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

go: s7-:: :.-i;: IT.
mixed them cunningly, rubbing the stun on
my face and hands and on the white mark
in my hair where the sword of Brennus had
bitten to the bone.
snow art thou changed-somewha for
the worse, Harmachis," she said, with
dreary laugh ''scarce myself should /
know thee. Stay, there is one more thing"
and going to chest of garments, she drew
thence heavy bag of gold.
stake thou this" she said; ''thou wilt
have need of money"
~ can not take thy gold, Charmion."
"Yea, take it. 1t was Sepa who gave il
to me for the furtherance Of our cause, and
therefore it's fitting that thou shouldst
spend it. Moreover, if l want it, doubtless
Antony, who is henceforth my master, will
give me more; he is much beholden to me,
and this well he knows. There, waste not
the precious time in haggling DER the pelf-
not yet art thou all a merchant, Har-
machs;" and, without more words, she
thrust the pieces into the leather bag that
hung across my shoulders. Then she made
fast the sack containing the spare gar
nents, and so womanly thoughtful was she,
hid therein an alabaster jar of pigment,
wherewith might stain my countenance
afresh, and, taking the broidered robes of
mine Office that had cast off, hid them in
the secret passage. And so at last all was
made ready.
SIS it time that should go!" asked.
"Not yet awhile. Be patient, Harmachis;
for but one little hour more must thou en-
dure my presence, and then, perchance,
farewell forever
made gesture signifying that this was
10 hour for sharp words.
'Forgive me my quick tongue" she said I;
"but from salt spring do bitter waters
well. Be seated, Harmachis; have heavier
words to speak to thee before thou goest."
"Say on" / answered; ''words, however
heavy, can move me no more"
She stood before me with folded hands,
and the lamp light shone upon her beaute-
Gus face. Idly noticed how great was its
pallor and how wide and dark were the
rings about the deep black eyes. Twice
she lifted her white face and strove to
speak, twice her voice failed her; and
when at last it came twas In a hoarse
whisper.
~ can not let thee 60, she said-'I can
not let thee go unwilling of the truth.
Hdrmdchis, 't,cas who did betrdy uice!"
sprang to my feet, an oath upon my
lips; but she caught me by the hand.
''Oh, be seated" she said-'be seated
and hear me; then, when thou hast heard,
do unto me as thou wilt. Listenl from
that evil moment when, in the presence of
thy uncle Sepa, for the second time l set
thx, fnaA Il fhnn hatt
much, little canst thou guess Think upon
thine own love for Cleopatra, and double it,
and double it again, and, perchance, thou
mayst come near to my loves mighty sum.
loved thee, day by day loved thee more,
till in thee and for thee alone l seemed to
live. But thou vast cold--thou vast worse
than cold; thou didst deal with me not as a
breathing woman, but rather as the instru-
ment to an end-as tool wherewith to
grave thy fortunes. And then / saw-yea,
long before thyself thou knewest
it-thy hearts tide was setting strong
towards that ruinous shore where
on to-day thy life is broken
And at last came that night, tina,
dreadful night, when, hid within the cham
Der, / saw thee cast my kerchief to the
winds, and with sweet words cherish my
Royal rivals gift. Then-ohl thou knowes,
in my pain l betrayed the secret that
thou wouldst not see--and thou dds
make mock Of me, Harmachis OF
the shame Of it!-thou, in thy foolishness
didst make a::mock of mel went thence
and within me were rising all the torment.
which can tear woman's heart, for now
was sure that thou didst love Cleopatra
Ay, and so mad was l, even that night wa,
minded to betray thee; but thought
not yet; not yet; tomorrow he may soften
Then came the morrow, and all was read!
for the bursting of the great plot that SHOULD
make thee Pharaoh. And /, too, came
thou dost remember-and again thou dds
put me away when spake to thee in para
bles, as something Of little worth, as a thin
too small to claim moments weight,
: thought. And, knowing that this was be
cause-though knewest it not--thou dds
love Cleopatra, whom now thou mus
straightway slay, grew mad, and wicke,
spirit entered into me, possessing me ut
terly, so that no longer was myself. An,
because thou hadst scorned me, this, to M,
everlasting shame and sorrow I did,
: passed into Cleopatras presence and be
trayed thee and those with thee, and all on
, holy cause, saying that l had found writ
ing which thou hadst let fall and read al
; this therein"
. Igasped and sat silent; and gazing sadl,
at me she went on:
"When she understood how great wa
the plot and how deep its roots, Cleo
pstra was much troubled; and, at first, sh
would have fed to Sais or taken ship an,
run for Cyprus, but showed her that tn
ways were barred. Then she said that sh
would cause thee to be slain, there. in tn
: chamber, and left her so believing; for
at that hour. fain was that thou shouldst b