The Arkansaw traveler., 1888-10-13

shabby genteel families kept 8 semi- chorus in buttons) were twittering in corner, prepared to come forth by and by with the ill., timed illusions, melancholy and depressing forbod- ings, and unnecessary advice, which were all that were expected of them, and the mayor and corporation were fussing about distrsctedly with brass band and the inevitable address.
 All at once there was stir in the crowd, and the eyes of every one were strained towards tall and swaying scaffold on the royal house-top, where small black figure, outlined sharply against the saffron sky, could be seen gesticulating wildly.
 "Look at the watchman!" they whispered, excitededly; "what can be the matter with him?"
 Now before Agamemnon left he had had fires laid upon the mountain tops in a straight line between Argos and Troy, arranging to light the pile at the Troy end of the chain when it should become necessary to let them know at home that they might expect him back shortly.
 The watchman had been put up on the scaffold to look out for the beacon, and had b'en there for years day and night, without being once allowed to quit his post-even on his birthday. It was expected that Clytemnestra would have let him come down for good when she was informed ot Aga memnon's death on such excellent authority, but she would not hear of such thing. She knew people would think it very foolish and sentimental of her, she said, but to take the watch man down would seem so like giving up all hope! So she kept him up, a proof of her conjIgal devotion which touched every one-except perhaps the watchman himself.
 Clytemnestra and Egisthus, who happened to come out while all this excitement was at it's height, found themselves ignored. "Not a single cap of-not single hurrah, cried the queen, with majestic anger. "What have you been doing to make yourself so unpopular with my loyal Argives2" she demanded, suspiciously.
 "I don't think it's anything to do with me, really" protested Egisthus, feebly. "They're only just looking the other way just now, and-can't you see why?" he added suddenly, "they've lit the beacon on the top of Arach- naus,w
 Clytemnestra looked and started violently, as on the mountain-top in question red tongue of flame shot up through the gathering dusk. "What does it mean?" she whispered, clutch ing him convulsively by the arm.
 "Well," said -Egisthus, "it looks to me, do you know, rather as if your lamented husband has changed his mind about dying and is on his way to your arms."
 "Then he is not dead !" exclaimed Clytemnestra. "He is coming home. l shall look upon that face, hear that voice, press that hand once again !! How excessively annoyingp
 "Confounded nuisance!" he agreed, heartily, but his irritation sounded slightly overdone, somehow. "Well, it's all over with the betrothal after this; don't you think it would be as well to get all the, arches and fire- works and things out of the way? We shsn't want them now, you know"
 "Why not" said the queen; "they will all do for him; he won't know. Yc gods" she cried, stretching out her arms with tragic groan. "Must l, too, do for himp"
 "Any way" said Egisthus, with an attempted ease, "you won't want me any longer, and 80, if you will kindly excuse me, I-I think I'll retire to some quiet spot whither can drag myself with my broken heart and bleed to death, like wounded deer, don't you knoww
 "You can do all that just as W ell here," she replied. "I wish you to stay. Who knows what may happen?" she added, with sinister smile. "We may be happy yeti"
 Clytemnestra's sinister smiles usu- ally made 1Egisthus feel exactly as if something was disagreeipg with him, so he stayed.
 By this time the populace had also realized the turn affairs had taken, but they very sensibly determined that it was their plain duty to persevere with the merriment. They were, as has been mentioned before, very simple and affectionate people, and fond of their king; so, as his return would be even more beneficial to trade than the betrothal, they rejoiced on, and there was nothing in the least strained or hollow in their revelry.
 And presently there was a fresh stir in the crowd, and then rumbling of wheels as the covered chariot from the station rolled, amid faint cheering, up to the palace gates, and was saluted by the one aged sentinel who stood on