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

- for thinei''
Then at length opened my eyes, and as
best could I spoke:
Restrain thy grief, dear friend" said,
81 live yet; and, in truth, I feel as though
new life did gather in my breastp'
She gave little cry Of JOY, and never
saw aught more beautiful than the change
that came upon her weeping face! It was
as when the first lights of the day run up
the ashen pallor of that sad sky which walls
the night from dawn. All rosy grew her
lovely countenance; her dim eyes shone out
like stars; and a smile of wonderment,
more sweet than the sudden smile Of the
sea as its ripples wake to brightness be-
meath the kiss of the risen moon, broke
through her rain Of tears.
Thou livestl" she cried, throwing her.
self upon her knees beside my couch.
Thou livest-and I thought thee gonel
Thou art come back to me! Oh! what say
II How foolish is woman's heart! 'Tis
this long watching! Nay; sleep and rest
thee, Harmachis why dost thou talk!
Not one more word, I command thee,
straightly! Oh, where is the draught left
by that long-bearded fools Nay, thou shalt
have no draught! There, sleep, Harmachis 4;
sleep!" and she orouched down at my side
and laid her cold hand upon my brow, MUIR
muring: 'Sieep, sleep, slcep!"
And when / woke up there still she was,
but the lights of dawn were peeping through
the easement. There still she knelt, one
hand upon my forehead, and her head, in
all its disarray of curls, resting upon her
outstretched arm. ''Charmion," I whis-
pered, shave slept?''
Instantly she was wide awake and gaz-
ing on me with tender eyes. "Yea, thou
hast slept, Harmachis."
''How long, then, have I slept?'
s'Nine hours"
s'And thou hast held thy place there, at
my side, for nine long hourss'
"Yea, it is naught; also have slept
feared to waken thee if I stirred
''Go rest thee" I said. cit shames me to
think of this thing. Go rest thee, Char.
mionr'
sVex not thyself," she answered-"see,
/ will bid slave watch thee and to wake
me if thou needst aught; I sleep there, in
the outer chamber. Peace-I go!" and she
istrove to rise, but, so cramped was she, fell
.straightway on the floor.
Scarce can tell the sense of shame that
filled me when saw her fall Alas could
not stir to help her.
''It is naught," she said s'move not, did
but catch my foot. Therei' and she rose,
again to faIl-"a pest upon my awkward
ness! why-I must be sleeping tits well
now. I'll send the slave,' and she stag
.gered thence like one o'ercome with wine.
u, pIS j
was very weak. When I woke it was af-
ternoon, and craved for food, which Char
mion brought me.
atei s'Then die note" said.
'sNay," she answered, with toss of her
head, ''thou wilt live. In truth, 1 did waste
my pity on thee"
sAnd thy pity did save my life" said,
YEARLY, for now I remembered.
s'It is naught,'' she answered, carelessly.
A all CT, OILS Lowe
nursing; tits a woman's trade. Like
enough had done as much for any slave.
Now, too, that the danger is past, I leave
thee.''
Better hadst thou done to let me die,
Charmion," said after awhile, sfor life to
me can now be naught but one long shame.
Tell me, then, when sails Cleopatra for
CiliciaP'
SIN twenty days she sails, and with such
pomp and glory as Egypt hath never seen.
OF q truth, 1 can not guess where she has
found the gold to gather in this store OF
splendor, as a husbandman gathers his rich
fruits"
But I, knowing whence came the wealth,
groaned in bitterness of spirit, and made
no answer.
ssGoest thou also, Charmions' I asked,
presently.
SAY, I and all the Court. Thou, too-thou
Roestl"
81 gol Nay, why is this?"
Because thou art her slave, and must
march in gilded chains behind her chariot;
because she fears to leave thee here in
Khem; because it is her will, and there is
an end"
.sCharmlon, can l not escapeF'
Escape, thou poor sick mani Nay, how
canst thou escapea Fen now most strictly
art thou guarded. And if thou didst1 es-
cane. whittier wouldst thou f1vf There, q not
an honest man in Egypt but would spit on
thee in scornW
Once more groaned in spirit, and being
40 weak felt the tears roll a-down my
CT eek.