Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-12-26

thought chased thought across
S10s#3= her mind, each, as clouds scud-
ding DER the sea, for mo-
meut casting q shadow In her deep eyes.
$50 thou art come, Harmachis," she said,
resting for awhile, as she took my hand.
"Counsel me, for never did need counsel
more. oh, what days have the Gods meas
ured out to me-days restless as the oceanl
No peace have known from childhood up,
and it seems none shall everknow Scarce
by a very little have escaped thy dagger's
point, Harmachis, when this new trouble,
that, like q storm, has gathered beneath the
horizons rim, bursts sudden DER me. Didst
mark that tigrish fopl Well should love
to tap himi How soft he spokel Ay, like
q cat he purred, and all the time he
stretched his claws. Dfdst mark the letter,
sool It has an ugly look know
this Antony. When I was but child bud
ding into womanhood, saw him; but my
ewes were ever quick and took his measure.
Half Hercules and half fool, with dash
of genius veining his Jolly through. Easily
led by those who enter at the gates Of his
yoluptuous sense; but II crossed, an Iron
foe. True to his friends, If, indeed, he
loves them, and oftentimes false to his own
Interest, Generous, hardy and In adversity
. man Of virtue; in prosperity sob and
slave to women. How deal with such man,
whom Fate and Opportunity have, despite
himself, set on the crest of fortunes wayel
One day twill o'erwhelm him; but till that
day he sweeps across the world and laughs
ut those who drown"
ssAntony In but q man." answered, land
. man with many foes; and, being but q
Imam, he can be o'erthrown."
"Ay, he can be o'erthrown; but he is one
Iof three, Harmachis. Now that Cassius has
gone where all fools 90, Rome has thrown
lout hydra head. Crush one and another
misses IN thy face. There's Lepidus, and
with him that young Octayianus, whose
|eeld eyes may yet with smile Of triumph
Hook on the murdered forms OF empty,
worthless Lepidus, of Antony, and Of Cleo
Ipatra II / 20 not to cilIcia, mark thou |
Antony VIII knit up q peace with these
Partnians. and taking the tales they tell OF
ne for truth--and indeed there is truth in
hhem-will fall with all his force on Egypt.
And how theni'
allow theni Why, then we'll drum him
back to Rome"
"Ahi Thou saYest SO, and perchance,
Harmachis, had not won that game we
played together some twelve days gone,
thou, being Pharaoh, mightest well have
done this thing, for round thy throne old
Egypt would have gathered. Bpt Egypt
loves not me nor my Greek blood; and but
now have I scattered that great plot Of
thine, wherein half the land was meshed.
VIII these men, then, arise to succor moi
Were Egypt true to me could, indeed,
hold my own against all the force that Rome
may bring; but Egypt hates me, and had as
lief be ruled by the Roman as the Greek.
Still might make defense had the gold,
for with money soldiers can be bought
wherewith to feed the NAV Of mercenary
battle. But have none: my treasures are
dry, and though there Is wealth In the land,
yet do debts perpiex me. These wars have
brought me ruin, and know not how to
find talent Perchance, Harmachls, thou
who art, by hereditary right, Priest of the
Pyramids" and she drew near and looked
me in the eyes, ''perchance. IL long descend
ed rumor does not lie, thou canst tell me
where can touch the gold to save thy land
from ruin and myself from the grasp OF An
tonyi Say, is 1t sol"
Thought awhile, and then answered:
sand II such q tale were true, and IL
could show thee treasure stored by the
mighty Pharaohs Of the most far-ch age
against the needs Of Khem, how can know
shat thou wouldst indeed make use Of that
wealth 10 those good endsf
sis there, then, o treasurer" she asked,
icpriously. "Nay, fret me not, Harmachis; !;
for OF o truth the very name OF gold at this
Itine Of want is like the sight Of water In
the desert"
al believe" said, 'that there is such D
treasure, though myself have never seen It.
But this I know, that If ii still lie in the
Iplace where it was set, its because so
heavy "a curse shall rest upon him who
wickedly and for selfish ends shall lay
hands thereon that zone Of those PhRraohs
TO whom it hath been shown have dared to
touch II, whatever their need.
s'So," she said, ''they were eowerdly
aforetin1e, or else was their need not great.
Wilt thou show me this treasure, then,
Harmachisr'
.Perehance,n answered, n will show 1t
% thee, II IL still be there, when thou hast
sworn that thou wilt use 1t 10 defend Egypt
from this Roman Antony and for the well
fare Of her people"
.sI swear itr, she said earnestly. aOh, ]
swear BY every God IN Khem that II thou
showest me this great treasure win defy
Antony and send Dallirs hack 70 Cilicia
with words more sharp than those he
bruught Az, nj do more, Harmschis: 90
soon' q may be, win take thee 10 husbsnd
before III the world, and thou thyseif shalt
carry OUT thy plans and beat the Roman
eagles ion"
Thus she spoke. gannR at mo with truth
ful, earncat eyes. ! believed her, and for
the Arst time aincs my fall was for mo
.ment happy, thinking that all was not lost
to me, aad that with Cleopatra, whom ]
loved thus madIy, ! might Jet win my place
and power back.
s.swsar il. Cleopatra r, I said.