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

sweep noti'' she said. hastily. and turn
ing her face aside. "Be man, and brave
these troubles out. Thou hast sown, now
must thou reap; but after harvest the
waters rise and wash away the roots, and
then once more comes seed time. Per-
chance, yonder In Cilicia, q way may be
found when once moro thou art strong
whereby thou mayst hy-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, 30 fare thee well. At
times win come and see that thou modest
naught-"
nursed, and that skilhuNy, by the physician
and two women slaves; and as my wound
healed 80 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 I 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, craved 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 I
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 me), 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 silken 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 fleet 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 Cmsarea 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 journeyed
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
i
one night, as we drew near Cydnus, while
Brennus and I 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, lad," he said, s'methinks I could
never again have held up my head! Ali
that was a coward stroke, and shamed am
I to think that should have struck it, and
thou on the ground and with thy back to
hot hO,1 OF
lie 'twixt life and death, every day came
to ask tidings Of thee? and I swore by
Taranis that il thou dldst die I'd turn my
back upon that soft palace life and then
away for the Morrill,
ssNay, trouble not, Brennus," answered !;
SIT was thy duty"
ssMayhap! 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, lad2-art in trouble
with this Queen of ours? Why art thou
dragged a prisoner upon this pleasure
partya Knowest thou that we are strictly
charged that if thou dost escape our lives
shall pay the prlce?"
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 thou! I am a-weary of the service
Of Cleopatra and this hot land Of deserts
and of luxury, that sap mans strength
and 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 Northa I'll lead thee to bet
ter land than Egypt-a land of lake and
mountain and great forests of sweet
scented pine; ay, and find thee girl fit
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 thee! Come,
| what sayest thous Put away the past, and
| away for the bonny North, and be a son to
me-"
| For a moment I thought, and then sadly
shook my head; for though sorely was
| tempted to be gone, knew that in Egypt
lay my fate, and my fate might not fly.
| Brennus," answered. sit may not be,
''Fain would I that it might be, but am
bound by chain of destiny which can not
break, and in tho land of Egypt must live
| and die"
"As thou wilt, lad" said the old warrior.
| dearly should have loved to marry thee
| among my people and make son of thee.
| At the least, remember that while I am
| here thou hast Brennus for 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; clp of wine, then to
sleep, for tomorrow the foolery-"
| There several lengths Of the second roll OF
| papyrus so broken to be inlecipherdblc.
They seem to haze been descriptive Of Cleopatrds
voyage up the Cydnus to the city Of Tdrsls.
| And 1.-THE writing continues] 10 those who
could take joy in such things the sight must,
indeed, have been q gallant one. For the
stern Of our galley was covered with sheets
Of beaten gold, the sails were of the scar
let Of Tyre, and the oars of silver dipped in
the water to 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
| (and surely Venus was not more fairy, in
a thin robe of whitest silk, bound in beneath
her breast with o golden girdle delicately
[S1sSSSAl G IN