The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-12-07

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also, and told him that . Syrian merchant
would pass the guard an hour before the
dawn. And, though he made pretense Of
sleep, methinks he understood, for he an
swered, yawning, that if they but had 70 the
pass word, Antony, fifty Syrian merchants
might 20 through about their lawful bust
ness. And here is the letter 50 the Cap
tain-thou canst not mistake the galley,
for she is moored along the right-a small
galley, painted black, as thou dost enter on
the great quay, and, moreover, the sailors
make ready for sailing Now will wait
here without while thou dost put of the
livery Of thy service and array thyseif.
When she was gone tore off my gor-
geous garments and spat upon them and trod
them on the ground. Then I put on the
modest robe Of merchant, and bound round
me the tablets. on my feet the sandals
Of Unframed hide, and at my waist the knife
When it was done, Charmion entered once
again and looked on me.
s'Too much art thou still the Royal Har-
machis," she said. ''See, it must be
changed
Then she took scissors from her firing
table, and bidding me to be seated, she cut
of my locks, clipping the hair close to the,
head. Next she found stains OF such sort
as women use to make dark the eyes and
mixed them cunningly, rubbing the stuff on
my face and hands and on the white mark
in my hair where the sword Of Brennus had
bitten to the bone
the worse, Harmachis," she said, with a
,o1,.
know thee. Stay, there is one more thing
and going to chest of garments, she drew
thence heavy bag Of gold.
'<Take thou this,'' she said; s'thou wilt
have need of money!
81 can not take thy gold, Charmion.''
s'Yea, take it. 1t was Sepa who gave it
to me for the furtherance of our cause, and
therefore tits fitting that thou shouldst
spend it. Moreover, if want it, doubtless
Antony, who is henceforth my master, will
give me more; he is much beholden to me,
and this well he knows. There, waste not
the precious time in haggling DER the pelf-
not vet art thou all a merchant, Har-
machis;" and, without more words, she
thrust the pieces into the leather bag that
hung across my shoulders. Then she made
fast the sack containing the spare gar.
1nents, and so womanly thoughtful was she,
hid therein an alabaster jar of pigment,
wherewith might stain my countenance
afresh, and. taking the broidered robes OF
mine office that had cast off, hid them in
the secret passage. And so at last all was
made ready.
sis it time that should goa" asked.
sNot yet awhile. Be patient, Harmachis;
for but one little hour more must thou en-.
dure my presence, and then, perchance:
farewell forever"
made gesture signlfying that this was
no hour for sharp words.
'sForgive me my quick tongue" she said;
'sbut from a salt spring do bitter waters
well. Be seated, Harmachis; have heavier
words to speak to thee before thou goest. :"
essay on" answered; ''words, however
heavy, can move me no more"
She stood before me with folded hands
and the lamp light shone upon her beaute-
GUS face. Idly noticed how great was its
pallor and how wide and dark were the
rings about the deep black eyes. Twice
she lifted her white face and strove to
speak, twice her voice failed her; and
when at last it came twas in hoarse
whisper.
81 can not let thee CO." she said-'I can
not let thee go unwilling ct the tE'.th.
Harnacl,is, 'tavas ao7so did bet,ay taeel' +.
l sprang to my feet, an cath ,i3saa my
lips; but she caught me by the hand.
ooh. be seated" she said-sbe seated
and hear me; then, when thou hast heard,
do unto me as thou wilt. Listen! from
that evil moment when, in the presence OF
thy uncle Sepa, for the second time 1 set
eyes upon thy face, loved thee-how
much, little canst thou guess! Think upon
thine own love for Cleopatra, and double it,
and double it again, and, perchance, thou
mayst come near to my loves mighty sum.
loved thee, day by day loved thee more,
till in thee and for thee alone l seemed to
live. But thou vast cold-thou vast worse
than cold; thou didst deal with me not as a
breathing woman, but rather as the instru-
ment to an end-as q tool wherewith to
grave thy fortunes. And then I saw-yea,
long before myself thou knewest
it-thy hearts tide was setting strong
towards that ruinous shore where
on to-day thy life is broken.
And at last came that night, that
dreadful night, when, hld within the cham
Der, I saw thee cast my kerchief to the
winds, and with sweet words cherish my
Royal rivals gift. Then-oh! thou knowest
in my pain betrayed the secret that
thou wouldst not see-and thou didst
IQak0 d uOCh VI AA0s xAesA lAesSAAo' W
the shame Of it!-thou, in thy foolishness,
didst make a::mock Of mel went thence,
and within me were rising all the torments
which can tear woman's heart, for now
was sure that thou didst love Cleopatra
Ay, anu so mad was /, even that night was
I minded to betray thee; but thought
not yet; not yet; tomorrow he may soften
Then came the morrow, and all was ready
for the bursting of the great plot that should
make thee Pharaoh. And I, too, came
thou dost remember-and again thou didst
put me away when spake to thee in para.
bles, as something Of little worth, as thing
too small to claim moments weighty
thought. And, knowing that this was be.
cause-though knewest it not-thou didst
love Cleopatra, whom now thou must
straightway Stay, I grew mad, and a wicked
spirit entered into me, possessing me ut.
terly, so that no longer was myself. And
because thou hadst scorned me, this, to my
everlasting shame and sorrow I did!-1
passed into Cleopatra's presence and be.
Il u ali