The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

bosom . Leaving the saddle , he bade his slaves put up the horses , and intimated his willingness to accompany Dentatus . " Not I , by Hercules , " said Dentatus ; " Deci"mus and Junius will accompany you . By the way ,

walk straight to the palace , or you may meet a mischief at their hands . They only understand that you are to go there . " Marenna , with his undesired guard of honour , and Dentatus with his men , went in different

• directions . Let us accompany Dentatus . On reaching Balbus ' s house he easily obtained possession , and without making any disturbance made prisoners of the slaves . Dentatus leaving his men below , ascended to the upper chambers ,

. and after looking into a room or two , came to the one in which Sempronia sat gazing out of a window . Noiselessly he approached her , and laying his hand upon her shoulder , said , " Sempronia . " She turned round , she rose , and gazed into his face

saying , " The end at last has come , and I am betrayed . " " Not by me , Sempronia , " said Dentatus , gazing into that wasted countenance so beautiful . " I

am still your friend as ever I was . Let the past be past ; no evil can befall you . " "No , " answered Sempronia , with a bitter smile , " a living grave will shut me out * from ¦ evil . "

" Say not so . No one in Rome , save the Emperor and myself , know of your existence , and your flight with that caitiff Balbus . By the gods , girl , were you mad to go off with such a villain as that ?"

"What could I do ? They tore me from my home to the service of Vesta , when I needed all its attention , they made me perform vigils and watches that turned my soul , and drove all good from my heart . Balbus was the first one that spoke to me in tones of tenderness . I was d ying for love . What wonder if I mistook a vulture for

an eagle , a villain for a true man . The end has 'come , and I am ready to die . " " Not to die yet for many years , Sempronia ; the Emperor will find you a secure retreat in some distant province , where you may end your days in

. peace . " "A vain hope , Dentatus . The sword has pierced my heart , and I long to die . " " Time enough to talk of that afterwards . Meanwhile , prepare to leave this accursed house . You go with me to safety . Gather your things

together , and hide yourself in your veil . I shall come for you speedily . " Dentatus turned , and was leaving the room , when he heard a heavy fall behind him . He looked round ; Sempronia had fallen upon the floor .

" Poor girl , " he thought , " she has swooned . " He picked her up , and saw the handle of a dagger sticking out from beneath her left breast . She had stabbed herself to the heart , as he had turned from her , and the beautiful but

erring-Vestal went to her account , beyond the Styx to a shore where priestly trammels do not curb the soul , and where the heart bounds freely in the service of a God whose worship is not forms , and whose sacrifice is a contrite heart .

A tear filled the old warrior ' s eye as he thoug ht—¦ " She could not have died better . What , after all , is life worth when we are dishonoured ? Would that the dagger had been planted in her heart ere ever she had seen that accursed villain . Still the vengeance of the gods will yet be satisfied , —a terrible vengeance befitting- the crime . "

Gently he lifted the body on to a couch , and covered it with a cloak . Calling to him a soldier , he bade him permit no one to enter the chamber until his return , and instructing his subalteran to arrest Balbus if he should appear there before he

came back , he betook himself to the palace . Trajan had already sucked the orange of Marenna ' s secrets dry , and he had dismissed him to prison , as Dentatus entered . He was shocked to hear of Sempronias' death , but a moment ' s consideration told him that a difficult knot had been undone

by it . " Sempronius must be told of her death / ' said Trajan . " You go find , him , and bring him to Balbus ' s house , whither I am going . " " You may be recognised ?"

" Not so . I will disguise myself . " As Trajan reached the house , Dentatus and Sempronius approached . Sempronius was astonished at the presence of the Emperor , and more so when he took him into a private chamber , and

said : " Sempronius , can you bear evil tidings ?" "I ! What evil tidings can I expect to hear ?'' " Think for a moment . " " Were I to hear that my poor sister was alive ,

that would be evil tidings with a vengeance . '' " You are not likely to hear that ; but do you not wish to learn something of her death ?'' Sempronius looked up quietlyinto the Emperors