Thomas County cat., 1890-01-16

tony were of gold set with Jewels. The
dishes also We're all of gold set with jewels,
the walls were hung with purple cloths
sewn with gold, and On the floor We're
strewu fresh roses ankle deep, covered
with a net of gold, that as the slaves trod
them sent up their perfume. Once aoain
was bid 10 stand with Charnion and Iras
and hcrir;a behind the cOlch of Cleopatra,
and like = slave, from time 10 time call out
the hours as they few. And there being
no help, wild at heart l went; but this
swore- it s.ould be for the last time, for
could not bear that shame. For though
would not yet believe what Charmion told
me-that Cleopatra was about to become
the love Cf AGtony-yet could l no more en-
dure this ignominy and torture. For from
Cleopatra now l had no words save such
words as Queen speaks to her slave, and
methInks it gave her dark heart pleasure to
torment me.
Thus it came to pass that l, the
Pharaoh, crowned of Khem, stood among
eunuchs and waiting women behind Che
couch of Egypt's Queen while the feast
went merrily and the wine-cup passed.
And ever Antony sat, his eyes fixed upon
the face of Cleopatra, who from time to
time let her deep glance lose itself IN his,
and then for little while their talk died
away. For he told her tales of war and
deeds that he had done-ay, and love-jests
such as are not meet for the ears of
women. But at naught took she ofense;
rather, falling into his humor, would she
cap his stories with others of . finer wit,
but not less shameless.
At length. the rich meal being finished,
Antony gazed at the splendor round him.
''Teli me, then, most lovely Egyptr' he
said, ''are the sands of Nile compact Of gold,
that thou canst, night by night, thus squan-
der the ransom of King upon single
feastl Whence comes this untold wealth"
I bethought me of the tomb Of the divine
Menka-ra, whose holy treasure was thus
wickeGly wasted, and looked up, so that
Cleopatra's eyes caught mine; but, reading
my thoughts, she frowned heavily.
"Why, noble Antony" she said, "sure,y
it is naughtl In Egypt we have our secrets,
and know whence to conjure riches at our
need Say, what is the value of this golden
service, and of the meats and drinks that
have been set before usl'
Maybe a thousand sestertia -
''Thou hast understated it by half, noble
Antony But, such as it is, give it thee
and those with thee as a free token of my
<Au0 iuOiC WIZ L Suo" tkSO
now l, myself, will eat and drink ten thou
sand sestertia at draught"
THAT can not be, fair EgyptI'
She laughed, and bade slave bring her
vinegar IN glass. When it was brought
she set it before her and laughed again,
while Antony, rising from his couch, drew
near and sat himself at her side, and all the
company leant forward to see what she
would do. And this she did: From her ears
she took one of those great pearls, which
last of all had been drawn from the body of
the divine Pharaoh; and before any could
guess her purpose let 1t fall into the vine
gar Then came silence, the silence Of Won
der, and slowly the peerless pearl melted in
the acid. When it was melted she took the
glass and shook it, then drank the vinegar
to the last drop.
.More vinegar, slaver' she cried, .my
meal is but half 6nishedr' and she drew
forth the second pearl
"By Bacchus, no! thou shalt notr' cried
Antony, snatching at her hands; 81 have
seen enough" And at that moment, moved
thereto by know not what, called aloud:
1.-THE hour fslls-ths hour Of the comSno Of
Tie curse Of Me,.sa-ra'