The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

Mm the beau ideal of a Roman citizen—a brave soldier and a profound politician . But Avar had lao charms for Adrian , the shouts of angry com-Lat & nfcs , the shrieks and yells of the wounded and the dying , and the clash of steel presented a

picture of revolting colour ; nor did the crooked ways of the Senate offer inducement to a political life to one whose heart Avas full of the glorious ; g & st , when Brutus planted and watered with his eon ' s blood the tree of liberty and founded the

great Roman Republic . Looking back upon the Eves of such men as Tiberius , Caligula and Nero , lie could not but scorn the rule of Emperors . Even Nerva Avas forced to abdicate , good monarch as "he was , by the violence of the military , and to Ms mind it was questionable if even Trajan , beloved as he Avas , Avould succeed in securing- to

Rome a happy future . Adrian , like all great minds , feared the influence of a military despotism , which ends in rendering a people the slaves of these they pay to fight their own . battles . He saw with a prophetic eye , a day coming , AA'hen

fear-barian hordes would drive the Roman Eagle south of the Po , and yellow locked Huns camp their steeds in the sacred temples of the gods . Thus finding little in public life to satisfy the cravings of his thirsty soul , he implored his father

to permit him to follow the bent of his inclinations and , by a sojourn in Greece , to study philosophy Tinder the priests of Eleusis . Lucius was much troubled at this request , and sent for Antilochus , to whom he detailed his conversation with Adrian . Antilochus mused for a feAV seconds , and then Kaid :

"Young men ' s fancies gather strength from opposition . It is a Avise purpose in Adrian to seek for enlightenment in the Eleusinian mysteries , which have a tendency to intensify and make practical the mind . Time , and a change of scene

often change the currents of young men ' s thoughts , and home sickness has spoiled more philosophers than opposition . A few years at the most Avill wean him from an over-indulgence in philosophic studies , and bring him into the arena of public life , and to an earnest discharge of the active duties of life .

¦" Thou hast convinced me , Antilochus . The gods shoAvered doAvn their favours upon me when they brought us together . Go then to Greece , spare no money , but bring my son back to me ¦ cured . - That remains in the hands of the Immortals .

"Well , let us trust to them for a change . Meanwhile I shall prepare thee letters and attendants , and remember , Antilochus , with my son I send my friend , and there AA'ill be a double void in nry heart . Write me often and fully of all your

doings . " Shortly after Adrian and Antilochus departed from Greece , with an equipage befittting alike the house of Decins , and a father ' s fond affection . Antilochus placed him uuder the training of the

most famous philosophers and mystagogues , tending his studies with the nicest care , so that in a feAV months the young man exhausted all their love . At Corinth , however , Antilochus sickened and died , after Avriting a letter to Lemo , ' the High

Priest of Isis , confiding his pupil to his earnest care . Adrian after paying the last rites to his friend and master , sent his attendants back to Rome , and departed in a coasting bark for Egypt . He was warmly greeted by Lemo , who had been

the master of Antilochus in philosophy , and by him received into the select few who were permitted to know the inner mysteries of Isis .

Lemo was struck Avith . the gigantic intellect and keen perception of his neAv student , and lavished upon him the full store of his wonderful knowledge , so that Adrian felt that formerly he had known nothing ; in comparison to the strange

mysteries unfolded to him by the old sage . He was inducted into the secrets of Isis , Serapis and Osiris , the trials and temptations with . Avhich the priests Avere accustomed to test their neophytes , making no impression upon him . But on the

night when Ave introduce them to the reader , a final and most exhaustive trial awaited the young philosopher , after which the most sacred mysteries knoAvn only to a feAV , would be revealed to him . For a Avhile Lemo gazed upon the sky , his eyes

proud and searching , aud his right hand holding aloft tho mystic pistrum . The thoughts Avhich burned in his heart , at length flooded up in murmurs to his lips . " Still do they shine , " he said , looking at the

stars , " bright as at the first , mighty , unchanged and unchangeable . They gaze calm and unmoved upon man , AA'ho passeth beneath them to the eternity of death , even as streams flown down the mountains to the sea . Well sayest thou , 0 Grecian sage : —* " Thou gazest on the stars , my life : how gladly