The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

¦ smile that tells me it is dangerous . Fool that I Avas not to leave Rome when the warning came , I might . now have been beyond danger . " He paused beneath a portico , for the blast grew wilder and Avilder . His thoughts became gloomier .

" Supposing they have searched my house in my absence , that they are waiting for me there ? What a disaster . Had I not better leave the city at once . Fool that I am , as if the guards would not have instructions to arrest me AA'henever I appeared .

No , homeivards must be my cry , and if the lvorst conies to the worst , man must die sometime . " He emerged from the portico , and came in sight of his house . All was quiet , and the stillness reassured him . He advanced to the door ancl

.. knocked ; it Avas opened to him , and the next moment he AA'as a prisoner . He did not struggle , " he felt as if a load had been taken off his heart , he was ready for the worst . They led him to the ¦ chamber ivhere Sempronia lay , ancl he shuddered

as he saAv his victim lying dead before him , shuddered when he saw the brother pale and stern as Nemesis sitting at the head , and on either hand Dentatus aud Trajan . It Avas for au instant only , the next he Avas impassable as marble .

Senrpronius rose upon his entrance , and gazed steadily at him with a look of terrible hatred in his ejes . Gradually his hand sought his sivord hilt , and he approached Balbus . Not a word escaped ¦ either . Save the gloAving eyes , they might , as

they stood opposite each other have been taken for images of stone . But gradually the bright blade slipped from its sheath , till it gleamed bluely in the torches' lights . Still no stroke . Sempronius leaned upon it ancl never relaxed his eyes for a moment from the face of his foe . Aud now at length that blade Avhich hacl never been drawn

in a private quarrel , but always in defence of Rome , is reared aloft . Balbus ' s eyes folloiv its course , backAA'ards it is throAvn , but ere it can Avhistle through the air on its errand of death , the arm is seized , ancl the Emperor says : —

"Not so shall he die , not by a gallant Avarrioi ' s "blade . No . Let him expiate his crimes iu the Forum before the faces of Rome . B y sticks , and not by a sivord , shall life be driven forth , ancl then let him be crucified , and hung aloft in the sight of

all , a warning of the fate that ivill befall all AVIIO deal in treachery ancl crime . AAvay with him . " And now they raise Sempronia ' s bier , for she had been prepared for burial . The wind has lulled , and they carry her forth to the grave . No

The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

hosts of freedmen , no slaves , few mourners , but two relatives accompany her corpse to its last resting place . Even the pyre is not to be hers . The grave has been prepared , aud her frail and perishing body is laid iu it , to wait the coming of

that thunder blast Avhich will Avake the dead to life again , and open the world's eyes to another and a better . Sempronius . was perfectly impassable , a stormy expression Avas in his eyes , and his lips Avere firmly

closed over his iron locked jaws . He knelt doivn and kissed the ground , ancl then rose and accompanied the Emperor to the Palatine . He had only one desire left UOAV , to see his sister's destroyer in turn destroyed , ancl then for the Avars again , to

win a soldiers grave . ( To be continued . ) [ The Author reserves the right of reproduction and translation . " ]

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

THE LEITEE OE " BEO . AXI 1 KEAV COX . " That portion of the letter of Bro . Andrew Gox , reproduced in the number of the PEEEMASONS ' MAG-AZIXE for March 16 th , for which the interpretation is sought by a brother in the west of England , is written in one of the simplest kinds of cipher , and

conveys the folloiving meaning , viz .: " As to Avhat request , was made February 16 th . Raised on the first Tuesday in March . —If you can give me a little instruction in the Avorking since the union , I should be much obliged to you , for it appears that all the work is altered from the old way . I should be lost at it

now . " The hand points to the vessel from which a few drops are falling ; this is probably meant to symbolise ' ¦ 'the cup of poverty drained to its last drops . " The hieroglypics following the name probably imply the urgent necessity of assistance , to enable the ivriter to recover himself from his position of reverse . —P . M . Nos . 201 and 90 S , P . G . S . W . North Wales and Shropshire .

N . B . dsg dszg blf & c . Avht what you ( rebucid ?) nzwv , & c . & c .

made LFeby 16 th raized ( raised ) the first in March if you can give me a letle ( little ) instructions of the working since the union I should be much oblidoe tu ( obliged to ) you for it appairs ( appears ) that all the work im aeter-d ( is altered ) the whay ( thereby ) I should be lost at it now .

Give my love to all the Brn . Greet them for me , Andw Cos , Ra & c , P . M . NB direct for me to the sign of the Angel ( to be left for Mr . Castle ) Rotherhithe Stair .-.