The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

" It was a fortunate thing , " said Adrian , after a pause , " that the extreme penalty of the law was not enforced against Cossus . Had his body been found , Ave Avould have been accused of both . You have no idea who killed Cenna ?"

" Suspicion I have told you points to the Bacchanals . " " Do you know of any in Rome ?" " That is a question that I dare not answer , Adrian . Lives hang upon such , and I may not

tell . " " Do you knoAV the Athenian Murtius , Avho now lives in Rome ? Moscus told me you did . " A faint flush rose on the brow of Paulus at this homethrust , and for a moment he bent his head upon his breast , ancl muttered a prayer . Raising his head he

answered" I kneAV him in Greece , but have not seen him since . My only son Avas acquainted Avith the family . " " I crave your pardon , Paulus , if I have opened an old > vound rudely . I have heard that you loved

your son dearly , aud that Avhen he died you surrendered honour and Avealth and became what you noAV are . " " Aye , Adrian , I loved my son , he Avas a beauteous boy , and good as he was beautiful , but

he died , died in his prime , when the floAvers of a great life Avere ripening into fruit . " " Let us change the subject , my friend , believe me I sympathise most deeply with you in that sorrow . "

" Nay Adrian , rather let us talk of him for he Avas good and just , ancl death brought no terrors to him . Better that he should have died young and pure , than old and Avicked . " " Very true , still it is sad to hear of one

dyingyoung , " said Adrian , a dreamy expression gathering on his face . f : There is still in tbe death of the young a promise of a glorious hereafter , perhaps the immortals speak to them at such an hour . "

" There comes upon the flowers before decay a richer velvet , and through their tiny bells a richer ichor floAvs . The sun grows broader as he hastens to the west , ancl his Avild rays roll wilder over the sky , as Hesperus plumes his airy way along the

sky , pilot-like seeking for the trembling moon , a a passage through the strand of starry reefs . All true things grow lovely as they die , the younger , still do they seem the lovelier . '" " Yet methinks this hastening to decay is very

sad . Is it not sad to see all fair things fade , and Avatch the lean chops of woe gorged with fat joy . Oh Paulus , is ft right that this should be ; is it right that all things beautiful should melt like snow upon the hungry deep , or that the smiles of

artless maidenhood should vanish , Avhen the passions Avake to life . " " 'Tis wearisome , I grant you , to see life lie panting on the hilly breasts of sin , but yet it is the fate of our humanity to suffer woe and sorrow here . "

"Is it not thrice accursed when the stormy strife of fortune crashes on to the goal , and hurlsour fragile bark upon a IOAV born shore , Avhere shipAvreck has its home by a blood dyed rock , where demons lurk to drag our souls to Hades .

From these there is no escape . Far out at sea ,, low hidden beneath the screech of waters they have their habitations . We near them , and witha bounding rush our ruin is complete , no more of " us remains but a low Avild laugh , or a wayless

echo waking at a half moaned note . " " There is still something sadder , Adrian , to bea ruin , and yet not knoAV it for the parasitic ivy of Avorldly glory and self complacency . To know that your life is spiritually-speaking beggared , is

to know the Avorst , and is the first step to riches y but he AVIIO fancies himself rich in a false love , has as much chance of fortune as an honest jeweltrader with Avorthless pebbles instead of diamonds emeralds , and rubies . " " But what is true love ?"

" The true knoAvledge of oneself , and of the .-cause Avhich sent you into this Avorld to live , to suffer , and at last to die . Happiness founded onearthly things is a chimera , a baseless vision , the soul alone gives time joy . Could the secrets of "

each heart be read , could that strange book be opened to us , and Ave had an eye to read it equalto that of the Great Spirit , who reads the truth uponjjthe seething Avave of life , IIOAV would we stare to find those patterns of happiness and peaceful

bliss , sad , full of bitterness , and anxious for death-Then Avould Ave see the soundest base , rotting at the core , the tallest , fairest column a hollow cheat , through which the mire of crime floAved up to . capital ancl arch . Then instead of diamonds Ave Avould see worthless stones , instead of gold brass . "

" Nothing but falsehood everywhere , Paulus , I have long knoAvn that , but where is truth . What a solemn mockery is earth , a mass of earthen ice .