The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-08-29

Know thou, learned Physician, am of that
sort who, loving once, love always, and be-
ing not beloved again, go virgin to the
death"
She ceased and, having nGught TO say, /
bowed my head in answer. Yet, though
naught said, and though this woman's
passionate folly had been the cause Of all
our ruin, 10 speak truth, in secret / was
thankful to her who, wOoed Of all and living
in this shameless Court, had still through
the long years poured out her unreturned
love upon an outcast, aud who, when that
poor broken slave of Fortune came back in
such unlovey guise, cid yet hold him dear
at heart. For what man is there who does
not prize that gift most rare aud beautiful,
thatone perfect thing which no gold can
buy-awoman' unfeigned lovel
II thank thee that thou didst not an
swer," she said; "for the bitter words which
thou didst pour upon me in those days that
long are dead, and far away in Tarsus, have
not lost their poisonous sung, and in my
hearts no more place for the arrows of thy
scorn, new venomed through thy solitary
years So let it be- Boholdl l put it from
me, that wild passion Of my SOUL" and she
looked up and stretched out her hands as
though to press some unseen presence back.
~ put it from me-though forget it may
Dotl There, tits done, Harmachis; no more
shall my love trouble thee. Enough for me
that once more my eyes behold thee, before
sleep seals thee from Their sight Dost re-
member how when would have died by thy
dear hand, thou wouidst not Stay, but didst
bid me live to pluck the bitter fruit Of
crime, and be accursed by visions OF the
evil had wrought and memories Of thee
whom had rulned?"
SAY, Charmion, well do remember"
"Surely hath the cup Of punishment been
filed. Oil couldst thou see into the record
of my heart and read thereon the suffering
that have borne-borne with a smiling
face-thy justice would be satisfied indeed"
sand yet, if report be true, Charmion, thou
art the first Of all the Court, and therein the
most powerful and beloved. Doth not
Octavianus give it forth that he makes war
not on Antony, nor even on his mistress,
Cleopatra; but on Charmion and Irasi"
"Yea, and think what it has been to me
thus, even Of my oath to thee, to be forced
TO eat the bread and do the biddings Of one
whom so bitterly l hate lone who has
robbed me of thee, and who, through the
workings Of my jealousy, brought me to
that which am, brought thee to shame, and
all Egypt to its ruin Can jewels and riches
and the flattery Of princes and mobiles bring
happiness to such one as ], who am more
wretched THAI the meanest scullion wenchl
Oh, often have wept till was blind; and
then, when the hour came, must arise and
tire me, and, with a smile, go do the
bidding of the Queen and that heavy
NJ 20
them dead-ay, the twain of them then
myself shall be content to diel Hard hath
been thy lot, Harmachis; but at least thou
hast been free, and many is the time that
have envied thee the quiet of thy haunted
cave"
81 do perceive, o Charmion, that thou art
mindful of thy oaths; and it Is well, for
methinks the hour of vengeance is at hand"
81 am mindful, and in all things have I
worked for thee in Secretion thee, and for
the utter ruin of Cleopatra and the Roman.
i have famed his passion and her jealousy,
have egged her on TO wickedness and him
TO folly, and Of all have caused report to be
brought to Caesar. Listen thus stands the
matter. Thou knowest how went the fight
at Actium Thither with her feet went
Cleopatra, sorely against the will of Antony.
But, as thou sendest me word, entreated
HIM for the Queen, vowing to him, with
tears, that, did he leave her, she would die
of grief; and he, poor slave, believed me.
And so she went, and in the thick of the
fight, for what cause know not, she made
signal to her squadron, and, putting about,
fed from the battle, sailing for Pelopon-
nesus. Ard now mark the end When
Antony saw that she was gone, he, in his
madness, took a galley, and, deserting all,
followed hard after her, leaving his fleet to
be shattered and sunk, and his great army
in Greece of twenty leglons and twelve
thousand horses without leader. And all
this would no man believe, that Antony,
the smitten Of the gods, had fallen so deep
in shame. Therefore for awhile the army
tarrled, and but now tonight comes news
brought by Canidius, the General, that,
worn with doubt and being at length sure
that Antony had deserted them, the whole
of that great force hath yielded to Caesar. 1"
"And whore, then, is Antony"
'On q little isle in the Great Harbor hath
he built him habitation and named it
Timonium; because, fOrsooth, like Timon,
he cries out of the ingratitude Of mankind
that hath forsaken him. And there he lies
smtton by a fever of the mind, and thither
must thou 90 at dawn, so wills the Queen,
TO cure HIM of his ills and draw him to her
arms; Tor her he will not see, nor knows he
yet the full measure Of his woe. But first
my bidding is To lead thee instantly to Cleo
patra, who fam would ask thy counsel"
II come answered, rising. LEAD thou
on"
Aud so we passed the palace gates and
along the AlGbaster Hall, and presently
once again | stood before the door of Cleo
patra's chamber, and once again Charmion
leftme to warn her of my coming.
Presently she came back and becboned to
ME. "Malle strong thy heart" she whis-
pered, land see that thou dost not betray
thyself, for still are the eyes of Cleopatra
keen. Enter"
keen, indeed, must they be to find Har-
machis in the learned Olympusl Had not
willed it, thysclf thou hadst not known me,
Charmion,n lmade answer.
Then / inferred that remembered place
and listened once more to tue splash of the
fountain, the song of the nightingale, and
the murmur of the summer sea. With
bowed head aud hating gait came, till at
length stood before the couch of Cleopatra
that same golden couch whereon she had
sat the night she dill oercome me. Then |
gathered my strength and looked up.
There before me was Cleopatra, glorious Us
Of old, but, obi how changed since that
nightwhen l saw Antony clasp her in his
arms at Tarsus! Her beauty still clothed
her like a garment; the eyes were vet deep
and unfath0mable as the blue sea. The face
still splendid in its great loveliness. And
yet all was changed Time, that could not
.,t,.h ber charms had c+arnnai mon n or