Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1889-12-05

lN|m Ez1SSS stood so Iknow not,
MllSf ~ but when next
kt0NS lifted my eyes they
kSS fell upon the form Of
y RM Charmion, whom, indeed,
N8 HIM% had altogether forgot
NM/fIlN ten. And though at the
kNW|f moment I thought but
FOAA little Of it, i noted vaguely that
she was flushed as though with
anger, and that she beat her foot upon the
door.
''Oh, is it thou, Charmion," ;" said. "What
ais theea Art thou cramped with standing
SO long within thy hiding place9 Why didst
thou not slip hence when Cleopatra led me
to the balconya'
"Where is my kerchiefa" she asked, shoot
ing an angry glance at me. 81 let fall my
broidered kerchief."
''The kerchief! Why, didst thou not sect
Cleopatra twltted me about it, and flung it
from the balcony"
"Yea, l saw" answered the girl, 81 saw
but too we'll Thou ddst fling away my
kerchief, but the wreath of roses-shat
thou wouldst not fling away. 1t was a
Queens gift,' forsooth, and therefore, the
Royal Harmachis, the Priest of Isis, the
chosen of the Gods, the crowned Pharaoh
wed to the veal of Khem, cherished 1t and
saved it. But my kerchief, stung by the
laughter of that light Queen, he cast
awayr'
What meanest thou?" asked, aston
ished at her bitter tone. II read not thy
riddles.'
"What mean II" she answered, tossing
up her head, and showing the white curves
of her throat Nay, mean naught or all,
take it as thou wilt. Wouldst know what
] mean, Harmachis, my cousin and my
LordF' she wen ton in a hard, low voice.
"Behoid. l will tell thee thou art in danger
Of the great offense. This Cleopatra hath
cast her fatal wiles about thee, and thou
goest near to loving her, Harmachis-to
loving her whom tomorrow thou must
slayi Ay, stand and stare at that wreath
within thy hand-the wreath thou couIdst
not send to join my kerchief-sure Cleo.
patra wore it but tonight! The perfume
of the hair of Caesars mlstress-Casar's
and others'-yet mingles with the odor Of
Its roses! Now, prithee, Harmachis, how
far didst thou carry the matter on yonder
bsleonya-for in that hole where lay hid
could not hear or see. IT'S sweet spot
for lovers, is it notl-ay, and a sweet
night, tool Venus is surely in the right
sscensionl"
And all of this she said SO quietly and in
SO soft and modest a way, though her words
were not modest, and yet SO bitterly, that
every syllable cut me to the heart, and an
gered me till l could find no speech.
"Of truth thou hast O wise economy u
she went on, seeing her advantage; ''to
night thou dost kiss the lips that tomorrow
thou shalt still foreverl TITS frugal dealing
with the occasion of the moment; aye, wor.
thy and honorable dealingi'
Then at last l broke forth. s'Girlp
cried, ''hoW darest thou speak thus to mel
Mindest thou who and what / am that thou
looseth thy peevish gibes upon met"
81 mind what it behooves thee to be-" she
answered quick. What thou art, that ]
| mind not now. Surely thou knowest alone
thou and Cleopatrar'
"What meanest thou?" said. "Am tc
blame if the Queen
"The QueenI What have we herea Phar
| aoh owns Queen!'
'.If Cleopatra wills to come hither Of q
night and talk"
''Of stars, Harmachis-surely OF stars
| and roses, and naught beside!"
After at / know not what said; for
| troubled as was, the girls bitter tongue
and quiet way drove me well-nigh to mad
ness. But this 1 know: / spoke 80 iercely
| that she covered before me as she had
covered before my uncle Sepa, when he
rated her because Of her Grecian garb
And as she wept then, SO she wept now
| only more passionately and with sobs.
| At length ] ceased, half ashamed, but
still angry and smarting sorely. For ever
| while she wept she could find tongue Il
| answer with-and woman's shafts are
| sharp.
| Thou shouldst not speak to me thusr
she sobbed; sits cruel-it is unmanly! But
| forgot thou art priest, not a man-ex
| cept, mayhap, for Cleopatrar'
"What right hast thou?" l said. "What
canstt tthou meant"
"what right have II" she asked, looking
| up, her dark eyes all afiood with tears that
| ran down her sweet face like the dew OF
| morning down lily's heart. "What right
have Il o Harmachis! art thou blindi
Dost thou not know by what right speak
thus to thee! Then must tell theel Well;
| tits the fashion in Alexandria! By tha,
| first and holy right of woman-by the right
| of the great love bear thee, and which, il
| seems, thou hast no eyes to see-by the
right of my glory and my shame o, be no,
wroth with me, Harmachis, nor set me
down as light, because the truth has at las,
| burst from me; for am not so. am what
| thou wilt make me. am the wax within
the molder's hands, and as thou dosi
| fashion The so shall be. There breathes
within me now breath Of glory blowing
| across the waters of my soul. that can watt
me to ends more noble than ever l have
dreamed afore, if thou wilt be my pilot and
| nv guide. But if lose thee, then lose al
| that holds me from NY worse self-and lei
| shipwreck come! Thou knowest me not
| Harmaehis! thou canst not see how big 6
| spirit struggles within this frail form oi
| miaei To thee l am girl, clever, way
| ward, shallow. But am more! Show me
| thy loftiest thought and / will match it, ths
| deepest puzzle of thy mind and will max,
| 1t clear. OF one blood are we, and love car
ravei up our little difference and make III
| grow one indeed. One end we have. on,
| land we love, one VOW pinGs Us both. TAKE
| me to thy heart, Harmachis, and set me by
thee On the Double Throne, and swear
that will lift thee higher than ever mau
has climbed. Reject me, and beware les'
/ pull thee down, And now, putting asidt
| the cold delicacy of custom, stung thereto
| by what 1 saw of the arts of that lovely iiv
ing falsehood, Cleopatra, which for pastim'
she doth practice on thy folly. Ihave spokeI
out my bNart, and answer thouf' And she
| clasped her hands. and. drawing one pac,
nearer, gazed al trembling on my lace.
For a moment stood struck dumb. TO
the magic of her voice and the power OF he
speech, despite myself, had stirred M
like the rush of music. Had 1 loved tn
woman doubtless she might have fired n
with her flame; but loved her not, and
could not play at passion. And so though
came, and with thought that laughing moo
which is ever apt to fasten upon nerve
strained to the point of hrea~tng. In
dash, as it were, I bethought me OF the va
In which she had that very night forced th
wreath Of roses on my head. l thought
the kerchief and how had flung it fortf
| Thought Of Charmion in the little cnau
Der watching what she held TO be the arr
!, Of Cleopatra, and Of her bitter speeches
Lastly, / thought of what my uncle SEP
would say Of her coulu he sc her now. IN
Of the strange and tangled skein wher
, with was immeshed. laughed aloud
the fools laughter-that was my kneii
ruini
She turned whittier yet-white as the dea
land on her face there grew look tn
checked my foolish mirth. 'sThcu hndes
then. Harmaehist she said, in low, CHOKE
voice, and dropping the level Of her eyes
,.thon findest cause Of merriment in wna'
. bsve said"
! sNsy," answered. "Rax. ChaEn.a