Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-03-20

HAA SEAS bout kCn WeTO
lE> 49, broidered images OF the
iG@ eNl/t(N stars, and in my belt
lI@N0 DER with mystic spells
Il&ZHNW and signs. In my hand held
lJ@ wand Of ebony, tipped with
ivory, such as Is used by priests and
masters of magic Among these, indeed,
I held high rank, filing by knowledge OF
their secrets which I had learned at On
what lacked in that skill Of hand which
comes from use. And so, with no small
shame, for love not such play, and hold
this common magic in contempt, set forth
through the Bruchium to the palace on the
Lochias, being guided on my way by my
uncle Sepa. Atlength, passing up the avenue
of Sphinxes, we came to the great marble
gateway and the gates OF bronze within
| which is the guard-house. And here my
| uncle left me, breathing many prayers Tor
my safety and success. But I advanced
| with an easy air to the gate, where was
| roughly challenged by the Gallo sentries
| and asked of my name, following and busi-
ness. I gave my name, Harmachls the
astrologer, saying that my business was
with the Lady Charmion, the Queens lady.
Thereon the man made as though to let me
pass in, when Captain of the Guard,
Roman named Paulus, came forward and
| limbed man, with a woman's face aud
| hand that shook from wine-bibbing. Never
| theless, he knew me again.
sWhy,'' he cried, in the Latin tongue, to
one who came with him, "this is the fellow
| who wrestled yesterday with the Nubian
| gladiator, that same who now bowls for his
| lost hand underneath my window. Curses
| on the black brute had a bet on him for
| the games! I have backed HIM against
| Caius and now he'll never fight again, and
I must lose my money, all through this
| astrologer. What is it thou sayest-thou
hast business with the Lady Charmion?
| Nay, then, that settles it. will not let
| thee through. Fellow, worship the Lady
| Charmion-ay, we all worship her, though
she gives us more slaps than signs. And
| dost thou think that we will suffer an
| astrologer with such eyes and such chest
as thine to cut in the game! By Bacchus,
mol She must come out to keep the tryst,
| for In thou shalt not CO."
''Sir,' said, humbly and yet with dig
nifty, 81 pray that message may be sent
to the Lady Charmion, for my business will
not brook delay.'
"Ye Godsr' answered the fool, ''whom
have we here that he can not waits A
Caesar in disguisea Nay, be off-be off
if thou wouldst not learn how a spear prick
feels behind.''
''Nay," put in the other officer, "he is an
aStrologer; make him prophecy-make him
play tricks"
"Ah,'' cried the others who had sauntered
| up, 'let him show his art. If he is magi-
| clan he can pass the gates, Paulus or no
Paulus.''
"Right willingly, good sirs ~ answered,
| for l saw no other means of entering.
wilt thou, my young and noble Lord''-
and addressed him who was with Paulus
-s'suffer that look thee in the eyes2 Per-
- r 1~~~t, & A.
Fright" said the youth; "but wish that
the Lady Charmion was the sorceress.
| would stare her out Of countenance, war
rant me-"
| Itook him by the hand and gazed deep
| into his eyes. II see," I said, ssa field of
| battle at night, and about it bodies stretched
among them is thy body, and hyena
tears at its throat. Most noble sir, thou
| shalt die of sword thrusts within a year,
''By Bacchusr' said the youth, turning
| white to the gills, ''thou art an iIl-omened
| sorcerer!" And he skunk off-shortly after
ward, as it CHANGED, to meet this very fate.
| For he was sent on service and slain in
Cyprus.
''Now for thee, great Captainp' I said,
| speaking to Paulus.. 81 will show thee how
will pass those gates without thy leave
| ay, and draw thee through them after me.
| Be pleased to fix thy princely gaze upon the
| point of this wand in my hand.''
Beng urged thereto by his comrades, thus
he did, not willingly; and let him gaze till
saw his eyes grow empty as an owls eyes
| in the sun. Then suddenly withdrew the
| wand, and, shifting my own countenance
| into the place of it, / seized him with my
will and stare, and beginning to turn round
and round, drew him after me, his face,
| fierce and drawn, fixed, as it were, almost
to my own. Then slowly moved backward
| till had passed the gates, still drawing
him after me, and having passed, I jerked
my head away. But he fell to the ground,
| to rise wiping his brow and looking exceed
| ingly foolish.
art thou content, most noble Captain?"
| said. Thou seest we have passed the
gates. Would any other noble sir here pres
emit wish that I should show more Of my
skills"
'sBy Taranis, Lord of Thunder, and all
the Gods of Olympus thrown in, nor'
growled an old Centurion, Gaul named
| Brennus 81 like thee not, I say. The
| man who could drag our Paulus through
those gates by the eye, as it were, is not a
| man to play with Paulus, too, who always
| goes the way you don't want him-back-
| ward, like an ass-Paulus! Why, sirrah,
| thou must have a woman in one eye and a
wine cup in the other, to draw our Paulus
| thus
| At this moment the talk was broken, for,
coming down the marble walk. followed by
an armed slave, was Charmion herself. She
walked calm and careless, her hands folded
behind her and her eyes gazing at nothing
ness, as it were. But it was when Char
mion thus looked upon nothing that she saw
| most. And as she came the officers and
men of the guard made way for her bowling,
Tor, as learned afterward, this girl, next
to Cleopatra's self, welded more power
| than any one about the palace.
| t'What is this tumult, Brennus7" she
said, speaking to the Centurion, and max
| ing as if she saw me not; 'sknowest thou
not that the Queen sleeps at this hour, and
| if she be awakened it is thou who must
answer for it, and that dearlyl''
"Nay, Lady," said the Centurion, humbly |;
'but it is thus. We have here''-and he
Jerked his thumb toward me-ssa magician
| of the most pestilent-um, 1 crave his par
dom of the very best sort for he hath INIT