The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-11-02


anger, and that she beat hex foot upon the
floor.
ooh, is it thou, Charmion," J. said. tWhat
ais thee? Art thou cramped with standing
so long within thy hiding places Why didst
thou not slip hence when Cleopatra led me
to the balconys"
ssWhere is my kerchiefs'' she asked, Shoot
ing an angry glance at me. ~ let fall my
broidered kerchief.''
s'The kerchief! Why, didst thou not see q
Cleopatra INVITED me about it, and / flung it
from the balcony
"Yea saw answered the girl, II saw
but too we'll Thou didst fling away my
kerchief, but the wreath of roses-tnaa
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 Khen, cherished it and
saved it. ut'nly kerchief, stung by the
laughter of that light Queen, he cast
away!"
sWhat meanest thou?" asked, aston
ished at her bitter tone. II read not thy
riddles,
ssWhat mean II" she answered, tossing
up her head, and showing the white curves
of her throat May, / mean naught Or all,
take it as thou witt Wouldst know what
I mean, Harmachis, my cousin and nay
Lord?" she went on in nard, low voice.
eBehold, will tell thee5hou art in danger
of the great offense. This Cleopatra hath
cast her fatal vviles about thee, and thou
goest near to loving her, Harm achis-to
loving her whom tomorrow thou must
slayi Ay, stand and stare at that wreath
within thy hand-the wreath thou couldst
not send to join my kerchief-sure Cleo
patra wore it but tonight! The perfume
Of the hair of Cssar's mlstress-C9sar's
and others'-yet mingles with the odor OF
It's roses Now, prithee, Hslnachis, how
far didst thou carry the matter on yonder
balcony?-for in chat hole where lay hid
I could not hear or see IT'S sweet spot
night, too! Venus is surely in the right
ascension?"
And all of this she said so quietly and in
so soft and modest way, though her words
were not modest, and yet so bitterly, that
every syllable cut me to the heart and an.
gered me till I could find no speech.
s'Of a truth thou hast wise economy
she went on, seeing her advantages; s'to.
night thou dost kiss the lips that tomorrow
thou shalt still forever! TITS frugal dealing
with the occasion of the moment; aye, wor.
thy and honorable dealing!"
Then at last I broke forth. 'Girlv' !
cried, show durest thou speak thus to me?
Mindest thou who and what am that thou
looseth thy peevish gibes upon me?"
Il mind what it behooves thee to be-" she
answered quick. ''What thou art, that
mind not now Surely thou knowest alone
thou and Cleopatrai''
''What meanest thou?n said. IAN ia
blame if the Queen"
''The Queen! What have we here? Phar.
aoh owns Queen!''
IF Cleopatra wills to come hither Of a
night and talk"
s'Of stars, Harmachis-surely of stars
and roses, and naught beside!"
After that I know not what said; for,
troubled as I was, the girls bitter tongue
and quiet way drove me Well-nigh to mad
ness. But this know: spoke SO fercely
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 row,
only more passionately and with sobs.
At length / ceased, half ashamed, but
still angry and smarting sorely. For even
while she wept she could find a TONGUE to
answer with-and woman's shafts ara
sharp.
s'Thou shouldst not speak to me thus!"
she sobbed; cts cruel-it is unmanly! But
I forgot thou art priest not man-ex.
cept, mayhap, for Cleopatrap'
ssWhat right hast thou?" said. "Wha!
canst thou meant"
rTo he Con+in,1edl