in thy spring-time of love ; joy is in present peace , woe lurks in the future . What Avants this slave ?"

A slave approached them from the house . " The master desires their nobleness to join him in the baths . " "Let us in , " said Adrian ; and with entwined arms the noble pair , so gallant-looking and so

princely in their youth and beauty , entered that charnal of A irtue , called the house of Murtius . ( To be continued . ) [ The Author reserves tho right of reproduction and translation . ]