The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-08-08
/ CLEOPATRA.
Being an Account of the Fall and
Vengeance of Harmachis, the
Royal Egyptian,
AS SET FORTH BY Els OWN HAND.
BY II. RIDER HAGCARD,


the divine Pharaoh; and before any could
guess her purpose let 1t fall into the vine-
gar Then came silence, the silence Of Won
der, and slowly the peerless pearl melted in
the acid. When it was melted she took the
glass and shook it, then drank the vinegar
TO the last drop.
"More vinegar, slave!' she cried, "my
meal is but half fnishedl' and she drew
forth the second pearl.
"By Bacchus, mol thou shalt not" cried
Antony, snatching at her hands; 81 have
seen enough" And al that moment, moved
thereto by know not what, called aloud:
''The hour falls the hour of the coming Of
the curse Of Merl;d-rGm
An ashy wilderness grew upon Cleopatra's
face and furiously she turned upon me,
while all the company Gazed wondering, not
knowing what the words might mean.
Thou ill-amened slavep' she cried
'Speak thus once more and thou shalt be
scourged with rodsl-ay, scourged like an
evil-doer-that promise thee, Harmachis'
"What means the knave of an astrol-
ogerg" asked Antony. "Speak, sirrahl
and make clear thy meaning, for those who
deal in curses must warrant their wares"
II am servant Of the Gods, noble An
tony. That which the Gods put in my mind
that must say; nor can | read their mean.
ing | answered humbly.
"Oh! OH thou servest the Gods, dost thou,
taou many-colored mysteryl" (This he
said having reference to my splendid
robes) SWELL l serve the Goddesses,
which is softer cult. And there's this
between Us: that though what they put in
my mind ] say, neither can ] read their
meaning" and he glanced at Cleopatra as
one who questions.
s'Let the knave be,n she said impatiently,
''to morrow Wen be rid of him. Sirrah, be-
gone"
bowed and went; and, as | went, 1 heard
Antony say: swell, knave he may be, for
that all men are, but this for thy astrologer--
rshe hath a royal air and the eye of king-ay,
and with it."
~ Without the door paused, not knowing
1wfiat TO do, for | was bewildered with mis-
cry; and, as stood, some one touched me
on the hand. | glanced up-it was Char
mion, who, in the confusion of the rising
, OF the guests, had slipped away and fol-
lowed me.
For in trouble, Charmion was ever at my
4 side.
"Follow me, she whispered; "thou artin
danger"
turned and followed her. Why should
mott
whittier go wei" asked at length.
.To my chamber she said. "Fear not,
we ladies of Cleopatra's Court have small
good fame to lose. IT any one by chance
should see US, they'll think that It's love
tryst and such are all the fashion,"
l followed, and, presently, skirting the
crowd, we came, unseen, to little side en-.
trance that led to q stair up which we
passed The stair ended in passage; we
turned down it till we found door on the
left hand Silently Charmion entered, and
l followed her into dark chamber. Being
in she barred the door, and, kindling finder
to a fame, lit a hanging lamp. AS the light
grew strong gazed around The chamber
was not large and had but one easement
closely shuttered. For the rest, it was sim
ply furnished, having white walls, some
chests for garments, an ancient chair, wha
/ took to be firing table, whereon were
combs, perfumes and all the frippery thai
pertains to woman, and white bed with {
broidered coverld, over which was hung {
gnat gauze.
"Be seated, Harmachis," she said, point
ing to the chair.
took the chair, and Charmion, THROWN.
back the gnat gauze, sat herself upon thu
bed before me.
''Knowest thou what heard Cleopatr'
say as thou didst leave the banQuetinl
hall'" she asked presently.
"Nay, know not'
"She gazed after thee, aud, as l wen
over to her to dc some service, she mur
INJURED to herself: BY Scraps, will max
an endl No longer will l wait; tomorrow
he shall be stranged!"
"Soan | said "it may be; though, afte
all that has been, scarce can believe tina
she will murder me-"
"Why canst thou not believe it, O tho
most foolish of men! Dost forget how mig
thou was to death there In the Alabaste
Halle Who saved thee then from the knive
of the eunuchsl Was it Cleopatraa o
was it and Brennusl Stay, l will te
thee. Thou canst not yet believe 1t, becaus
in thy folly thou 6ost not think it possibl
that the woman who has but lately been a
a wife to thee can now in so short q tim
doom thee to be basely done to death. Ma,
answer not-I know ALL and this tell the
thou hast not measured the depth {
Cleopatras perhdy. nor canst thou dreal
the blackness Of her wicked heart She ha
surely slain thee in Alexandria had she NJ
feared that thy slaughter, being noise
abroad, might bring trouble TO her. Their
fore has she brought thee here to kill the
secretly. For what more canst thou gi,
herl-she has thy hearts love, and
wearied OF thy strength and beauty. 81
has robbed thee Of thy Royal birthright an
brought thee, King, to stand amidst HI
waiting women behind her at her feast,
she has won from thee the great secret
the holy treasurel--n
''Ah, thou know est thatt'
''Yea, know all; and tonight thou see
how the wealth stored against the need
Khem is being squandered to fill up Il
wanton luxury of Khem's Macedonia
Queeni Thou seest how she hath kept he
oath TO wed thee honorablyl Harmachis
At length thine eyes are open to the truth
GAY, see too well; she swore she love
me, and, fool that / was, l did believe her
s.She swore she loved theer' answers
Charmion, lifting her dark eyes; "now WI
show thee how she doth love thee. Kuoy
est thou what was this housei 1t was
priests college; and, as thou woteest, Ha
machis, priests have their ways. This Il
tie chamber aforetime was the chamber
the Head PRIEST, and the chamber that
beyond and below was the gathering roo
of the other priests. All this the old sla,
who keeps the place told me, and also 81
revealed what l shall show thee. No,
Harmachis. be silent as the dead and Il
low mel"