Telegram-herald., 1889-10-12

Pharaoh, crowned OF Kaem, stood among
e-u8cEs and waiting women behind tae
co1ch OF EgyPts Queen while the feast
went Uerrly &nd The wlne-cup passed.
And ever Antony sat his eyes nIed upon
the face Of Cleopatra, who from ume 10
tine LEI Ter deep glance lose Itself n hls,
aid Il sn for a .ittle while their talk died
away For he tod her tales q war aud
deeds that be lad done-ay, ana love lests
such a. are not meet FOR the ears of
women. Bat a. nzugnt TOOK she 0ronse,
rather, falling into his hlm0r, would she
cap as stories wlth others Of nner vii,
but not less shameless
At length, the Fich meal icing finished,
Antony gazed al The splendor round him.
Tell me, then, most lovely Egyptr he
said. are the sands OF Nile com pact Of gold,
that thou canst night by night. thus squaa-
der the ransom OF a King upon a single
feastl Whence comes this untold wealth."
l bethought me Of the tomb OF the divine
Menka-ra, whose holy treasure was thus
wickediy wasted, and looked up, 50 that
Cleopatra's eyes caught mine but, reading
my thoughts, she Crowned heavily.
Way, noble Antony" she said, "surely
II IS naught! In Egypt we have our secrets,
aud know whence 10 cOnjure riches at our
need Say, what is the value Of this golden
service, and of the meats and drinks that
have been set before usi'
Maybe, a thousand sestagtia."
"Thou hast understated II by half, noble
Antony But. such as II is. / give IL thee
and those with thee as free token OF my
friendship Aud more Will / show thee
now |, myself, viii eat and drink ten thou
sand sestertia az a draught."
THAT can not De, fair Egyptw
Sue laughed aud bade d slave bring her
vinegar IN glass. When il was brought
she set it before her aud laughed again,
while Antony. RISING from his couch, drew
near and sat himself al her side, and all the
com pany ieant forward 70 see what she
would do. And this size did: From her ears
she took one Of those great pearls, which
last Of all had been drawn from the body Of
the divine Pharaoh; and before any could
guess her larpose let II fal into the vine
gar Then came silence, the silence OF won
der, and slowly the peerless pearl melted IN
the acid. When it was melted she took the
glass and shook il, then drank the vinegar
10 the last drop.
more vinegar, slaver' she cried, "my
meal is but half fnishedi" and she drew
forth the second pearl.
"By Bacchus, mol thou shalt notp' cyied
Antony, snatching at her hands; II have
seen enough" Ard Mt that moment, moved
thereto by know not what, called aloud:
''The hour falls the hour Of the coming Of
n, curse Of Menka-rdn'
An ashy whiteness grew upon Cleopatra's
face aud furiously she turned upon me,
while all the company gazed wondering, not
knowing what the words might mean.
Thou ill-omened slaveV she cried.
"Speak thus once more and thou shalt be
scourged with rodsl-ay, scOurged like an
evil-dOer-that promise thee, Harmachis ~
''What means the knave Of an astrol-
oger?" asked Antony. "Speak, sirrahl
and make clear thy meaning, for those who
deal in curses must warrant their wares"
Il am servant of the Gods, noble An
tony. That which the Gods put in my mind
that must | say; nor can read their mean
ing" | answered humhly.
"Ohl oh thou servest the Gods, dost thou,
thou many-co.ored mysterym (This he
said having reference to my splendid
robes) "Weu, l serve the Goddesses,
which ia a softer cult. And there's this
between US: that though what they put in
my mind | say, neither can | read their
meaning" and ne glanced al Cleopatra as
one who questions.
'Let the knave be, " she said impatiently,
"to morrow Wen be rid Of him. SIrrah, be-
gomez
| bowed and went and, as went, heard
ANTONY saw: ''We ell, a knave he may be, for
that all men are, but this for thy astrologer-
he hath a royal air and the eye Of a king-ay,
and wit in it."
Without the door l paused. not knowing
\ l.. / 4 a..
erv: and, as | stood some one touched me
on the hand. l glanced up-it was Char
mion. who. in the confusion OF the rising
Of the guests, had slipped away and fol-
lowed ne.
For in trouble, Charmion was ever at my
side.
Follow me" she whispered; "thou art in
danger"
turned and followed her. Why should
noti
whittier 90 wei" / asked. at length.
ITO my chamber" sue said. Fear not,
we ladies of Cleopatra Court have small
good fame 70 lose. Il any one by chance
should see Us, they think that 'tis love
tryst, and such are al the fashion"
/ followed, aud. presently, skirting the
crowd, we came, unseen. 10 a little side en-
trance that lea 20 a stair Up which we
passed The stair ended in a passsge; we
turned down it tiI we found door on the
left hand Silently Charmion entered, sud
7 followed acr iafo q dark chamber Being
in she narrei lhc door, and, kindhng tLaer
to % daue, lit q hanging lamp As the light
grew strong gaze8 around. The chamber
was net large aud had but one easement
close 3 shurercd. For enc rest. % was sim
ply furnished. having white walls, some
cheats for carmen ts. an anC'eut chair, vuat
4 tool. % ne firing table, wnercon We're
combs. perfumes and aH tae frppery that
pertains o. woman, and 2 white bed with
br0dsre0 c0verld, over wniel WAS hung
gaat gauze
'8e seated. Haruachis." she said, point
ing to The chair.
! took tbe chair. nnd Charm on, throwng
beck the gnat gauze, sat herself upon t1e
bed before me.
"Knowest thou what I heard Cleopatra
say as thoa didst leave the banouetng
nal.f" ste ssEed presently.
"Nav, / know uot.H
"She gszct after thee. End. "a I went
over 20 her t0 DO some servicc. she mur
INJURED to herself. 'HY Scraps, wh mzSs
az endf 80 longer TlI / Wa,t, tomorrow
he shau be sfeanr.ed n
t'saF sadt " may be, though. after
sl tHat has .ren, eearce can believe thai
she viii murder ue
'N NhY Gems. ilau not believe T., - th'1
most .oish 20 meas D sl .Eel h0w b -a
flou was tl desth i1eralH tle Aaoas'er
Halls Who saved 1face taea fraa enc katFes
of the eunachsi Was it Ce1patraf or
wss 80 I aud brenngsf eaT, J W.i te-