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

left hand. Silently Charmion entered, and
followed her into a dark chamber. Being
in she barred the door, and, kindling finder
to fame, lit hanging lamp. As the light
grew strong gazed around. The chamber
was not large and had but one easement
closely suffered. For the rest, it was sim
ply furnished, having white walls, some
chests for garments, an ancient chair, what
took to be firing table, whereon were
combs, perfumes and all the frippery that
pertains to woman, and q white bed with a
broidered coverlid, over which was hung q
gnat gauze.
"Be seated, Harmachis," she said, point
ing to the chair.
I took the chair, and Charmion, throwing
back the gnat gauze, sat herself upon the
bed before me.
"Knowest thou what heard Cleopatra
say as thou didst leave the banqueting
| halla" she asked presently.
'sNay, I know not.''
"She gazed after thee, and, as I went
over to her to do some service. she MUIR
INJURED to herself: by Scraps, will make
an endi No longer will wait; tomorrow
he shall be strangledI"
$500" 1 said; sit may be; though, after
all that has been, scarce can I believe that
she will murder me-"
"Why canst thou not believe it, o thou
most foolish of mena Dost forget how nigh
thou was to death there in the Alabaster
Halle Who saved thee then from the knives
of the eunuchs? Was it Cleopatra? Or
was it I and Brennus? Stay, I will tell
thee. Thou canst rot yet believe it, because
in thy folly thou dost not think it possible
that the woman who has but lately been as
a wife to thee can now in so short a time
doom thee to be basely done to death. Nay,
answer notI know all; and this tell thee
thou hast not measured the depth of
W. A1,o,,
the blackneSS of her wicked heart. She had
surely slain thee in Alexandria had she not
feared that thy slaughter, being noised
abroad, migNt bring trouble to her. There
fore has she brought thee here to kill thee
secretly. For what more canst thou give
her?-she has thy hearts love, and is
wearied of thy strength and beauty. She
has robbed thee of thy Royal birthright and
brought thee, q King, to stand amidst her
waiting women behind her at her feasts !;
she has won from thee the great secret Of
the holy TREASURED"
"Ah, thou knowest thatg'
ssYea, I know all; and tonight thou seest
how the wealth stored against the need of
Khem is being squandered to fill up the
wanton luxury of Khem's Macedonian
Queeni Thou seest how she hath kept her
oath to wed thee honorably! Harmachis-
at length thine eyes are open to the truth ~
sAy, I see too well; she swore she loved
me, and, fool that I was, I did believe herp'
''She swore she loved theer' answered
Charmion, lifting her dark eyes; s'now will
show thee how she doth love thee. Know
est thou what was this house! It was a
priests college; and, as thou wottest, Har-
machis, priests have their ways. This lit
tie chamber aforetime was the chamber of
the Head Priest, and the chamber that is
beyond and below was the gathering room
Of the other priests. All this the old slave
| who keeps the place told me, and also she
revealed what I shall show thee. Now.
Harmachis, be silent as the dead and fol-
| low meI''
She blew out the lamp, and by the little
| light that crept through the shattered case
| ment led me by the hand to the far corner
OF the room Here she pressed upon he
wall, and door opened in its thickness.
We entered, and she closed the spring.
Now we were in little chamber, some five
| cubits in length by four in breadth; for a
faint light struggled into the closet, and
| also the sound of voices, whence knew
not. Loosing my hand, she crept to the
| end of the place, and looked steadfastly at
| the wall; then crept back, and, whispering
| 'isilencef' led me forward with her. Then
| saw that there were eyeholes in the wall,
| which pierced it, and were hidden on the
| farther side by carved work in stone.
looked through the hole that was in front of
|
| the level OF the floor of another chamber,
lit with fragrant lamps, and most richly
| furnished. It was the sleeping place of
| Cleopatra, and there, within ten cubits of
where we stood, sat Cleopatra on a gilded
couch, and by her side sat Antony.
| ssTell me-" Cleopatra murmured-for so
was this place built that every word spoken
in the room below came to the ears of the
listener above-'stel1 me, noble Antony,
| vlo
cay" he answered in his deep soldiers
been hidden to feasts, but never saw
aught like thine; and this tell thee, though
am rough of tongue and unskilled in pref
| ty sayings such as women love, thou vast
the richest sight Of all that splendid board.
| The red wine was not SO red as thy beau
teous cheek, the roses smelt not so sweet as
the odor OF thy hair, and no sapphire there
| with its changing light was so lovely as thy
eyes of ocean blue.''
| ''Whatl praise from Antonyl Sweet
words from the lips Of him whose writings
are so harshs Why, tits praise, indeedi"
| cay" he went on, "'twas royal feast,
| though grieved that thou didst waste that
great pearl; and what meant that hour
calling astrologer of thine. with his ILL.,
| omened talk Of the curse of Menka-ra?''
/ A shadow fed across her glowing face.
| ST know not; he was lately wounded in a
brawl and methinks the blow has crazed
| him.
HE seemed not crazed, and there was
| that about his voice which doth ring in my
ears like some oracle of fate. So wildly,
| too, he looked upon thee, Egypt, with those
| piercing eyes Of his, like enc who loved and
| yet hated through the love.''
"'Tis strange man, I tell thee, noble
Antony, and a learned. Myself, at times,
| almost fear him, for deeply is LIE versed in
the ancient arts Of Egypt. Knowest thou
that the man is of royal blood. and once he
plotted to slay met But won hum over,
| and slew him net, for he had the key to Sc
| crets that fain would learn; and, indeed,
love his wisdom, and to listen to bis deep
| talk of all hidden things"
| by Bacchus, but grow jealous Of the
knavei And now. Egyptan
| sand now have sucked his knowledge
dry and have no more cause to fear him.
Didst thou not see that these three nights
have made him stand slave amid my
slaves, and call aloud the hours as they fed
in festivaIl No captive king marching in thy
Roman triumphs can have suffered keener
pengs than that proud Egyptian Prince as
he stood and shamed behind my couch"
Here Charmion laid her hand ON mine