The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-12

Her wealth of wonderful hair fioated
put behind her over the water like
magnificent mantle Cleopatra was regal
even when bereft of her royal robes, and
those who happened to be riding by on
the cars while she was in swimming were
forced to admit that even shucked she
was still queen. She SWAN to and fro,
sometimes treading water with her
rherubic feet OF scooting dog fashion
like beautiful water bug across the
pond Now she would seem to sleep On
the surface of the waters like q slumber-
ing lily, and then anon she would rise
from her wet environments like Venus
rising to point Of order in the conven-
fion at Mount Olympus.
Suddenly Cleopatra utters a sharp and
startled cry, as did Diana when surprised
by Action. Through the foliage she had
seen the earnest and somewhat admiring
eye of total stranger. 1t was that of
Meiamoun, the wretched lover of the
queen, who had never met her, but who
was great admirer and constant reader.
He was from the middle walks of life,
and did not know much, but, oh, how he
did seem to lay aside what other business
he had on hand and worship the magniti-
cent woman who, as these lines are
penned, slid softly into the all embracing
waters like a beauteous muskrat!
Her startled cry brought to the bank
her two armed eunuchs, who had been
frogging farther down the stream. Cleo
patra pointed out to them The clump of
trees behind which Meiamoun was con-
cealed. Defense was useless, and SO he
ATTEMPTED none. He said that he was
sorry such thing should have occurred,
but he would try to avoid anything of
the kind in the future.
1t was indeed coarse thing to do.
, She told him distinctly that 1T was no
way to do, and asked him if he were not
ashamed of himself.
Quickly covering herself with her cali
siris, she babe the eunuchs spare the life
of the rash young man and bring him
before her They done SO. The queen
could not understand why he should 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 chaff 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 to steal in upon her
and kill her But his clear, honest eye
and trembling lip told a story of truth
and of heart at once pure and sweet.
May my soul be found light in the
balance of Amenti," he said, land may
lmei, daughter of the Sun and Goddess
of Truth, punish me if ever entertained
a thought of evil against you, . queen.
Saying this upon his knees, Melamoun
wept and tried TO bite the dust, but his
nose seemed to be IN the way.
He was a fine looking young man, as
Cleopatra saw at glance, of great no
bility of character, and little less heavy
set, perhaps, than Antony was. lie
said he came of a common set OF people
living back of town, and had just bought
n milk route of his father, which he
thought was going to be a good thing IN
time, if he could sort of build it up and
extend 1t HUE. vi CotuSo AZ ID Aot
the life to which you have been accus-
toned" he said; "your folks have always
been well off, l know, and you have
never bad to put your hands into dish
water or scald milkpans or wean calves
from the parent stem. but love you very
much, indeed, very much, indeed. We
will have to live plain at first, but | am
a steady young person and have already
this wear accumulated eight dollars. In
forty years this would, as you Will see.
amount to 1890. My folks like You. and
say that you would make me good wife
if yeu Studded down a little. DO not,
OIL do not refuse NE" he said. 1.-The Al
lance people will soon be on top, and
am almost sure that | will be at some
time oyerseer of highways at our place,
which is as good as two dollars day
just for working on the roads IN June,
-l,;cb &c a dull time with US anyway.
and almost like finding forty-eight dol
lars in the street"
The queen gave q low laugh as she
u,oceeded with her dressing, now more
calmly. by St. Oms," she SAID, Dog OF
Hell. thou art foolhardy wretch You
think that with your castiron iInpudence
and budding milk route you may van TO
wife a queen whose fame Is good for a
.,l,,mn in avsrv Sunday paper from the