The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-05-23

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SEIZED HIM AND DREW HIM AFTER ME.
her to sleep, and if she be awakened will
call thee, for she waits thy coming" And
without more words she glided from my side.
In a little time she returned, and, coming
to my side, spoke:
"Wouldst see the fairest woman in all the
world asleep!" she whispered. IF so, fol-
low thou me. Nay, fear not; when she
awakes she will but laugh, for she bade me
be sure to bring thee instantly, whether
she slept or woke. see, have her.signet."
So we passed up the beautiful chamber
till we came to where the eunuchs stood
with drawn swords, and these would have
barred my entry; but Charmion frowned,
and drawing the signet from her bosom held
it before their eyes. Thereon, having ex-
amined the writing that is on the ring,
they bowed, dropping their sword points,
and we passed through the heavy curtains,
broidered DER with gold, into the resting
place of Cleopatra. Beautiful it was
beyond imagining-beautiful with many
colored marbles, with gold and ivory, gems
and fowers-all art can furnish and all
luxury can dream of were here. Here were
pictures 80 real that birds might have
pecked the painted fruits here were statues
,t,fn cta
here were draperies fine as softest silk, but
woven Of a web of gold; here were couchcs
and carpets such as never saw. Here the
air was sweet with perfume, while through
the open window places came the far muir
muir of the sea. At the further end of-the
chamber, on couch Of goamingssik
and sheltered by a net Of ( finest
gauze, Cleopatra lay asleep. There she
lay-tho fairest thing that man ever saw
fairer than dream, and all about her
flowed the web of her dark hair. One white,
rounded arm made pillow for her head
and one hung downward to the ground Her
rich lips were parted in smile, showing
the ivory lines of teeth; and her rosy limbs
were draped in so thin robe Of the silk OF
Cos, held about her by jeweled girdlc,
that the white CLEAN of flesh shone through
it. / stood astonished, and, though my
thoughts had little bent that way, the sight
Of all her beauty struck me like blow, so
that for moment lost myself as it were
in the vision Of its power, and at heart was
grieved that must STAY so fair thing.
Turning suddenly from the sight found
Charmion watching me with her quick eyes
watching as though she would search my
heart. And, indeed, something Of my
thoughts must have been written on my
face IN language that she could read, for
she whispered in my ear:
GAY, It is pity, 10 it moth Harmachis be-
ing after all a man, methinks thou wilt need
all thy ghostly strength to nerve thee to the
deedl"
frowned. but before could frame an
answer she touched me lightly on the arm
and pointed to the Queen. A change had
come upon her; her hands were clenched,
and about her face, all rosy with the hue Of
sleep, gathered cloud of fear Her breath
came quick, she raised her arms as though
to ward away blow, and then with q
stlfed moan sat up and opened the windows
of her eyes. Dark they were, dark as
night; but when the light found them they
grew blue. even as the sky grows blue be-
fore the blushing OF the dawn.
"Casarionp she said; "where is Casa
rionl Was it then dream2 l dreamed
that Julius-Julius who Is dead-came to
me, his bloody toga wrapped about his face,
and, having thrown his arms about his child,
led him away. Then l dreamed l died
died in blood and agony; and one might
not see Knocked me as diedl Ali who is
that mani"
"Peacc, Madam! peacel" said Charmion.
"'Tis but the magician Harmachis, whom
thou didst bid me bring to thee at this
hour"
"Ahl the magician-that Harmachis who
overthrow the giantl l remember me now.
He Is welcome. Tell me, Sir Magician, can
thy magic mirror give forth an answer to
this dream! Nay, how strange thing is
sleep, that. wrapping the mind in web of
darkness, strsightly compels it to its will.
Whence, then, come those images of fear
rising on the horizon of the soul like some
untimely moon upon the twilight skyl
Who grants them power to stalk so lifelike
from Memory's thronging halls, and, point
ing to their wounds, thus confront the
Present with the Pasti Are they, then,
messengersi Doth the semi-death of sleep
give them q foothold in our brains, and
thus upknit the severed thread Of human
kinshipi That was Cesar's self, tell thee,
who but now stood at my side and muir
INJURED through his mutflcd robe warning
words whereof the memory Is lost to me.
Read me this riddle, thou Egyptian Sphinx,
and I'll show thee q roster path to fortune
than al shy stsrs can point Thou hast
brought the omen, solve thou It's problem
sin good hour do come, most mighty
Queen" made answer, "for l have some
skill in the mysteries Of sleep, which is, as
thou hast rightly guessed, q stair whereby
those who are gathered to Osiris may from
time to time enter at the gatewsys Of our
living sense, and, by signs and words that
can be read Of mortals thereto duly learned
repeat the echoes Of that Hall Of Truth
which is their habitation. Thereby also the
messengers Of the guardian Gods may de
scend in many shapes upon the half-loosed
spirit Of their choice. For, o Queen, tc
those who hold the key, the madness of our
dreams can show . clearer purpose and
speak more certainly than all the acted