Thomas County cat., 1890-01-16

return. I'm some new mlSSlOu Ol OcLT8y61,
or was 1t but love journey!"
II went with Cleopatra upon secret bust
ness of the State,' answered, sternly.
$50 those who go secretly, go evilly; and
foul birds love to fly at night. Not but what
thou art wise, for scarce would it beseem
thee, Harmachis, to show thy face in
Egypt"
heard, and felt my passion rise within
me; for Ill could bear this fair girls scorn.
"Hast thou never word without q
sting" asked. "Know, then, that I went
whittier thou hadst never dared to go; to
gather means to hold Egypt from the grasp
of Antony"
"So" 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 Egypts"
''In my despite that he may do: but in de-
spite of Cleopatra that he can not do" l
said.
ssNay, but with the aid Of Cleopatra he
can and will do It," she answered, with a
bitter smile. when the Queen sails in
state up Cydnus' stream she will surely
draw this coarse Antony thence to Alex
andria, conquering, and yet, like thee, q
slavel"
''It is false! say that it is false! Cleo
patra goes not to Tarsus, and Antony
comes not to Alexandria; or, if he come,
twill be to take the chance of war"
'sNow, thinkest thou thus!' she an
swered, with little laugh. "Well, if it
please thee, think as thou wilt. Within
three days thou shalt know. 'Tis pretty
to see how easily thou art fooled. Fare
we'll! Go, dream on Love, for surely Love
is sweet.''
And she went leaving me angered and
troubled at heart.
That day l saw Cleopatra no more, but
on the day which followed saw her. She
was in a heavy mood, and had no gentle
word for me. Ispake to her Of the defense
of Egypt, but she put the matter away.
''Why dost thou weary me!' she said,
with anger; ''canst thou not see that I am
lost in troubless When Dellius hath had
his answer, then will we speak of these
matters"
cay" I said, "when Dcllius hath had his
answer; and knowest thou that but yester-
day Charmion-whom about the palace
they name the keeper of the Queens
secrets did swear that the an
swer would be: Go in peace: I come to
Antony?"
"Naught knows Charmion of my heart, I"
said Cleopatra, stamping her foot in anger,
land if she talk so freely the girl shall be
scourged from out my court, as is her de-
sert. Though, in TRUTH" she added, "she
hath more wisdom in that small head of
hers than all my privy councillors-ay, and
more wit to use 1t. Knowest thou that
have sold portion of those gems to the rich
Jews of Alexandria, and at great price,
ay, at five thousand sestertia for each one
But few, in truth, for more they could not
buy as yet. Twas rare to see their eyes
when they fell upon them-large as apples
they grew with avarice and wonder. And
now leave me, Harmachis, for am weary
The memory of that dread night is with me
YETI
l bowed and rose to go, and yet stood
wavering.
Pardon me, Cleopatra; tits of our mar
riage."
Sour marriagel Why, are we not indeed
already wed!" she answered.
Eyes, but not before the world. Thou
dds. promise"
SAY, Harmachis, 1 did promise, and to-
morrow, when l have rid me of this Dellius,
l will keep my promise and name thee Cleo
patra's Lord before the court. See that
thou art in thy place. Art content!"
And she stretched out her hand for me to
kiss, looking on me with strange eyes, as
though she struggled with herself. Then
went, but that night once more l strove to
see Cleopatra and could not. "The Lady
Charmlon was with the Queen" SO sale the
eunuchs, and none might enter,
On the morrow the court met in the great
hall one hour before midday, and thither
went with trembling heart to hear Cleo
patra's answer to Dellius and to hear myself
also made KING consort to the Queen of
Egypt. 1t was full and splendid court;
there We're councillors, lords, captains,
eunuchs and waiting women-all save Char
mlon. The hour passed, but Cleopatra and
Charmion came not. At length Charmion
entered gently by side entrance and took
her place among the waiting ladies about
the throne. Even as she did so she cast
glance at me, and there was triumph in her
eyes, though over what she triumphed
knew not. Little did guess that she had
but now brought about my ruin and sealed
the fate of Egypt
Then presently the trumpets bIared, and,
clad in her robes Of state, the uraus crown
upon her head, and on her breast, flashing
like a star, that great emerald scarabaus
which she had dragged from dead Pha-
raoh's heart, Cleopatra, followed by gilt
tering guard of Northmen, swept in splen-
dor to her throne. Dark was her lovely
face, and dark her slumbrous eyes, and
none might read their message, though all
that court searched therein for a sign of
what should come. She seated herself
slowly as one who may not be moved, and
spoke to the Chief of the Reralds in the
Greek tongue:
"Does the Ambassador of the noble
Antony waltz"
The herald bowed low and made assent.
"Let him come in and hear our
answer"
The doors were flung wide, and, fol-
owed by his train of knights, Dellius, clad
n his golden armor and his purple
,hlamys, walked with catlike step up the
great hall, and made obeisance before the
throne.
Most Royal and beauteous Egypt" he
'aid, in his soft voice, ''as thou hast gra-
,iously been pleased to bid me, thy servant /
am here to take thy answer to the letter Of
he noble Antony the Triumvir, whom to-
morrow sail to meet at Tarsus, in Cilicia.
And this will say, Royal Egypt-craving
pardon the while TOR the boldness of nv
'peech-bethink thee we'll before words
hat can not be unSpoken fall from thosa