The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1879-04-03

me the respect and admiration which
my presence inspires, take this order b
tho commandant OF the palace and see
what will be the result.
Never had Semiramis displayed %
much gayety, 80 much folly, and %
much grace, and never was Minus %
captivated. Nor were her charms les
sened in his eyes, when slave not hav'
ing executed properly an insignificant
order, she commanded his head to be
struck of, which was immediately
done.
Without bestowing thought on this
trivial matter, Minus still continued to
converse with Semiramis till evening
and the fete arrived. When she enter
ed the salon which had been prepared
for the occasion. slave brought her .
plate on which was the head Of the de-
capitated eunuch. u
-nss wcst, said sue, after havlRs
examined it. "Place it on stake in
the court of the palace, that all may
see it, and be you there on the spot to
proclaim to every one that the man to
whom this head belonged lived three
hours ago. but that having disobeyed
my will, his head was separated from
his body"
The fete WAS magnificent; q stimptu-
Gus banquet was prepared in the gard
ems, and Semiramis received the hon.
age of all with grace and majesty
perfectly regal. She continually turns
ed to aud couversed with Minus, render
ing him the most distinguished honor.
"You are. said she, "a foreign king
come to visit me in my palace; must
make your visit agreeable to YOU"
Shortly after the banquet was served,
Semiramis confourJed and reversed oil
ranks. Minus was placed at the bot-
tom OF the table. He was first to
laugh at this caprice, and the court fol =
lowing his example. allowed themselves
to be placed, without murmuling. ac-
oording to the will of the queen. She
seated herself near the three brothers
OF the Caucasus.
"Are my orders executed?" she de-
manded of them.
Eyes" they replied.
The fete WAS very gay. A slave hav-
ing by force of habit. served the king
first, Semiramis had him beaten with
rods. His cries mingled with the
laughter of the guests. Every one was
inclined to merriment. 1t was come.
dy, in which each played his part.
Toward the end of the repast, when
wine had added to the general gayety,
Scmiramis rose from her elevated seat
and said: MY lords, the treasurer of
the empire has read ME list of those
who this morning have brought me
their gifts of congratulntion on my
JOSlul tCCt SSlol W thiohOs INV
grandee alone of the court has failed
to bring his gift. a
"Who is it?" cried Minus. "He
must be punished severely
"It is you yourself, my lord-you
who speak. What have you given to
the queen this mornlng?"
Minus rose, and came With smiling
countenance to whisper something in
the ear of the queen.
1.-THE queen is insnlted by her SER
vantr exclaimed Semiramis.
II embrace your knees to obtain my
pardon, Pardon ME, beautiful queeu.
said he, "pardon me-" And he added,
in a lower tone. II would that this tete
were fnished"
"You wish. then, that / should adds
cate?" said Semiramis. But no-l
still have two hours to reign" aud at
the same Tina she withdrew her hand,
which the king was covering with
kisses. II pardon not, she said in
loud voice, ''snch an insult on the part
of a slave. Slave, prepare thyself to
diew
"Silly child that thou art" said
Minus, still on his knees, "yet 1 give
way to thy folly. But patience, thy
reign will soon be over"
"You will not then be angry" said
she, in a whisper, ''at something an
going to order at this moment?'
NO." said he.
"Slaves." said she. aloud. "seize this
man-that Ninus!"
Minus smiled and put himself into
the hands of the slaves.
"Take him out of the salon, lead him
into the court of the Seraglio, prepare
everything for his death, and wait m,
orders"
The slaves obeyed. and Minus fol
lowed them, laughing, into the count o
the SeragIio. They passed by the heat
of the disobedient eunuch. The'
Semiramis placed herself on balcony
Minus had suffered his hands to be tied
Hasten to the fortress, Zopire; yo'
to the camp, Artaban: Assar, do yot
secu,e all the gates in the palace"
These orders were given in whisper
and executed immediately.
Beautiful queen" said Minus, laugh
ing, "this comedy only wants it's de
nouement: pray let it be prompt one.
II will." said Semiramis. "SIaves
recollect the eunuch--strike!'
They struck. Minus had hardl.
time to utter cry when his head fel
upon the pavement; the smile was still
upon his lips.
"Now am queen of Assyria!" ex
claimed Semifamis, "and perish ever
one, like the eunuch aud like Minus
who dare disobey my orders!"
A COUPLE OF Irishmen, thinking I
combine pleasure with profit by doin
l. a Ettla unlicenae,l traffi cking in lQuC