The sun., 1889-02-17
ByH. RIDER HAGGARD
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
CHAPTER TX.

the house. there came KNOCK upon the door
It was opened. and a woman passed In wrapped
from head to foot in large dark peplos OIL
cloak in such fashion that her face could no,
h, clearly seen.
My uncle rose, and as he did 80 the womar
uttered the secret word.
am come, my father" she said in a sweet
clear voice, though Of q truth 1t was not easy
70 escape the revels at the palace But told
the Queen that the sun and the riot In the
streets had made me sick. and she let me CO. u
1T is WELL" he answered. "Unveil thyself
here thou art SAFE"
With q little sigh OF weariness she unclasped
tho peplos and let 1t slip from her. giving to my
sight the face and form of that beautoous girl
who had stood to fan Cleopatra In the chariot.
For she was very fair and pleasant to look
upon. and her Grecian robes clung sweetly
about her supple limbs and budding form. Her
wayward hair. flowing in a hundred little ours.
was bound in with golden flllet and on her
feet we're sandals. Her cheeks blushed like a
flower. and her dark, soft eyes were downcast.
ss though with modesty. but smiles and dim
pies trembled about her lips.
My uncle frowned when his eyes fell upon her
dress.
"Why comest thou In this garb, Charmion p
he asked sterny. is not the dress thy m others
wore good enough for theep This is no time
or place for woman's vanities. Thou arc not
bore to conquer, but to obey"
MAY. be not wroth, my father" she ans swered
softly; "perchance thou knowest not that she
whom serve will have none Of our Egyptian
dress: 1t IL out Of fashion. To wear It would
have been to court suspicion-also I came in
haste" And as she spoke saw that all the
while she watched me covertly through the
long lashes which fringed her modest eyes.
well. WELL" he said sharply. fixing his keen
glance upon her face. doubtless thou speak
est truth, Charmion. Be ever mindful of thy
oath. girl. and Of the cause to which thou art
sworn. Be not light minded. and charge
thee forget the beauty wherewith thou hast
been cursed. For mark thou this. Charmion: {:
fail US but one jot. and vengeance shall fall
on thee-the vengeance Of man and the ven-
geance OF tho Gods! To this service" he con-
hnued. lashing himself to anger as he went on
till his great voice rang in the narrow room.
hast thou been bred: to this end hast thou
been instructed and placed where thou art to
gain the ear Of that wicked wanton whom thou
seemest to serve. Sec thou forget it not:
see that the luxury Of yonder court doth
not corrupt thy purity and divert thy aim.
Charmion," and his eyes flashed and his
small form seemed to grow till it attained to
dignlty-nay, almost to grandeur "Char-
mion." he said. advancing toward her with
outstretched finger, Il say to thee that at
times do not trust thee. But two nights gone
dreamed saw thee standing In the desert.
saw thee laugh and lift thy hand to heaven,
and therefrom fell a rain Of blood: then the
sky sank down on the land OF Khem and COW
cred 1t. Whence came the dream. girl. and
what is its meaningp Naught have against
thee as yet: but hearkenl On the moment
that have. though thou art Of my kin. and
haya 1ova5 fhaa--op hat m xuill
doom those delicate limbs which thou lowest
50 much to show. to the kite and to the jackal
and the soul within thee to all the tortures Of
the Godsi Unburied shalt thou lie. and bodi-
less and accursed shalt thou wander In Amentil
-ay. forever and everp"
He paused. for bis sudden burst OF passion
had spent itself. But by 1t, more clearly than
before. saw how deep heart had this man
beneath the cloak Of his merriness and SIM
plicity OF meln. and how flercely the mind
within him was set upon his aim. AS for the
girl. she shrsnk from him terrified. and. pac-
ing her hands before her face. began to weep.
Nay. speak not so. my father" she said. be-
tween her sobs; "for what have I done?
Naught know I Of the evil wandering Of thy
dreams. I am no soothsayer that should
read DREAMS Have I not carried out all things
according to thy desire2 HaveI not been ever
mindful OF that dread oath ?"-and she trem-
bled. Have not played the spy and told
thee all Have not won the heart Of the Queen
80 that she loves me as a sister, refusing me
nothing. aye. and the hearts OF those about
herr Why dost thou alright me thus with thy
words and threats 2" and she wspt afresh.
looking even moro beautiful in her sorrow than
she was before.
Enough. enough" he answered; what I
have said have said. Be warned, and affront
lob nil MT
Thinkest thou that We would feed our eyes
upon those rounded arms-we whose stake is
Egypt and who are dedicated to the gods OF
Egypt2 Girl. behold thy cousin and thy Kingl"
She ceased weeping. wiping her eyes with
her chiton and saw that they seemed but the
softer for her tears.
Methinks most Royal Harmachs and be-
loved cousin" she said, as she bent before me.
"that we are already made acquainted"
Yea, cousin" 1 answered. not without
shamefacedness. for never before had l spoken
to 80 fair a maid; thou vert in the chariot
with Cleopatra this day when l struggled with
the Nubian."
Assuredly," she said. with u smile and a
sudden lighting OF the eyes. 1T was a gallant
fight and gallantly didst thou overflow that
black brute. I saw the fray, and. though I
knew thee not greatly did fear for ono so
brave. But paid him for my fright. for it was
who put 1t into the mind OF Cleopatra to bid
the guards strike Off his hand-now, knowing
who thou art | would l had said his head"
And she looked up shooting glance at me,
and then smiled.
Enough" put in my Uncle sepa. :" the time
draws on. Tell thou thy mission Charmion,
and be gone"
Thereon her manner changed she folded her
hands meekly before her and spake:
Let Pharaoh hearken unto his handmaidcn.
am the daughter of Pharaoh's uncle, the
brother of his father. who is now long dead, and
therefore in my veins also flows the Royal
blood of Egypt. Also am OF the ancient faith,
and hate these Greeks, and to see thee set upon
the throne has been my dearest hope now for
many years. TO this end have !, Charmion,
become serving woman to Cleopatra. that
might cut notch wherein thou couldst set thy
foot when the hour came to climb the throne
And behold. o Pharaoh the notch is cut.
This. then, is our plot, Royal cousin Thou
must gain an entrance to tho Household and
learn its ways aud secrets and so far as may