The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-06-13


Behind are things forgot
Before the tide is driving swift
To lands bcholden not.
Above the sky is fair and cold
Below, the moaning sea
Sweeps Ger the loves that we're Of CO,
But, 0 Love kiss thou me-
All lonely arc the ocean ways,
And dangerous the deep,
AID frail the fairy bark that strays
Above the seas asleepl
Al, toll no more at sail nor oar;
We drift, or bono or free;
On yon far shore the breakcrs rolr,
But, o Love kiss thou me.
And ever as thou sanges. drew near,
Then sudden silence heard our hearts that
beat,
For row there was an end OF doubt and fear,
Now passions filed my soul aud led my feet;
Then silent ddst thou rise, thy love to meet,
Who, sinking on thy breast knew nGught
butthee,
And in tho happy night kissed thee, Sweet
All Sweet between the starlight and the
sea.
The last echoes of her rich notes hoated
down the chamber and slowly died away;
but in my heart they rolled on and on.
have heard among the woman singers at
Abouthis voices more perfect than the
voice OF Cleopatra, but never have l heard
one so thrilling or so sweet with PASSIONS
honev-notes. And indeed twas not the
voice alone; twas the perfuined chamber
wherein was set all that could move the
sense; twas the passion OF the thought
and words and the surprising grace and
loneliness Of that most royal woman who
sang them. For, as she sang, almost did
seem to think that we twain were indeed
floating alone with the night, upon the
wide, dark, summer sea- And when she
ceased to touch the harp, and, rising, sud-
denly stretched out her arms toward me,
and, with the last low notes of song yet
quivering upon her lips let fall the wonder
of her eyes upon my eyes, almost did She
draw me TO her But / remembered, and
would not.
"Hast thou, then, no word Of thanks for
my poor singing, Harmachis" she said at
length.
"Yea, o Queen" answered, speaking
very low, for my voice was choied; "but
thy songs are not good for the sons of men
to hear-of truth they oyerwhelm mer'
"Nay, Harmachis; for thee there is no
fear," she said, laughing softly-'seeing
that know how f.r thy thoughts are set
from woman's beauty and the common
weakness of thy sex. With cold iron wa
may safely toy"
thought within myself that coolest iron
can be brought to whitest heat if but the
fire be fierce enough But said narght,
and, though my hand trembled, once more
,graspcd the dagger's hilt, and, wild with
fear at my own weakness, set myself to ind
n means TO slay her while yet my sense re-
NAMED
"Come hither, Harmachis," she went on,
in her softest voice. "Come, sit by me, and
we will talk together for have much tc
tell thee" And she made place for me al
her side upon the slken seat.
| And /, thinking that l might the more
swiftly strike, rose and seated myself some
little way from her, while, flinging back
her head, she gazed on me with her slum
berous eyes.
Now was my occasion, for her white
throat and breast were bare, and, with 9
mighty effort, once again lifted my hand
10 clutch the dagger hilt, But, more quicl
than thought, she caught my fingers with
her own and gently held them.
"Why lookest thou so wildly, Har-
machisl" she said. fart sick"
''Ay. sick indeed" l gasped.
"Then lean thou upon the cushions and
rest thee" she answered, still holding my
hand, wherefrom the strength had fed.
1.-THE fit will surely pass. Too long hast
thou laborcd with thy stars. How soft is
the night air that flows from yonder case
ment heavy with the breath Of hliesl Hark
to the whisper Of the sea tapping against
the rocks, that, though faint 1t is, yet, being
so strong, doth almost drown the quick, cool
fall Of yonder mountain. List TO Philomel;
how sweet from o full heart Of love she
sings her message to her dearl Surely its
a lovely night, and most beautiful is
natures music sung with hundred voices
from wind and trees and birds and oceans
wrinkled lips, and yet sung all to tune
Listen, Hsrmachis; something have
guessed concerning thee. Thou, too, art Of
Q royal race; no humble blood pours in
those veins Of thine Surely such a shoo'
could spring but from the stock Of Princes
Whsti gazest thou at the leaf mark on my
breasti Twas prickcd there in honor Of
Osiris, whom with thee worship. Seer
"Let me hence" groaned, striving u
rise; but all ny strength had gone.
Nay, not yet awhile. Thou wouldst mo-
leave me yeti Thou cansi not leave me yet
Hsrmachis, hast thou never lovedl"
Nay, nay, o Queeni What have to d.
with lovei Let me hencei am faint-for
doner'
"Never to have loved-'tis strange
!. Never to have known some woman-hear
beat all in tune to thine-never to hav'
, seen the eyes Of thy sdored a-swim witt
!. passions tears as she sighed her VOW
upon thy breasti Never to have loved!-
never to have lost myself in the myster.
Of another's soul; nor to have learned how
Nature can overcome our naked loneli
ness, and with the golden web Of love o