The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-08-29

ness with her groaas for Antony who, en-
amored now OF Grief, forgets his duty and
his lovcl"
~ come come! Shame upon me, that
dared to doubt heri Slave, bring water,
and purple robe; not .hus can be seen
OF Cleopatra. Even now come"
In this fashion, then, did we draw Antony
back to Cleopatra, that the ruin of the
twain might be made sure.
We led him up the Alabaster Hall and
into Cleopatra's chamber, where she lay, her
cloudy hair about her face and breast, and
tears lowing from her deep eyes.
10 Egyptr' he cried, "behold me at thy
feetr'
She sprang from tho couch. "And art
thou here, my lovem she murmured; "then
once again are all things well. Come near,
and in these arms forget thy sorrows and
turn my grief to joy. Oh, Antony, while
love is left to US, still have we ALL"
And she fell upon his breast and wildly
kissed him
That same day Charmion came to me and
babe me prepare poison of the most dead
ly power. And this at first would not do,
fearing that Cleopatra would Herewith
make an end of Antony before the time.
But Charmion showed me that this was not
so, and showed to me also for what pur-
pose was the poison. Therefore | sum
moned Atoua, the skilled in simples, and
all that afternoon we labored at the deadly
work. And when it was done, Charmion
came once more, bearing with her a chaplet
Of fresh roses that she babe me steep in the
poison.
This then did.
That night at the great feast Of Cleo
patra sat nigh to Antony, who was at her
side, and wore the poisoned wreath Now,
as the feast went on, fast flowed the wine,
till Antony and the Queen grew merry.
And she told him Of her plans, and Of how
even now her galleys were being drawn by
the canal that leads from Bubastis on the
Pelusiac branch Of the Nile, to Clysma at
the head Of the Bay of Metropolis For it
was her design, should Cesar prove stub
born, to fly with Antony and her treasure
down the Arabian Gulf, where Caesar had
no feet, and seek some new home in India,
whittier her foes might not follow. But,
| indeed, this plan came to nothing, for the
Arabs Of Petra burnt the galleys, melted
thereto by message sent by the Jews Of
Alexandria, who hated Cleopatra and were
hated of her.
/ Now, when she had made an end Of telling
him, the Queen called on him to drink cup
with her to the success of this new scheme,
bidding him, as she did so, steep his wreath
of roses in the wine, and make the draught
more sweet. This, then, he did, and it be-
ing done, she pledged him. But when he
was about to pledge her back, she caught
his hand, crying "Hold" whereat he paused,
wondering.
Now, among the servants of Cleopatra was
one Eudosius, steward; and this Eudosius,
seeing that the fortunes of Cleopatra were
at an end, had laid plan to fly that very
night to Caesar, as had done many of his bet.
tiers, taking with him all the treasures in
the palace that he could steal But this de-
sign being discovered to Cleopatra, she de-
termined to be avenged upon Eudosius.
"Eudosius," she cried, for the man stood
near, 'come hither, thou faithful servant
Seest thou this man, most noble Antony;
through all oCr troubles he hath chung to US
and been of comfort to us. Now, therefore,
he shall be rewarded according to his de-
serts and the measure of his faithfuness,
and that from thine own hand. Give him
thy golden cup OF wine, and let him drink a
pledge to our success; the cup shall be his
guerdon."
r And still wondering, Antony gave it TO
the man, who, stricken in his guilty mind,
took it, and stood trembling. But he drank
not.
"Drink, thou slave, drink" cried Cleo
patra, half rising from her seat and flashing
fierce look or his white face. "By Scraps |!
so surely as yet shall sit in the Capitol at
Rome and thou dost thus fout the Lord
Antony, I'll have thee scourged to the
bones, and the red wiue poured upon thy
open wounds to heal theml All at length
though drinkestl Why, what is 1t, good
Eudosiusl art sicks Surely, then, must
this VINE be as the water of jealousy Of
those Jews, that hath power to Stay the
false and strengthen the honest only. Go,
some Of you, search this mans room; me-
thinks he is a traitor!"
Meanwhile the man stood, his hands to
his head. Presently he began to tremble,
and then fell, shrieking, to the ground.
Anon he was on his feet again, clutching at
his bosom, as though TO tear out the fire in
his heart. He staggered, with livid, twist
ed face and foaming lips, to where Cleo
patra lay watching him with a slow and
cruel smile.
"Ah, traitor thou hast it nowl" she said.
"Prithce, is death sweet9"
'Thou wantonn yelled the dying man,
"thou hast poisoned mel Thus mayst thou
also perlsh" and with one shrek he flung
himself upon her. She saw his purpose,
and swift and supple as a tiger sprang to
one side, so that he did but grasp her Royal
cloak, tearing it from its emerald clasp.
Down he fell upon the ground, rolling over
and over in the purple chiffon till presently
he lay still and dead, his tormented face
and frozen eyes peering CHASTITY from its
folds.
"Ahl" said the Queen, with a hard laugh,
"the slave died wondrous hard, and fain
would have drawn me with him. See, he
hath borrowed my garment for a pail Take
him away and bury him in his livery"
what means Cleopatra" said Antony,
as the guards dragged the corpse away
"the man drank of my cup. What is the
purpose Of this most sorry Jestm
at serves a double end, noble Antony!
This very night would that man have fed
to Octavianus, bearing Of our treasure with
him. Well, have lent him wings, for the
dead fly fasti Also this: thou didst fear
that should poison thee, my Lord; nay, /
know it. See now, Antony, how easy were
it that should STAY thee if had the will.
That wreath of roses which thou didst steep
within the cup is dewed with deadly bane.
Had |, then, mind to make an end of thee,
had not stayed thy hand. o Antony,
henceforth trust me; sooner would STAY
myself than harm one hair of thy beloved
headl See, here come my messengers
-bnt Il e.