Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1890-01-02

T.XN G:,GsSlY 'a'e
GHJsNS,, SggaE.E ''Yes. my lord; but
S-I kA,VZSlJy7 by no means could
.EHS;}f/ EAW(2 escape Cleopatra Her
" VIYISsIEA Y mood il strangely
AX6YgSGNNA crossed o-night. know
AMSpSM\ not what l.ay porleud.
/TNN Strange whims aud fauc.es blow
HNN across it like light aud contrary
airs Upon Summer sea, and cIn
not read her purpose"
well well; enough of Cleopatra. Hast
thou seen our unc.c?'
'.Yea, ROYAL Harmarhis."
"And hast thou the last liStS!'
"Yea, here they be, and she drew them
from her bosom. "ifcre IS the list Of those
who, after the Queen. must certainly BE-
put to the sword. Among them tiou wilt
note IS the name of that Old Gdul, Brennus.
1 grieve for him, for We are frienus, but ii
must be. 1t is i. heavy list"
"'Tis So" answered; when men write
out their count they forget no it nj, and our
count is long. What must be, must be.
Now for the next"
Here is the list Of those to be spared, as
friendly or uncertain; IL u h re that of tie
towns that certainly viii rise SO soon as Inc
messenger reaches their gates with ,ld.ngs
of the death of Cleopatra"
Good And now"-and l paused land
now as to the mannercf Cleopatra d., Ii
How hast thou settled il? Must 1t be even
by my hand"
yea, my lord" she answered, and one
again caught that nu,e I'll b.. crne-s IN her
voice. "Doubt.ess my Lord vii rejoice
that his should be the hand To I'd llic rand
of this false and wanion woman, All. 1T one
blow break the CHAINS which gal thc neck
of khein."
TAX not thus, girl SAID, ''well thou
knowest that rejoice not. b ig bat driven
10 the act b. deep necessity All tie press
ure of my vows. Can sac noi, then, re
poisoncdt Or can no che of the cunucns he
suooru, to shay herr My Soul ,ur..s from
this bloody work. Ind'e >, l marvel, how
ever heavy be her crlmes, THAI thou canst
talk thus lightly of the death by tredc"ery
of one who loves thce!'
"Meihinks my Lord Is over-tender, for
getting the greatness OF the moment and
al that hangs upon this dagger stroke that
snail cut the thread Of Cleopatra lie.
I.,sien, Harmarchls. Thou must do the
deed, and tuou acne, Myself would d. ii,
had my arm the strength, but it has it not.
BY poison i, can not be done, for every
touch her lips is strictly tasted by three
separate tast>rs. who Can be suborned.
: Nor may the ewnuchs Of the guard he trust
ed. Two, indeed are sworn TO us; but the
third can not be come at. He must be cut
down afterwards; and, indeed, when so
many men must ali. what matters aeunuch
more or less. Thus shall it be, then. To-
morrow night, when bonou at three hours
before Midnight IS in the right ascension,
thou dUst cast the final -..gury of the issue
of the war. And then thou wit, as is
agreed, descend alone wi h me, having the
signet 10 the outer chamber of the Queens
apartment. For tn, vessel bearing
orders TO the Legions sails from Al
exandra at the fo..owing dawn; and
acme with her, for she wills that ti.n
ib.ng be kept secret as the sea, thou wilt
read the message of thu stars. And as she
pc.es over the papyrus, then must thou
slab her in the 10 X. so that she dies; and
see thou that thy will and arm fail thee n 1t
The deed being GoIr-and indeed IT will be
easy-thou wit take the sicnct and pas out
to where the eunuch is-for the others Will
ne wanting. If by any chance there be
trouble with hin-but there will he no trou'
bic, Tor he dare not enter tho private rooms,
and the sounds Of death can not reach sc
far-,hou iaust cut him down. Then will
meet thee; and, plssingon, we Will come tc
Paulus, and j. shall be my ire to see tina,
he is neither drunk nor backward, Tor
know how to no i Lin 10 the task. Aud M
and those wi h HIM Shall throw open The
side gate when ScpI and the five hundred
chosen men who are in wal ig shall pour
in and throw themselves 10 the sleeping
legionaries. putting them 10 the sword
Why. The thing is easy, 20 t'ioI rest true u
, myself. and let no womln's fears Greer
into thy heart What is tits dagger
,hrus? 1t is nothing. and yet upon 1t may
hang the des,inies of Egypt aud the world
.'uushw / said. What is tha! Ihea'
I "a sound" -
/, Gu .rmion ran to the door, and gain.
= down The long. dark passage, listened
( In moment sh came back, her finger OF
5 hsrhps "lt IS The Qaeen,' she whispered
hurriedly: 'the Queen WHO mounts tn
stair alone I heard her BIZ lis leave her
NAV not be found thus one with thee
3 this hour; it hath a strange iook, and So
+ NAV suspect somewhat Whit wants sh
herei Where can hide mel' glanc''
around. Atihe further end Of the chambe
was a heavy curtain that md little plas'
built in the thickness Of the wall which
used fer the storage Of rolls and instrr
ments.
Haste thee-therer' I said, and sh
glided behind the curtain, which swun
back and covered her. Then I thrust tn
fatal scroll of death into The bnsom OF m
robe and bent me o err TIE mystic char
Presently heard the sweep Of woman
. robes. and there came low knock upon u
door.
EATER, whoever thou artr' said.
The Latch lifted, and Cleopatra swept II
: royalty arrayed, her dark hair hangin
\ about her and the sacred snake of royalt
\ glis; euing on her brow.
"Of truth, Harmachis," she said. Wit
: q sigh, US she sank into q seat, the pat
10 Heaven is hard to climbi Ali ] .
weary, for those stairs are many. But
was minded, my astronomer, 70 eco thu
in thy haunts."
II am honored overmuch, o Queear'
sasd, bowing low before hee.