Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-11-11
CLEOPATRA.
Being an Account of the Fall and Vengeance of Harmachis, the
 Royal Egyptian.

Royal Egyptian.
 thou hast not measured the depth ot periidy. nor canst thou dream the blackness of her wicked heart. She had surely slain thee in Alexandria had shc not feared that thy slaughter, being noised abroad, might bring trouble to hen There fore has she brought thee hero to kill thee secretly. For what more canst thou give hera-she has thy hearts love, and Is wearied of thy strength and beauty. She has robbed thee of thy Royal birthright and brought thee, Q King, to stand amidst her waiting women behind her at her feasts; she has won from thee the great secret of tho holy treasurei-'
 "Ah, thou know est thatr'
 s'Yea, know all; and tonight thou seest how the wealth stored against the need of Khem is being squandered to fill up the wanton luxury of Khem's Macedonian Queen! Thou seest how she hath kept her oath to wed thee honorablyl Harmachis- at length thine eyes are open to the truth"
 'Ay, see too well; she swore she loved me, and, fool that was, did believe herr'
 "She swore she loved thee!" answered Charmion, lifting her dark eyes "now will show thee how she doth love thee. Know est thou what was this house? It was a priests college; and, ns thou wottest, Har-
 
 :ie chamber aforetime was the chamber of the Head Priest, and tho chamber that is beyond and below was the gathering room of the other priests. All this the old slave who keeps the place told me, and also she revealed what I shall show thee. Now. Harmachis, be silent as the dead and fol low mel"
 She blew out tho lamp, and by the little light that crept through the shattered case ment led me by the hand to the far corner of the room Hero she pressed upon the wall, and door opened in it's thickness. We entered, and she closed the spring. Now we were in little chamber, some f1vo cubits in length by four in breadth; for a faint light struggled ints tho closet, and also the sound of voices, whence l knew not Loosing my hand, she crept to the end of the place, and looked steadfastly at the wall; then crept back, and, whispering ':silcncsi" led mo forward with her. Then saw that there were eyeholes In the wall which pierced it, and were hldden on the farther side by carved work in stone. l looked through the hole that was in front of me- and this saw. Six cubits below was the level of the floor of another chamber, lit with fragrant lamps, and most richly furnished. It was the sleeping place of Cleopatra, and there, within ten cubits of SASoRtfeAts couch, and by her side sat Antony.
 Hell me-" Cleopatra murmured-for so was this place built that every word spoken in the room below. came to the ears of the listener absyo-"tell me, noble Antony, vast pleased with my poor festyals'
 "Ay," he answered in his deep soldiers voice; "ay, Egypt, have made feasts, and been bidden to feasts, but never saw l aught like thine; and this 1 tell thee, though l am rough of tongue and unskilled i'll prot ty sayings such as women love, thou vast the richest sight of all that splendid board. The red wine was not So red as thy beau teous cheek, the roses smelt not so sweet as the odor of thy hair, and no sapphire there with it's changing light was so lovely as thy eyes of ocean blue."
 "What! praise from Antony9 Sweet words from the lips of him whose writings are so harshs Why, 'tis praise, indeedl"
 "Ay," he went on, "'twas q royal feast, though grieved that thou tlidst waste that great pearl; and what meant that hour calling astrologor of thine. with his ill omened talk of the curse of Menka-ra
 A shadow fled across her glowing face. II know not; he was lately wounded ill a brawl and methinks the blow has crazed him."
 ''He seemed not crazed, and there was that about his voice which doth ring in III y ears liko some oracle of fate. So wildly, too, he looked upon thee, Egypt, with those piercing eyes of hls, like enc who loved and yet hated through the love.'
 "'Tis q strange man, toll thee, noble Antony, and d learned. Myself, at times, ] almost fear him, for deeply is Le versed in the ancient arts of Egypt. Knowest thou that tho man is of royal blood, and once he plotted to slay mes But won hlm over S cln h f>..h h, 3,ol f1.,l crets that fain would learn; and, indeed I love his wisdom, and to listen to his deer talk of all hidden things"
 By Bacchus, but I grow jealous of the knavel And now, Egypt"
 "And now I have sucked his knowledge dry and have no more cause to fear him Didst thou not see that these three nights have made him stand Q slave amid my slaves, and call aloud the hours as they fled in festivals No captive king marching in thy Roman triumphs can have suffered keener bangs than that proud Egyptian Prince ns he stood and shamed behind my couch"
 Here Charmion laid her hand on mine and pressed 1t, as though in tenderness.
 'Well, he shall trouble us nc more with his words of evil omen," Cleopatra went on slowly; "to-morrow morn he dies-dies swiftly and in secret, leaving no trace oi what his fate hath been. On this is my mind fixed; of a truth, noble Antony, it is fixed Even as I speak the fear of this man grows and gathers in my breast. Half am I minded to give the word even now, for till he be dead breathe not freely" and she mads us though to rise.
 ''Let it be till morning." he said, catching her by the hand; "the soldiers drink, anG the deed will be ill done. 'Tis pity, too, lovo not to think of men slaughtered 1T their sleep,"
 'In the morning, perchance, may tht hawk have fown," she answered, ponder ing. "He hath keen ears, this Harmachis l and can summon things that are not of tn, | earth to aid him. Perchance even now h, | hears mo in tho spirit; for, of a truth, seem to feel his presence breathing round | me. could tell thee-but mo- let him be Noble Antony, be my tiring woman ant 1 loose me this crown of gold; it chafes m, | brow. Be gentle, hurt me not-so." He lifted the ureus crown from he | brows, and she shook loose her heav, | weight of hair that fell about her like | garment
 ''Take thy crown, Royal Egypt" he said | speaking low, ''take it from my hand;
 will not rob thee of it, but rather set it nor I HSsr,N Nlvy< <rN ttS.,A t> l. [