The Nemesis: A Tale Of The Days Of Trajan.

THE NEMESIS : A TALE OF THE DAYS OF TRAJAN .

By BRO . A . OXEAL HAYE , KM ., K . Gal ., Corresponding Member of the German Society , Leipzig ; Knight Templar , Scot . ; Author of " The History ofthe Knights Templars ;" " Vara Queer ; " " Gatherings in Wanderings ; " "Songs and Ballads ; " "Poemata ; " "Legends of Edinburgh . ' " §' c ., < $ -c , Spc . ; Poet Laureate of the Canongate , Kilioiniiing ; P . M . St . Stephens ; P . P . Z . of St . Andreivs , B . A .

-Chap . ; cj'c .,- § x . ( Continued from page 270 . ) CHAPTER XXIX . THE CEASH OP THE THUNDER BOLT . " Farewell ! a long farewell !"—Shahespeare .

Cains once more stood in the apartment where first he had seen Phryne , and surrendered his heart to her witching charms . And she was false and worthless . And while he stood there pale as any marble statue , waiting for her coming ,

hot and fevered thoughts rushed through his mind , ¦ searing and embittering his heart . " Ye fingered moths , whose lips are free to all to sip their sweets , if sweet can be that chalice from which all drink , Avhose tiny -waists each

lecher ' s arm may span , Avhose budded breasts , unfolded to the passer ' s view , can tempt the mind to rove to thoughts impure , are ye the idols I , who have sought for beauty only in the good and pure , should raise an altar to , ancl on it burn the

brightest promises of youth , the hard won wreath of fame , ancl twine it round the pedastal . I , who haA ^ e searched the world for one true heart , guileless ancl innocent , like his Avho died on Calvary , on hers Avho saw the bloody sAveat trickle adown his forehead on the Cross . Alas ! alas ! The

pure true souls are gone from out the Avorld , the girls AVIIO loved the dagger better than a foul disgrace , on whose unsullied brows the modest veil came down as grace from heaven , Avho knit the ¦ snow-white robe of maidenhood into a matron's

proud untarnished gown . Cornelia , Lucrese , are your ages past for ever from the earth ? Is there not one of God ' s great universe so pure of heart that lions might crouch down ancl lick her feet as something nobler than this earth of ours . Out ,

out on it ! Foul breaths ancl rotten hearts give forth no incense like the songs of old , when virtue Avas the noblest crown of man , the rarest jewel iu a maiden ' s doAver . The coin that passes through too many hands blurs soon , alas ! too soon ; the

gloss wears off , and the effigy defaced , in time tells not of what in its first palmy days it bore . " " He took a few steps up the room , and then he

thought" But if this tale after all be not true ? what if Paulus , led aAvay by a false report and exaggerated rumour , does her a grave injustice ? Well , we know a maidens name is like a tempting rose , which blooms upon a high and craggy height , if

once a foot can reach that cleft , so soon will a hand pluck it , and its bloom will pass as smoke dissolved into the thinnest air , not even the voice of honour can prevent the evilj for we do call that honour which the world wots little of . It was a dream of

days too bright to last . The earth is dull ancl dark , and fame has left no feather on the wind to tell us Avhither it has flown or what it Avas . "

His meditations were broken in upon by two beautiful arms being thrown around his neck , ancl a mouth fragment as summer flowers pressed to his lips . It Avas Phryne . " My Cains , " she sighed , in low sweet

quivering tones , all Avoman now , tender and true , " my heart ' s best love , thou hast come to me at last . I have watched all night . I could not sleep for thinking of thee . Yes , for thou didst come between me and repose with thy dear eyes , my love ,

and I , all trembling , thought half in confidence and half in-doubt , upon thy words to me . Oh ! am I not blest in having thy love . The very earth takes on a richer dress beneath thy smile . " ff Oh heaven ! " thought Cains , "is this but fraud ?"

" I have so much to say to thee , " continued Phryne . " Didst thon think me cold , when yesterday thou told ' st me that thou did'st love me . Ah , Caius , thou hast taken all my heart , drawn my soul through my lips into thine own , then take

myself that I may win the truant back . Ingrate , thou hast not kissed me yet : see , I kiss thee . " But Cains , pale and trembling , could not return her kiss . Phryne looked him anxiously in the face .

" Art thou ill , Caius ? Thou art so very pale , so cold , the clamp dew gathers on thy brow . Oh my darling tell me what aileth thee ? Could ' st thou not sleep last night ? I am so happy at the thought , and yet I am not . I Avould not have

thee pale and ill , but well and strong . I shall chide thee else . Ah , I can chide right we }] . Take care . But come , sit down . " She drew him to a seat .

" My father and my aunt have gone to prayer , so that the hour is our ' s . Speak , tell me everything . Nay , do not speak , for I see thou art tired . Though my love for thee keeps me awake , it lends