Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-05-15

me go hence and work out my doom! Let
me go, @, thou fair shame! thou living Lie!
whom I have loved to my doom. and who
hast brought upon me the last curse of
doomi Let me hide myself and see thy face
no moreI"
She rose in her wrath, and terrible she
was to see.
ssLet thee go to stir up evil against mea
Nay, Harmachis, thou shalt not go to build
new plots against my throne! I say to thee
that thou, too. shalt come to visit Antony
in Cilicia, and there, perchance, will let
thee gor And ere could answer, she had
struck upon the silver gong that hung nigh
to where she was.
Ere its rich echo had died away there
entered from one door Charmion and the
waiting women, and from the other a file Of
guards-four of them of the Queens body
guard, mighty men, with winged helmets
and long, fair hair.
"Seize that traitorp' cried Cleopatra,
pointing to mo. The Captain of the guard
lit was Brennus-saluted and came toward
me with drawn sword.
But I, being mad and desperate, and little
caring it they slew me, few straight at his
throat, and dealt him such q heavy blow
that the great man fell headlong and his
armor clasbed upon the marble floor. And
as he fell seized his sword and target and,
shout, caught his blow upon the shield. and
in answer smote with all my strength.
The sword fell where the neck is set
into the shoulder and shearing through the
joints of his harness slew him, so that his
knees were loosened and he sank down
dead. And the third, as he came,
caught upon the point of my
sword before he could strike, and it
pierced him and he died. Then the last
rushed on me with cry of ''Taranisr ~ and
1, too, rushed on him, for my blood was
Cleopatra said naught, but stood and
watched the unequal fray. We met and I
struck with all my strength, and a mighty
blow it was, for the sword shore through
the iron shield and shattered there, leaving
me weaponless. With shout of triumph
the guard swung up his sword and smote
down upon my head, but with my shield I
caught the blow. Again he smote, and again
parried; but when. a third time he raised
hts sword saw this might not endure, so
with cry hurled my buckler at his face.
CHANGING from his shield it struck him on
the breast and staggered him. Then, before
he could regain his balance, rushed in be-
tween his guard and gripped him round the
middle. For full minute the tall man and
l struggled furiously, and then, so great
was my strength in those days, I lifted him
like toy and dashed him down upon the
marble floor in such fashion that his bones
were shattered so that he spake no more.
But could not save myself and fell upon
him, and as I fell the Captain Brennus,
whom had smitten to earth with my fist,
having once more found his sense, came up
behind me and smote me sore upon the
head and shoulders with the sword of one
of those whom I had slain. But being on
the ground the blow fell not with all it's
weight, also my thick hair and broidered
cap broke its force; and thus it came to pass
that, though sore wounded, the life was yet
whole in me. But no more could 1 struggle.
Then the cowardly eunuchs, who had gath
cred at the sound of blows, and stood
huddled together like a herd of cattle, see
ing that I was spent, threw themselves
upon me, and would have slain me with
their knives But Brennus, now that was
down. would strike no more, but stood
waiting. And the eunuchs had surely
slain me, for Cleopatra stood like one who
watches in dream and made no sign. AL
ready was my head dragged back and their
knife points at my throat, when Charmion,
rushing forward, threw herself upon me,