Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-04-03

she was nuSncd as tnOugn VIII
anger, and that she beat her foot upon the
floor.
''Oh, is it thou, Charmion," I said. t'What
ails theea Art thou cramped with standing
so long within thy hiding placea Why didst
thou not slip hence when Cleopatra led me
to the balcony?''
'Where is my kerchiefa" she asked, shoot
ing an angry glance at me. 81 let fall my
broidered kerchief"
''The kerchief! Why, didst thou not sect
Cleopatra twltted me about it, and flung it
from the balcony"
''Yea, saw" answered the girl, 81 saw
but too we'll Thou didst fling away my
kerchief, but the wreath of roses-that
thou woudst not fling away. 1t was a
Queens gift forsooth, and therefore, the
Royal Harmachis, the Priest of Isis, the
chosen of the Gods, the crowned Pharaoh
wed to the veal of Khem, cherished it and
saved it. But my kerchief, stung by the
laughter of that light Queen, he cast
awayr'
.sWhat meanest thou?" 1 asked, aston
ished at her bitter tone. 81 read not thy
riddles"
'.What mean II" she answered, tossing
up her head, and showing the white curves
of her throat May, 1 mean naught or all,
take it as thou wilt. Wouldst know what
1 mean, Harmachis, my cousin and my
Lordr' she went on in q hard, low voice.
''Behold. I will tell thee-thou art in danger
of the great offense. This Cleopatra hath
cast her fatal wiles about thee, and thou
goest near to loving her, Harmachis-
loving her whom tomorrow thou must
slayi Ay, stand and stare at that wreath
within thy hand-the wreath thou couldst
not send to join my kerchief-sure Cleo
patra wore it but tonight! The perfume
of the hair of Cesar's mistress-Cesar's
and others'-yet minRles with the odor of
ITS roses! Now, prithee, Harmachis, how
far didst thou carry the matter on yOnder
balcony!-for in that hole where I lay hid
could not hear or see IT'S q sweet spot
for lovers, is it nota-ay, and q sweet
night, tool Venus is surely in the right
ascenslonf
And all of this she said SO quietly and in
so soft and modest a way, though her words
were not modest, and yet SO bitterly, that
every syllable cut me to the heart, and an
gered me till could find no speech.
'Of truth thou hast a wise economy
she went on, seeing her advantage; ITO
night thou dost kiss the lips that tomorrow
with the occasion of the moment; aye, wor-
thy and honorable dealing!"
Then at last l broke forth. 'Girlp'
cried, show darest thou speak thus TO me?
Mindest thou who and what am that thou
tooseth thy peevish gibes upon met"
81 mind what it behooves thee to be-" she
answered quick. what thou art, that
mind not now. Surely thou knowest alone
thou and Cleopatran
''What meanest thou!" / said. "Am to
blame if the Queen
1.-THE Queen! What have we herea Phar-
aoh owns QueenP'
ST Cleopatra wills to come hither of q
night and talk
s'Of stars, Harmachis- surely of stars
and roses, and naught besider'
After that I know not what said; for
troubled as / was, the girls bitter tongue
and quiet way drove me well-nigh to mad
ness. But this know: spoke SO fercely
that she covered before me as she had
covered before my uncle Sepa, when he
rated her because of her Grecian garb
And as she wept then, SO she wept now,
only more passionstely and with sobs.
At length ] ceased, half ashamed, but
stin angry and smarting sorely. For even
while she wept she could find q tongue to
answer with-and q woman's shafts are
sharp.
sThou shouldst not speak to me thus ~
she sobbed; 'sit's cruel-it is unmanlyl But
forgot thou art priest, not q man-ex.
cept, mayhap, for Cleopatrap'
what right hast thou?" said. sWha1
canst thou meant"
s'What right have Tyr she asked, looking
up, her dark eyes all ahood with tears that
rap down her sweet face like the dew OF
morning down hly's heart. ssWhat right
have II o Harmachisi art thou blindl