The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

ceive the guests . Lais received Caius with much complaisance , and eyed him with considerable curiosity , somewhat like unto a naturalist , who has discovered a new species of animal . Phryne gazed at him with interest as her future lord , while

Myra , replying slightly to the introduction , crossed over to a rare plant , and began to pick off its dead leaves . A shudder of disgust passed through the young Roman ' s frame as he met the gaze of Lais . Her cold , grey , gorgon eyes appeared to him as

something treacherous and evil , and he hastily withdrew his from one , of whom his first impression was of dread and abhorrence . He could not

account for that antipathy , although after events showed how true had been the antagonism between the instincts of his pure heart ancl the presence of the abandoned Lais . But when his eye rested upon the glorious beauty of Phryne , and her

matchless smile of witchery met his gaze , he felt the blood beat madly in his heart , and an emotion new , strange and ecstatic , flush like a current of fire along his veins . Lais was forgot , the eye of Phryne banished his sentiment of fear .

There is but one true , lasting love , the love at first sight , that sacred sympathy which floods the lieart with purer blood , and the soul with higher aspirations . Then does the world become a

paradise full of the rarest blooms , then sing the birds songs of heaven among celestial trees , then the . Zephyrs as their footsteps touch the earth , chaunt melodious dreams , and then , for the first time in the young heart's life , do the heavens fill his soul

with that joyous awe , which , when dreams have faded , lights vanished , the roses bearing nothing but thorns , and the earth a wilderness and a desolation , still entrances his heart with the tidings of a better laud , and a joy that emanates from the

graves of the blessed in heaven . It is the light that divides the first infancy from the future manhood , the inspirer of noble deeds and generous actions , the boon of heaven , and the immortal gift of a beneficent God .

"Murtius , one word with you , " said Balbus , leading him slightly apart beyond the hearing of the others . " Give no outward demonstration of surprise at what I am about to tell thee . We are betrayed . "

" We ! How mean you ?" " The house in the Suburrahas been watched . " " By Bacchus , how knowest thou that ?" " Cassius told Trajan about it in the presence

of Caius . It seems Cenna the author has been a

spy upon us for some time . It is serious . A hoist from the Tarpeian Rock is the least we can expect . " " He must be removed . Have I not heard that he owes thee money . Arrest him , and put him

out of the way . " " That plan will not work well . Such an arrest would brino' R , ome about our ears . No , I have a safer . Marenna and two others will seize him , and a weight to his head and heels , and the Tiber will

relieve us of his presence . We must break from , the society . " Easily said , but not so easily done . Think you the others will agree to it ? not they !" " They must , necessity has no law . The

present danger will frighten them , and we can postpone the meetings from time to time under various pretexts . The first thing to be done is to capture and then silence Cenna . Let us join the others , our conversation may be noticed . "

The feast- was spread in an upper chamber of the house , the tables were covered with a profusion of expensive dishes , and costly wines . The guests were all men and women of family and wealth , for Murtius had a good acquaintanceship , and they

came to his house , tempted by the prospect of meeting Caius . He was placed at the mecliits , or centre of the middle couch , the place of honour , and on either side of him reclined Lais and Phryne . While the long course of dishes passed before

them , Caius chatted with his neighbours . "Your cousin Adrian , I hear , has returned to Rome , " said Lais . " Yes , but he has left it suddenly again . There is no dependence to be placed upon these

philosophers . " "He is a great student , I believe ?" " He has always been so . He loved the school better than the gymnasium even when a boy , and the love appears to have grown with his

growth . " " You , on the other hand , took the nobler fields of arms aud poesy to revel in . "

"What would you have , " replied Caius , laughing , " I an _\ an ignorant fellow and circumstances forced me to take service with Mars . Somehow the odes of Horace rang in my ears , and from murmuring his , I came in time to murmur some

of my own . Yet after all , arms and poesy are not so noble pursuits ,, as philosophy , although more highly esteemed by the populace , who would rather any day look upon a fight in the Colosseum than