Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-04-13

Her wealth Of wonderful aair aCated
out behind her over the water ike
magnificent mantle. Cleopat-a was regal
even when bereft Of her royal robes, and
those who happened 70 b. riding by on
the cars while she was IN swimming were
forced 70 admit that even saucked she
was still q queen She swan 70 and fro.
sometimes trading water with her
chsrubic feet or scooting dog fashion
like a beautiful water bug across the
pond. Now she would seem TO sleep on
the surface Of the waters ike a slunnber-
ing lily, and then anon she would rise
from her wet environments re Venus
rising 20 point Ct order In the conven-
ton at Mount Olympus.
Suddenly Cleopatra utrers a sharp and
startled cry, az did Diana when surprised
by Action. Through the foliage she had
seen the earnest and somewh4t admiring
eye Of total stranger. IL vas that Of
Meiamoun, the wretched lover Of the
queen, who had never met her, but who
was great admirer and cons ant reader
He was from the middle W AXIS Of life,
and did not know much, but. Oh, how he
did seem 70 lay aside what other business
be had on hand and worship he magnifi-
cent woman who, as these lines are
penned, slid softly into the all embracing
waters like a beauteous muskrat!
Her startled CITY brought % the bank
her two armed eunuchs, who had been
froggng farther down the STRAIN Cleo
patra pointed out 70 them the clump Of
trees behind which MeiaInorn was CON
cealed Defense was useless. and 50 he
attempted none. He said that he WIS
sorry such thing should have occurred,
but he would try to avoid anything Of
the kind in the future.
II was indeed coarse thing 70 do.
She told him distinctly that it was no
way to do, and asked him If lie were not
ashamed Of himself
Quickly covering herself Wi h her cali
siris, she babe the eunuchs spre the life
OF the rash young man and bring him
before her. They done so. The queen
could not understand why he lould have
come, at the risk Of his life. where no
man was admitted upon penalty OF death.
Surely he had not come to steal her
clothes and hide them Just to chaf her
nibs, for she had still other clothes
which were yet good, besides quite lot
that could be made over and still look
real well
No, he must be an assassin hired by
bloodthirsty Rome 70 steal il upon her
and kill her. But his clear, honest eve
and trembling lip told story Of truth
and of heart at once pure and sweet.
May my soul be found light in the
tx<1n g L
Imei, daughter Of the Sun and Goddess
OF Truth, punish me if | ever entertained
a thought Of evil against you. o queen"
Saying this upon his knees, Aeiamoun
wept and tried to bite the dust, but his
nose seemed to be in the way
He was fine looking young man, as
Cleopatra saw at glance, of great no
bility of character, and little less heavy
set, perhaps, than Antony was. He
said he came of common set Of people
living back of town, and had just bought
a milk route of his father, which he
thought was going to be a good thing in
time, il he could sort of build it up and
extend il little. "Of course it is not
the life to which You have been accus-
toned" he said; ''your folks have always
been well off, know, and you have
never had to put your hands into dish
water or scald milkpans or w,san calves
from the parent stem, but Hove you very
much, indeed, very much, indeed. We
viii have to live plain at first, but / am
a steady young person and have already
this year accumulated eight dollars. In
forty years this would, as you will see.
amount to 1920 My folks like you, and
say that you would make me good wife
if you Studded down a little. Do not,
obi do not refuse me-" he said. 1.-THE Al
lance people will soon be on top, and
am almost sure that l will be at some
time overseer Of highways at cur place,
which is as good as two dollars day
just for working on the roads in June.
which is duh time with us anyway,