The Portland daily press., 1878-10-26
Chapter III.
OMPHALE.

Omphale was a lovely widow, young, and
sweety sad. She had beautiful large eyes,
where Sorrow seemed to dwell on sufferance,
while the legitimate tenants, Love and Laugh
ter, were absent, But sentimental sadness
suited her face, just as the nightingale's song
harmonizes with the still beauty of evening
She was Queen of Lydia, and there was at
her side vacant throne, at which she never
looked without a sigh. Was it for him who
was gone, or for him who should fill it?
She sat inattentively listening to the stories
OF her women, when her Prime Minister'S
managing old man, who kept the hall door,
squared accounts with foreign powers, and
tidied up the palace before breakfast-tapped
at the door, and wished to know if her Males
ty would purchase fine strong Theban
slave.
Il have enough women already" sighed
the Queen.
''Beg your pardon, your gracious Majesty,
but this slave is of the other denomination"
"a man? Hem! Well, don't mind look
ing at him. Bring him before us.''
The old Minister retired, and presently IN
troduced slave-dealer and the slave. The
latter was of magnificent proportions. and the
curls on the top of his magnificent head were
nicely oiled. A murmur arose from the wom-
en- as they regarded the handsome bondman.
'What duckW "Quite too dreadfully
AWiuiy WcEt tu6 CldS-
sic phrases that caught Omphale's ear. She
slenced the girls with a frown, and then
leaning her cheek upon her hand, her elbow
upon the arm of her throne. she gazed pen
sively at the slave. He, with a boldness not
born OF slavery, met her gaze, and they
looked steadily into each others eyes while
the dealer euiogized his man. Two people
cannot forever look at each other; if they be
of opposite sexes, in nine cases out of ten
fhara do fou@ . v,o.,1 ~
the other changes color and the eyes drop.
Omphale redeemed. Sorrow seemed futter-
ing in her eyes, as if it had notice to quit and
was preparing to leave. The lids closed rap
Idly twice or thrice, as if they were ashamed
of the eyes beneath, and would hide their
tell-tale glance; the corners of her lips
twitched, as though tired of their long laxa-
ton. She looked down for shame, and then
looked up, ashamed of being shamed, and
hard she tried to restrain her glance, knitting
her pretty brows with frown, and tighten
ing her lips. But, oh, it was impossible to
look thus long. The man was. so handsome
and so audacious. She turned her head
away, now quite angry, and stamping her lit
tie foot upon the ground; it was so shameful
that she, queen, should feel herself con-
quered by slave. The dealer had been long
expatiating upon the merits of his man but
Omphale had heard nothing. She tried to
listen now.
"He has three years of servitude yet unex-
pired," the dealer said; sat the end of that
time his freedom must be given him."
"Methinks this slave of thine doth not wait
for freedom to be given him; he takes it, with
witness to it,"
"lf your majesty knew to what uses his
courage can be applied you would excuse his
being little bold. Behave yourself, SIR"
rs he very courageous?" asked Omphale.
line most daring young man, l assure
you. Is there anything you can suggest by
way of testing his valor, anything you think
would terrify himp'
Robbers" whispered Omphale, with bated
breath.
"Oh, catching robbers is his ruling passion.
I assure you he looks under all the beds every
night with the hope of finding some one
there"
sob, wouldn't it be nice to have him in
the housep murmured one of Omphale's
women.
In truth, since the Kings death no man
had slept in the palace except the Prime Min
lister, and he was as timid as kitten. Lydia
was overrun with robbers, and the Door
girls never went to bed without fear.
eff buy you," said Omphale, addressing
Hercules, "will you have any objection to ex-
aiming every part OF the bed-chambers be-
fore and my women retire to restT'
"There is only one thing should like bet
ter. aud that is, examining every part OF your
bed-chambers
The antithesis was so apparent that the
slave-dealerin CONSERVATION clapped his hand
over the imprudent slaves mouth. At the
same time Omphale put her hand to her
mouth to suppress cough, and all the young
ladies of the court followed her example.