Thomas County cat., 1890-01-16


while all the company gazed wondering, not
! knowing what the words might mean.
.Thou ill-omened slavep, she cried.
'sSpeak thus once more and thou shalt be
scourged with rods!-ay, scourged like an
evil-doer-rhat promise thee, Harmachis ~
"What means the knave Of an astrol-
oger?" asked Antony. "Speak, sirrah!
and make clear thy meaning, for these who
deal in curses must warrant their wares"
! II am a servant Of the Gods, noble An
tony. That which the Gods put in my mind
that must say; nor can read their mean
ing" 1 answered humbly.
ooh! oh 4! thou servest the Gods, dost thou,
thou many-colored mystery" (This he
said having reference to my splendid
robes.) "Well, l serve the Goddesses,
which is softer cult And there's this
between US: that though what they put in
my mind I say, neither can I read their
meaning" and he glanced at Cleopatra as
one who questions.
"Let the knave be-" she said impatiently,
''to morrow Wen be rid of him. Sirrah, be-
goner'
bowed and went; and, as went, I heard
Antony say: "Well, knave he may be, for
that all men are, but this for thy astrologer-
ne hath royal air and the eye of king-ay,
| and wit in it,
| Without the door l paused, not knowing
what to do, for was bewilde.ed with mis-
cry; and, as l stood, some one touched me
on the hand. I glanced up-it was Char
mion, who, in the confusion of the rising
Of the guests, had slipped away and fol-
lowed me.
! For in trouble, Charmion was ever at my
side.
''Follow me-" she whis pered; "thou art in
danger"
turned and followed her. Why should
| not!
Whittier go wer asked, at length.
ITO my chamber" she said. "Fear not,
we ladies' Of Cleopatra's Court have small
good fame to lose. If any one by chance
should see US, they'll think that it's a love-
tryst, and such are all the fashion"
1 followed, and. presently, skirting the
crowd, we came, unseen, to 2 little side en-
trance that led to a stair up which we
passed. The stair ended in passsge; we
turned down it till we found a door on the
left hand Silently Charmion entered, and
followed her into dark chamber. Being
in she barred the door, and, kindling tinder
to fame, Lit hanging lamp. As the light
grew strong gazed around. The chamber
was not large and had but one easement
| closely shuttered. For the rest, it was SIM
ply furnished, having white walls, some
chests for garments, an ancient chair, what
! I took to be firing table, whereon were
| combs, perfumes and all the frippery that
pertains to woman, and white bed with a
broidered coverlid, over which was hung a
| gnat gauze.
"Be seated, Harmachis, she said, point
ing to the chair.
took the chair, and Charmion, throwing
back the gnat gauze, sat herself upon the
bed before me.
| "Knowest thou what I heard Cleopatra
say as thou didst leave the banqueting
halla" she asked presently.
'sNay, know not"
''She gazed after thee, and, as I went
over to her to do some service, she muir
INJURED to herself: by Scraps, will make
an end No longer will wait; tomorrow
he shall be strangledn''
.So' said; sit may be; though, after
all that has been, scarce can I believe that
she will murder me-"
"Why canst thou not believe it, 0 thou
most foolish Of rien! Dost forget how nigh
thou was to death there in the Alabaster
| Hall: Who saved thee then from the knives
of the eunuchs! Was it Cleopatra Or
was it l and Brennusl Stay, will tell
thee. Thou canst not yet believe it, because
in thy folly thou dost not think it possible
that the woman who has but lately been as
wife to thee can now in so short time
doom thee to be basely done to death. Nay.
answer not-I know all: and this tell thee
thou hast not measured the depth of
Cleopatra's pertdy. nor canst thou dream
the Diackness of her wicked heart. She had
surely slain thee in Alexandria had she not
| feared that thy slaughter, being noised
abroad, might bring trouble to her. There
| fore has she brought thee here to kill thee
secretly. For what more canst thou give
hera-she has thy hearts love, and is
wearied Of thy strength and beauty. She
has robbed thee of thy Royal birthright and
brought thee, King, to stand amidst her
waiting women behind her at her feasts
she has won from thee the great secret of
the holy treasured"
"Ah, thou know est thatr'
"Yea, know all; and tonight thou seest
how the wealth stored against the need of
Khem is being sQuandered to fill up the
wanton luxury Of Khem's Macedonian
| Queen! Thou seest how she hath kept her
oath to wed thee honorablyi Hsrmachis-
at length thine eyes are open to the truth p
Gay, see too we'll; she sMore she loved
me, and, fool that I was, I did believe herp
''She swore she loved theer answered
Charmion, lifting her dark eyes; ''now will
Ishow thee how she doth love thee. Know
est thou what was this housea It was q
priests college; and, as thou wotsest, Har-
machis, priests have their ways. This lit
tie chamber aforetime was the chamber Of
! the Head Priest, and the chamber that is
| beyond and below was the gathering room
Of the other priests. All this the old slave
who keeps the place told me, and also she
revealed what I shall show thee. Now,
Harmachis, be silent as the dead and fol-
low mel"
She blew cut the lamp, and by the little
light that crept through the shattered case
ment led me By the hand to the far corner
of the room Here she pressed upon the
wall, and door opened in its thickness.
We entered, and she closed the spring.
Now we were in little chamber, some five
cubits in length by four in breadth; for
faint light struggled into the closet, and
also the sound Of voices, whence / knew
| not Loosing my hand, she crept to the
end of the place, and looked steadfastly at
the wall; tnen crept back, and, whispering
s'sienccr' led ne forward with her. Then /
saw that there were eyeholes in the wall,
which pierced il, and were hidden on the
farther side By carved work in stone.