Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-05-22

swiftly and in secret, leaving no trace Of
what his fate hath been. On this is my mind
fixed; Of q truth. noble Antony, it Is nxed.
Even as speak the fear of this man grows
and gathers in my breast. Half am minded
to give the word even now, for till he be
dead breathe not freely" and she made
IS though to rise.
s'Let it be till morning" he said, catching
her by the hand; s'the soldiers drink, and
the deed will be Ill done. IT'S pity, too, I
love not to think OF men slaughtered in
their sleep"
s'In the morning, perchsnce, may the
hawk have fown," she answered, ponder
ing. HE hath keen ears, this Harmachis,
and can summon things that are not Of the
earth to aid him. Perchance even now he
hears me in the spirit; for, OF q truth,
seem to feel his presence breathing round
me. I could tell thee-but no, let him bel
Noble Antony, be my firing woman and
loose me this crown Of gold; it chafes my
brow. Be gentle, hurt me not-so."
Che lifted the ureus crown from her
brows, and she shook loose her heavy
weight of hair that fell about her like q
garment.
s'Take thy crown. Royal Egypt" he said,
speaking low, take it from my hand;
will not rob thee Of it, but rather seti more
firmly on that beauteous BROW
"What means my LordP' she asked,
smiling and looking into his eyes.
"What mean II Why, then, this; hither
thou earnest at my bidding, to make an
swer to the charges laid against thee as to
matters polite. And knowest thou, Egypt,
that hadst thou been other than thou art
thou hadst not gone back to Queen it on
the Nile; for OF tins am sure, the charges
against thee are true, in fact. But being
what thou art-and look, thoui never did
No.,
thee all Zen for the sake of thy grace
and beauty I forgive thee that which hath
not been forgiven to virtue, or to patriot
ism, or to the dignity Of age! See, now, how
good thing is woman's wit and loneliness,
that can make Kings forget their duty and
cozen cen blindfolded Justice to peep ere
she lifts her swordl Take back thy crown,
o Egypt my care now it is that, though it
be heavy, it shall not chafe thee"
"Royal words are those, most noble
Antony" she made answer; gracious and
generous words, such as befit the Con-
queror Of the world. And touching my mis-
deeds IN the past-n misdeeds there have
been-this ! say, and this alone, then
knew not Antony. For, knowing Antony,
who could sin against hima What woman
could lift a sword against one who must be
to all women as God-one who, seen and
known, draws after him the whole al
legiance of the heart, as the sun draws
flowers? And what more can say and not
cross the bounds of woman's modesty |!
Why, only this-set that crown upon my
brow, great Antony, and will take it as a
gift from thee, by the giving made doubly
dear, and to thy uses will guard it. There
now am I thy vassal Queen, and through
| me all old Egypt that rule doth homage
| unto Antony the Triumvir, who shall be
Antony the Emperor and Khem's Imperial
Lord"
And he, having set the crown upon her
locks, stood gazing on her. grown passion
ate in the warm breath of her living beauty,
| till at length he caught her by both hands,
| and, drawing her to him, kissed her thrice,
saying:
cleopatra, love thee, Sweet!| love
| thee as ne'er loved betorei''
She drew back from his embrace, smiling
| softly; and as she did so the golden circlet
| of the sacred snakes fell, being but loosely
darkness beyond the ring of light
Even in the bitter anguish of my heart ]
saw the omen and knew its evil import. But
| these twain took no note.
"Thou lowest met" she said most sweetly
| show know / that thou lowest met Per-
chance tits Fulvia whom thou lovest-Ful.
| via, thy welded wife!''
'Nay. tits not Fulvia; tits thee, Cleopatra,
| and thee alone. Many women have looked
favorably upon me from my boyhood up,
| but to never a one have known such de-
sire as to thee, o thou Wonder of the
World, like unto whom no woman ever
wasl Canst thou love me, Cleopatra, and
to me be true-not for my place and power,
not for that which I can give or can with
hold, not for the stern music of my legions'
| tramp, or for the light that flows from my
bright star of fortune; but for myself, fol-
the sake of Antony, the rough captain,
| grown old in campsa Ay, for the sake OF
Antony the reveler, the frail, the unf1xed
| OF purpose, but who never yet did desert a
| friend, or rob poor man, or take an enemy
unawares3 Say, canst thou love me. Egypt?
for if thou canst, why, I am more happy
than though tonight I sat crowned in the
| Capitol at Rome absolute Monarch Of the
Worldw
| And ever as he spoke she gazed on him
with wonderful eyes, and in them shone a
| light Of truth and honesty such as was
strange to me.
| "Thou speakest plainly" she said, land
| sweet are thy words unto mine ears
| sweet would they be even were things
| otherwise than they are, for what woman
would not love to see the worlds master at
her feeta But things being as they are,
| why, Antony, what can be SO sweet as thy
sweet wordsl The smooth harbor of his
| rest to the storm-tossed mariner-surely
| that is sweet The dream of heavens bliss
| that cheers the poor ascetic priest on his
path of sacrifce-surely that is sweet The
| sight of Dawn, the rosy-fngered. coming in
| his promise to glad the watching Earth
| surely that is sweet But, ali! not one of
| these, nor all dear, delightful things that
| are, can match the hoLey-sweethess of thy
| words to me, o Antony! For thou knowest
not-never canst thou know-how drear
hath been my life and empty, since thus it
| is ordained that in love only can woman
| lose her solitudeI and have ncpcr loved
| never might / love-ti1 this happy night !
| Ay, take me in thy arms, and let US swear a
great oath Of love-an oath that may not be
broken while life is in us Behold Antony
| now and for ever do I VOW most strict
| fidelity unto theei Now and forever am
| thine, and thine aloneW
Then Charmion took me by the hand and
drew me thence.
Hast seen euough?" she asked, when
| once more we were within the chamber and
| the lamp was Lit.
'Yea," answered; "my eyes are
| opened"
ITO BE CONTINUED.
Nineteenth Century Philosophy.
| Sham greatness, like bad money, Is sure
| to be detected.