The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-12-11

very weary, we marched back TO the banks
OF Sihor, where our craft was. And having
at length come tliither, seeing no one savo
some few peasants going out to labor on the
lands, turned tho ass loose In that same
field where we had found him, and we
boarded the craft while the crew were yet
sleeping. Then, waking them, we bade
them make all sail, saying that we had left
the eunuch to sojuurn awhile behind US, as
in truth we had. So we sailed, and the
gems, with such Of the ornaments OF gold
as we could bring hither, we hid away.
Four days and more we spent In, coming
TO Alexandria, for the wind was for the
most part against US; and they were happy
daysi At first, indeed, Cleopatra was
somewhat silent and heavy at heart, for
what she had seen and felt in the womb Of
the pyramid weighed her down. But soon
her imperial spirit awoke and shook the
burden from her breast and she became
herself again-now gay, now learned; now
loving and now cold; now queenly and now
altogether simple-evcr changing as the
winds Of heaven, and, as the heaven, deep,
bcauteous and unsearchable
Night after night for those four unhappy
nights, the last happy hours ever was to
know, we sat hand In hand upon the deck
and heard the waters lap the vessels side,
and watched the soft football Of the moon
as she trod the depths Of the Nile. There
we sat and talked of love, talked of our
marriage and all that we would do. Also
drew up plans Of war and OF defense against
the Roman, which now We had the means
to carry out; and she approved them,
sweetly saying that what seemed good to
me was good to her. And so all too swiftly
passed the days. 0 those nights upon the
Nile their memory haunts me yeti Dead
are those dear nights, dead is the moon
that lit them and lost in the wide salt sea
are the waters which rocked us on their
breastl For all things end in darkness and
ashes, and those who SOW in folly shall reap
in sorrow. Ahl those nights upon the Nile
And so, at length, once more we stood
within the walls Of that fair palace on the
Lochias, and the dream was done.
"Whither hast thou wandered with Cleo
patra, Harmachisp asked Charmion OF me
when / met her by chance on that day OF
return. ''On some new mission Of betrayall
or was 1t but love journeyP
II went with Cleopatra upon secret bust.
ness Of the State" answered, sternly.
$50 those who go secretly, go evilly; and
foul birds love 10 fly at night. Not but what
thou art wise, for scarce would II beseem
thee, Harmachis, TO show thy face In
Egypt"
Iheard, and felt my passion rise within
me; for Ill could bear this fair girls scorn.
"Hast thou never word without a
stingl" asked. "Know, then, that went
whittier thou hadst never dared 10 go; to
gather means to hold Egypt from the grasp
Of Antony" ... ......,.b
'Sol" she answered, looking up swiftly.
''Thou foolish man Better hadst thou done
TO save thy labor, for Antony will grasp
Egypt in thy despite. What power hast
thou to-day in Egyptl" j
sin my despite that he may do; but in de
spite Of Cleopatra that he can not do"
said.
"Nay, but with the aid Of Cleopatra hC
can and will do It," she answered, with 9
bitter smile. "When the Queen sails In
state up Cydnus' stream she will surely
draw this coarse Antony thence TO Alex
andris, conquering, and yet like thee, Z
slavep ...
at is falsel say that IL is falsel Cleo
patra goes not to Tarsus, and Antony
comes not TO Alexandria; or, II he come
twill be to take the chance Of war"
'Noy, thinkest thou thusl" she an
swered, with little laugh. "Well, II 1
please thee, think as thou wilt Within
three days thou shalt know. IT'S prett.
to see how easily thou art fooled. Fare
we'll Go, dream on Love- for surely Low,
is sweet"
And she went, leaving me angered and
/ troubled at heart.
That day / saw Cleopatra no more, but
on the day which followed saw her. She