The Irish standard., 1889-11-23

WleQ U6G uer ny CuauC0 Oh bASs1 uezy VI
return. On some new mission OF betrayala
| or was it but love journey"
Il went with Cleopatra upon secret bus1-
| ness of the State" answered, sternly.
$50 those who go secretly, go evilly; and
thou art wise, FOR scarce would it beseem
thee, Harmachis, to show thy face in
Egypt"
heard, and felt my passion rise within
me; for Ill could bear this fair girls scorn.
s'Hast thou never word without q
sting?" asked. Know, then, that went
whittier thou hadst never dared to go; to
gather means to hold Egypt from the grasp
Of Antony"
ssSol" she answered, looking up swiftly.
''Thou foolish mani Better hadst thou done
TO save thy labor, for Antony will grasp
Egypt in thy despite. What power hast
thou to-day in Egypts'
Sin my despite that he may do; but in de-
spite Of Cleopatra that he can not do"
said.
s:Nay, but with the aid Of Cleopatra he
IAN and will do It," she answered, with a
bitter smile. "When, the Queen sails in
state up Cydnus stream she will surely
draw this coarse Antony thence to Alex
andria, conquering, and yet, like thee, q
slavel"
s'It is falsel say that it is falsel Cleo
patra goes not to Tarsus, and Antony
comes not to Alexandria; or, it he come,
twill be to take the chance of war"
Snow, thinkest thou thus?'' she an
swered, with little laugh. stWel, it it
please thee, think as thou wilt. Within
three days thou shalt know. TITS pretty
to see how easily thou art fooled. Fare
welll Go, dream on Love, for surely Love
is sweet"
And she went, leaving me angered and
troubled at heart.
That day I saw Cleopatra no more, but
on the day which followed saw her. She
was in heavy mood, and had no gentle
word for me. Ispake to her of the defense
Of Egypt, but she put the matter away.
s'Why dost thou weary mes" she said,
lost in troubless When Dellius hath had
his answer, then will we speak of these
matters" H'
tsAy,' said, s'when Dellius hath had his
answer; and l1nowest thou that but yester-
day Charmion-whom about the palace
they name the keeper of the Queens
secrets'-Charmion did swear that the an
swer would be: Go in peace; I come to
AntOny7'"
'sNaught knows Charmion Of my heart, "
said Cleopatra, stamping her foot in anger,
s'and if she talk so freely the girl shall be
scourged from out my court, as is her de-
sert. Though, in TRUTH" she added, 'sshe
hath more wisdom in that small head Of
hers than all my privy councillors-ay, and
more wit to use it. Knowest thou that /
have sold a portion Of those gems to the rich
Jews Of Alexandria, and at a great price,
ay, at five thousand sestertia for each one.
But a few, in truth, for more they could not
buy as yet twas rare to see their eyes
when they fell upon then-large as apples
they grew with avarice and wonder. And
now leave me, Harmachis, for am weary.
The memory of that dread night is with me
YETI
1 bowed and rose to go, and yet stood
wavering.
':Pardon me, Cleopatra; tits of our mar
rage"
''Our marriage! Why, are we not indeed
already wed!" she answered.
eyes, but not before the world. Thou
dds. promise"
morrow, when have rid me of this Dellius,
will keep my promise and name thee Cleo
patra's Lord before the court. Sec that
thou art in thy place. Art content2"
And she stretched out her hand for mo to
kiss, looking on me with strange eyes, as
though she struggled with herself Then /
went, but that night once more I strove to
see Cleopatra and could not soThe Lady
Charmion was with the Queen" so said the
eunuchs, and none might enter.
On the morrow the court met in the great
hall one hour before midday, and thither
went with trembling heart to hear Cleo.
patra's answer to Dellius and to hear myself
also made King consort to the Queen of
Egypt. 1t was full and splendid court;
there were councillors, lords, captains,
eunuchs and waiting women-all save Char
mion. The hour passed, but Cleopatra and
Charmion came not. At length Charmion
entered gently by side entrance and took
her place among the waiting ladies about
the throne. Even as she did SO she cast a
glance at me, and there was triumph in her
eyes, though over what she triumphed
knew not. Little did 1 guess that she had
but now brought about my ruin and sealed
the fate of Egypt
Then presently the trumpets blared, and,
clad in her robes of state, the ureus crown
upon her bead, and on her breast, flashing
like star, that great emerald scarab@us
which she had dragged from dead Pha-
raoh's heart, Cleopatra, followed by gilt
tering guard Of Mortimer, swept in splen.
dor to her throne. Dark was her lovely
face, and dark her slumbrous eyes, and
none might read their message. though all
that court searched therein for a sign OF
what should come. She seated herself
slowly as one who may not be moved, and
spoke to the Chief of the Heralds in the
Greek tongue:
'.Does the Ambassador of the noble
Antony wait9''
The herald bowed low and made assent.
"Let him come In and hear our
answer"
The doors were flung wide, and, fol-
lowed by his train of knights, Dellius, clad
in his golden armor and his purple
chlamys, walked with catlike step up the
great hall, and made obeisance before the
throne.
- Most Royal and beauteous Egypt" he
said, in his soft voice, s'as thou hast era.
ciously been pleased to bid me, thy servan. i
am here to take thy answer to the letter OF
the noble Antony the Triumyir, whom to.
morrow sail to meet at Tarsus, in Cilicia.
And this will say, Royal Egypt craving