Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-04-10

xMDs1E&fs@G
Ws- S-a
"IvE WONT" SHE CRIED.
Of her eyes upon my eyes, almost did she
draw me to her. But I remembered, and
| would not.
"Hastthou, then, no word of thanks for
| my poor singing, Harmachis?" she said at
| length.
"Yea, o Queen" answered, speaking
very low, for my voice was choked; "but
| thy songs are not good for the sons of men
to hear-of a truth they overwhelm mer'
s'Nay, Harmachis; for thee there is no
fear," she said, laughing softly-''seeing
that know how far thy thoughts are set
from woman's beauty and the common
weakness of thy sex. With cold iron we
may safely toy"
thought within myself that coolest iron
can be brought to whitest heat if but the
fire be fierce enough. But I said naught,
and, though my hand trembled, once more
grasped the dagger's hilt, and, wild with
fear at my own weakness, set myself to find
a means to slay her while yet my sense re-
NAMED.
'Come hither, Harmachis,' she went on,
in her softest voice. 'Come, sit by me, and
we will talk together; for have much to
tell thee" And she made place for me at
her side upon the silken seat.
And I, thinking that I might the more
swiftly strike, rose and seated myself some
little way from her, while. finglng back
her head, she gazed on me with her slum-
berous eyes.
Now was my occasion, for her white
throat and breast were bare, and, with a
mighty effort, once again lifted my hand
to clutch the dagger hilt But, more quick
her own and gently held them.
s'Why lookest thou so wildly, Har-
| machis?" she said. cart sicka''
'Ay, sick indeed" gasped.
''Then lean thou upon the cushions and
rest thee" she answered, still holding my
hand, wherefrom the strength had fed.
s"The fit will surely pass. Too long hast
thou labored with thy stars. How soft is
the night air that flows from yonder case
| ment heavy with the breath of lilies! Hark
to the whisper of the sea tapping against
the rocks, that, though faint it is, yet, being
so strong, doth almost drown the quick, cool
| fall of yonder mountain. List to Philomel;
how sweet from full heart of love she
sings her message to her dear! Surely tits
| a lovely night, and most beautiful is
| natures music sung with hundred voices
from wind and trees and birds and oceans
| wrinkled lips, and yet sung all to tune.
Listen, Harmachis; something have
guessed concerning thee. Thou, too, art of
| royal race; no humble blood pours in
those veins of thine. Surely such shoot
could spring but from the stock of Princes?
What! gazest thou at the leaf mark on my
breast? Twas pricked there in honor Of
Osiris, whom with thee worship. Seer'
s'Let me hence,'' 1 groaned, striving to
rise; but all my strength had gone.
may, not yet awhile. Thou wouldst not
leave me yet! Thou canst not leave me yet
Harmachis, hast thou never loveds"
NAY, nay, o Queeni What have I to do
r 81
| donep
sNever to have loved-'tis strangel
Never to have known some woman-heart
beat all in tune to thine-never to have
seen the eyes Of thy adored a-swim with
passions tears she sighed her vows
upon thy breast! Never to have loved!-
never to have lost myself in the mystery
OF another's soul; nor to have learned how
Nature can overcome our naked loneli-
ness, and with the golden web Of love Of
twain weave one identity? Why, 'tls
never to have lived, Harmachisi"
And ever as she murmured she drew
nearer to me, till at last, with long, sweet
sigh, she flung one white arm about my
neck, and gazing upon me with blue, I'M
fathomable eyes, smiled her dark, slow
smile, that, like an opening flower, re-
vealed beauty within beauty hidden.
Nearer she bent her Queenly form and still
more near-nOw her perfumed breath
played upon my hair, and now her lips met
mine!
And, woe is mel in that kiss, more dead
ly and more strong than the embrace of
death, were forgotten Isis, my Heavenly
HOPE, Oaths, Honor, Country, Friends, all
things save that Cleopatra clasped me IN
her arms and called me Love and Lord.
ssNow pledge me-" she murmured-
'spledge me one cup of wine in token of thy
love-"
1 took the draught, and deep I drank;
and then too late I knew that it was
drugged.
Back fell upon the couch, and, though
neither speak nor rise.
But Cleopatra, bending over me, drew
the dagger from my robe.
'I're ,conr' she cried, shaking back her
long hair, seI've won, and for the stake OF
Egypt-why, twas game worth playingl
With this dagger, then, thou wouldst have
slain me. o my Royal rival. whose myr-
gater Art still awake? Now, what him
ders me that should not plunge il to thy
hearth
heard and feebly pointed to my breast,
for fain was to die She drew herself to the
full Of her imperial height, and the great
knife glittered in her hand Down it came
till its edges pricked my flesh.
Nay Sno crleQ again. anu CaSt II AIcia
her, s'too well like thee. Pity 'twere to
STAY such q mani I give thee thy life.
Live on, lost Pharaoh! Live on, poor fallen
Thing. blasted by . woman's witt Live on,
Harmachis-to adorn my triumph"
Then sight left me; and in my ears only
heard the song OF the nightingale. the muir
muir Of the sea, and the music Of Cleo
patra's laugh. And Is l sank away the
sound Of that low laugh still followed me
into tho land of sleep, and stil It follows
me through life to death.
lT0 u CONTINUED.