The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-08-01

80 she Went, and tnVlcerorward was
nursed, and that skillfuly By the physician
and two women slaves; ard as my wounc
healed so my strengtVcamo back to MO.
slowly at first, then most swiftly. In four
days from that time left my couch, and IL
three more could walk an hour in the pai.
ace gardens; another week and ! could
read and think, though went no more to
Court. And at length one afternoon Char
mion came and babe me make ready, for in
two days would the feet sail, irst for tho
coast Of Syria, and thence to the gulf Of
Issus and Cilicia.
Thereon, with all forinality, and in writ
/ ing, / craved leave Of Cleopatra that might
be left, urging that my health was even
now SO feeble that could not travel But
in answer a message was sent TO me that 1
must come. And so on the appointed day /
was carried oma litter down to- the boat,
and together with that very Soldier fhohad
cut me down, the Captain Brennus, and
others Of his troop (Who, indeed, were sent
to guard me), we rowed aboard the vessel
where she lay at anchor with the rest Of tie
great feet. For Cleopatra was voyagingCs.
though to war in much pomp, and escorted
galley, built like house and linod through
out with cedar and slkea h2nginEs, YVES tho
most beautiful and. costly that tho world
has ever seen. But CT this vessel went
not, and, therefore it chunced Stat saw
not Cleopatra nor ChaEmlon till we landed
at tho mouth Of The River Cydnus. . The
signal being made, the feet set sail; and
the wind being fair, on tho evening of the
second day we came to Joppa- Thence we
sailed slowly with contrary winds up the
coast Of Syria, making Cecsarea and Ptol-
emGls and Tyrus and Berytus and past
Lebanon's white brow crowned with
his crest of cedars, en- to Heraclea
and across the Gulf Of Issus to the mouth
of Cydnus. And ever as we journeyed
the strong breathot the sea brought back
my health, till ut length, save for line Of
whi,o upon my mead, where the sword had
fallen, was | almost as had been. And
one night, as we drew near Cydnus, while
Brounus ahd sat alone together on the
deck, his eye fell upon tho white mark his
sword had made, and. he swore great
oath by his heather gods. "Ar' thou haGst
died, lad,n he SAID, "methinks | could
never again have held up my head Ali
that was coward stroke, and shameG am
| TO think that l SHOULD have struck it, and
thou on the ground and with thy back to
mel Knowest thou that when thou didst
lie 'twixt life and death, every day came
to ask tidings of thceg and / swore by
Taranis that If thou dIc9l die I'd turn my
back upon that soft palace life and then
away for the Nor1h," u
"Nay, trouble not, Brennus, )" l answered;
ait was thy duty
"Mayhapl but there are duties that a
brave man should not do nay, not at the
bidding of any Queen who ever ruled in
Egypt Thy blow had dazcd me or ! had
not struck. What is it, lad.-art in trouble
with this Queen of ourss Why art thou
dragged prisoner upon this pleasure
party. Knowest thou that we are strictly
charged that if thou cost escape our lives
shall pay the prce"
"Ay, in sore trouble, FRIEND" / an.
swered; task lac no more"
'Then, being of the age thou art-tLere .
G woman in it, that swear land, per-
chance, though l am rough and foolish,
might mako guess. Look thou, lad, what
sayest thoua | am a-weGry of the service
Of Cleopatra and this hot land of deserts
[ and Of luxury, that sap a mans strength
and drain his pocket; and so are others
whom | wot Of. What sayest thou; let S
) take one of these unwieldy vessels and
away to the Northl I'll lead thee to q bet
ter land than Egypt a land of lake and
, mountain and great forests of sweet
scented pine; ay, and find thee a girl fl
to mate with, mine own mecca strong
girl, and tall, with wide blue eyes, and
long, fair hair, and arms that would crack
thy RIBS were she to hug theei Come,
. what sayest thoul Put away tue past, and
away for the bonny North, and be son to
me-
For a moment thought, and then sadly
' shook my head; for though sorely was !
tempted to be gone, knew that in Egypt
!. lay my fate, and my fate might not fly.
at may not be, Brennus," answered.
4 'Fain would that it might be, but am
bound by chain Of destiny which can not
: break, and in the land Of Egypt must live
and die"
Gas thou wilt, lad" said the old warrior
: Dearly should have loved to marry thee
: among my people and make son of thee
At the least, remember that while an
J, here thou hast Brennus for Q friend. And
one thing more: beware Of that besuteous
Queen OF thine, for, by Tarauis, perchancs
. an hour NAV come when she will hold thai
thou knowest too much. and then" ant
\ he drew his hand across his throat "Ant
; now good night; cip Of wine, then Il
!, sleep, for tomorrow the fcolery-"
THere sererui lengfhs Of the second rou o
: patprus are 90 broken as to Be indeeipherdble
Tsy seem 81 haze been descriptive ~ Cleopatrd'
uoydos - u.e Cvdnss TO the eity u Tarsu.l