Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-03-27

I'm across 1t like ughs ana contrary
~ airs upon q summer sea, and I can
not read her purpose"
''Well, well; enough OF Cleopatra Hast
thou seen our uncle?''
"Yea, Royal Harmachis."
"And hast thou the last listsg'
ssYea, here they be,' and she drew them
from her bosom. "Here is the list of those
who, after the Queen, must certainly be
put to the sword. Among them thou wilt
note is the name Of that old Gaul, Brennus.
grieve for him, for we are friends; but it
must be. 1t is a heavy list"
"'Tis So" answered; s'when men write
out their count they forget no item, and our
count is long. What must be, must be.
Now for the next"
'Here is the list Of those to be spared, as
friendly CIR uncertain; and here that of the
towns that certainly will rise so soon as the
messenger reaches their gates with tidings
of the death Of Cleopatra"
ttGood. And now"-and paused-"and
now as to the manner of Cleopatra's death.
How hast thou settled it? Must it be even
by my hand?"
ssYea, my lord" she answered, and once
again caught that note of bitterness in her
voice. s'Doubtless my Lord will rejoice
that his should be the hand to rid the land
of this false and wanton woman, and at one
blow break the chains which gall the neck
of Khem.''
s'Talk not thus, GIRL" said, swell thou
knowest that rejoice not, being but driven
to the act by deep necessity and the press
ure of my vows. Can she not, then, be
poisoned? Or can no one of the eunuchs be
suborned to slay herr Ny soul turns from
this bloody work! Indeed, I marvel, how
ever heavy be her crimes, that thou canst
talk thus lightly of the death by treachery
of one who loves thee!'
getting the greatness of the moment and
all that hangs upon this dagger stroke that
shall cut the thread of Cleopatra's life.
Listen, Harmarchls. Thou must do the
deed, and thou alonel Myself would do it,
had my arm the strength; but it has it not.
By poison it can not be done, for every
drop she drinks and every morsel that shall
touch her lips is strictly tasted by three
separate tasters, 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 cut
down afterward; and,I indeed, when so
many men must fall, what matters eunuch
more or less? Thus shall it 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 witt, as is
agreed, descend alone with me, having the
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 wilt
read the message of the stars. And as she
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-and indeed it will be
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 I
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
know how to hold him to the task. And he
and those with HIM 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
thrust? It is nothing, and yet upon it may
hang the destinies of Egypt and the world"
'sHushv" said. ''What is thata hear
q sound.''
Charmion ran to the door, and gazing
down the long, dark passage, listened
In a moment she came back, her finger on
her lips. cit IS the Queen she whispered,
hurriedly; 1.-The Queen who mounts the
stair alone. I heard her bid Iris leave her.
I may not be found thus alone with thee at
this hour; it hath strange look, and she
may suspect somewhat. What wants she
herea Where can hide me?' I glanced
around. At the further end of the chamber
was q heavy curtain that hid a little place
built in tho thickness of the wall which 1
used for the storage of rolls and instru-
ments.
Haste thee-therer' I said, and she
glided behind the curtain, which swung
back and covered her. Then I thrust the
fatal scroll of death into the bosom of nv
robe and bent me DER the mystic chart.
Presently heard the sweep of woman's
robes, and there came low knock upon the
door.
ENTER, whoever thou art'' 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
a sigh, as she sank into seat, s.the path
to Heaven is hard to climb All! 1 am
weary, for those stairs are many. But 1
was minded, my astronomer, to see thee
in thy haunts.''
81 am honored overmuch, o Queen ~.
said, bowling low before her.
''Art thou nowa 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, 0 Harmachisl and thou
dost throw it down as thing of no &C
COUNT Why, what man thou arti But
stay; what is thisa A lady's kerchief, by
Isis! Nay, now my Harmachis, how came
this heres Are our poor kerchiefs also in
struments Of thy high arta Oh, fe, fie!-
have I caught thee, thena Art thou. in
deed, fox?n
s.Nay, most Royal Cleopatra, nayr' I
said, turning; for the kerchief which had
fallen from Charmion's neck had an
awkward look 81 know not, indeed, how