The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-10-24

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=s;zs-'a------ -. -
AND WHILE I SPOKE.
touch her lips is strictly tasted by three
separate tastcrs, who can not be suborned.
Nor may the eunuchs of the guard be trust
ed. Two, indeed, are sworn To us: but the
third can not be come at. He must be cu.
down afterwards; and, indeed, when so
many men must fall. what matters aeunuch
more or lesss Thus shall il be, then. To-
morrow night. when Bonou at three hours
before midnight is in the right ascension.
thou dost cast the final augury Of the issue
Of the war. And then thou wilt, as is
agreed, descend alone with me, having the
signet to the outer chamber of the Queens
apartment. For the vessel bearing
orders to the Legions sails from Al
exandria at the following dawn: and
alone with her, for she wills that the
thing be kept secret as the sea thou witt
read the message Of thu stars. And rs ene
pores over the papyrus, then must thou
stab her in the back. so that she dies: and
see thou that thy will and arm fail thee not.
The deed being done--ai.d indeed il will be
easy-thou wilt take the signe: and pass out
to where the cunuch is--for the others will
be wanting. II by any chance there be
trouble with him-but there will be no trou-
bic. for he dare not enter the private rooms.
and the sounds of death can not reach 70
far-thou must cut him down. Then will
meet thee: and. passing on, we will come 10
Pauius, and it shall be my care TO SEQ that
he is neither drunk nor backward, for |
know how to hold him to the task Aud he
and those with HIM shall throw open the
side gate, when Scpa and tho five hundred
chosen men who are in waiting shall pour
in and throw themselves upon the Sleeping
DICTIONARIES. putting them To the sword.
Why. the thing Is easy, 50 thou rest true 70
myself, and let no woman's fears creep
into thy heart. What is this daggcr's
thrust? 1t is nothing, and yet upon it may
hang the destinies OF Egypt and the world"
"Hu.h.' said. "Wha. is that. hear
. souna"
Charn,ion ran to the door, aud gazing
down the long, dark passage, listened
In moment she came back, her finger on
her lips. 1T Is the Queen she whispered,
hurricdly; ''tae Queen who mounts the
stair alone. heard her bid Iris leave her.
may not be found thus alone with thee a,
this hour; it hath strange look, and she
may suspect somewhat. What wants she
here! Where can hide me.' ! glanced
around. At the further end of the chamber
was 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.n I said, and she
giided behind the curtain, which swung
back and covered her. Then ! thrust the
fatal scroll of death into the bosom OF nv
robe and bent mo DER the mystic chart
PRESENTLY heard tho sweep Of woman's
robes, and there came q low knock upon the
door.
ENTER, whoever thou art.' I 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.
'sOf truth, Harmachis," she said, with
sigh, a. she sank into o seat, ''thc path
to Heaven 10 hard to climb! Ali l am
weary, for those stairs are many. But l
was minded, my astronomer, to see thee
in thy haunts.n
II am honored overmuch, o Queen.n /
said, bowling low before her.
Art thou nowl And yet that dark face
Of thine hath q somewhat angry look
Thou art too young and handsome for this
dry trade, Harmachis. Why, VOW, thou
hast cast my wreath OF roses down amidst
thy rusty toolsl Kings would have cher
ished that wreath along with their
choicest diadems, o Harmachis! and thou
dost throw it down as Q thing Of no ac-
count! Why, what a man thou art But
stay; what is thiss A lady's kerchief, by
Isisi Nay, now my Harmachis, how came
this here's Are our poor kerchiefs also in
struments Of thy high art. oh, fie, tie.--
have ! caught thee, then: Art thou, in
deed. fox.''
may, most Royal Cleopatra, nayr l
said, turning; for the kerchief which had
fallen from Charm;on's neck had an
awkward look. II know not, indeed, how
the frlppery came here. Perchance some
Of the women who keep the chamber may
have let it fall
''Ah! so-so.' she said, dryly, and still,
laughing like ripping brook. Yes,
surely, the slave women who keep cham
bcrs 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 IL. Of
a truth il seems familiar TO my sight
And she threw II around her neck and
smoothcd the ends with her white hand
'But there, tbs 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 IL ia thy bosom,
nigh thy heart, fndeed.'
ItOok tho accurscd thing, and mut,erlng
what may not write, stepped on to the
giddy platform whence watched the stars.
Then crushing it into a ball, threw it to
the winds of heaven.
Thercat the lovely Queen laughed once
more.
NAY, think now," she cried. .What
would the lady say could she sec her love-
gage thus cast TO all the world. Mayhap,
| Ea'rlachis, thou wouldst deal thus with my
| wreath alsol See, the roses fade; cast il
| off," and, STOPPING, she took up the wreath
| and gave il to me.
| For moment, 30 vexed was /, had q
| mind to take her at her word and send the
| wreath TO join the kerchief. But thought
| better of it.
Nay" said more softly, "it is \ Queens
gift, and will keep it," and as / spoke,
| meth0ught saw the curtain shake. Often
since have l sorcowed over those simple
words.
"Gracious thanks DO TO tue King Of Love
for this small Mercy" she answered, look
ing Ut me strangely. "Sow, enough OF wit
come forth upon this balcony-teil me Of
the mystery of those stars of thine. For
1 ever did love the stars, that are SO pure
and bright and cold, and SO far away from
| all our fevercd troubling. There would
wish to dwell, rocked on the dark bosom OF
the night, and losing the little sense of sell
as Igazed forever on the countenance OF
yon sweet-eyed space. Nay-who can tell,
Harmschisa-perhaps those very stars par.
take even Of our substance, and, linked tc
us ~ Nstvre's invisible chain, do IN deed