The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-10-17


even more beautiful In her sorrow than she
was before.
Enough, enough" he answered; ssvhat
have said have said. Be warned, and af.
| front our sight no more with this wanton
dress. 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 Egypt. Girl, behold thy
cousin and thy Kingr'
She ceased weeping, wiping her eyes
with her Chiffon, and saw that they seemed
| but the softer for her tears.
.Methinks, most Royal Harmachis and
beloved COUSIN" she said, as she bent
before me s'that we are already made &C
quaintcd."
sYca. cousin" / answered, not without
shamcfaccGness, for never before had
spoken TO so fair maid: sthou vert in the
chariot with Cleopatra this day when
struggled with the Iubian."
".assuredly," she said, with q smile and q
sudden lighting of the eyes, sit was gal
liant fight, and calamity didst thou over
throw that black brute. l saw the fray,
and, though knew thee not, greatly did
fear for ono 30 brave. But / paid him for
my fright, for it was / who put it into the
mind OF Cleopatra to bid the guards strike
of his hand-now, knowing who thou art, /
would had said his head.n 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 Sone.'
Thereon her manner changed. She folded
her hands mcckly before her and spake:
s.Let Pharaoh hearken unto his hand
maiden. 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 i, Churmion, become serving
woman to Cleopatra, that | might cut q
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 the House.
hold and learn its ways and secrets, aud.
50 far IL may be, suborn the cunuchs and
captains, some OF whom l have already
tempted. This done, and all things being
prepared without, thou must STAY Cleo
patra, and, aided by me, with those whom
control, in the confusion that shall ensue
throw wide the gates, and. admitting those
Of our party who are in waiting. put such
OF the troops as remain faithful to the
sEro.a and seize the Bruchium. Which be.
ing done, thou shalt within two days hold
tLis tickle Alexandria. At the same time,
those who arc sworn to thee in every
city III Egypt shall rise in arms, and
within ten days from the death Of Cleopatra
hasl hoif hxa Oh ind =
counsel which has been taken. and thou
scest, Royal cousin, that, though your uncle
yonder doth think SO i'll Of me. l have
learned my part--ay. and played it,"
II hear thee, cousin answered. marvel
ing that SO young u woman. for she had
hut twenty years, could weave SO bold u
plot, Tor III its origin the scheme was hers.
But in those days / little knew Charmion.
go on; how then shall gain entrance to
the palace Of Cleopatra.'
NAY, cousin, as things are 1t is easy.
Thus: Cleopatra lovcth to look upon man,
and give me pardon--thy face and form
are fair. To-day she noted them, and
twice she said she would she had asked
where that astrologer might be found, for
she held that an astrologer who could we'll
nigh slay Nubian gladiator with his bare
Unanswered her that would cause inquiry
to be made. So hcarsen, Royal Harmachis.
At midday Cleopatra sleeps in her inner
hall that looks over the gardens 10 the har-
Dor. At that hour, then, will l meet thee
ut the gates of the Palace. whittier come
thou boldly asking for the Lady Charmion.
will make appointments, for thee with
Cleopatra, SO that she shall see thee alone
when she wakes, and the rest shall
be for thee, Harmachis. For much she
loves to play with the mysteries of magic,
and whole nights have known her stand
watching the stars and making q pretense
to read them. And but lately hath she sent
away Dioscoridcs, the Physician, in that,
poor fool! he vcnturcd on prophecy from
the conjunction of the stars that Cassius
would defeat Mark Antony. Thereon Cleo
patra dispatched to the General Allienus,
bidding him add the legions she had sent to
Syria to help Antony, to the army of Cas-
sius, whose victory, forsooth, was, accord
ing to DioscOridcs. written on the stars.
But. as it CHANGED, Antony beat Cassius
first and Bratus afterward, and so dos
coridcs hath departed, and now he lectures
for his bread on herbs in the museum, and
hates the name OF stars. But his place is
empty. and thou shalt fill it; and then we
Will work Ill secret and in the shadow of
tho scepkr. Ay, we will work like the
worm al the heart Of fruit till the time Of
placking comes, and on thy daggcr's touch,
ROYAL cousin, the fabric of this Grecian
throne crumb,cs to nothingness, and the
worm that rotted it bursts his servile COW
ering, and in the sight Of empires, spreads
his royal wings DER Egypt
] gazed at this strange girl once more as
tonished, and saw that her face was lit up
with such light as had never seen upon
th, face of woman.
''Ah.h broke in my uncle, who was
watching her, ''ah! love to see thee SO,
girl. There is the Charmion that / knew
AID bred up-not the Court girl, whom l
lore not, drapcd in silks of Cos and fra
grant with essences. Let thy heart harden