The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-10-16

~ n u ~
-. as he did so the woman
N$IS6- uttered the secret word.
yVFSSG 81 am come, my father"
she said in q sweet, clear voice, "though
Of truth il was not easy toescape the rev.
els at the palace. But told the Queen that
the sun and the rist in the streets had made
me sick, and she let me gon
''It Is we'll" he answered. "Unvail thy
self; here thou art safe"
With a little sigh OF WEAKNESS sho un-
clasped the peplos and let II slip from her,
giving 10 my sight the face and form OF that
beauteous girl who had stood TO fan Cleo
patra in the chariot For she was very fair
and pleasant 10 look upon, and her Grecian
robes clung sweetly about her supple limbs
and budding form Her wayward hair,
flowing In hundred little curls, was bound
with a golden fillet, and on her feet were
sandals. Her cheeks blushed like flower,
aud her dark soft eyes were downcast, as
though with modesty, but smiles and dim
pies trembled about her lips.
Ny uncle frowned when his eyes fell upon
ler dress.
"Why comest thou in this garb, Char.
pionl" he asked, sternly. sis not the
jfess thy mothers wore good enough for
iheel This Is no time or place for woman's
vanities. Thou art not here TO conquer, but
to obeyn
NAY, be not wroth, my father" she an.
swered, softly; ''perchance thou knowest
not that she whom / serve will have none
OF our Egyptian dress; II is out Of fashion.
To wear II would have been TO court sus.
picion ALSO / came In haste" And as she
spoke saw that oil the while she watched
me covertly through the long lashes which
fringed her modest eyes.
''Well, we'll" he said, sharply, fixing his
keen glance upon her face. doubtless thou
speakest truth, ChRrmion. BE ever mind
full Of thy oath, girl, and OF the cause TO
which thou art sworn. Be not light. minded,
and | charge thee forget the beauty with
which thou hast been cursed For mark
thou this, Charmion; fail us but one jot
and vengeance shall fall on thee-the ven
geance of man and the vengeance OF
the Godsi To this SERVICE" he con-
tinued, lashing himself TO anger as he
went on, til his great voice rang in the
narrow room, "hast thou been bred; 10 this
end hast thou been instructed and placed
where thou art, to gain the ear OF that
wicked wanton whom thou seemest toserve.
See thou forget 1t not; see that the luxury
OF yonder court does not corrupt thy purity
and divert thy aim, Charmion." And his
eyes flashed and his small form seemed 10
grow till IL attained TO dignity-nay, almost
10 grandeur. "Charmion," he said, advanc-
ing toward her with outstretched finger, ~
say TO thee that at times l do not trust thee.
But two nights gone dreamed j saw thee
standing in the desert. i saw thee laugh
and lift thy hand 10 heaven, and therefrom
fell q rain OF blood; then the sky sank
down on the land Of Khem and covered 1t.
Whence came the dream, girl, and what is
its meaningi Naught have against thee
as yet; but hearkenl On the moment that
/ have, though thou art OF my kin, and
have loved thee-on that moment, / say, viii
l doom those delicate limbs, which thou
lowest so much 10 show, 10 the kite and TO
the iackal, and the soul within thee 10 all
the tortures Of the Godsl Unburied shalt
thou die, and bodiless and accursed shalt
thou wander In Amentil-ay, forever and
everrn
He paused, for his sudden burst Of pas
sion had spent itself. But by It, more clear
ly than before, / saw how deep heart had
this man beneath the cloak Of his merriness
and simplicity OF mien, and how fiercely the
mind within him was set upon his aim. As
for the girl, she shrank from him terrified,
and, placing her hands before her face, be-
gan 10 weep.
"Nay, speak not 30, my father" she said,
between her sobs "for what have i donel
Naught know Of the evil wandering Of thy
dreams. / am no soothsayer that / should
read dreams. Have / not carried out all
things according 10 thy desirel Have not
been even mindful OF that dread oathP'-
and she trembled. "Have not played the
spy and told thee ALI Have not won the
heart Of the Queen 80 that she loves me as
sister, refusing me nothing, ay, and the
bearts OF those about herl Why dost thou
Alright me thus with thy words and
Ihreatsl' And she wept afresh, looking
byen moro beautiful In her sorrow than she
was before. E...
Enough, enough" he answered.; ''what l
have said have said. Be warned, and al
front our sight no more with this wanton
dress. Thinkest thou that we would feed
our eyes upon those rounded arms-we
whose stake is Egypt and who are dedicated
TO the Gods OF Egypt Girl, behold thy
cousin and thy Kingp'
She ceased weeping, wiplng her eyes
with her chiffon, and saw that they seemed
but tho softer for her tears.
''Methinks, most Royal Harmachis and
beloved cousin" she said, as she bent
before me. 'that we are already made ac-
quainted."
aYea, cousin" 1 answered, not without
shamefacedness, for never before had
spoken 10 so fair q maid; "thou vert In the
chariot with Cleopatra this day when l
struggled with the Nubian."
"Assuredly," she said, with emile and q
sudden lighting Of the eyes, ut was q gal
liant fight, and gallantly didst thou over
throw that black brute. / saw the fray,
and, though knew thee not, greatly did !
fear for one 50 brave. But paid him for
my fright, for II was ! who put II into the
mind OF Cleopatra TO bid the guards strike
OIL his hand-now, knowing who thou art,
would had said his head" And abe looked
up, shooting a glance OF me, and then
smiled. 10.
"Enough,D put in my uncle sepa, "the
emo draws on. Tell thou thy mission,
~, rrioa. and be gone