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

net women ana COMMANDED them 10
dress her magnifcently. On her head
she wore crown of precious stone, and
appeared thus before Minus, who, en>
chanted ~ith her beauty. ordered oil
the officers in the place to assemble In
the state chamber, and his golden scep-
ter TO be brought from the treasury.
He then entered the chamber. leading
Semiramis by the hand. All prostrated
themselves before the aspect OF the
king, who conducted Semiramis to the
throne, and seated her upon it. Then,
ordering the whole assembly to rise. he
announced to the court that they we're
70 obey, duriug the whole day, Semira-
mis- as himself. So saying. he took up
tho golden sceuter aud. placing it in
tse Hands of Semiramis, "Queen." said
he, II commit to you the emblem of
sacred power; take it, and command
with anvsrio. ~--.i- - --'' ar0Ss ''s0
your slaves, aud myself am nothing
more thar your servant for the whole of
this day, Whoever shall be remiss in
executing your orders. let him he pun
ished as If he had disobeyed the com.
mapds of the king"
Having TINS spoken. the king knelt
down before Semiramis. who gave him,
with a smile, her hand to kiss. The
coursiers then passed in succession, each
making oath to execute blindly the Or
ders Of Semiramis. When the cere~
mony war finished, the king made her
his compliments, and asked her how
she had managed to go through it with
80 grave and majestical an air.
"While they were promising to obey
me-" said Semiramis. II was thinking
what 1 should command each of them
to do. 1 have but one day of power,
aud will employ it WELL"
The king laughed at this reply.
Sem,rs mis- appeared more piquant and
amiable than ever
"Let us 500, said Minus, chow you
will continue your part. BY what Or
ders will you begin?"
"Let the secretary of the king ap>
proach my THRONE said Scmiramis in
loud voice.
The secretary approached. and two
slaves placed little table before him.
Write" said Semiramis: '~'Under
penalty of death, the governor of the
city Of Babylon is ordered to yield ur
the command of the citadel to him who
shall bear this order Fold this order,
seal it with the kings seal, and deliver
to me this decree. Write now, Under
penalty of death, the governor OF tho
slaves of the palace is ordered to resign
the command of the slaves into the
hands of the person who shall present
to him this order. Fold it, seal it with
the kings seal, and deliver to me this
decree. Write again. Under penalty
of death, the general of the army OF
Babylon is ordered to resign the com
mand OF the army to him, who shall be
the bearer OF this command Fold,
seal, and deliver this decree to me-.
She took the three orders, thus die
tated, and put them in her bosom.
The whole court was struck with con-
sternation; the king himself was sur
prised.
Listen" said Semiramiss. ''In two
hours hence let all the officers of the
state come and offer me presents, as is
the custom on the accession of new
princes, and let a festival be prepared
for this evening. Now let all depart.
Let my faithful servant Minus alone
remain. have to consult him upon
affairs OF state"
When all the rest had gone ont:
"You see," said SAmiramis. that l
know how to play the queen.
MINIS laughed.
"My beautiful queen" said he, lyon
play your part wonderfully we'll; but ii
your servant may dare to question you.
what would yon do with the ordere you
have dictated?'
II should be no. longer queen we're l
obliged to give ccouut of my actions.
Nevertheless, this was my motive: !
have a vengence to execute against the
three officers whom these orders
menace"
"vengence! and wherefore?"
"The first, the governor OF the cita'
del, is one.eyed, and frightens me every
time meet him; the second, the CHIEF
of slaves, hate because he threatens
mo with rivets: the third, the general
Of the army, deprives me too often ol
your company; you arc constantly in
the camp"
This reply. in which caprice and fat
terry were mingled, enchanted Minus.
"Good," said he. laughing. "Here
are the fist three officers of the empire
dismissed for very sufficient reasons.
The gentlemen of the court now came
to present their gifts to the queen.
Some gave precious stones; Others. OF
q lower rank, h,wers aud fruits, and
the slaves, having nothing to give. gave
nothing. Among these last were thu
three brothers. who had come from the
Caucasus with Semiramis. and had res
cued the caravan in which the womer
| we're from an enormous tiger.
And you." said she to tho three
brothers, as they passed the throne,
'have you no present to make your
queenl"
"No Other" replied the first, zopire'
ethan my life to defend her.
! "None other" replied the secoud.
Artaban, "thau my sabre against he
enemies.
"None other" replied the third. As
go uth.u ti,c resuect and admiration