Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-12-12

fgulus. BE firm and prosper. Fare thee
we'll
And SO | WENT; but ut the curtain i
turned suddenly, and there in the midst of
hat lonely lamp-lit hall / saw q strange
sight. Far away, in such O fashion that the
light struck full upon her, stood Charmion,
her head thrown back, her white arms out
stretched as though to clasp. and OIL her
giriish face a stamp Of anguished passion
30 terrible to behold that indeed i can not
tell It'll For she believed that /, whom she
loved, was passing to my death, aud this was
her last farewell 10 ME.
But Of this matter l knew naught; so
with another passing pangof wonderI drew
Inside the curtains, gained the doorway and
stood within Cleopatra's chamber. And
there, upon % silken couch at the far end OF
the perfamed chamber, clad in wonderful
white attire. rested Cleopatra. In her hand
was a jeweled fan Of ostrich plumes, where
with she gently famed herself, and by her
side was her harp Of ivory. and a little table
whereou We're figs and goblets and a flask
of ruby-co.ored wine. Slowly / drew near
through the soft dim light to where in all
her glowing beauty lay the wonder Of the
world. And, indeed, never have | seen her
look SO fair as she did upon that fatal night.
Couched in her amber cushions she seemed
to shine as a star on tho twlIight's glow.
From her hair and robes came perfume,
from her lips fell music, and in her heaven
ly eyes all lights changed and gathered as
In the ominous opal's disk.
And this was the woman whom i must
slayl
Slowly | drew near, bowling as l came;
but she took no heed. She lay there, and
the jeweled fan fioated to ana fro like the
bright wing of some lowering bird.
At length l stood before her, and she
glanced up, the ostrich plufnes pressed
against her breast IS though to hide its
beauty.
What! friend, art thou comet" she said.
"iTis well; for l grew lonely here. Nay,
tits a weary world! We know SO many
faces, and so few there are whom we love
to see again. Well, stand not there SO
mute, but be seated" And she pointed
with her fan to O cal ven chair that was
placed nigh to her feet.
Once more 1 bowed and took the seat.
81 have obeyed the Queens DESIRE" 1
said. and with much care and skill worked
out the lessons of the stars; and here is the
record of my labor. If the Queen permits
I will expound it to her" And l rose, IN
order that l might pass oun the couch
and, as she read, stab her in the back.
NAY, Harmachis,' she aid quietly, and
with a slow and lovely smile. "Bide thou
where thou art, and give me the writing.
By Scraps! thy face is too comely for me
to wish to lose the sight of It'll"
Checked in this my design, l could do
naught but hand her the papyrus, thinking
to myself that as she read 1 would arise
suddenly and plunge the dagger to her
heart. She took it, and, as she did so,
touched my hand. Then she made preteuse
to read. But no word did she read, for I
saw that her eyes were fixed upon me over
the edge of the scroll.
WHY placest thou thy hand within thy
Robot" she asked presently; for, indeed, I
clutched the dagger's hilt. rs thy heart
stirredan
"1 ca, o Queen" said, sit beats high"
She gave no answer but once more made
| pretense TO read, and the while she watched
me.
Itook counsel with myself. How should
I do the hateful deedl If I flung myself
| upon her now she would see me and scream
and struggle. Nay, 1 must wait a chance.
eth auguries are favorable, then, Har-
machis:" she said at length, though this
she must nave guessed at.
YES, o Queen" / answered.
"fTis WELL" and she cast the writing on
the marble. ''The ships shall sail. For,
good or bad, 1 am weary Of weighing
chances"
This IS a heavy matter, o Queen,' I
said. II had wished to show upon what
circumstance I base my forecast"
NAY, not so, Harmachis; I lave wearied
Of the ways of stars. Thou hast prophesied;
that is enough for me; for, doubtless, being
honest, thou hast written honestly. There