The sun., 1889-02-17

as night: but when the light found them they
grew blue even rs the sky grows blue before
the blushing OF the dawn.
"Cmsarion 2" sho said: where is Casarion
Was 1t then dream dreamed that Julius
julius who is dead-came to me, his bloody
toga wrapped about his fnce and, having
thrown his arms about his child. led him away.
Then l dreamed I died-died In blood and
agony and one might not see Knocked mo as
diedl All who is that manH"
Peace, Madami peace" said Charmion,
"'Tis but the magician Harmachis, whom thou
didst bid me bring to thee at this hour"s
"Ahl the maglcian-that Harmachis who
overthrew the giant2 1 remember mo now.
He is welcome. Tell me, Sir Magician, can
thy magic mirror forth an answer to this
dream Nay, how strange a thing Is sleep,
that wrapping the mind in q web of darkness,
straightly compels Il TO its will. Whence then
come those images Of fear rising on the hori-
zon OF the soul like some untimey moon upon
the twilight sky? Who grants them power to
stalk SO lifelike from Memory's thronging halls
and, pointing to their wounds, thus confront
the Present with the Past2 Are thoy then.
messengers? Doth the semi-death Of sleep
give them foothold in our brains, and thus
upknit the severed thread Of human kinshipi2
That was Cnsars self, tell thee, who but now
stood at my side and murmured through his
muflled robe warning words whereof the men,
ory is lost to me. Read me this riddle. thou
Egyptian Sphinx and I'll show thee roster
path to fortune than all thy stars can point.
Thou hast brought tho omen, solve thou its
problem
I'm good hour do / como, most mighty
Queen" made answer, for / have some skill
in the mysteries Of sleep which is. as thou
hast rightly guessed, stair whereby those who
are gathered to Osiris may from time to time
enter Mt the gateways OF our living sense. and.
by signs and words that can be read of mortals
thereto duly learned. repeat the echoes OF that
Hall of Truth which is their habitation.
Thereby also tho messengers OF the guardian
Gods may descend in many shapes upon tho
haf-loosod spirit OF their choice. For o Queen.
to those who hold the key, the madness of our
dreams can show u clearer purpose and speak
moro certainly than all the acted wisdom Of
our waking life, which is n dream indeed.
Thou didst SOC great Cesar in his bloody robe.
and he threw his arms about the Prince Cms-
arion and led him hence. Hearken now to the
secret of thy vision. Twas Cnsar's self thou
sawest coming to thy side from Amenti in such
q guse as might not be mistaken. When he
embraced the child CIsarion he did 1t for sign
that to him, and him alone, had passed his
greatness and his love. When he seemed to
lead him hence he led him forth from Egypt to
be crowned in the Capitol, crowned tho Emperor
OF Rome and Lord OF all the lands. For the
rest. know it not. 1t is hid from me-"
Thus, then, read the vision. though to my
sense it had more evil meaning. But it is not
well to prophesy evil unto Kings.
Meanwhile Cleopatra had risen and, having
thrown back the gnat gauze. was seated upon
tho edge OF her couch her eyes fixed upon my
face, the while her fingers played with her Cir
dies Jeweled ends.
"Of a truth" she cried. thou art the best OF
all magicians. for thou readest my heart. and
out of the rough shell OF evil omen drawest tho
hidden sweot"
"Ay Queen" said Charmion. who stood by
with dowucast eyes. and methought there was
bitter meaning In her soft notes: may no
rougher words ever affront thy ears, and no
evil presage less closely tread upon its happy
sense"
Cleopatra placed her hands behind her head.
and leaning back looked with half-shut eyes.
Come. show us of thy magic. Egyptian" she
said. 1T is yet hot abroad, and am a-weary
OF those Hebrew Ambassadors and their talk of
Herod and Jerusalem. hate that Herod. as
he shall fnd-and will have mono of the Am
bassadors to-day, though little do yearn to
try my Hebrew on them. What canst thou do2
Hast thou nc new trick? By Serapisl If thou
canst conjure as well as thou canst hTophesy.
thou shalt have a place at Court, wi, pay and
perquisites to boot. and thy lofty soul doth not
scorn pcrQuisites."
Nay" answered, "all tricks are old but
there arc some forms OF magic TO be rarely
used. and with discretion that may, perchance.
be new to thee. o Qucen Art thou afraid to
venture on the charm"
"Naught l fear; 20 on and do thy worst.
Come. Charmon and sit thou by me. But.
stay, where arc all the girls F-lris and Merir p
they. too. love magic"
Not so." said: tho charms work i'll be-
fore so many. Now bchodp' and. gazing at
tho twain. | cast down my wand upon tho
marble and murmured a spell. For a moment
it was still. and then. as l muttered, the rod
slowly began to writhe. 1t bent itself, it stood
on end. and Of its own motion moved. Next it
put on scales, and behold it was a serpent that
crawlcd and tiercely hissed.
"Fie on thee" cried Cleopatra, capping her
hands; "callost thou that magic? Why. it's
an old trick that any wayside conjurer can do
have seen it n score Of times"
Wait, Queen" answered, thou hast not
Seen ALL" And even as 1 spoke, the serpent
seemed to break in fragments, and from each
fragment grew now serpent And these. too.
broke in fragments and bred others, till in
littlo space tho place. to their glamored sight.
was n soothing sen Of snakes. that crawled,
hssed and knotted themselves In knots.
Then made a sign. and tho serpents gathered
themselves about me. and seemed slowly to
twine themselves about my body and my limbs.
till, save my face, was wreathed thick with
kissing snakes.
"Oh. horrible horribe!' cried Charmion.
hiding her cOuntenance in the skirt of the
Nay, enough Magician, enough" said the
Queen: :" thy magic ovcrwhems US"
l waved my snake-wrapped arms. and all
was gone. There at my feet lay the black
wand tpued with ivory and nuught beside.
The two women looked one upon another and
gasped with wonder. But took up the wand
and stood with folded arms before them.
Is the Queen content with my poor art ?"
] asked most humbly.
its like, Court astronomer art thou from this
day forward. with right of access 10 the Queens
nresencc;, Hast thou moro OF such magic at
thy CALI"
Yea, Royal Egypt; suffer that tho chamber
be little darkencd and | will show thee one
Half am afcard." sho answered; never
thclGss do thou. CLarmion, even rs this Ilar-
machiS says
So tho curtains wero drawn and tho chamber
made ms though the twilight were at hand. |