THE PREINCARNATION OF MARK FORREST.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XLII, Issue 12823, 15 April 1916, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE PREINCARNATION OF MARK FORREST.

IBy -lofm i> >■' ■>■'■■'

It is atsoii>'tl:.>r niJi-rn'-iuM.- tli.H >»" have ever met .Mr M.iHk i-'orrtat. head salesman of tl»- Novelty Nockwear Companv, and -ometiiue* known as the Scourge of Haberdashers. He it waj whcTuhloadcd eighty thousand dollars' WoHh "of : r*h-et and plush cravats on ' ihe'SC&r Kngland trade before it was discovered .that they were, rather more difficafi- lotie than itiros to untie the Gonliim knot of mythology. On a. certain day 'Hark was Traversing' Sixth Avenue en route to the SoteitVi Neckwear factory, wheir he chanced to glance into the w*.tdow ol a "neW. pastry shop, bearing the sign •pasticcerni"-—which he innocently sup-, posed to In- rh* nana- rt» the proprietor.-- - " The window, which was appetising enough with it* currant buns and Roman" tartlets! would not hare held them- bevond an instant, bad he not i caught "sight of an extraordinarily , prettylijdian girl standing behind the counter. -In the absence of custom. she iras yawning prodigiously.; A vonng and pretty girl can make e'en a \awn a tiling or fascination, especially if she has perfect teeth and a dimple or two: but it is doubtful if Markwonld have hesitated long bad not the season been nearly sprint* and the day warm and seductive. He entered, to find one of those marvellous and exquisite products of tlie second generation which bloom so lnxuriantiv ou the sturdy peasant stalk when it ii, transplanted to the stimulating soil and atmosphere- of America. With this product Mark' discussed tlie expediency of purchasing a half-dozen entrant- buns whirli he did not in tho least desire. The purchase completed, conversation languished, though the girl was " amiablv pleased to have « customer to talk with. Mark, however, was -universal in the arts of innocent flirtation —which is possibly one reason »«? was'theNovcltv Company's, head j»»l«.-.->-man. while so" many of its Komeos languished at desks. Presently he left the ipasticceria, regretful, and possibly a little-regretted. ' Qnce more chance gripped Mark *orrcst. -Had he not entered the little pastry-shop, it is improbable that his eve -would have caught the modest sign across the street of '-Professor Balthazar, Crvstal Gazer," or that he TOttld have" troubled to hunt np such a practitioner. As it befell, he hesi-tated-but a moment, crossed the avenue, and was presently ushered into the dingy abode of the seer. Forrest had recently witnessed a stirring six-reel film entitled "Quo Vadis." Its marvels, in fact, had interested him &> much that he had seen it no fewer than three times. Till then his classical knowledge had •been that of the average 'busy man. He knew, of course, that Cleopatra choked to death on a pearl, presumably while eafmg an oyster stew: that Casor swam the Rubicon, doubtless for some urcent reason, and ihat the Roman . emperors persecuted the early Christians something fierce. The early Christians, he vaguely supposed, were Baptists, with possibly a smattering of Methodists, but certainly neither Episcopalians, nor Unitarian*. Hungry for more detailed information than even "Quo Vadis." could afford, lie turned to erystal-gazing as one plays a long shot. "Professor 'Balthazar, greeted ■him with warmth nicely tempered with dignitv. The seer'!, appearance was distinctly reassuring. Hi* beard was patriarchal, his girth impressive;. ami while one in reduced circumstances, might have worn his shiny frock co-it. certaiulv n" one could do so and lead a double life". A double chin, however, he indubiiably possessed: and Forrest noted with approval that bis cravat was clean. , "And what may I do for you. sir.'' he demanded, waving Mark to a chair whose gagging bottom suggested many ptevious visitors. ■"ls it possible for a man to —to remember back 'to-any time !*• was on earth before, cither as himself »r some ancestor r" inquired .Mark. Tlie iHofrssor assured him heartily it was even so. "The Hindu Yogis." -said h«\ '"do so l.v a sirnnle -yot tedious process. If I wen- to ask you, jiointblank. just when.and what you were doing at. let "us say. half-past two on hist Wednesday, could vou tell me offhand ■" •-XuV" replied Mark after a moment's hesitation, which merely assured him thai at the. time specified .he was somewhere in Ponghkeepsie visiting the trade. Professor Balthazar foamed afresh. "Vet. were you to fogin from tjitnresem moment and work ca'refully back. dav bv da v. hour by hour, you r-oukl do r,o. * Welf. the Yogis seat themselves beneath a date-palm and retrace the minutest actions of their lives, not how bv hour, but miunte by miniiie. until, thev come to the very hour ot birth: yet.", cried the professor, u.ini;ing 'to his subject, "and so beyond until they pass back to their previous reincarnation. and many more. But this takes years of profound aud uiuts- - ierrapted medium. You are a busy m.in?" he concluded. "I 'anil" .asserted Mark firmly. "Uveii if there wa.> a date-tree in New York'fb help; we remember. I couldn't afford the time that way.'* "Precisely." agreed the professor, rubbing plump palms together. -And for such as yon there is another way—- » short-cm "it" I may speak in the vernacular. You place yourself in repose, with your mind concentrated upon the epoch you have in view, and I induce the hypnotic state. Had yon any spe. cial .era iii mind?" "Weil, do you suppose any nf my ancestors happened to live in ancient Rome. say. in" the reign of Xerof" Professor Balthazar "could not repress a slight start of surprise, which sent a .jpjly-like txint.r through his greiit name: hut he was not to he caugiit amiss. . .

•*ft is almost certain that not one but many of them did so." said he. •'Reflect* that von are of European stock"; that in Xero's day all the road-, to Europe lead to Rom.-. Reflect yet further how innumerable were your nnep.v tors at thai tim-. You had fonr grandparent: eight great granti. parents; sixteen, thirty-two. sixty-four —they increase in geometrical progression a* yon go back, until it is perft-ctlv possible to prove that, by working back far enough, the-ancestors of any living mnir vastly outnumbered the entire imputation 'of tin* world, paradoxical as this may seem. And how remote the chance that not one of them lived in Rome, the greit capital, the mistress of tlw world!" Erofesor Balthazar paused, having become quite breathless with his own __ logic. „ , . .Mark Forrest was deeplv impressed, though he by no mean* followed all the seer's argument*. "Well." he said, after a pause, "I want- to go there." Professor smiled indulgently. "Let me suggest a shorter jonnicy he expostulated. "A swt «' trial trip, as it were. Such a tremendous plunge into the oast might b » fatiguing and even dancercii.-. 1 must see whether you' are a gnod .-nbjcct: later on, we. may rentnre Rome, or eren Nineveh. My fee is two dollars." Mark' having paid, the professor brought forth from a cabinet a large crystal boll, which he placed upon a black, velvet cloth on the table. "An.easy posture now," snid he: "■perfect-repose: Gaze earnestly nt the globe and 1 try, so. far as possible, to think of nothing at all. Empty your mind as if it were a carafe." . In the effort .to think of nothing at all. Mark thought of almost everything,' and.aU at once: even trifles'absurdly unimportant clamored at-him. Gradually, however, under the gentle and gestures of Professor Balthazar. Miis mental tumult subsided. --. The - silence - was broken only by the seer's benevolent assurances: "You., are gettine: drowsy." "You are almost asleep." "Yon arc asleep!" Finally passed into oblivion—an oblivion that was startlinglybroken. He stumbled, v as it"seemed to him,, only to recover, with the clicking fames of dost in his nose and a sense of dreadful fatigue upon' him. Besides Him. before him, marched thousands clad in bltfe'; above hint drooped a great banner; -torn and Jbloody, upon which he readi with no feeling of surprise. the insignia of his father's old infantry regiment.* : " ".

I.ik.- tin- rot lu- »H»r.- ;i heavy Springfiel'l nfl". It £rwn heavier anil heavier from iii'jincnt to moment, so that when :» llv nlighted on the dot barrel, he teebiv brushed the insect- off, unable, m> he fell, to bear even.its tiny added ncighl.

Visions of tool shade and running water tortured Jits half-delirious mind. Just as lie felt that he must drop in his tnuks and let the river of men flow over his body, a strange, screaming cry passed overhead, followed by a deep boom and the crackle of rifles, like bunches, of fire-crackers.

Sharp commands fang out. All fntiyio left him in the twinkle of on eve: more surprising, all thirst as well. He squared his shoulders and gazed—into the eves of Professor Balthazar, who was snapping his pudgy fingers mid Miiiling indulgently.

I'rnmptlv at the appointed lroiir on tin- following Wednesday Mark prc--ciited himself before Professor JJaltbazar, and was presently gazing earnestly at the crystal hall on its black .loth. In a short time the dingy appointments of the seer's abode laded from his sight, and lie sincl ed purple Ifiacs, which' waved gently before the open ivindow of a large room. The toom itseir was nor familiar; but there were certaiii articles of furniture that iie recalled. The grenadier and irons m the wide fireplace; a. high-boy, long treasured in the family; some stiff portraits of bewhiskered ancestors npon the wall—these lie knew ■well. They reposed, as he had every reason to believe, in the old family mansion at | Salem. . . , Himself he surveyed with vague surprise in a great French mirror elaborately framed in gord. His trousers were tight-fitting, were strapped beneath his boots. He wore a flowered velveteen waistcoat, a blue coat, cut smartlv awav from his waist and bearing silver buttons. His hair -was Jong and dark and indubitably oiled, while nr:>tlv trimmed side-whiskers adorned .i an face. A black stock tie choked iii,. E uncomfortably. But of greater interest was the figure of a voung woma:i who was languishin" upon a haircloth sofa, her chin in one shapely hand, her hair severely combed down over her ears. She was dressed in a flowered poplin, cut. square in the neck, and with a most astonishingly flaring skirt.distended by some stiff substance, which gave lier somewhat the appearance of a reversed balloon. She wore jet earrings; an enormous cameo brooch Tose anil-fell on her bosom, and her free hand played idlv with an ivory fan. As in a dream, Mark heard himself speaking. He had seated himself upon the sofa, at- its far end. Placing his hand upon his heart, he mnnnured: •'Miss Prudence, I have long cherished for yon feelings of the most

ardent nature!" - "Oil, la, Mr Forrest!' replied the balloon lndv, casting her eyes decorously down. "Really, I cannot fancy why von should sneak so to me!" * "I have held my peace as long as flesh and Wood can endure;" Mark heard himself reply. "From childhood tou have been my ideal of loveliest Womanhood. I will not conceal from you that 1 have begged from the squire, your honored father, permission to pav mv addresses to you. My dear Mi'ss Prudence.!" Here Mark Hopped suddenlv to his knees before her, rescued her fan-ha-ud, pressed it convulsively, and placed it over bis flowered waistcoat. "May I, oh, may I hope to win your regard?" A deep, nn astonishingly deep, sigh was his answer. The figure of Miss Prudence swayed toward him and fell heavily upon his shoulder!-, upsetting liim upon the sanded floor. The lady had swooned. Frantically struggling to recover his i balance and his dignity. Mark heard the soothing voice of Professor Balthazar. "There .now! Do not struggle! iou are awake!" Again he beheld the portly seer, the crystal ball, the little room on Sixth Avenue.

One dav Professor Balthazar failed to bring forth the familiar crystal sphere. "I am an honest man," fiaid he- "* wish to deal fairly with you. As a subject yon have proved remarkably responsive. It will now be possible for me to induce antohypno.tism —that is, to waft your soul to any point of time •or .space." He shuffled to his cabinet and produced a sphere carefully wrapped in black clotil. *

This one, ample ior your purposes, will cost you only tea dollars. Take it. my friend, with an old man's blessing!" Mark Forrest pocketed the sphere and unpocketed the ten dollars. a. quiet place, say a, conch, and concentrate on your crystal sphere: and- merely focus upon, any bright jet of light—say. a gns.ray shining upon a whisky decanter." Here Professor Balthazar licked his chops. A sudden call, to the middle West, to push the new cubist and futurist neckwear, drove from Mark Forrest's mind all thoughts of the spiritual life. Upon his return he repaired to Swenson's Turkish Baths to have, a little mid-Western dust scraped off. la the superheated steamroom his eyes caught a gleam of light from a gas-jet upon a pipe, and subconsciously, he- began repeating over and over: "I am in News Rome. 1 am in Nero's Koine!" Presently his eyes closed, and the' ignorant, materialistic New Yorker of his acquaintance wotdd hare jumped to the conclusion that he was sound asleep. Something tickly under his nose awakened him. He gazed with bleared eves upon a scene totally unfamiliar. He .was lying, or reclining, not on the nubbly conch of Swenson's Baths, but upon an elaborately carved affair overspread with a costly silk fabric dyed Tynan purple. The Mark Forrest of the Novelty Neckwear Company instantly realised its fine texture and coloring. There were three couches disposed abont a low table, spread with a mighty array of eatables and drinkables. An empty gold flagon stood before him, and there was in his mouth a sickly, sweetish taste, which vaguely recalled the wiiin served free with dinner in certain Hungarian, restaurants, only this was more pungent. He felt- decidedly groggy. Not till he had pulled himself together with an effort did he observe that a negro in a yellow tunic was persistently trying to force a flamingo feather down his throat. The beneficent-purpose of this operation he did hot at the time understand, although later it became an al•most every-day—or evcry-jiight experience. He angrily pushed tho negro away, and rose to a sitting posture. Then, for the first time, lie noted that lie was dressed in a fine white robe, or toga —about the grade of material, so lie judged, used by the Novelty Company for outing tics—and that his barb feet - were encased in jewelled- y.mdrjs. All about him rose a babble of laughter,- talk, maundcrings, loud disputations, fragments of song. '-'.',

No one paid the slightest attention to him. Most were reclining on their couches, although some were sitting up like himself. One or two were wandering- about, and a few were snoring:

But the figure which at once attracted Mark's attention was "seated directly across the citnis-wood table frm him, swaying uncertainly upon his couch. It- was that of a*man still young, but gross and fat. with pendulous chops and triple chin. His face i was the' color of a poor quality of lard, and was mottled -with red veins, while a wreath of laurel was «et at a rakish angle on his bushy, black hair. Evidently near-sighted, he had constant recourse to a large crystal lens, through -which a .Weary ' eye, enormously' magnified, peered at one and another of. the assembled, guests. Instantly Mark knew' this repulsive creature for Nerd Claudius .Ooesarj and as instantly he knew that he ,was in imperial- Rome, Hearing and 'understanding with case the purest Latinpure, at least, from the standpoint of the grammarian. A great' hatred of the cruel emperor swept over "him."' He longed to. bury his fingers in the'flabby''neck of the monster, who persecuted Christians to make- a I Roman'holiday. '." I

At this moment a low, wn-11-modTilnt ed voice from the couch at hi- 1011. ".Minns Sylvaiicus, how iikrM ihon the first dinner of our emperor . ulm-h thou hast houored with tliy presence since thv return.from the provinces:-" Mark turned to behold a handsome voting Ronisiu, frightfully pale, and "with deep circles beneath rather mclancholv eves. He at once knew hts neighbor" to be Uaiiis .'l'etrpnins Arbiter, famed for the entertainments he devised for Nero; a disfipatwl'but kindly man. noted foi> his wit »nd learning. "Well. Pete." replied the quondam Mark Forrest in excellent Latin, yet with baffling idiom. "I thtnkit's fierce, since you-ask hie!" ;" l' "Deaf Marcus,' he rejoined. ' thy provincialisms are most piquant. Confess. at» least, that the fare is excellent!" At this moment Mark became awar© of a beautiful 'girl, perhaps eighteen years old with exquisite forin; outlined beiiea'th her whit* tunic, an oval face of creainv olive tint, criuisori lips, and eves and hair of midnight darkness. A slave giil stood by each guest to attend to his wants, but not one of the 'ulicrs was as beautiful as she. At the time he noticed her she was (lacing before him a dish of camel s heels stewed in saffron, after which she refilled his flagon with Falcnan wine, ftiaiiciiig across the table at Nero, Mark observed that he was- ravenously consuming a fracossee of nightingales tongues. . using the fingers of both hands, while juice and morsels of food ran'down his triple chini and over his toga. , ... There followed other strange dishes, some til which Mark knew instiiictivelj, others at which lie could merely hazard a -Miess There were thin' slices or elephant's trunk, with some sort of .sauce made from sheil-fish, a young ostrich stuffed with field-mice in honey, and. bearing its magnificent tail feathers: a huso tunny-fish brought alive by" relays of runners from the Oulf of Salerno: and mighty eels, fattened UDon condemned slaves. There' was too much of the AlarK Forrest of New York in the Marcus SyJvaticns of Home for him to relish thp*e new—or, rather, old —dishes; he was more diverted by the buffoons and dancers who appeared between courses. In the Domus Aurea. the wonderful palace that. Nero built on the Palatine and Esquiline Hills, a mile in length, with rooms plated in solid gold studded with jewels, and surrounded by parks and artificial lakes, nothing was left to the imagination of the guests. Much that Mark witnessed astonished him," not a little scandalised him, and a Teat deal fascinated'him. Toward the end of the feast Nero rose unsteadily, his wreath at a more rakish angle than ever, and'plucked a few preliminary- notes from a lyre, fnstantlv silence prevailed:- whereupon the mightv Csesar announced, in a high and "squeaky voice, that he was about to favor his dear friends with an otic composed and set to music by himself. ••The selfsame ode with which I won the Olympic crown of golden oak-leaves in Greece." he added. Thereupon he began an interminable and unutterably dull recitative, in which all the deities of mythology appeared, with Bacchus enacting the

leading role. ■When at rpngtli he had done, he listened eagerly to the enforced applause of his audience. Potroiiius sat .silent, a faintly sarcastic smile lightinsj his pale face, while Mark showed no feeling whatever. Presently Xero ••spied him •'And how likest it,-dear Marcus?" said lie. "it's the limit'." replied Mark. "Rotten! You eouldn't get a job in a night-lunch cart in my little burg, not if you did your turn for nothing. You have a voice like a peacock troubled with asthma!"

Mark's idioms were largely lost upon .Nero. Not so his meaning. The emperor collapsed weakly upon his couch, while a shuddering gasp ran about the table. A horrified slave dropped a platter of Luerine oysters. The situation was pregnant with sinister possibilities, when a diversion was created by Petronius, who -with quick wit slipped to the wall and pulled a cord. Instantly ivory panels opened in the ceiling, and thousands of roses descended upon the guests, half burying them beneath masses of fragrant petals. Indeed, some of the sleepers had to be exhumed or they would have been literally smothered.

In the resulting confusion the party broke up, and the guests hastily sought their litters. Mark found himself in a box-like arrangement tilled with downy cushions, and borne by four ■huge Nubians, while linkboys lighted the way, and a slave, bearing a *ort of wand or cudgel, went ahead to clear the'path. Hie gold plate upon which hj» had been served had been tumbled into the litter with him. it being the custom in imperial Rome to present, to each departing guest the set-up of his dinner. Frequently Nero improved upon this by presenting his cronies with the attendant slaves. It was so in this instance; for presently Mark, noticing a slight figure trudging wearily by the side of his litter, looked out and beheld the pretty girl who had unavailingly plied hint with stewed camels' heels.

He called for his hearers to stop, and bade her enter the litter, well understanding how fatigued the child must be after spending hours.upon her feet. She shrank back, surprised and affrighted. Then, recovering, she obeyed, as a slave must, and hnddfed into the corner of the litter, where she almost instantly fell asleep. IV.

Through endless dark streets and narrow passages Mark was borne to his palace, where he alighted, and was escorted by a gorgeous majordomo across tho vestibulum, with its mosaic representation of a barking dog and the words ''cave X-aiiem,"' and so to the atrium,- opening upon which was his cubiculuni, where he was duly and ceremoniously put to bed. It was late when he awakened, but a watchful slave was instantly at his side. After being bathed and clad in, a fresh toga, he was led to the triclinium, where an enormous breakfast awaited him, of which he partook sparingly, eating only the least doubtful-looking dishes. He missed his coffee frightfully, and would have given a golden talent for a cigarette.

He also missed the pretty slave girJ, and inquired for her. In a trice siie was brought before him. The steward, it appeared, had" assigned her to the kitchen. Mark gave orders that hereafter she -should " serve Mm at meals, should do no other work, and should have a slave of her- own.

'With the rapidity of. wireless the news spread through the establishment), and all the servants understood- that a now star had risen upon their horizon. At a word the little slave girl had become a power. Not knowing what else to do, Mark called his house steward and asked that dignitary's advice. The steward suggested' that all his friends would he at the- baths. "But I've'already had mv bath."

objected Mark. ■ ' The steward gently urged that there would surely be.* much to amuse one, even wero he not to bathe at all. Vaguely comprehending him. .Mark ordered his litter and set fortJi.' The great establishment- to which lie was carried rather took his ' breath away. It reminded him- of the State Capitol at Albany, save/that it looked more substantial. But if its exterior impressed him. the interior so overcame him that- he suffered himself to bo! borne away by obsequious attendants and bathed for the second time that morning. And such a bath he had never before dreamed' of, not even in Strenson's Turkish 'Baths back in New York. He was steamed, boiled, sprayed, shaved, massaged; pummelled, ducked, oiled, perfumed,.- and baked. When the affair was completed, he felt that he would not'need to do more than wash his face and hands for at least a fortnight. However, ho felt better than ever before' m his life; and could boiely refrain 'from capering. In- due season he wandered: from the drying-room to a vast hall, where aJI manner of sports and amusements were in progress. A bevy of beautiful JStrns-can-girls played in -ft pool, like mermaids, busy at" some sorifof gameiike water-polo. Contortionists 1 anil jugglers attracted a .languid few.'- At ."one end ,of ; the" hall T£ sophist was giving a philosophical' dissertation.', At, another a being enacted.' J~

Some vomit; men nnd women were chasing one another a.s gracefully as tiimi- ;iiid nymphs, evidently following the nilc> ot >.ome .sport unknown t»/\\lark, but intelligible to the audience. wl:ieh .shrieked approval. There •was music: slaves were bearing ice-cold sherbets, traits, confections, and wineshere and there: and at once place some professional gladiators were preparing to exercise. • _ Thither Mark betook iimiselr, and presently found Petronius Arbiter at. his shoulder. ."•. "Greeting, Marcus," said the famous arbiter elegantiaruni. He-was still pale,, but -Jiis ha.Hi. bad removed the circles ifrom, his eyes, and be looked much refreshed. "And to you, mv dear Pete," replied . Mark, who liked "the courteous yoiuig Roman. , . Meanwlulc, wo men clad" only in loin-cloths-and sandals had stepped forth,.and attendants : were strapping upon their hand-? cushions which leaked Eke euarmous. .boxingrgJoves. Mark noted! that their ears were covered! wrfch pads.- Though lie could scarcely believe his eves, it- was evident that they intended to box. It was apparent also that the Roman,, "like, the New \orker was not disposed, to take cliances ot injury while out of the ring. Presently they were- xeady, and squared off. They stood, firmly on both feet, square to each other, withtjctfc arms-outstretched, about equally. Their posture was so amusing to Mark tnat ho laughed aloud,: whereat those near him gazed curiously upon him. "Pete, there are. two nice, ripe lemons,'* said Mark to Petronius when the pugilists jiaused after a bout, 'A second-rate preliminary filter ought to nut it ail over both of then. They box like my Aunt Hannah. Why does the gallery stand it?" , "Dost mean, my .good Marcus, tha* thino approval is withheld from them. Yet thev are considered! two ot our finest experts with .the. cestus. ' : "Well, I'd just like to take up about three minutes of their time!" replied .Mark. «ho was'quick and .wiry, ami had devoted a. good! deal of time to the. noble ait in the gymnasium .connected with his favorite Turkish bath, presided over by- the famous professm, Mike O'Rourke. . . Petronius could not repress a steirt of surprise. ■ ~ . 'ls it possible thou wouldst venture to pit thyself against men suc-h as Uvev?" lo asked, eyeing Mark's not very impressive physique. , . , "Now, you're talking, Petel cried Mark, joyfully. "Introduce me ta either of the orofesfiors. Petronius hesitated. He bad takeni a fnn<-v to Alary and feared that w» friend might L ißJnredL Ejecting however, on the size of the mittens worn and having a keen sense of humor he could not resist the novel expe. •- ence of seeing a Roman noble pitted against a gla'diator dn the PUJPJatus. Beckoning, therefore, to one of the. boxers? he briefly and coldly formed him tHat Marcus Sylvaticus would do him the honor to spar with mm. . Tre pugilist was infinitely astonished, and could not at first bc-liere_ his ears When ho was convinced that a was not a jest, he contemptuously renised to permit Mark to wear any mittens, but agreed to spar with him it bo would do so ban-listed. He himself., of course, would wear his gloves. •U first Mark indignantly reinsert. He declared that he might do the man an injurv; might even knock him out. Nothing would move the boxer, however, To at- length: Mark grudgingly consented to his terms. Quite a little crowd had drawn near, sensing something unusual in the air: and something unusual was the breath of life to Xero'.s Rome. When Mark stepped forth to lace the pugilist, bathers came scurrying from evc ' r .y~ wh"ie. The sophist found himsoll talking to vacant air. and stalked majestically from the hall to the scriptorium, to seek solace'in reading. Hie Etruscan girls rose, dripping and laughing, from their pool. The jugglers drew near, following their audience. Petronius looked on with a cynical smile. ~,•'■ ,1 When Mark balanced himself lightly on the ball of his right foot, his le!t foot thrust forward, with long ielt arm advanced and right fist held back clo«e to his breast a gale of laughter swept through the ball. The pugilist sneered openly. A second later his great pillow shot out for .Mark's race. Mark had noted that the man was slow, and guossed that he -was muscleboutid. He merely threw his own head to the right. The glove was to enormous that it glazed bis car, but nothing more. The Roman tried with the other

hand. Mark threw Ju-s head to the left, at the same time burying his right fist deep in the leathery stomach of his opponent. This plainly nettled the pugilist, although it probably did not hurt hint much *; and, with a rush, he bored in. striking with both hands at once, in the Roman fashion, awkwardly, but. witli. unquestionable iorcc. "'Mark treated the assembled bathers to an exhibition of side-stepping and general footwork never before seen in the imperial city. Then, most unexpectedly, instead of retreating, he stepped in quickly, just as his antagonist started another rush, aud met him flush on the uose with the full force of his own weight and the- momentum of the professional. Instantly the pugilist sat down hard on the mo-aic floor, with blood gushing from his outraged nostrils. Fury gleamed in his eyes,-and he started io rise; but a dozen htinds held him back, and packed him olf to the quarters allotted to the athletes. Mark found himself suddenly famous. He was nearly mobbed by pretty girls, delighted nobiles, rival boxers, poets, musicians; while the calm Petroniu: had difficulty in preserving his aplomb. "ft was nothing,*' said Mark, expanding his chest to nearly thirty-six inches. "J told him he was taking a chance, with me not wearing the mitts. I'd like a go at him with them on. 1Y show you some real class!" On "the whole, he felt vastly pleaset'. with himself. He could not forbeai telling his pretty slave girl about u on returning home to dinner. He; name, she told him. was Simonctta. She never spoke, unless he addressee her; but it seemed that she had alrwuh hoard of his exploit, probably from hh Nubian bearers. If Mark was a hcr< at the baths, he was a demigod in hi: own house.

In the afternoon Mark took a sfcrol through the Roman Forum. H;*r. were Roman matrons, attended by imposing retinues, languidly eyeing tiro slaves exposed for sale. Before litth shops hung advertisements of the .cynical epigrams of Martial, engrossed pi papyrus-rolls. Martial being the favor ite author of the mfiient. Orators. a;_ everywhere, were, holding forth. -.Marf felt quite, at'home here, from-his experience, at the motion-picture shows. Men and women unknown to hjm saju ted him gravely, and Roman nrcliiu:. pointed him out admirably as.the nobl. who had beaten an athlete. On the whole. Mark was havin," t''< Latin-equivalent, for the "time of his life.'" ;He didn't especially care if.he never went .home. Possibly -1 though, Simonetta. played, a larger share in his content than he realised. As time How by her shyness vanished; little by little, together with, her fears. ite never said or did anything that could offend.her; he succeeded in getting her to talk, which she did freely enough as ;she gaiDed confidence; .and she spent more and more tune ill, his company. . He found her bright, intelligent, and amiable. Had she possessed the disposition, her tyranny over the other slaves might have, been absolute. It amused Mark hugely t<? hear, her give; .orders -to the house, steward, and to see him hasten to obey them. She rapidly learned the things he" liked,to eat and saw that.be had them, and" finallv she came to the tin- ■• heiird-of .point of sharing his meals with him; . . . • '" i

Much-of his time, necessarily, was spent away from his house. The social duties of a Roman noble, were onerous i ard obb'-'at-ory. Mark., was "bli<red .to I call on ladies' of qualify who bored him iuexpressil'U-: The- nluxnp matron, Julia- -liyinuhaticaV wife of ati influential .senator, and her stilted.; artificial ; <l»;xr'*U'rs. ■• w«;o ■■■ perhaps the worst of all. ■■- . There were endless dinners and coifc vi via,, where, he wasobliged to go ..huh-. *n-y and offend ■ his: hosts, .or. to. feat.strange dishes, iwhich-he; .stupectec. darkly., but'could- not 'always iJehtify, and for his .peace/of: mind did: not.'tr3j to idontify. -Then,- also, a two-days' f'oms *¥o.. was i «"ire> t* I rouse unfavorable *; comment. He feltj perpetually parboiled.•:-•'■■ :'^ ''■-.'■'■ ';;■. "T' 'V!

At other time.-, ;i party was made up io vi.-.it the .Suburba or tile Velobriun - H(.niiiii slums—a, little worse, biu otherwise much the same as a-tour.oi New > ork or Parisian dives. Occasionally Mark looked in at, the gladiators training ou'artersi where he saw his old adversary, . n Q«". recovered frouhis pei>visluie.ssi anil wher;e -he becauu. quite a welcoihe griest.'v He _lilied h t. watch '.then* tfain,'' ; arid to' sib.a.fej thei.. table arid Wt their hoarse, wholesonu fare. - ;; The street life of the imperial cit. 'never failed to interest him. Especial Iv he liked to see.the legions; marc: through, en route for some unruly pro vinciv- possibly -thousands of miles distant. The -Heavy- Infantry,- with-' tfiei. short, .;straigiit. : world-conquering swords,-beneath the Roniaii *agles; th-javelin-throwers,, light-clad and wiry.. the- : -IJttggage-vans; the ponderous -but. tering-rahis and catanults; and some times.'a-company of slingers. lean arid bronzed arid muscular, v.u right arms bared to the shoulder, am bearing long, leather slings arid bags o round ;pebbles, ranging in size from a golf-ball to a tennis-ball.. One dav it occurred to him to ainufi himself by hypnotising Si.monetta. an he farpd " forth in search of a crista sphere. • He had long since noted that the Roman augurs seemed to hold him in vast respect. They invariably saluted him; in some subtle way they knew

him to .be a man of mysterious powers and gifts, and accepted him. not merely ann brother, but rather.as a master.. Truth to tell, the Roman augurs rather bored .one another; arid Mark's arrival was a .relief to the ennui _of eternally examining chickens' entrails for signs and portents for; the credulous. To one. of them. Mark made known his desire, and soon received-a fine crystal, for which the augur refused all compensation,, save a lock of Mark's, hair, for some occult use unknown U him. - ' ' With the aid of (lie sphere. Mark succeeded, after considerable patience..

in hypnotising Simonetia. "You are in New York, in .the yeai 1915,-' he kept monotonously repeating. At length a look of wonder passeo over her" irresponsive face. •'Oh!'' she-murmured, clasping-hei hands together anijl leaning forward. "What do you see, Siiuonetta?'" •'J see strange chariots' dashing here and there, without horses," she said. '•And such wondrous garments tin t-lii. myriad people: such dreadful garments !"' "What else, Simonetta?" •'The buildings are higher than any. ol our seven' hills," she proceeded. "Great dragons wind through the city on lii.gh aqueducts. And everybody is in such a dreadful hurry. Whither are they all going? Oh, lam tired!" she cried petulantly like a child. "I' want to go away!" Mark gently stroked her brow, and presently she awoke. , "Why. 1 have been asleep!" she cried

jii surprise. •'And didn't you dream anything, Simonetta?" lip asked, taking her little hand and .pressing it gently. •Try to remember." fjho shook her head slowly. - » "J dreamed something., master., lint what, it was I eanuot rememher. I think it "had something to. do with thee!"

For ilie first time Mark drew hor sent, iv to him an kissed her, almost shyly She -seemed iike a puzzled child, slit was r:> sweet' and winsome that he could ■ not help it. And then she reminded him in a baffling way of someone whom lie had knowii in The distant past —or. i>os>ibly. in the distant future. She sighed a little, and buried lier face in his shoulder." Angry with himself, since she was onlv a little slave girl who dare not refuse his wishes, Mark rose rudely and strode out into the street. He nearly collided with Petronitis. who informed hint that they were to attend the .Emperor tlr.it night on one of his adventures, '--ii. "Popn;ea is dead," Petroiuus added i.-i an even voice. "Nero's wife!" exclaimed Mark. "How did that happen?" Petronius brushed a speck of dust from his snowy toga. Then he looked suddenly into Mark's eyes. "The* Emperor kicked her to death this morning," he said. "Till to-night, dear friend —at the Dorans Aurea. alter sundown '" And he departed in his litter for his house on the Viiuinal Hill. That night Mark reluctantly took part in one of Nero's wild orgie.s. Convoyed Ijy a force of the Pretoria Guard, the Emperor and his boon conv psnions proceeded along the Via Flaminia to the Milvian Bridge, where they j-eized a number of unfortunate wayfarers —men. women, and children alike —and tossed them in great blankets, delighting in their shrieks of fear and pain. It some stout citizen protested, the guards beat him mercilessly. Most m' the victims offered no resistance, knowing their tormentors to be nobles, possibly suspecting that Nero himself was at. his buffoonery again. When this palled, the revellers passed to other and wilder pranks. Mark returned home, sick at heart and thoroughly disgusted. Long ere this he had learned that he was a man of ancient family', which had furnished Rome with many high magistrates and distinguished soldiers. He owned great estates in several provinces, though where, his geography tlid not inform him-: he had unlimited ■riches and no responsibilities with them. His slaves took .charge-of everything. There were provincial stewards,, a house steward, and a chief secretary to whom they reported. Mark had 'but to cali for money and it was produced. Beyond .signing an occasional papyrus-deed with his signet-iing. he had no work whatever. He found one day. in an obsenre street, whose blank walls were scrawled with rude drawings and nonsense lines chalked uo by "Roman street urchins, a little irorustudded door, bearing a symbol at which he gazed open-mouthed; for it was that of the secret order to which he had belonged as Mark Forresiin the distant future. He had known it to be an ancient order, or so reputed ; but to find its symbol engraved here in Nero's Borne astonished him.. Because he had become accustomed to power ami obsequious service, he knocked unhesitatingly upon the door. A slick- opened suddenly, and a dark eye surveyed him. There came a rattle of chains and bolts,- and he found himself in a dark entrance hall, facing a man with a, drawn sword. There followed whispered pass-words with an unseen guardian through another .slide: grips were exchanged, and suddenly Mark was thrust into a hall so brilliantly illuminated that at first,he could see nothing. " :A figure clad in ritualistic robes advanced and gravely saluted him. "Welcome, master!" the Roman said : and Mark learned once again that there is littlo new under the: - sun. . At another time he visited the Tempie of lsis in the Campus Martins,.and beheld the hollow statue of the goddess, in which a priest hid himself while he chanted cryptic words from the brazen lips and "the worshippers beat their heads upon the floor. Other and less .seemly rites he witnessed in yet more temples.: forjt seemed.that, he was made free of all mysteries, being himself regarded as a magician who: for, some inscrutable reason of his own. did not tresnass upon 'the activities of other cults. Why, he never knew,~unless it were that the devotees of the cult possess a sort of freemasonry which enables them to recognise one another. Vet tithe sometimes hung heavily on his hands. He-was in this strange Rbfr..in world, so to speak, yet not wholly of it- : .

On one such occasion lie was seized with ail inspiration. Calling for scissors", sewing materials, and some fine : fabrics, he fashioned a number, of gor.gebus craVats—-four-in-hands, ascots, 'wipdsors. and bows. He t-cok to wearing these abroad, and Roman society 'eagerly caught /up the idea. Soon all the reallv smart young meii.. and many wlio were not so smart., appeared with neckwear, indifferently knotted to be «nre, on their spotless togas. To set the seal of fashion upon it. the Senate eravely passed a sumptuary law forbiddinsj plebeians- to wear neckties. - :_ was a young noble, sadly impoverished,; to whom Mark had taken a liking:-' Qnintus Harmodius was his nafne. To him Marie gave the exclusive- right-to sell the genuine Marcus Sylraticus neckwear.. - >--.*' 'v:i It made the"-fortune of Harmodiusj who established a factory mthymany slave \r workers. ifMark :

would visit.the .factory and suggest ■new-, designs to ihe delighted foreman. .. "; : \-W '■'<■'*■■ ..VI.-..;.-f.> : . ■

The great games: were approaching, and Mark was looking forward to them with a'sort of timorous anticipation. H e longed..- yet feared, to witness the thrilling: spectacles that would be presented.-;, . .'-.,'. . ~ The games .were to take place m tlie large, circus, or amphitheatre, that Nero had but completed _on the westerni bank of the Tiber. On the opening day Mark was early in the. emperor's podium, or private box, where--lie was an honored guest. All about sat the patrician bloods; to the left the vestal virgins, in whose keeping lav the life ami death of the contending gladiators.. Looking these ladies ldlv over.. Mark mentally labelled them as a rather hard-looking bunch, 'and swore he would not give one of Simonetta's- little fingers for the entire outfit. ' At length tlie spacious amphitheatre was filled to the topmost row. All Rome was there —nobles, women, soldiers, freedmen, slaves. Mark beheld the gladiators file past the podium, salute Nero with clashing swords, and chant the mournful refrain : •Morituri. te saliitant!" He gazed upon, the strange and outlandish men and beasts from far quarters of the globe. Be noted the haughty captives taken in battle —the stalwart Germanic women, big and "blonde, with fearless hostility blazing in their blue eyes. He heard the herald wind his horn and announce the opening of the games. "■• • As one familiar to-the sight, he saw a retiarius, nearly nude, and armed onlv with net and* trident, flee nimbly before the heavily armed warrior who sought to evade the net and engage his foe at close quarters. He held all the, time-honored combats designed to de-

light the populace of sensation-loving Rome, and new* one!* arranged for this occasion. There "was much blood, but there were perfumes to kill its acrid odor: there were many shrieks, but they were drowned in roars of applause; there were mangled bodies, but they were quickly dragged from the arenaf) ■Mark. was. in turns nauseated, enraged, excited, and enthusiastic. He disapproved of it all, and yet he knew, were he to remain in Rome, that he would never voluntarily miss these thrilling spectacles. To his great relief, no Christian masters were done to death that day. There were weird' contrasts between women aud dwarfs; between a huge bear, fetched from some far northern python and a buffalo;'between a great ice-floe, and a Numidian lion. Finally, a little jungle was deftly .set up by the attendants, and presently three* black men emerged hesitatingiy From one of the big iron grills that opened upon the arena. Their bodies were oiled, their hair curiously coiled upon their' cocoanut-shaped heads. Tlicv bore bows and arrows. Cautiously the- 1 advanced toward the jungle in the centre of- the arena, while themighty audience held its breach in expectation. Foot by foot, inch by inch with arrows set on their bowstrings, they crept, finally reaching the jungle, into which they -peered with sharp and fearful eye?. Suddenly a great, hairy arm Hashed out, and one of the men disappeared. The other two instantly shoe a flight of arrows into the. jungle, and then sprang in and weie lost to view. Strange snariings. mingled with shrill cries, issued from it; then forth staggered an* enormous gorilla. bristling with arrows like a grotesque St. Sebastian, bearing one black man in his muscular arms and another in his teeth. The third negro hung to tinhuge simian's neck for a space, then relaxed and crumpled up on the sand. The animal dropped a moment later: all were dead.

Thunders ol applause were raised for the gorilla ; roses were flung on his hear"body as it was borne away on the shoulders "of six staggering attendant-.. To the three black men nobody gave any heed at all. Hooks were thrust into their bodies, and they were hauled unceremoniously across the sands and into the vaults below.

The pugilatus interested Mark gre.itly. Here the combatants were equipped with a formidable sort -if cestus —a great leather mitten stiffened with iron rings and knobs. A single blow, delivered on a vital spot, meant death, or at least dreadful disfigurement.

•'I was a mighty performer with the cpstus.'' Sriid Nero, turning to 'Mark, "f fought many times, and was never defeated. ; "retired supreme, champion." "Forget it, Claude!" said Hark, unable to ropre-s his disgust at .-tt-?h boasting. " "You couldn't win the i hfimpionship of an old ladies' homo. I'll go right down into the arena with you and "make yon look like a hippopotamus trying to do the tango!" Mark was conscious of an ominous silence prevailing "about hini. He i-aujriu sight of the pale face of Peuonius Arbiter, shorn of its perennial and sardonic smile; of that of Nero, threatening a cerebral hemorrhage ; of those of numerous nobles, whispering volubly. Presently, however, he was in his litter, bring borne away by the muscular Nubians. The following forenoon, while Ssh.ii?3 indolently in the piscina, the pond i<{ the inner courtyard of his house, he was visited by Petronius, paler" thai; ever, but suave as usual, Mark was languidly hooking carp, carefully removing the hook From their mouths so is not to tear them, .and then throwinig them back into the pool. _ By his side sat Simonetta. baiting his book afresh after each catch. Loud cries interrupted them, and Mark rose and strode into the garden at the back of the house, where ho beheld a slave triced up to a_ tree by •Us wrists, anrl with heavy weights attached to his ankie.s, being soundly [logged by a sturdy negro. The house steward stood by. watching the operation.

Mark loudly ordered that the unlucky slave should be instantly released. "Have I not forbidden corporal punishment in my household?" he added indignantly. > "But master." replied the steward, "he was detected stealing a basket of fruit, which he said lie was takingto his aged mother.- If we do not flog thieves.; anarchy will reign. The household will be destroyed!" "Did I not forbid corporal .punishment?" repeated Mark. "Master. \i is even so," replied the steward. "And did I not order that when, s slave; transgressed my few and simple rules for the second time :he shouuld not be flogged or tormented, but sold to a master who would perhaps deal with him less kindly than I?" "Master, thou hast spoken." Mark clapped his hands. Other slaves' .appeared. Mark instructed 'them that the unjust steward should be presented to the Lady Julia Lymphatica. with his compliments and expressions- of esteem. No more dreadful punishment could he devise: and, amid lamentations, the steward was- borne away. For it wa.% well known that the sen-ants of Marcus Syl«iticus were the happiest and best regulated in Rome, since he retained and rewarded the faithful ones, while he disposed; of those who ,had proved imappreeiative to less inercifr.l owners.

"Wheti Mark returned to the piscina. IVrroiiiu? «poke. "Dear Marcus, com-tost tliou death ? {•or surely thou knowcst that Ca-sar will never forgive-thee. The tilings thou has said to him are more bitter than the most daring words of Martial. JF<? niav seem to overlook them, but surely in the end he will break thee like a rotten twig.- He delays only to plan: a. revenge sufficient for_ th« ignominy thou hast put lipori him." - "My dear Pete." said" Mark, carefully unhooking _ a fat and indignant carp and tossing it back into the vater. "E should worry! lam going away. Rome' Isn't what it's cracked up to be. I have had bully time, but too much rongh stuff is pulled off here. This Nero person gets on my nerves'!"

"Ho abideth also on. mine own," agreed Petronius, 'who had learned to sense Mark's curious idioms.' "Bo careful to go soon and far; otherwise I' fear thy death will bo a slow and hard one. I. too. go, and T return not."

Petronius rose, leisurely, and .placed ii Mark's hand, a small olive*wood box.

"For thee dear friend," he said. "Ave atque-'vale!" ■ So-.tliev- parted. The little box contairied: a? Avoriderfiil necklace of palegreen emeralds.. Nest morning Mark received word tbat the body of Petronius had beer, found iii his hath, he having opened his veins in the approved Borne style, fle had first freed all his slaves and distributed his collection, of jewels among IMS' friends. During his lingering deat'i !:» paused from .time, to time to talk v.ith Seneca, the philosopher -and tutor of Ne ,- o himself soon doomed to sin cide; with Burrus, the capable hut iough-spoken soldier, and with a few nobles whose own heads .sat none too securely upon their shoulders. Deep" gloom settled upon Msr!:. Harmodiiis was dead all early. s.la : n by a jealous slave <rirl. Now i'etronius was gone: and for himself Nero only waited tu dense a fitting death. Kome had cwsed to appeal li' anything was lacking."it was the entrance of Tittle Simonetta. pale and in tears. Slie seated hcisvlf beside him. and confessed "hat she had become a member of the new Christian I sect, and in imminent danger of martyrdom, or worse; For Nvro, it appeared, had cast his rheumy " eyes npo-„ her since he had kicked Popptea to death. I Mark drew a long breath. '•Listen, Simouetta." said lie. •From

?he first 1 loved yr.u. I am away. You too. must go away—far ~wa'v. When danger presses dose gaze upon the crystal 1, have here, an.-, sav over ami over again : *"'T am 111 New York. Tlie year ;- lPlo.' " .....

Obedientlv she repeated,his strange words until she had them by heart. '•And now. till we meet again," sair Mark and clapped his hands for his atter.dant; but Erst he ki.ssed Simonetta. find kissed her yet again ; nor was she unresponsive.

Mark had For that- night an invitation to attend a. convivium at the "JJomu Aurca. Refusal might menu, death: invited guests had been known to rise from a sick bed to be borne to the palace rather than offend. Scrupulously arrayed in new toga and a- white silk-'tie, with jewelled sandals. Mark appeared before Nero. There were the usual strange dishes, and others yet more strange; heady nines supple dancers, showers ol roses "ribaldry and mirth. Finally, at an early hour of fxhe morning Nero rose to his feet and commanded silence. "There abideth with us," said he. •an insolent and rebellious subject. whose familv hath been advanced an; 1 enlarged by our favor. Him it hat.i pleased to vex and insult us by tlnmost astounding blasphemy that Jupjier ever permitted to proceed from mortal mouth. His time hath come. have not forgotten a word, nor a sneer. He has lived!" : He clapped his- hands. A slav-> brought in" a small box of metal ami. kneeling, deposited it before Nero. "Come hither!" .commanded the emperor. . One by one the guests placed thenears to""a- small wire grating in the top of the box, from which proceeded a curious, slight rustling, as of autumn leaves in the .wind,. "Our faithful legions penetrate in the uttermost quarters of the earth, said Nero. "Tlie/ bring to us and to Jupiter, our great father and fello.w divinity, all manner of strange hshand fowl and beasts for the glory of Rome. Only the 6ther day a centurion of tinTwelfth Legion discovered in Mau tetania a new species of insect called termites. Termites will eat and destroy everything save metal. It is our pleasure, and .the fitting punishment- ol 1.111- unfaithful vassal, Marcus-Sylvan, ■ous, that he shall, before our eyes, ha devoured crumb by crumb by these insects, now foodless for many days!" At a signal, four powerful Numidianseized upon Mark, stripped him of his toga and elaborate cravat, and thrust him upon a couch, where they bounu him securelv. Another brought forth the box of 'termites, while the assembled guests, many of whom secretly admired and liked Mark, gathered aboui with 'horrified yet fascinated eyes. Nero was about to give their jaded Roman nerves a fresh fillip. As for Mark, he struggled impotently against his bonds. A black, roniihlv quelled his writhings. "It's a long, long way to Tipperary,' said he to himself. "I'm going home!" He fastened his eyes upon the great crystal lens of Nero, .which he had left in" the golden platter on the cit-rus- | wood ta"ble.

'l'm in New York : the year is 1915, ' he repeated, while the giant black held him fast and another turned the key in the metal box.

VIII. The kneadings and proddings continued. It seemed to Mark as if a million needles were being driven into his body. Languidly he opened his eyes and gazed into the pallid face of Oscar Swenson, of Swenson's ' Turkish Baths/ whose muscles had been developed in the rubbing-room. '•Yu bane come to?" Oscar smiled. "Where you get it, such a bad one?'"

Mark Forrest closed his eyes wearily. "In Rome," said he. "Rome!" exclaimed Oscar. "Now, if you say Utica or Syracuse, I feel not* surprise. But Rome! I never know they bane even have a bar-room in Rome!"

Two hours later Mark Forrest ambled down Sixth Avenue with much on his mind. The least of his troubles ■was the ne.w sample line of the Novelty Neckwear Company. Presently Ikstared curiously at the weather-wom sign of "Professor Balthazar, Crystal Gazer." Across the street he beheld

a florist's shop and bought a huge bunch of Roman lilies. Then, of course, he went- into tht pasticceria. The wetty Italian girl was there, fortunately without custom. With a. courage formerly foreign tohim. Mark presented the lines to her. "Oh!" she cried. "You have been a stranger! And uow you come with Roman lilies. For so long 1 have nor seen them!"

She smiled, and again Mark noted her perfect teeth, and the dimple. "Tell me, please," he said, '•whsic is your name?" "My name?" She smiled at bin: again. "My name is-Simonetta. - '