The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

face , saying , " I know she is dead , and all the information that we have picked up , leads to the supposition that she had fallen into the Tiber , and been drowned . We know she went out on that fatal night , and in the direction of the river . "

" Yet her body was never found ?" " No , the river was rushing between its banks with the fury of a fiend ; she would soon be in the sea . "

" You think so ? And now , Sempronius , call all your firmness to your heart , for I am about to show you a sight that will drive you wild with rage and horror . " Sempronius looked again quietlyat the Emperor ,

who , taking him into the chamber which Dentatus pointed out , turned down the cloth from the face , and revealed to the soul-struck soldier the features of his- sister . As if that pale countenance had been the death-giving face of the Gorgon , the

effect upon Sempronius could not have been more sudden . His features wrought with a terrible agony , a piercing sob left his lips as he reeled and fell fainting on his sister ' s body . When consciousness returned it seemed as if old age had

come upon him , so hollow had grown his features , so despairing his air . "I know all , " passed his lips , as he seated himself by the head of his dead sister . No sob , no tear now ; he waited the villain ' s coming , to see how

he would look when brought face to face with that poor victim . After that—his eyes swam in a crimson vapour , his hand clutched his sword , no more signs of hatred , the lava settled in his heart —woe to Balbus when , the crater overflowed . "

Trajan and Dentatus left him to his solitary watch . They went below and looked at the premises . They tried at first to examine the slaves , but without any effect . The bondsmen refused to criminate their master , but there was that in the

upper chamber which would have sent Balbus , had he possessed a hundred lives , to death . And now they waited for him to come to doom . ( To be continued . ) [ Tho Author reserves the right of reproduction tmil translation . ]

Masonic Notes And Queries-

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES-

ADOPTIVE MASOXET . _ Those who are desirous of adding to the information given by your indefatigable correspondent , Bro . C . P . Cooper ( P . Prov . G . M . Kent , & c . ) , can do so

Masonic Notes And Queries-

by procuring Dr . Mackay ' s "Lexicon of Freemasonry , " wherein the subject is exhaustively treated . It appears that the Duchess of Bourbon was Grand Mistress of the " Adoptive Rite " in 1785 , and that a Marquis assisted that lady in her honourable duties . The Revolution checked its progress materially ,

but in 1 S 05 the Empress Josephine presided over a lodge at Strasburg . Clavel , a reliable authority generally , differs from Bro . Cooper ' s views as to the origin of this Rite , and says that banquets and balls " are inseparable from a Lodge of Adoption , and are in fact the real design of

its organisation , the initiatiory ceremonies being but a pretext . " I am inclined , however , to your valued correspondent ' s opinion , as there were surely many other ways and means to hold balls and banquets ; . and just as the ladies , who have friends and relatives connected with the Fraternitare valuable

iny , very helping forward our Charities , and in countenancing assemblies of the Craft on all proper occasions , so similar motives actuated the fair sex in 1774 , when the Site of Adoption was established . —W- J . HUGHAS" .

THE EETTEB OE " BEO . AXDEEW COX . " In common with your numerous readers , the issue of last week's PEEEAIASOXS' MAGAZINE was perused with much pleasure by me , and the welcome contribution by our accomplished Freemason , Bro . Anthony Oneal Haye , received a large share of attention

consequent upon his desire to have the letter by " Andrew Cox" deciphered . Probably it will be admitted I have succeeded in doing so , as the following is the result of my examination of the communication , which is wrongly spelt : — " What you made Peb . 16 thraised the first

Tues-, day hi March . If you can give me a little instruction of the working since the union , I should bemuch obliged to you , for it appears that all the work , is altered , the why I should be lost at it to know . Give my love to the brethren . Greet them for me .. —AXDEEW Cox . "

It is likely that the quart jug represents the sign of the house at which the writer was stopping at the time ; the triple tan , the ladder , and the other hieroglyphic would no doubt indicate that Andrew Cox . was a Royal Arch Blason , had taken seven degrees , and had appended his mark as a Mark Mason ,

itbeing the custom for the ancient Craftsmen to sign their names with their distinguishing marks in accordance with the principles of Operative Masomry .. There are many more letters than are required , and . it is likely they are inserted to confuse the " cowan . " It seems to me probable that the letter was written

to the noted " Finch , " as he was travelling about thecountry at that date ( May 15 th , 1815 ) , especially when I know the cvpher to be one he used in his' •' ¦ Masonic Treatise , " R . A ., A . M ., E . G ., K . T ., M . P .,. & c , " published in 1800 , 1 S 02 , 1 S 03 , and 1812 . — W . J . HuGHAX .

THE BOSICEUCIAX AXD THE EOSE 0 E 0 IX DECfEEES . It will be well for the Craft to remember that these two are entirely distinct degrees , and should be treated as such by historians . Bro . I-Lrye does good service in drawing attention to this fact , as we shall then be the better able to understand both , and preserve their various mysteries in their original purity , beauty , and strength . —W . J . HUGHAS - .