The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-05-23

waters rise and wash away the roots, and
then once more comes seed time. Per-
chance, yonder in Cilicia, way may be
found when once more thou art strong
whereby thou mayst fiy-if In truth thou
canst bear thy life apart from Cleopatra's
smile; then in some far land must thou
dwell till these things are forgotten. And
now my task is done, 90 fare thee well. At
times win come and see that thou modest
naught-"
So she went, and thenceforwa-d was I
nursed, and that skillfully, by the physician
and two women slaves; and as my wound
healed 50 my strength came back to me,
slowly at first, then most swiftly. In four
days from that time left my couch, and in
three more could walk an hour in the pal
ace gardens; another week and could
read and think, though went no more to
Court And at length one afternoon Char
mion came and babe me make ready, for in
two days would the feet sail, first for the
coast Of Syria, and thence to the gulf Of
Issus and Cilicia-
Thereon, with all formality, and in writ
ing, crayed leave OF Cleopatra that might
be left, urging that my health was even
now so feeble that could not travel But
in answer a message was sent TO me that
must come. And so on the appointed day
was carried on a litter down to the boat,
and together with that very soldier who had
cut me down, the Captain Brennus, and
others of his troop (who, indeed. were sent
to guard mel, we rowed aboard the vessel
where she lay at anchor with the rest Of the
great feet. For Cleopatra was voyaging as
though to war in much pomp, and escorted
by a mighty feet of ships, whereof her
galley, built like house and lined through
out with cedar and slken hangings, was the
most beautiful and costly that the world
has ever seen. But on this vessel went
not, and, therefore, it CHANGED that saw
not Cleopatra nor Charmlon till we landed
at the mouth Of the River Cydnus. The
signal being made, the feet set sail; and
the wind being fair, on the evening Of the
second day we came to Joppa- Thence we
sailed slowly with contrary winds up the
coast of Syria, making Casarea and Ptol-
emais and Tyrus and Berytus and past
Lebanon's white brow crowned with
his crest OF cedars, on to Heraclea
and across the Gulf of Issus to the mouth
of Cydnus. And ever as we iourneyed
the strong breath of the sea brought back
my health, till at length, save for a line of
white upon my head, where the sword had
fallen, was almost as had been. And
one night, as we drew near Cydnus, while
Brennus and sat alone together on the
deck, his eye fell upon the white mark his
sword had made, and he swore great
oath by his heather gods. "An' thou hadst
died, iad,'' he said, 'tmethinks l could
never again have held up my headi Ali
that was coward stroke, and shamed am
I to think that should have struck it, and
thou on the ground and with thy back to
mel Knowest thou that when thou didst
lie 'twixt life and death, every day came
to ask tidings of thee2 and l swore by
Taranis that if thou dldst die I'd turn my
back upon tina: soft palace life and then
away for the Norlh."
'rNay, trouble not, Brennus," answered;
sit was thy duty"
"Mayhapl but there are duties that a
brave man should not do-nay, not at the
bidding of any Queen who ever ruled in
Egypt Thy blow had dazed me or had
not struck. What is it, ladi-art in trouble
with this Queen Of oursl Why art thou
dragged a prisoner upon this pleasure
partyl Knowest thou that we are strictly
charged that if thou dost escape our lives
shall pay the prlcef'
SAY, in sore trouble, friend" I an
swered; task me no more"
Then, being of the age thou art-there's
a woman in it, that swear land, per-
chance, though am rough and foolish, I
might make guess Look thou, lad, what
sayest thoul am a-weary of the service
Of Cleopatra and tLis hot land Of deserts
and of luxury, that sap nrnn's strength
aud drain his pocket; and so are others
whom I wot Of. What sayest thou; let's
take one Of these unwieldy vessels and
away to the Northl I'll lead thee to a bet
ter land than Egypt-a land of lake and
mountain and great forests of sweet
scented pine; ay, and find thee girl tit
to mate with, mine own mecca strong
girl, and tall, with wide blue eyes, and
long, fair hair, and arms that would crack
thy RIBS were she to hug theei Come,
what sayest thoul Put away the past, and
away for the bonny North, and be a son to
NET ..
For moment I thought, and then sadly
shook my head; for though sorely was l
tenpted to be gone, I knew that in Egypt
lay my fate, and my fate might not fly.
Brennus," answered. 1T may not be,
"Faiu would that it might be, but I am
bound by chain of destiny which l can not
break, and in the land Of Egypt must live
and die"
"As thou wilt, lad" said the old warrior.
Dearly should l have loved to marry thee
among my people and make son of thee.
At the least, remember that while / am
here thou hast Brennus for a friend. And
one thing more: beware of that beauteous
Queen of thine, for, by Taranis, perchance
an hour may come when she Will hold that
thou knowest too much, and then" and
he drew his hand across his throat. "And
now good night; a cIp of wine, then to
sleep, for tomorrow the foolery-"
Here several lengths OF the second rou Of
pdpyrus ave so broken as TO Be indocipherubie.
They seem 30 hare been descriptive Of CIeopdtru's
royo0s up The CvdnHs to the city Of Tdrsus.
And 1.-THE writing coutinuesl 10 those who
could take joy in such things the sight must,
indeed, have been a gallant one For the
stern of our galley was covered with sheets
Of beaten gold, the sails were of the scar
let 6sTvre, and the oars of silver dipped in
the water 10 the measure Of music. And
there in the center of the vessel, beneath
an awning ablaze with gold embroidery, lay
Cleopatra, attired as the Roman Venus
fand surely Venus was not more fairD, in
a thin robe of whitest silk, bound in beneath
her breast with a golden girdle delicately
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