Thomas County cat., 1890-01-16


Then at length opened my eyes, and as
best could l spoke:
''Restrain thy grief, dear frlend,"I said,
81 live yet; and, in truth, feel as though
new life did gather in my breastr'
"Thou livestr' she cried, throwing her.
self upon her knees beside my couch
Thou livest-and l thought thee goneI
Thou art come back to me! Oh! what say
1! How foolish is woman's heart! 'Tis
this long watchingl Nay; sleep and rest
thee, Harmachis why dost thou talka
Not one more word l command thee,
straightlyl Oh, where is the draught left
by tina. long bearded fool! Nay, thou shalt
have no draught! There, sleep, Harmachis;
sleep!" and she crouched down at my side
and laid her cold hand upon my brow, mur-
muring: ''Sleep sleep, sleep''
And when l woke up there still she was,
but the lights of dawn were peeping through
the easement. There still she knelt, one
hand upon my forehead, and her head, in
all its disarray of curls, resting upon her
outstretched arm. 'Charmion," l whis-
pered, shave slept!"
Instantly she was wide awake and gaz,A
ing on me with tender eyes. 'Yea, thou
hast slept, Harmachis. !"
'N:ne hours"
"And thou hast held thy place there, at
my side, for nine long hours!"
"Yea, it is naught; also have slept-l
feared to waken thee if stirred"
$50 rest thee" said. sit shames me to
think of this thing. Go rest thee, Char.
mionI''
''Vex not thyself," she answered-"see,
l will bid slave watch thee and to wake
me if thou needst aught; / sleep there, in
the outer chamber. Peace-I go!' and she
strove to rise, but, so cramped was she, fell
straightway on the floor.
Scarce can l tell the sense of shame that
filled me when l saw her fall Alas could
not stir to help her.
''It is naught," she said; "move not, did
but catch my foot. There!'' and she rose,
again to fall--"a pest upon my awkward
ness! why-I must be sleeping tits well
now. / II send the slave,' and she stag
gered thence like one o'ercome with wine.
And after that, once more slept, for
was very weak When l woke it was al
ternoon, and craved for food, which Char
mion brought me.
/ ate! s'Then die notr' said.
May" she answered, with toss of her
head, ''thou wilt live. In truth, l did waste
my pity on thee"
''And thy pity did save my life," said.
YEARLY, for now remembered.
ut is naught," she answered, carelessly.
''After all, thou art my cousin; also, love
nursing; it's a womaD's trade. Like
enough l had done as much for any slave.
Now, too, that the danger is past, leave
thee"
BETTER hadst thou done to let me die,
l said after awhile, ''for life to
me can now be naught but one long shame
FELL me, then, when sails Cleopatra for
CiIicia!'
"In twenty days she sails, and with such
oomp and glory as Egypt hath never seen.
)f truth, can not guess where she has
found the gold to gather in this store Of
'plendor, as husbandman gathers his rich
'ruits.''
But /, knowing whence came the wealth, :
yroaned in bitterness of spirit, and m-de
10 answer.
''Goest thou also, Charmiona' I asked,
presently.
Gay, and all the Court. Thou, too-thou
,oest"
81 gol Nay, why is this?"
because thou art her slave, and must
march in gilded chains behind her chariot;
'eCauSe SQ0 Tears 70 leaVc tne0 mere IN
khem; because it is her will, and there -
n end"
"Charmion, can not escapei"
Escape, thou poor sick mani Nay, how
anst thou escapel Fen now most strictly
rt thou guarded. And if thou didst es-
ape, whittier wouldst thou fyl There'snot
n honest man in Egypt but would spit on
hee in scornr'
Once more groaned in spirit, and being
o weak / felt the tears roll a-down nv
heck.
"Weep not!" she said. hastily, and turn
lg her face aside. "Be man, and brave
dese troubles out Thou hast sown. now .
lust thou reap; but after harvest the
'aters rise and wash away the roots, and
hen once more comes seed time. Per-
nance, yonder in Cilicia, way NAV BE-
'und when once more thou art strong
hereby thou mayst fy-if in truth thou
INST bear thy life apart from Cleopatra's
nile; then in some far land must thou
veil till these things are forgotten. And
Continued on pa9e'1l