Mexico weekly ledger., 1889-11-28

easy-thou wilt take the signet and pass out
to where the eunuch is-for the others will
be wanting. If by any chance there be
trouble with him-but there will be no trou-
BILE, for he dare not enter the private rooms,
and the sounds of death can not reach so
far-thou must cut him down. Then will L
meet thee; and, passing on, we will come to
Paulus, and it shall be my care to see that
he is neither drunk nor backward, for l
know how to hold him to the task. And he
and those with hun shall throw open the
side gate, when Sepa and the five hundred
chosen men who are in waiting shall pour
in and throw themselves upon the sleeping
legionaries, putting them to the sword.
Why, the thing is easy, SO thou rest true to
thyself, and let no woman's fears creep
into thy heart. What is this dagger's
thrust? 1t is nothing, and yet upon it may
hang the destinies of Egypt and the world"
'Hush!" said. ''What is that? l hear
sound.''
Charmion ran to the door, and gazing
down the long, dark passage, listened.
In moment she came back, her finger on
her lips sit IS the Queen" she whispered,
hurriedly; 1.-THE Queen who mounts the
stair alone. 1 heard her bid Iris leave her.
may not be found thus alone with thee at
this hour; it hath a strange look, and she
may suspect somewhat. What wants she
herel Where can I hide mes" I glanced
around. At the further end of the chamber
was a heavy curtain that hid little place
built in the thickness of the wall which
used for the storage Of rolls and instru-
ments.
Haste thee-there!' 1 said, and she
glided behind the curtain, which swung
back and covered her. Then l thrust the
fatal scroll of death into the bosom Of my
robe and bent me DER the mystic chart.
Presently 1 heard the sweep of wonan's
robes, and there came a low knock upon tho
door.
ENTER, whoever thou artr' said.
The latch lifted, and Cleopatra swept in,
| royalty arrayed, her dark hair hanging
about her and the sacred snake of royalty
glistening on her brow.
''Of a truth, Harmachis,' she said, with
sigh, as she sank into a seat, s.the path
to Heaven is hard to climb All! l am
| weary, for those stairs are many. But I
| was minded, my astronomer, to see thee
| in thy haunts."
81 am honored overmuch, o Queen.' I
SAID, bowing low before her
"Art thou now2 And yet that dark face
| of thine hath a somewhat angry look.
| Thou art too young and handsome for this
| dry trade, Harmachis. Why, I vow, thou
| hast cast my wreath of roses down amidst
| thy rusty tools! Kings would have cher
| ished that wreath along with their
| choicest diadems, 0 Harmachs! and thou
| dost throw it down as thing of no ac-
| countI Why, what man thou artI But
stay; what is thisf A lady's kerchief, by
Isisl Nay. now my Harmachis, how came
| this here4 Are our poor kerchiefs also in
| struments Of thy high arta Oh, fie, fe!-
| have / caught thee, thens Art thou in.
deed, fox?''
| may, most Royal Cleopatra, nay!" ]
said, turning; for the kerchief which had
fallen from Charmion's neck had an
awkward look. 81 know not, indeed, how
the fr1ppery came here. Perchance some
of the women who keep the chamber may
have let it fall.'
'Ah! so-sor' she said, dryly, and still
| laughing like a ripping brook. Yes
surely, the slave women who keep cham.
bers own such toys as this, of the very
finest silk, worth twice its weight in gold
and broldered, too. in many colors. Why
| myself should not shame to wear it! O1
| truth it seems familiar to my sight ,
And she threw 1t around her neck and
! smoothed the ends with her white hand
.sBut there, It's thing unholy in thine
eyes that the scarf of thy beloved should
| rest upon my poor breast. Take it, Har
! machis; take 1t and hide it in thy bosom
nigh thy heart, 1ndeedr'
Itook the accursed thing, and mutterine
| what may not write, stepped on to the
| giddy platform whence watched the stars
| Then crashing it into ball, l threw it t.
the winds of heaven.
Thereat the lovely Queen laughed ono,
more.
.Nay, think now,'' she cried. "Wha
would the lady say could she see her love
gage thus cast to all the worlds Mayhap
Harmachis, thou wouldst deal thus with m,
wreath t.lsoa See, the roses fade; cast
of" and, STOPPING, she took up the wreatl
and gave it to me.
For moment, 80 vexed was ], had
mind to take her at her word and send tn,
better of it.
'iNay," said more softly, sit is Queen
gift, and 1 will keep it," and as spoke
methought saw the curtain shake. Oftel
since have I sorrowed over those simpi
words.
"Gracious thanks be to the King of Low
| for this small mercy" she answered, look
ing at me strangely. 'sNow, enough Of wit
come forth upon this balcony-tell me o
; the mystery of those stars of thine. Fo
! ever did love the stars, that are SO pur
and bright and cold, and SO Tar away fror
all our fevered troubling. There would
wis to dwell, rocked on the dark bosom .
! the night, and losing the little sense of sci
as gazed forever on the couutenance Q
yon sweet-eyed space. Nay-who can tel
Harmachis those very stars paI
take even of our substance, and, linked t
US by Natures invisible chain, do, indeed
draw our destiny with them as they roll
What says the Greek fable of him who bt
! came star? Perchance it hath truth, 10
yonder tiny sparks may be the souls of mer
but grown more purely bright and placed i
happy rest to illume the turmoil OF thei
mother earth. Or are they lamps hung hig
In the heavenly vault that night by nigt
some Godhead, whose wings are darkness,
} touches with his immortal fire, so that the
} leap out In answering aamef Give N
somewhat of thy wisdom aud open thes
. wonders to me, o my servant, for / hav
little knowledge. Yet my feart is larg'
and / fain would fill it, tor have the W
could but find the teachern
{ Thereon, being right glad to finei footingo
. safer shore, and marveling somewhat
learn that Cleopatra had place for loft
} thoughts, spoke and told her willingi
. such things rs are lawful ! told her ho
, the sky u liquid mass pressing round 4