The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-07-04

G0-~""N-N"
mood she gave some new-found charm.
Full of talk she was as 10 how should help
her make Egypt great and lessen the bur,
dens of the people and fight the Roman
eagles back. And though at first listened
heavily when she spako thus, by slow ad-
vance she wrapped me closer and yet mere
close In her magic web, from which is 70
Theh ], too, opened something cf
my heart, and somewhat also "f
the pans that had formed for Egypt. Aud
she seemed to listen gladly, weighing them
well, and spoke OF means and methods, tell
ing me how she would purify the faith and
repair the ancient templcs-ay, and build
new ones to the Gods. And ever she crept
deeper and more deep into my heart, till at
length, now that ell things else had gone
from Inc, learned to love her with oil the
unspcnt passion Of my aching soul. HAD
naught left to me but Cleopatra's love, and
Itwined my life about it, and broodcd DER
it as widow DER her only babe. And thus
the very author Of my shame became my
all, my dearest dear, and loved her with a
wild, deep love that grew and grew, till 1t
seemed to swallow up the past and make
the present as a dream. For she had con-
quered me, she had robbed me of my honor
and stepped me to the lips in shame, and l,
poor, blinded wretch! kissed the rod that
smote me and was her very slave.
Ay, even now, in those dreams which will
come when sleep unlocis the secret heart,
and sets all its terrors free to roam through
the open halls of thou hit, l seem to see her
royal form, as erst saw it, como with arms
outstretched and loves own light shining
in her deep eyes, with lips apart and fow-
ing locks, and stamped upon her face the
| look of utter tenderness that she alone
could wear. Ay, still, after all the years, I
seem to see her come as erst she came, and
| still wake to know her an unutterable lie.
And thus one day she came. She had
| fed in haste. she said, from some great
council summoned concerning the wars Of
| Antony in Syria, and she came, as she had
| left the council. In all her robes of state,
and in her hand the scepter, and on her
brow the ureus diadem of gold. There she
| sat before me laughing; for, wearying Of
them, she had told the ENJOYS, to whom she
gave audience in the council, that she was
| called from their presence by sudden
message come from Rome; and to her the
| jest seemed merry. Suddenly she rose,
| took the diadem from her brow, and set II
| on my hair, and on my shoulders her Royal
| chlamys, and in my hand the scepter, snd
bowed the knee before me. Then, laugh
ing again, she kissed me on the lips and
| said was, indeed, her King. But, remem-
| bering how had been crowned in the halls
| Of Abouthis, and remembering also that
wreath of roses whereof the odor haunts
| me yet, l rose pale with wrath and cast the
trinkets from me, asking her how she
| dared to mock me-her Gagged birdi And
| methinks there was that about me tina,
| startled her, for she fell back.
NAY, Harmachis,' she said, '"be no,
| wrothi How knowest thou that l mock
| theel How knowest thou that thou shalt
| not be Pharaoh in fact and deedi"
What meanest thour l said. evil,
thou, then, wed me before Egypt How
| else can be Pharaoh nowin
She cast down her eyes. "Perchance
love. it's in my mind to wed thee"
| gently. $50.