The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-10-17

I@HMdnHUs /. came to pas.
H@SWZM-1XMl that on the next day
E@M44E I arrayed myself
tIzGAA after the fashion OF q
IIEH NJ - magician or astrol-
IIEH A ggN1 oyer, in . long and
Ell kk<HSk flowing robe. Iplaccd
II ~ khE on my head cap,
lIRA OEI about which were
lEA 49, broidered images of the
lIE9 All (N stars, and in my belt
lI&9Ay scribe's palette and q
llE| roll Of papyrus written
Il@EN DER with mystic spells
lINzzNNN and signs. In my hanI held
D@ wand Of ebony, tipped with
ivory, such . is used by priests and
masters Of magic. Among these, indeed,
/ held high rank, filing by knowledge OF
their secrets which l had learned at On
what lacked in that skill of hand which
comes from use. And so, with no small
shame, for love not such play, and hold
this common magic in contempt, l set forth
through the Bruchium to the palace on the.
Lochias, being guided on my way BY my
uncle Scpa. Atlength, passing pthc avenue
of Sphinxes, we came to the great marble
gateway and the gates Of bronze within
which is the guard-house. And here my
uncle left me, breathing many prayers for
my safety aud success. But ] advanced
with an easy air to the gate. where ! was
roughly challenged by the Gallo sentries
ind asked Of my name, following and BUSH
ness. l gave my name, Harmachis the
astrologer, saying that my business was
with the Lady Charmion, the Queens lady.
Thor hn nd n,verh tn lot mo
pass in, when Captain Of the Guard, q
Roman named Paulus, came forward and
forbade it. Now, this Paulus was large
limbed man, with a womans face and .
hand that shook from wine-bibbing. Never
theless, he knew me again.
s.Why," he cried, in the Latin tongue, to
one who came with him, ''this is the fellow
who wrestled yesterday with the Nnbian
gladiator, that same who now howls for his
lost hand underneath my window. Curses
on the black brute! ! had bet on him for
tho games. / have backed him against
Caius. and now he'll never fight again, and
l must lose my money, all through this
astrologcr. What is it thou sayest-thou
hast business with the Lady Charmion!
Nay, then, that settles 1t. ] will not let
thee through. Fellow, worship the Lady
chGrmion-ay, we all worship her, though
she gives US more siaps than signs. Aud
do3t thou think that we will suffer All
astrOlogcr with such eyes and such o chest
as thine to cut in the game! By Bacchus,
mol She must come out to keep the tryst,
for IN thou shalt not CO."
s'Sir," said, humbly aud yet with dig
nifty, II pray that u message may be sent
to the Lady Charmion, for my business will
not brook delay
"Yc Gods.' answered the fool. ..whom
have we here that he can not wait! A
Caesar in disguisei Nay, be of-be of!
il thou wouidst not learn how u spear prick
feels behind
s.Nay," put in the other officer, .he is an
make linn prophecy-make him
play tricks
"Ah," cried the others who had sauntercd
up, ''let him show his art. II he is magi-
clan he can pass the gates, Paulus or no
Paulus.'
"Right willingly, good sirs!' answered,
for l saw no other means of entering
wilt thou, my young and noble Lord
and addressed him who was with Paulus
--'ssuffcr that look thee in the eyes! Per-
chance / may read what is written there"
Right said the youth; "but / wish that
the Lady Charmion was the sorceress. I
would stare her out of countenance, war
rant me-"
ltook him by the hand and gazed deep
into his eyes. Il see," / said, "a field of
battle ut night, and about it bodies stretched
among them is thy body, and hvcna
tears at its throat. Most noble sir, thou
shalt die Of sword thrusts within year"
"By Bacchusv' said the youth. turning
white to the gills, .'thou art an ill-omened
sorcerer!" And ne skunk off--shortly after
ward, as it CHANGED, to meet this very fate.
For he was sent Oh service and slain in
Cyprus.
Now for thee, great Captain!'' said,
speaking to Paulus. ~ will show thee how
! will pass those gates without thy leave-a
ay. aud draw thee through them after me.
Be pleased to fix thy princely gaze upon tho
point Of this wand in my hand.'
Beng urged thereto by his comrades, thus
he did. not willingly; and let him gaze till
! saw his eyes grow empty as All owls eyes
in the sun. Then suddenly withdrew the
wand, and, shifting my own countenancc
into the place OF 1t, seized him with my
will and stare, and beginning to turn round
and round, drew him after me, his face,
fierce and drawn, fixed, as 1t were, almost
to my own. Then slowly moved backward
till had passed the gates, still drawing
him after me, and having passed, jcrked
my head away. But he fell to the ground,
to rise wiping his brow and looking exceed
ingly foolish.
art thou content. most noble Captain:'
said. ''Thou seest we have passed the
gates. Would any other noble sir here pres
cnt wish that l should show more OF my
skilll''
by Taranis, Lord Of Thunder, and ali
the Gods OF Olympus thrown in, non
growled an old Centurion, Gaul named
BrennuA II like thee not, / say. The
man who could drag our Paulus through
those gates by the eye, as it were, is not q
man to play with. Paulus, too, who always
goes the way you don't want him-back-
ward, like IN ass-Paulus! Why, sirrah.
thou must have woman in one eye and a
wine cup In the other, to draw our Paulus
thus''
At this moment the talk was broken, for,
coming down the marble walk, followed by
an armed slave, was Charmion herself. She
walked calm and careless, her hands folded
behind her and her eyes gazing at nothing
ness, as it were. But it was when Char
mion thus looked upon nothing that she saw
most. And - she came the officers and
men Of the guard made way for her bowling,
for, as learned afterward, this girl, next
to Cleopatra's self, welded moro power
than any one about the palace.
"What is this tumult, Brennus.'' she
said, speaking to the Centurion, and max
ing as II she saw me not: s'knowcst thou
not that the Queen sleeps at this hour, and
il she be awakened it is thou who must
answer for it, and that dearly!n
"Nay, Lady," said the Centurion, humbly;
shut 1t is thus. We have hcren-and he
Jcrked his thumb toward mc-..a magician
Of the most pestilent-um, crave his par
don, OF the very best sort, for he hath but
just now, only by placing his eyes close to
tho nose Of the worthy Captain Paulus,
dragged him, the said Paulus, through tho
gates that Paulus swore the magician
should not pass. BY the same token. Lady,
the magician says he has business with you
which gricves me for your sake"
ChSrmion turned and looked ut me care
lessly. LAY, remember she said; land
SO he hath-at least tho Queen would see
his tricks; but If he can do none better
than cause q sot''-here she cast glance Of
Ns.k q k<Ss