Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-14
(Theophile Gautier was a famous French
story writer novelist and Journalist of ths
nineteenth century; he was born in ISL
and died in 1872. His best known novel IL
"Mademoiselle de Maupin.")


story writer novelist and Journalist OF ths
nineteenth century: he was born In lSll
and died in 1879. His best known novel Ii
"Mademoiselle de Maupin.")
More than nineteen hundred years
ago magnificently gilded and painted
long sailboat was descending the Nile
as rapidly as SO long oars could drive
it. 1t crawled over the water like
some gigantic beetle. Inside the little
tent of honor was little bed or couch
with a reclining figure of beautiful
woman-an adorable divine head--the
most womanly and most queenly or
women-Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt.
Beside her stood her favorite slave
waving large fan of ibis feathers.
Il am horribly weary" said Cleo
patra. This land brushes and ami
hilates me. Never cloud, never a
drop of rain. / wish that something
would happen to me-some strange
unexpected adventure
ut is easy to see," said the slave,
that the queen has not had an ad-
mirer, or some one to be killed, for
over a month";"
Weary as she was, the most
dreamed-of and most-sung-of woman
III lHe NOtlu ClOSeu eyes anu
slept. And while she slept, nearby
on the Nile was small light boat,
and in 1t was a youth. He was fol-
lowing and watching the vessel that
conveyed Cleopatra to her Summer
palace.
This was a youth of strange char
acter, still young and unloved. His
yearning was for the perilous or the
unattainable. He preferred to walk
where it seemed impossible to OBJ
tain foothold, or to swim in a rag
ing torrent. He was of tawny COM
plexion, but handsome, and the idol
of the maidens who had seen his
vigorous manhood.
Desiring the unbelievable, this
young man had fallen in love with
Cleopatra. He had at first striven
to tame this wild passion, but love,
once alive, cannot be strangled. He
commenced at last to spend his life
wandering about the neighborhood
of the queens royal presence.
In her palace, alone with her slaves.
Cleopatra was still weary when she
awoke. Suddenly a whistling sound
was heard, and an arrow buried itself
in the cedar wall. The queen almost
tainted with terror. Had some assas s.
sin missed his mark? But there on
the arrow was a scroll of papyrus
bearing these words, Il love you!"
These were words for which the
Queen Of Egypt yearned. She leaned
far out and saw on the dark waters
of the Nile the swimming form of a
man. She dispatched men at once
in hot pursuit, and then reclined to
think whom this unknown admirer
could possibly be.
AS for the youth, he knew that he
had sent his message home at last.
And it had aroused curiosity in the
impressive heart of Cleopatra-indeed,
there might yet be success!
Sooner or later, If he hung around
the vicinity of Cleopatra, the young
man expected to be caught. He
might pay with his life for his bold.
ness, but he could not go far away
and he always had to return. So he
was apprehended, and brought be.
fore the queen.
q Are you some assassin bribed by
Rome?" demanded Cleopatra. "Or for
what purpose have you entered these
sacred precincts?"
The lad fell on his knees. protest.
ing that he had never intended evil.
Sincerity and loyalty were written
plainly on his features. And Cleo.
patra saw that he was handsome.
Il love YOU" the youth finally man.
aged to say.
"Ah!" cried Cleopatra. $50 it was
you who shot the arrow. BY Oms,
you are a foolhardly wretch, And
remember have seen you before
haunting the vicinity of my presence.
OF course, you expect to be rewarded
for your admiration. You expect me
to love you in return. Well, why
not?"
Queen" begged the youth. do not
rail at me! 1 am mad, 1t is true. I
have deserved death--so bid your sol.
diers to kill met"
mo. I have taken a within to be
merciful. I will give you your life. "
But what should / do with life?
For I love you,"