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

( 1TtSSl 81 am come, my father"
she said in a sweet, clear voice, Though
of a truth it was not easy toescape the rev.
els at the palace. But told the Queen that
the sun and the riot in the streets had made
me sick, and she let me 60"
''It is we'll" he answered. "Unvail thy
self; here thou art safe.'
With little sigh of WEAKNESS she I'M
,clasped the peplos and let it slip from her,
giving to my sight the face and form of that
beauteous girl who had stood to fan Cleo
patra in the chariot. For she was very fair
and pleasant to look upon, and her Grecian
robes chung sweetly about her supple limbs
and budding form. Her hayward hair,
flowing in q hundred little curls, was bound
with a golden tillet, and on her feet were
sandals. Her cheeks blushed like flower,
and her dark soft eyes were downcast, as
though with modesty, but smiles and dim
pies trembled about her lips.
My uncle frowned when his eyes fell upon
her dress.
why CONTEST thou in this garb, Char
mionl" he asked, sternly. SIS not the
dress thy mothers wore good enough for
theea This is no time or place for woman's
vanities. Thou art not here to conquer, but
to obey"
NAY, be not wroth, my father" she an
swered, softly; ''perchauce thou knowest
not that she whom serve will have none
of our Egyptian dress; it is out Of fashion.
To wear it would have been to court sus-
picion-aIso came in haste.'' And as she
spoke I saw that all the while she watched
me covertly through the long lashes which
fringed her modest eyes.
well, we'll, he said, sharply, fixing his
keen glance upon her face, doubtless thou
:speakest truth, CharmiOn. Be ever mind
full of thy oath, girl, and of the cause to
which thou art sworn. Be not light minded,
and l charge thee forget the beauty with
which thou hast been cursed For mark
thou this, Charmion; fail us but one jot
and ven geance shall fall on thee-the ven
geance of man and the vengeance of
the Gods! To this SERVICE" he con-
tinued, lashing himself to anger as he
went on, TIL his great voice rang in the
narrow room, ''hast thou been bred; to this
end hast thou been instructed and placed
where thou art, to gain the ear OF that
wicked wanton whom thou soonest toserve.
See thou forget it not; see that the luxury
of yonder court does not corrupt thy purity
and divert thy aim, Charmion." And his
eyes flashed and his small form seemed to
grow till II attained to dignity-nay, almost
to grandeur. "Charmion," he said, advanc-
ing toward her with outstretched finger, 81
say to thee that at times do not trust thee.
But two nights gone dreamed I saw thee
standing in the desert. l saw thee laugh
ana I1t thy manu- u ucdNSu, anu IuerS1TO0
fell rain of blood; then the sky sank
down on the land of Khem and covered it.
Whence came the dream, girl, and what IS
its meaning! Naught have against thee
as yet; but hearkenl On the moment that
I have, though thou art of my kin, and /
have loved thee-on that moment, I say, will
1 doom those delicate limbs, which thou
lowest so much to show, to the kite and to
the jaclzal, and the soul within thee to all
the fortunes of the Godsi unburied shalt
thou die, and bodiless and accursed shalt
thou wander in Amenti!-ay, forever and
evcrI'
He paused, for his sudden burst of pas
sion had spent itself. But by it, more clear
ly than before, 1 saw how deep heart had
this man beneath the cloak of his merriness
and simplicity of mien, and how fiercely the
mind within him was set upon his aim. As
for the girl, she shrank from him terrified,
and, placing her hands before her face, be-
gan to weep.
tsNay, speak not so, my father she said,
between her sobs; ''for what have donei