The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-11-30

ponp and glory as hath never seen
OF a truth, can not guess where she has
found the gold to gather il this store iot
isplendor, % 8 husbandnan gathers his rich
fruits 5sgE .s Nh
sSS But j, knowing whence came the wealth,
groaned in bitterness OF spirit, and made
no answer. 78
..Goest thou also, Charmion ~ asked,
presently. 5# # l5s
Al, and al the Court. Thou, too thou y,
goest 4 Il 5a
81 go! Nay, why Is this?' 4 #. Vt
Because thou art her slave, and must
march in gilded chains behind her chariot;
because she fears to leave thee here in
Khem because it's her will, and there is
an end = E.,.I "a III j . e@s .#a3
ss.Charmlon, can not escaped u
ESCAPE, chou poor sick mani Nay, how
canst thou escape2 Gen now most strictly
art7thou guarded. And if thou didst es-
cape, whittier wouldst thou fly? There's not
an honest man in Egypt but would spit on
thee Ii se.sni''
Once more groaned in spirit and being
so weak felt the tears roll a-down my
cheek.
sweep not!v she said, hastily. and turn
ing her face aside. s'Be man, and brave
these troubles out. Thou hast sown, now
must thou reap; but after harvest the
waters rise and wash away the roots, and
then once more comes seed time. Per-
chance, yonder in Cilicia, a way may be
found when once more thou art strong
whereby thou mayst fyif in truth thou
canst bear thy life apart from Cleopatra's
smile; then in some far land must thou
dwell till these things are forgotten. And
now my task is done, SO fare thee well. At
times will come and see that thou needest
naught."
So she went, and thenceforward was I
nursed, and that skilfully, by the physician
and two women slaves; and as my wound
healed so my strength came back to me,
slowly at first, then most swiftly. In four
days from that time left my couch, and in
three more could walk an hour in the pal
ace gardens; another week and could
read and think, though went no more to
Court. And at length one afternoon Char
rnion came and babe me make ready, for in
two days would the fleet sail, first for the
coast of Syria, and thence to the gulf of
Issus and Cilicia.
Thereon, with all formality, and in writ
ing, craved leave Of Cleopatra that might
be left, urging that my health was even
in answer a message was sent to me that 1
must come. And 80 on the appointed day
was carried on litter down to the boat,
and together with that very soldier who had
cut me down, the Captain Brennus, and
others Of his troop (who, indeed. were sen5
20 guard me), we rowed aboard the vessel
where she lay at anchor with the rest of the
great fleet For Cleopatra was voyaging as.
though to war in much pomp, and escorted
by mighty fleet of ships, whereof her
galley, built like house and lined through
out with cedar and silken hangings, was tho
most beautiful and costly that the world
has ever seen. But on this vessel went
not, and, therefore, it CHANGED that saw
not Cleopatra nor Charmlon till we landed
at the mouth of the River Cydnus. The
signal being made, the feet set sail; and
the wind being fair, on the evening OF the
second day we came to joppa Thence we
sailed slowly with contrary winds up the
coast of Syria, making Caesarea and Ptol-
emals and Tyrus and Berytus and past
Lebanon's white brow crowned with
his crest of cedars, on to Heraclea
and across the Gulf Of Issus to the mouth
Of Cydnus. And ever as we iourneycd
the strong-breatho of the sea brought back
nv health, till at length, save for line of
white upon my head, where the sword had
fallen, was almost as had been. And
one night, as we drew near Cydnus, while
Brennus and sat alone together on the
deck, his eye fell upon the white mark his
sword had made, and ne swore a great
oath by his heather gods. SAM thou hadst
died, lad,' he said, ''methinks I could
never again have held up my head! All!
that was coward stroke, and shamed am
I to think that should have struck it, and
thou on the ground and with thy back to
me! Knowest thou that when thou didst
lie 'twixt life and death, every day came
to ask tidings Of thees and 1 swore by
Taranis that if thou didst die I'd turn my
back upon that soft palace life and then
away for the North"
ssNay. trouble not, Brennus,'' answered;
sit was thy duty"
ssMayhapl but there are duties that a
brave man should not do-nay, not at the
bidding of any Queen who ever ruled in
Egypt Thy blow had dazed me or had
not struck. What ie it, lad?--art in trouble
with this Queen Of oursg Why art thou
dragged q prisoner upon this pleasure
party2 Knowest thou that we4 are strictly
charged that if thou dost escape our lives
snall pay the prlce9"
'.Ay, in sore trouble, friend," I an
swered; task me no more"
s'Then, being Of the age thou art-there's
a woman in it, that swear land, ger
chance, though am rough and foolish, l
might make guess Look thou, lad, what
sayest thou? / am a-weary Of the service
OF Cleopatra and this hot land of deserts
and Of luxury,. that sap 8. mans strength
and drain his pocket; and so are others
whom wot Of. What sayest thou; let's
take one of these unwieldy vessels and
away to the North? I'll lead thee to DC.
ter land than Egypte tasrh OF lake and
mountain and great forests Of sweet
scented pine; ay, and find thee girl fit
to mate with, mine own mecca strong
girl, and tall, with wide blue eyes, and
long, fair hair, and arms that would crack
thy RIBS were she to hug thee! Come,
what sayest thous Put aWayethe past, and
away for the bonny North, and DO son 20
me-
For moment thought, and then sadly
shook my head for though sorely was
tempted to be gone, I knew that in Egypt
lay my fate, and my fate might not hy.
'sIt may not be, Brennus," answered.
tsFain would il chat it might be, but am
bound by chain Of destiny which can not
break, and in the land Of Egypt must Live
and die"