Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-12-01

Ay," ne went On, was ,
though grieved that thou didst waste
that great pearl; and what meant that
hour calling astrologer of thine, with his
ill.omened talk of the curse of Menka-ra!'
A shadow fed across her glowing face.
az know NOT: he was lately wounded IN 8
braWl and methinks the blow has crszed
him."
tIHe seemed not crszed, and there was
that about his voice which doth ring IN my
ears like some oracle of fate. So wildly,
too, he looked upon thee, Egypt, with
those piercing eyes of his, like one who
loved and yet hated through the love-"
otis a strange man, tell thee, noble
Antony. and learned. Myself, at times,
l almost fear him, for deeply is he versed
in the ancient arts of Egypt. Kuowest
thou that the man is Of royal blood. and
once he plotted to slay me? But l won
him over, and slew him not, for ne nad
the KEY to secrets that fain would learn ;
and. indeed. love his wisdom, and to
listen to his deep thought Of all hidden
things"
'fBy Bacchus, but I grow jealous of the
knsve! And now, Egypt|
"Aud now have sucked his knowledge
dry and have no more cause to fear him.
Didst thou not see that these three nights
l have made him stand a slave amid my
slaves. and call aloud the hours as they
fed in festival? No captive king march
ing in thy Roman triumphs can have sur
fered keener pangs than that proud Egyp-
tan Prince as he stood and shamed be-
hind my couch"
Here Chsrmion laid her hand on mine
and pressed it, as though in tenderness.
swell, ne shall trouble us no more with
bis words of evil omen," Cleopatra went
on slowly; tomorrow morn he dies-dies
swiftly and in secret, leaving no trace OF
what his fate hath been. Ga this is my
mind fixed; of truth, noble Antony, It
is fixed. Even as speak the fear OF this
man grows and gathers in my breast.
Half am minded to give the word even
now, for till he be dead breathe not free
w." and she made as though to rise.
Let it bs till morning." he said, catch
ing her by the hand; 1.-THE soldiers drink,
and the deed will be i'll done. IT'S pity,
too, love not to think ofmen slaughtered
in their sleep"
''In the morning, perchance, may the
hawk have flown" she answered, ponder
ing. "He hath keen ears, this Harmachis,
and can summon things that are not OF
the earth to aid him. Perchance even
now he hears me In the spirit; for, of a
truth, 1 seem to feel his presence breath
ing round me. l could tell thee-but no,
let him bel Noble Antony, be my firing
woman and loose me this crown of gold; it
chafes my brow. Be gentle, hurt me
not-so."
He lifted the ure1s crown from her
brows. and she shook loose her heavy
weight of hsir that fell about her like a
garment.
Take thy crown, Royal Egypt" he
said, speaking low, "take it from my hand
will not rob thee of it, but rather set II
more firmly on that besuteous brow"
What means my LOrd?" she asked,
smiling and looking into his eyes.
"What mean 1? Why, then this; hither
thou earnest at my bidding, to make an
swer to the charges laid against thee as to
matters polite. And knowest thou,
Egypt, that hadst thou been other than thou
art thou hadst not gone back to Queen it on
the Nile; for of this l am sure, the charges
against thee are true, IN fact. But being
what thou srt-and look, thoul never did
Nature serve a woman bstterl-I forgive
thee all Fen for the sake of thy grace
and beauty forgive thee that which hath
not been forgiven to virtue, or to patriot
Ism, or to the dignity OF age See, now,
how good thing is woman's wit and
loneliness, that can make Kings forget
their duty and cozan cen blindfOlded
Justice to peep ere she lifts her sword
Take back thy crown, o Egypt my care
it is that, though it be heavy, it shall not
chafe thee"
'Royal words are those, most noble An
tony" she made answer; gracious and
generous words, such as benefit the Con
oueror of the world. And touching my
misdeeds in the past-if misdeeds they
have been-this say, and this alone,
then knew not Antony. For, knowing
Antony, who could sin against him?
What woman could lift a sword against
one who must be to all women as
God-one who, seen and known,
draws after him the whole al.
legiance of the heart, as the sun draws
! flowers? And what more can l say and
not cross the bounds Of woman's mOdesty?
Why, only this-set that crown upon my
brow, great Antony, and l will take it as
a gift from thee, by the giving made
doubly dear, and to thy uses will guard it..
There now am I thy vassal Queen, and
through me all old Egypt that rule doth
homage unto Antony the Triumvir, who
shall be Antony the Emperor and Khem's
Imperial Lord"
And he, having set the crown upon her
locks, stood gazing on her, grown passion
ate in the warm breath of her living
beauty, till at length he caught her by
both hands, and, drawing her to him,
kissed her thrice, saying:
cleopatra. love thee, Sweetl-I love
thee as meier loved befoTe!"
She drew back from his embrace, smil-
ing softly; and as she did so the golden
circlet of the sacred snakes fell, being but
loosely set upon her brow, and rolled away
into the darkness beyond tine ring Of light.
Even in the bitter anguish of my heart
saw the omen and knew its evil import.
But these twain took no note.
"Thou lowest mt?" che said most sweet
"; 'how know that thou lowest me?
Perchauce tits Fulva whom thou lowest
Fulvis, thy welded WIFE"
Nay, tits not Fulvia; tbs thee, Cleopa-
ira, and thee alone. Many women have
looked favOrsbly upon me from my boy
hood up, but to never one have 1 known
such desire IS to thee, o Thou Wonder of
the World, like unto whom no woman
ever was Canst thou love me, Cleopatra,
and to me be true-not for my place and
power, not for that which can give or can
withhold, not for the stern music of my
legions' tramp, or for the light that flows
from my bright star Of fortune; but for
myself, for the sake Of Antony, the rough
captain, grown old in camps? Ay, for the
sake of Antony the reveler, the frail, the
unfxed of purpose, but who never yet did
desert a friend, or rob poor man, or take
an enemy unsws. es? Say, canst thou love