Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-04-20


sA"My beautiful queen" said he, ''you play
your part wonderfully well; but if your SER
want may dare to question you, what would
you do with the orders you have dictated?"
II should be no longer queen were OBJ
liged to give account of my actions. Never
theless, this was my motive; l have ven
geance to execute against the three officers
whom these orders menace"
one-eyed, and frightens me every time meet |
him; the second, the chief of the slaves, |
hate because he threatens me with rivals; the |
third, the general OF the army, deprives me |
too often OF your company; you are constant |
ly in the camp"
This reply, in which caprice and hattery |
were min gled, enchanted Minus
"Good," said he, laughing. "Here are the |
first three officers of the empire dismissed for
sufficient reasons"
present their gifts to the queen. Some gave
precious stones; others, of lower rank,
flowers and fruits; and the slaves having moth
ing to give, gave nothing. Among these last
| were three young brothers, who had come
| from the Caucasus with Semiramis, and had
rescued the caravan in which the women
were from an enormus tiger.
'And you," said she to the three brothers,
as they passed the throne, shave you no pres
ent to make your queen%
| ''NO other" replied the first, ZOpire, than
my life to defend her"
"None other" replied the second, Artaban,
| ethan my sabre against her enemies"
"None other" replied third, Assar, than
the respect and admiration which her pres
ence inspires"
"Slaves," said Semiramis, lit is you who
have made me the most valuable presents Of
the whole court, and will not be ungrateful.
You who have offered me your sword against
my enemies, take this order ,carry it to the gen
elal of the army, encamped under the walls
of Babylon, give it to him, and see what he
} will do for you. You who have offered me
your life for my defence, take this order to
the governor of the citadel, and see WHAT he
will do for you. And you, who offer me the re-
spect and admiration which my presence in
the palace, and see what will be the result"
; Never had Semiramis displayed SO much
gayety, so much folly, and so much grace, ard
never was Minus so captivated. Nor were
her charms lessencd in his eyes, when slave
not having executed properly an insignif-
3 cant order, she commanded his head to be
struck off, which was Immediately done.
Without bestOwing thought on this trivial
/ matter, Minus still continued to converse with
g Semiramis till the evening, and the fete ar
: rived. When she entered the saloon which
! had been prepared for the occasion, slave
! brought her plate on which was the head Of
the decapitated eunuch
"'Tis WE'LL" said she, after having examined
it, "Place it on stake in the court of the
palace, that all may see it, and be you there
man to WHEN this head belonged lived
three hours ago, but that having disobeyei
my will, his head was separated from hi:
body"
The fete was magnificent; SUMPTION
banquet was prepared in the garden, ant
semiramis received the homage Of all with
grace and majesty perfectly regal; she con
tinualiy turned to and converscd with Minus
rendering him the most distinguished honor
You are," said she, "a foreign king com,
to Visit me in my palace; must make you
visit agreeable to you.'
Shortly after the banquet was served
Semiramis confouded and reversed all ranks
Minus was placed at the bottom of the table
He was the first to laugh at this caprice; ant
the court, following his example, allowed
according the will of the queen. She seate'
herself near the three brothers of tn
Caucases.
'Are my orders exccuted% she demande
of them.
(: eyes," they replied.
-. -, The fete was very gay. slave having, b.
As the force of habit, served the king frs
Senliramis had him beaten with rods. Hi
;, cries mingled with the laughter of the guests
!, Every one was inclined to merriment. 1t wa
le comedy, in which each played his part
Toward the end OF the repast, when wine ha
:, from her elevated scat, and said, my lords
~ the treasurer of the empire has read to me
W list of those who this morning have brough
le me their gifts of congratulation on my joyfr
y accession to the throne. One grandce alon
;, of the court has failed to bring his gift"
=, "Who is it?" cried Minus. "He must
~ punished severely"
=, sit is you yourself, my lord-you VIII
speak. What have you given to the quee
l this morning?'
an Minus rose, and came with smiling cou1
l." tenance to whisper something in the ear
d the queen.
:, ''The queen is insulted by her servant" e:
!: claimed Semiramis
~! II embrace your knees to obtain my pardo
ny Pardon me, beautiful queen" said he; "pardo
>, me-" And he added, in lower tone, II wou
i. that this fete were finished"
u "You wish, then, that should abdicate
70 said Semiramis. "But mol have still tW
ID, hours to reign" and at the same time 81
:. withdrew her hand which the king was cove
IT, ing with kisses.
II pardon not" said she, in loud voic
re "such an insult on the part of slave. slav
prepare thyself to die"
"Silly child that thou art" said Minus, st
on his knees, yet give way to thy folly; b
ke "You will not then be angry" said she, in
ne whisper, "at something am going to ORD
this moment?'
Ter s'No!" said he.
Ter "slaves," said she, aloud, "seize this man
Vn this Ninus!'
re Minus smiled, and put himself into Il
VI hands of the slaves
pie 'Take him out of the saloon, lead him in
lre the court ST the seraglio, prepare everythi1
ts for his death, and wait my orders"
ny The slaves obeyed, and Minus follow
're them, laughing, into the court of the seragl
NJ They passed by the head Of the disobede1
~ eunuch. Then Semiramis placed herself
Sc, balcony. Minus had suffered his hands
10 be tied
as 'Hasten to the fortress, Zopire; you to t
zen camp, Artaban; Assar, do you secure all t
NJ gates in the palace"
me These orders were given in whisper, al
h- executed Immediately.
are Beautiful queen" said Minus, laughin
ore "This comedy only wants its denouenaent; pr
ay. let it be a prompt one."
our ST ulln said Semiramis uSIaves rooolle
So the eunuch-strike!'
They struck. Minus had hardly time
wn utter cry when his head fell upon the pay
ment, the smile still upon his lips.
zen "Now am Queen ofs Assria!'' exelaim
10 Semiramis, "and perish every one, like
us. eunuch and like Minus, who dare disobey
ng orders!"
her
it'll What Those Long Nights Mean.
e. All, yes. fond youth! 1t may be We
I'VE nice to court a girl in the far northe