Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-12-29

Cfa1ei on her most splen-
- did robes, and, together with
Iras. CharmiOn and myself, she supped.
Now. as she supped, her spirit tared up
wildly, even as the sky lights up at sun
set. and once more she laughed and
sparkled as in bygOne years, telling us
tales Of suppers which she and Antony
had eaten Of. Never, indeed, did l see
her look more beauteOus than on that last
fatal night Of vengeance. And thus her
mind drew on to that supper st Iarsus,
when she drank the pearl.
Strange, she said, strange that at
the last the mind of Antony should have
turned back to that night among all the
nights. and to the saying Of Harmachis.
Chsrmion thou dOst remember Harma-
CHS the Egyptian
"Surely, o Queen" she answered
slowly.
And who, then, was Harmachis:' /
asked. for I was fain to know if she sor-
rowed DER my memory.
Il viii tell thee. It's a strange. tale,
and now that all is done it may well be
told. This Harmachis was Of the ancient
race Of the PharaOh's and having, indeed,
been in secret crowned at AbydOs, was
sent hither to Alexandria 70 carry out g
great plot that had been formed against
the rule of us Royal LagidU He came
and gained entrance to the palace as my
astrOlOger, for he was very learned IN all
magic=much as thou art Olympus and
a man beautiful % see. Now, this was
his plOt-that he should STAY me and be
named Pharaoh. In truth, twas a strong
one. for he had many friends in Egypt
and I few. And on that very night when
he should carry out his purpose yea, at
the very hour, came CharmiOn yOnder
and told the plot to me, saying that she
had CHANGED upon its clew. But in after
days - though naught have l said
thereon to thee CharmiOn u mis-
doubted me much of that tale
of thine; for, by the Gods at this hour 1
do believe that thou didst love Harmachis,
and because he scOrned thee thou didst be
tray him, and for that cause also thou
bast all thy days remained q maid, which
il a thing unnatural. Come, ObarmiOn,
tell us; for naught it matters now at the
end"
Charmion shivered and made answer:
'It is true, 0 Queen; l also was OF the
plot, and because Hsrmachis scOrned me 1
betrayed him, and because Of my great
love for him have 1 remained unwed.
And she glanced up at me and caught my
eyes, then let the modest lashes veil her
own.
$50 I thought it. Strange are the
ways of women But little cause, me-
thinks, had that Harmachis 70 thank thee
for thy love; what saYest thou, Olympus?
Ah, and so thou also vast a traitor, Char
mion. How dangerous are the paths
which Monarchs tread Well, I forgive
thee, for faithfully hast thou served me
since that hour.
"But to my tale. Harmsehis dared not
slay, lest mis- great party should rise in
fury and cast me from the throne
And now mark the issue.
Though he must murder me, in
secret this Harmachis loved me, and
something thereof 1 guessed. A little, for
the sake of his beauty and his wit, had
striven to draw him to me; and fol-, the
love of man Cleopatra never strOve in vain.
Therefore, when, with the dagger in his
robe, he came to Stay me, 1 matched my
charms against bis will, and need tell
YOU, being men and women, how / won?
oh, never can 1 forget the look in the
ewes of that fallen man, that for
sworn priest, that discrowDed king,
when lost in the popped draught,
I saw him sink into that shameful sleep
whence no more mighs he wake with
honor And, thereafter-till, in the end,
I wearied OF him, and his sad, learned
mind, for his guilty soul forbade him to be
pav-a little aid l ccme to care for him,
though not to love. But he, be who loved
me. clung TO me as a drunkaTd to the cup
which ruins him. Deeming that should
we'd him. be betrayed TO me the secret Of
the hidden wealth Of the pyramid Her
Tor at the time much need
ed tressure-and together we dared
the terrors Of the tomb and drew 1t
forth, even from dead Pharsoh's breast.
See. this emerald was part thereof" and
she pointed to the great scarsbeus that
she had drawn from the holy heart OF
Menka-ra. And because Of what was
written in the tomb, and Of that Thing
which We saw on the tomb; ah, pest upon
it, why does lis memory haunt me now
and also because Of policy, for I would
fain have won the love of the Egyptians, l
was minded to marry this Hsrmachis and
declare his place and lineage to the world;
aye, and by bis aid hold Egypt from the
Roman. For Deiiius nsd then come to call
me 70 Antony, and after much thought l
determined to send him back with sharp
words. But on that very morning, as l
tired me for the Court, came Charmion
Wonder, and this I told her, for Would
see how the matter fell upon her mind.
Now mark, Olympus. the power Of
jealousy, that little wedge which yet hath
strength to rend the tree OF empire, that
secret sword which can fashion the fate of
kings This she could in no wise
bsar-(deny it Charmion, if thou