The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-10-30

the cold delicacy OF custom, stung thereto
by what saw Of the arts Of that lovely liv-
ing falsehood, Cleopatra, which for pastime
she doth practice on thy folly, Ihave spoken
out my heart, and answer thoulp And she
I clasped her hands, and, drawing one pace
nearer, gazed all trembling on my face.
Fora moment stood struck dumb, for
the magic Of her voice and the power Of her
speech, despite myself, had stirred me
like the rush of music. Had l loved the
woman doubtless she might have fred me
with her fame but loved her not, and /
could not play at passion. And so thought
came, and with thought that laughing mood
which Is ever apt TO fasten upon nerves
strained to the point OF breaking. In q
fash, as 1t were, bethought me Of the way
In which she had that very night forced the
wreath Of roses on my head. l. thought Of
the kerchief and how had flung II forth.
| Thought OF Charmion In the little cham
Der watching what she held 10 be the arts
Of Cleopatra, and Of her bitter speeches.
Lastly, thought OF what my uncle Sepa
would say Of her could he see her now, and
Of the strange and tangled skein where
With was irnmeshed. 4 laughed aloud
the FOOLS laughter--that was my kneh OF
rlinl .,..r ,, t...
She turned whittier yet-white as the dead
--and on her face there grew look that
checked my foolish mirth. I"Thou tindest,
then, Harmachis," she said, In low, choked
voice, and dropping the level oil her eyes
''thou findest cause OF merriment In what l
have said"
"Nay," / answered, ''nay, Charmion; /;
forgive me IL laughed. Twas rather a
laugh Of despair; for what am to say to
theei Thou hast spoken high words Of all
thou mightest be; is 1t left for me TO tell
thee what thou artl"
She shrank, and paused.
Speak" she said.
"Thou hnowest-none SO well-what am
and what my mission Is; thou knowest-
none so well-that am sworn to Isis, and
may, by law divine, have naught to do with
| thee.n -
"Ay,n she broke In, in her low voice and
with her eyes still fixed upon the ground; I;
'ay, and know that thy vows are broken
In spirit, IL not in form-broken like
wreaths OF clouds-for, Harmachis, thou
louest Cleopatra"
at is lieln cried. "Thou wanton
girl, who wouldst seduce me from my duty
and put me to an open shamel-who, led by
passion or ambition, or the love OF evil,
hast not shamed to break the barriers OF
thy sex and speak as thou hast spoken
beware lest thou 60 too farl And II thou
wilt have an answer, here 1t is, put
straightly as thy question. Charmion, out
side the matter OF my duty and my vows,
thou art naught 10 mel-nor, for all thy
tender glances, will my heart beat one
pulse more fast Hardly art thou now my
friend-for, OF truth, i scarce can trust
thee. But, once more, bewarel To me
thou mayest do thy worst; but II thou dost
dare To lift finger against our cause that
day thou diestl And now is this play
doneln
And as. wild with anger, spoke thus,
she shrank back and yet further back, till
at length she rested against the wall, her
eyes covered with her hand. But when
ceased she dropped her hand, glancing up,
and her face was the face OF statue,
wherein the great eyes glowed like embers,
and round them was q ring OF purple
shadow.
"Not altogether DONE" she said gently;
''the arena must yet be sandedW This she
said having reference TO the covering up OF
the blood stains at the gladlatorial shows
with fine white sand. "Well," she went on,
''waste not thine anger on thing 80 vile.
have thrown my throw and have lost.
Vac victis l-ahl Vac victis Wilt thou not
lend me the dagger in thy robe, that here
and now / may end my shameI' MOI Then
one word more, Most Royal Harmachis: II
thou canst, forget my folly; but at the
least, have no fear from me. am now, as
ever, thy servant and the servant Of our
cause. FAREWELL"
And she went, leaning her hand against
the wall. But /, passing TO my chamber,
flung myself upon my couch and groaned in
bitterness OF spirit. Alasl we shape our
plans, and by slow degrees build up our
house Of Hope, never counting on the guests
| that time shall bring 10 lodge therein. For
who can guard against-the Unforeseen.
AT length slept, and evil were my
dreams. When / woke the light Of the
day which should see the red fulhllment Of
the plot was streaming through the case
ment, and the birds sang merrily among
the garden palms. woke, and as / woke
the sense OF trouble pressed In upon me,
for remembered that before ,his day was
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