The enterprise. [volume], December 25, 1889, Page 6, Image 6

About The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899

Image provided by: Ohio History Connection, Columbus, OH

                
THE' ENTERPRISE; WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER, 25
6
CLEOPATRA.
Being . ar ": Account o ths Fall and
Vengeance if Harmachla,' the
Royal Egyptian, 1
'AS BET FOETH BT HIS OWU HAJTD.
By H. ; Rider Hacoard,
Author of " King Solomon' Mines,"
Bho.l.' " A4I Qiattamuiin,"
' jBtOptj., jEwi
'lUnstntsd by WOHoiu artsr OATOtT WOOD
YXXXS sad 6SKIFFSVBAOZV
-JoHApTEB tXJi h i
or m TSKnm CAks o OBAaMtoa; or m
i iuma cur BMUuoanpo ran iahjhq
or THS PLM U OUOMTRA TPS cilioia;
ohd or rest snscn or Bnimrus to has
Cleopatra went,
' and for awblle I lay
silent, gathering np
ly stren Rth to
peak. But Char
mlon came and itood
over me, aud I felt a
(treat war ioii trom
' her dark eyee upon
my i ace, as the first
heavy drop of rain fall
from a stormy cloud.
"Thou goest," the whis-
pered "thou goest fat whith
er I may not folio w I 0 Harmachla,
how gladly would J give my life
for thine!"
Then el length I opened my eyes, and a
beat Ioould I spoke:
'Restrain thy grief, dear friend," I said,
"I lire yet; and, In truth, I feel as though
new life did gather in my breast I"
She gave a little cry of joy, and never
saw I aught more beautiful than the change
that came apan her weeping face I It was
as when tho first lights of the day run np
the asbon pallor of that sad sky which vails
the night from dawn. All rosy grew her
lovely countenance; her dim eyes shone out
like stars; and a smile of wonderment,
more sweet than the sudden smile of the
sea as Its ripples wake to brightness be
neath the kiss of the risen moon, broke
through her rain of tears.
"Thou livestt" she cried, throwing her
self upon her knee beside my couch.
'"Thou 11 vest-end I thought thee gone!
Thou art come back to me! Oh I what say
It How foolish Is a woman's htortl 'Tis
this long watching! Kay; sleep and rest
theo, Harmachlsl why dost thou talk I
Hot one more word, I command thoe,
stralgbtlyl Oh, where Is the draught left
by that long-bearded foolt Kay, thou shalt
have no draught! There, sleep, Harmachis;
sleep!" and she oroucbed down at my side
and laid ber cold hand upon my brow, mur
muring: "Sleep, lleep, tltepl"
And when I woke up there still she was,
but the lights of dawn were peeping through
the casement' There still she knelt, one
hsnd upon my forehead, and her head, in
all Its disarray of curls, resting upon her
outstretched arm. "Channlon," I whis
pered, "have I slept!"
instantly she was wide awake and gas
lng oa me with tender eyes. "Yea, thou
hast slept, Hsrmacbis."
"How long, then, have I slept!"
' "Nine hours."
"And thou hast held thy place there, at
my aius, i or umo ivus; uuurai
"Yea, It is naught; I also hsve sleptI
feared to waken thee If I stirred."
"Go rest thee," I sold. "It shames me to
think of this thing. Go rest thee, Char-
mion!"
"Vex not thyself," she answered "see,
I will bid a slave watch thee and to woks
me if thou noedst aught; I sleep there, in
the outer chamber. Peace I go I" and she
strove to rise, but, so cramped was she, fell
straightway on the floor.
Scarce can I tell the sense of shame that
filled me when I saw ber falL Alas! I could
not stir to help her. .
'It is naught," she said; "move not, I did
but catch my foot Thero!" and she rose,
again to fall "a pest upon my awkward
ness! why I must be sleeping! 'tis well
now. 1 11 send the slave," and she stag
gered tbenco like one o'ercome with wine.
And after that, one more I slept, for
was very weak. When I woke It was af
ternoon, and I craved for food, which Char
mlon brought me.
Intel "Then I die not!" I sold.
"Nay," she answered, with a toss of hei
hood, "thou wilt Uve. In truth, I did wests
my pity on thee."
"And thy pity did save my life," I said,
wearily, for now I remembered.
"It is naught," she answered, carelossly.
"After all, thou art my cousin ; also, I lovt
nursing; 'tis a woman's trade. LllM
enough I had done as much for any slave
How, too, that the danger is past, I lean
thee."
"Better hadst thou done to let me die,
Charmlon," I said after awhile, "for life U
me can now be nsught but one long shame.
Tell me, thon, when sails Cleopatra tot
OiUclal"
"In twenty days she sails, and with sues
nomn and rlorv as Egypt hath never seen.
pt a truth, I coo not guess where she bo
found the gold to gather In this store ol
splendor, as a husbandman gathers his rich
fruits."
But I, knowing whence come the wealth,
groaned in bitterness of spirit, and made
bo answer.
"Ooet thoq also, Charmlon!" I asked,
oreeentlr.
"Ay, 1 and all the Court Thou, too thon
goest"
"I go! Hoy, why Is this?"
" "Because thou art her slave, and must
march in gilded chains behind her chariot;
because she fears to lesve thee herein
Khem; because it Is her will, and there it
aa end."
"Charmion. can I Dot escape P
" "Esospe, thou poor sick man 1 Hay, how
canst thon escape! E'en now most strictly
art thon guarded. And if thon didst es
m. whltber wouldst thon fly! There's nol
an honest man ia Egypt bat would spit OS,
thee In scoro I"
i Onoe more I groaned in spirit, and belnj
o weak I felt the tears roll a-dowa mj
cheek. '
1 "Weep not!" aba said, hastily, and turn
ing ber face aside. "Be a man, and bran
Ittaese troubles oat Thon hast sown, now
gnost thon reap; but after harvest ths.
waters rise and wash away the roots, eni
Mien on os more comes seed time. Pep
ntuuee. yonder ia Cillcla, a way maybt
;ound when oaoe more thon art strong
whereby tbou mays fly If la truth thot
oust bear toy life apart from Cleopatra'!
asnllet then ia soms far lsnd must thos
Idwsll till those things art forgotten. And
now my task Is done, so fare thee well. Al
times will I come and see that thou needeet
naught"
Bo she went, and thsnoeforward waa
a u reed, and that skillfully, by the physlciaa
and two wonea slaves; and as my wound
healed so my strength earns back to me,
- vivlv at first, then aiosf swiftly. Ia tour
. i from that tints lleft toy coach, sndtn
mm
throe moro I coukl walk n hour In the pal
ace gardens; auotuoi- week and I could
read and think, thougii I wont no more to
Court And ut Ionian uno afLoruoon Char
mlon came and bmlo ma make ready, for in
two duys wouid the IWt sail, lirst for tho
coast of Syria, and theuce to the gulf of
Issus and Cilioia,
Thereon, with all formality, and in writ
ing, I craved leave of Cleopatra that I might
be loft, urging that my health was even
now so feeble that I could not travel. But
in answer a message was sent to me that I
must come. And so on the appointed day I
was carried on a litter down to the boat,
and together with that very soldier who hod
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 snohor with the rest of the
great fleet For Cleopatra was voyaging as
though to war in much pomp, and escorted
by a mighty fleet of ships, whereof her
galley, built like a bouse and lined through
out with cedar and silken hangings, was the
most beautiful and costly that the world
has ever seen. But on this vessel I went
not, and, therefore, It chanced that I saw
not Cleopatra nor Charmion till we landed
at the mouth of the Rlvor Cydnus. The
signal being made, the fleet set sail; and
the wind being fair, on the evening of the
second day we came to Joppa. Thenoe we
soiled slowly with contrary winds up the
coast of Byria, making Cmsarea add Ptol
emais and Tyrus and Berytus and past
Lebanon's white brow crowned with
his crest of cedars, on to Heracles
and across the Quit of Issus to the mouth
of Cydnus. And ever as we journeyed
the strong breath of the sea brought bock
my health, till at length, save for a line of
white upon my head, whore the sword had
fallen, was I almost as I hsd been. And
one night, as we drew near Cydnus, while
Brenuus and I sat alone together on the
deck, his eye fell upon the white mark his
sword bod mode, and he swore a great
oath bv. his heathen gods. "An1 thou hadst
died, lad," be said, "methlnks I could
never again have held np my head 1 Ah!
that was a coward stroke, and shamed am
I to think that I should have struok It, and
thou on the ground and with thy bock to
me! Knowest thou that when thou didst
lie 'twist life and death, every day I came
to ask tidings of thee! and I swore by
Toranls that if thou didst die I'd turn my
back upon that soft palace life and then
swsy for the North."
"Nay, trouble notjBrennus," I answered;
"It was thy duty."
"Majbapl but there are duties that a
brave man should not do nay, not at the
bidding of soy Queen who ever ruled in
Egypt! Thy blow hsd dosed me or I had
not struck. What Is it, lad I art in trouble
with this Queen of ours! . Why art thon
dragged a prisoner .upon this pleasure
party! Knowest thou that we are strictly
charged that if thou dost escape our lives
shall pay the price I" , . t .v, .
"Ay, in sore trouble, friend," I an
swered ; "ask me no more." :
"Then, being of the age thou art there's
a woman in it, that swear I and, per
ch an oe, though I am rough and foolish, I
might moke a guess Look thou, lad, what
snyostthou! Ism e-wesry of the service
of Cleopatra and tlis hot land of deserts
and of luxury, that sap .a man's strength
and drain his pocket; and so are others
whom I wot of. What sayost thon; let's
take one of these unwieldy vessels and
swsy to ths North! 1'U load thee to a bet
ter land than Egypt a land of lake and
mountain and great forests of sweet
scented pine; ay, and find thee a girl fit
to mate with, mine own niece a strong
girl, and tall, with wide blue eyes, and
long, fair hair, and arms that would crock
thy ribs were she to hug theet Come,
what ssyest thou I. Put away the past and
away for the boooy North, aud be a son to
me."
For a moment I thought and then ssdly
shook my hwad ; for though sorely was I
tempted to bo gone, I knew that in Egypt
lay my fate, and my fate I might not fly.
Erennua," I answered. "It may not be,
"Fain would I that it might be, but I am
bound by a chain of destiny which I can not
break, and in the land of Egypt I must live
and die."
"As thou wilt lad," sold the old warrior.
"Dearly should I have loved to marry thee
among my people and moke a son of thee.
At the least remember that wnne l am
here thou host Brennns for a friend. And
one thing more: beware of that beauteous
Queen of thine, for, by Toranls, perchance
an hour may come when she will hold thot
thou knowest too much, and then" and
be drew his hond across his throat "And
now good night; a cip of wine, then to
sleep, for to-morrow the foolery"
Ifltr several IngUu of 1M second rou or
papyrus art so broken at to is indtciphtrabl.
Then SMm to ham own OsteHpft rt of vuopamvt
toyaoi p Ou Cydnm to tAs city of Tamil. J
And the writing continues to loose wno
could take joy in such things the sight must
indeed, hsve been a gallant one. rat toe
stern of our galley was covered with sheets
of beaten gold, the sails were of tbe scar
let of Tyre, and the oars of stiver dipped in
the wster to tbe measure of music. And
there In the center of the vessel, beneath
an awning ablate with gold embroidery, lay
Cleopatra, attired as the Boman Venns
(snd surely Venus wss not more fair!), ia
a thin robe of whitest silk, bound in beneath
her breast with a golden girdle delicately
I'fr" ,',y -ilhrTrrWituiuwri IIH
"irosLI ARTHOffT, TSOO BUST OALUD IU.n
graven o'er with scenes of love. All about
her were little rosy boys, ebosea for
their beauty, snd clod in nought save
downy wing strapped upon their shoulders,
and on their books Cupid's bow and quiver,
who fanned her with fans of plumes. And
upon the vessel's decks, handling the cord
age that was of silken web, and softly sing
ing to the sound of harps and tbe beat of
oars, stood no rough sailors, but women
lovely to behold, some clad os Graces and
some ss Nereids that Is. scarce clod at all,
save In their scented hair. And behind
tbe couch, with drown sword, stood Bren
uus, in splendid armor and winged
helm of gold; and by him others I
among them in robes richly worked, and
knew that I was Indeed slave! On the
high poop also banted golden erasers filled
with the eostllest incense, whereof the fra
grant steam hung In Utile clouds about our
woke.
Thus, at in a dream of lsntury, followed
I
by many ships, we glided on toward the.
wooded slopee of Taurus, at whose foot lay
that anoient city Turshtsh. And as wo came
the people gathered on the banks and ran
before us shouting! "Venus Is risen from
the seal Venus hath come to visit Bac
chus!" We drew near to the city, and all
its people every one who could walk or be
carried crowded down in thousands to the
docks, and with them came the whole army
of Antony, soot length the Triumvir was
left aloue upon the Judgment seat . . '-
With them came Delllus, the false
tongued, fawning and bowing, and In the
name of Antony gave the "Queen of Beau
ty" greeting, bidding her to a feast that
Antony had made ready. But she mado high
answer, and sold: "Forsooth, 'tis Antony
who should wait onus; not we on Antony.'
Bid the noble Antony to our poor table this
night else we dine alone." -
Delllus went bowing to tbe ground; the
feast was made ready; and then at last I
set eyes on Antony. .Clod in purple robes
he came, a great man and beautiful to see,
set In the stout prime of lire, with bright
eyes of blue, and curling hair, and features
out sharply as a Grecian gem. For great
he was of form and royal of mien, and with
an open countenance, whoreon his thoughts
were writ so clear thatall might read them;
only the weakness of the mouth bolted the
power of the brow. He came companioned
by bis generals, and when be reached the
couch whereon Cleopatra lay ho stood as
tonished, gating on her with wide-opened
eyes. She, too, gazed on him earnestly; I
saw the red blood run up beneath ber skin,
and a great pang of Jealousy seized tipon
my heart And Charmlon, who saw o?l be
neath her downcast eyes, sow this also and
smiled. But Cleopatra spoke no word, only
she stretched out her white hand, for him
to kiss; and he, saying no word, took ber
hand and kissed It
"Behold, noble Antony I" she said at lost
in her voloeof muslo, "thou bast called me,
and I am come." ;
"Venus bos come," he answered In his
deep notes, and still holding his eyes fast
fixed upon her fooe. "I called a woman; a
Goddess hath risen from the deep!"
"To find a God to greet her on the land,"
she laughed with ready wit "Well, a truce
to compliments, for being on the earth e'en
a Venus is a-hungered. Noble Antony, thy
bond." ' .; . ;, ,
The trumpets blared, and through the
bowing crowd, Cleopatra, followed by her
train, passed hond in hand with Antony to
the feast' : i . t n.l ,-:
Htrt titer It another break in Uw jMipymt.J
CHAPTKK XXIX .
or ths ratsT or olxopotoa; or ths hslt
iho or ths rsAEL; or ma satiho or h
MAcnis; ao . or . cuorATm's vows or
IOTA' " ' ' ' ' ' ' '
5 THE third night
once more was the
feast prepared ia the
hall of . the great
house that had been
set aside to the use
of Cleopatra, and on
this night its splendor I
was greater even than !
v? on the - nights before.
For the twelve triclinia
(couches) that were set
about the table were em
bossed with gold, and
those of Cleopatra and An
tony were of gold set with jewels. , The
dishes also were all of gold set with jewels,
the walls were hung with purple cloths
sewn with gold, and on the floor were
strewn fresh roses ankle deep, covered
with a net of gold,- that as the slaves trod
them sent np their perfume. Once again
was I bid to stand with Charmlon and Iras
and Merira behind the couch of Cleopatra,
and, like a slave, from time to time call out
the hours ss they flew. And. there being
no helo. wild at heart I went; but this I
swore- it should be for ths lost time, for I
could not bear that shame. For though I
would not yet bellgve what Charmlon told ,
me that Cleopatft was about to become
the love of Antony yet could I no more en
dure this Ignominy and torture. . For from
Cleopatra now I hod no words ssvesucb
words as o Queen speaks to her slave, and
methinks It gave ber dark heart pleasure to
torment me.
Thus it come to pass thot I, - the
Pharaoh, crowned of Ebem, stood among
eunuchs and waiting women behind the
couch of Egypt's Queen while the feast
went morrily and the wine-cup passed.
And ever Antony sst his eyes fixed upon
the face of Cleopatra, who from time to
time let her deep glonoe lose itself in his,
and then for a little while their talk died
swsy. For he told ber tales of war and
deeds that he had done ay, and love-jests
such ss ore not meet for the ears of
women. But at nought took sh,t offense;
rather, falling into his humor, would she
cap his stories with others of a finer wit
but not less shameless.
At length, the rich meal being finished,
Antony koted at the splendor round him.
"Tell me, then, most lovely Egypt!" he
sold, "are the sands of Nile compact of gold,
thot thou const night by night, thus squsn
der the ransom of King upon a single
feast! Whence comes this untold wealth!"
I bethought me of the tomb of the divine
Ifenka-ra, whose holy treasure wss thus
wickedly wasted, and looked up, so thst
Cleopatra's eyes oaught mine; but, reading
my thoughts, she frowned heavily.
"Why, noble Antony," she said, "surely
It is naught I In Egypt we have our secrets,
and know whence to conjure riches at our
need. Bay, what Is ths value of this golden
service, sod of the meats and drinks that
bsvs been set before us!" -
"Maybe, a thousand sestertla." ' ' "
"Thou host understated It by half, noble
Antony! But such as It Is, I give It thee
and those with tbee as a free token of my
f riendsbln, And more will I snow thee
now. I, myself, will eat and drink ton thon-
sand sestertia ot a drought" . , , ." .
That can not be, fair Egypt!"
iwmm
: Bbe laughed, and bods a slave bring her listens? above "tell me, noble Antony,
vinegar is a gloss. Wbea it wss brought wsst pleased with my poor festival!" -she
set it before her and laughed again, i "Ay." he answered In bis deep soldier's
while Antony, ruing from his couch, drew
near and sot himself at her side, and all the
company leant forward to see whot she
would do. And this she did: From her ears
she took one of those great pearls, which
lost of oil hod been drawn from ths body of
the divine Phsraoh; and before any could
guess her vurpose let it foil into tbe vine-
gar. Then came silence, the silence of won-
der, and slowly the peerless pearl melted In
ths odd. When it woo me ted the took we
glass and shook it, thon drank tho vinegar
to the lost drop.
"More vlnegsr, slave!" she cried, "my
meal Is but half finished I" snd she drew
forth the second peorL
"By Bacchus, nol thon shalt not I" cried
Atftony, snstchlng at her hoods; "I hove
seen enough.". And at that moment, moved
thereto by 1 know net what I called aloud:
"Tbe hour falls (At how of IM tomtng of
ttt ur nf itenka-reJ"
An ashy whiteness grew upon Cleopatra's
face and furiously she turned upon me,
while all the company gated wondering, not
knowing whot tbe words might meaa.
"Thou Ill-omened slave I", she erled.
"Hpeok thus once more and thou shall be
scourged with rods! oy, scourged like an
evil-doer that I promise thee, Bsrmacbls 1 1
"Whot means the knsve of on astral
ocr!'' -asked Antony, "Speak, sirrah I
- - ; . ; ')
and make clear thy meaning, for those who
deal in curses must warrant their wares." ,
"I am a servant of the Gods, noble An-!
tony. That which tho Gods put in my mind'
that must I say; nor oon I read their mean'
lng," I answerod humbly.
"Oh I oh ! tbou sorvost the Gods, dost thon,
thou many-colorod mystery!" (This he
said having roference to my splendid
robos.) "Well, I serve . the Goddesses,
'Which Is o' softer cult And there's this
between us: that though what they put in
my mind I say, neither can I read their
meaning," and he glanced at Cleopatra as
one who questions.
"Let the knave be," she said impatiently,
"to morrow we' 11 be rid of him. birrah, be
gone I" , . ' 1 ;' :
I bowed and went; and, as I went, I heard
Antony say: "Well, a knave he may be, for
that all men are, but this for thy astrologer
he hath a royal air and the eye of a king ay,
and wit in it"
'. Without the door I paused, not knowing
what to do, for I was bewildered with mis
ery; and, as I stood, some one touched me
on the hand. I glanced up It was Char
mlon, who, in the confusion of the rising
of the guests, hod slipped away and fol
lowed me.
, For in trouble, Charmlon was ever at my
side.
. "Follow me," she whispered ; "thou art In
danger." .
: I followed, and, presently, skirting the
crowd, we came, unseen, to a little side en
trance that led to a stair up which we
passed. The stair ended in a postage; we
turned down it till we found a door on the
left bond. Silently Charmlon entered, and
I followed her into a dork chamber.' Being
in she barred the door, and, kindling tinder
to a Same, lit a hanging lamp. As the light
grew strong I gated around. The chamber
was not large and had but one oasement
closely shuttered. For the rest, it was sim
ply furnished, having white walls, some
chests for garments, on anoient choir, what
I took to be a tiring table, whereon were
combs, perfumes and oll.tho frippery that
pertains to woman, and a white bed with a
broldered coverlid, over which was hung a
gnat gauze.
"Be seated, Harmachis," she sold, point
jng to the choir.
I took the chair, and Charmlon, throwing
book the gnat gauze, sat herself upon the
bed before me.
"Knowest thou what I heard Cleopatra
ssy os thou didst lesve the banqueting
boll!" she asked presently.
"Nay, I know not"
"She gazed after thoe, and, as I went
over to her to do some service, she mur
mured to herself: 'By Borapis, I will moke
on end I Ho longer will I wait; to-morrow
be shall be strangled I'"
"Sot" isaid; "It may be; though, after
all that has been, scarce oon I believe that
she will murder me."
"Why canst thou not believe it O thon
most foolish of men! Dost forget how nigh
thou waa to death there ia the Alabaster
Hall I Who saved thee then from the knives
of the eunuchs! 'Was it Cleopatra! Or
was it I and Brennusl ' Stay, I will tell
thee. Thot canst not yet believe it, because
In thy folly thou dot, not think it possiblo
toot tne woman wno nos out laioiy aeon os
a wife to thee can now in so short a time
doom thee to be basely dons to death. Hoy,
answer not I know all; and this I tall thee
thon host not measured the depth of
Cleopatra's perfidy, nor canst thou dream
the blackness of her wicked heart She hsd
surely slola tbee in Alexandria hod she not
feared that tby slaughter, being noised
abroad, might bring trouble to her. There.
tecretlT- jrorwht more canst thon give
herl she has thy heart's love, and is
wearied of thy strength and beauty. Bbe
has robbed thoe of thy Royal birthright and
brought thee, a King, to stand amidst her
waiting women behind her at ber leasts;
she has won from tbee the great secret of
the holy treasure I"
"Ah. thou kuowestthat!" '
"Yea, I know all; and to-night thou seest
bow the wealth stored against the need of
Khem is being squandered to All up the
wanton luxury of Ehem's Macedonian
Quson I Thon seest how she hsth kept her
oath to wed thee honorably I Harmachis
at length thine eyes are open to the truth I"
"Ay, I see too well; she swore she loved
i me, and, fool that I was, I did believe her i"
"She swore she loved thee I" answered
Charmlon, lifting ber dork eyes ; "now will
I show tbee how she doth love thee. Know
est thou what was this house! It was a
priest's college; and, as thou wottost, Har
machis, priests hove their ways. This lit
tle chamber aforetime was the chamber of
tbe Hood Priest and the chamber that It
beyend and below was the gathering room
of the other priests. All this the old slave
who keeps the place told me, and also she
revealed what I shall show thee. How,
' Harmachis, be silent as the dead and fol
low met"
She blew out the lamp, and by the little
light thst crept through the shattered case
ment led me by the hand to the far oorner
of tbe room. Here she pressed upon the
wsll, and a door Opened in its thickness.
We entered, and she closed the spring.
How we were In a Utile chamber, some flvo
cubits In length by four in breadth; for a
faint light struggled into the closet snd
also the sound of voices, whetace I knew
not Loosing my bond, she crept to the
end of the place, and looked steadfastly at
the well; then crept bock, and, whispering
. "tOmoe" led me forwsrd with her. Then I
ssw that there were eyeholes in the wall,
which pierced It and were hidden on the
farther side by carved work in stone. I
; looked through the bole that was in front of
' me, and this! saw. Six cubits below wss
the level of the floor of another chamber,
'; lit with fragrant lamps, and most richly
furnished. It was ths sleeping place of
Cleopatra, and there, within ton cubits of
' where we stood, sst Cleopatra on a gilded
coach, and by ber side sot Antony,
: "Tell me," Cleopatra murmured for so
woe this place built thot every word spoken
j In the room below come to the ears of the
vOloe; "sv. Egypt I hove made feasts, and
been bidden to fossts, but never sow I
aught like thine; and this I toll thee, though
i I am rough of tongue and unskilled in pret-
j ty sayinrs suoh as women love, tbou west
' the richest sight of oil that splendid board,
The red wine was sot so rod ss thy beau-
i teous cheek, the roses smelt not so sweet ss
the odor of tby hair, and no sapphire there
j with its cnonglngllght was so lovely ot thy
, eves 01 ocean Dine."' ' "
"What I . praise from Antony! Bweet
words from tbe line ot him whose writings
are so harsh! Why, tls praise, indeed I"
Av." he went on. twos a royol feast
though I grieved thst tbou didst waste that
great pearl; and what meant that hour
oalling astrologer of thine, with his ill-
omened talk of the curse of Menta-rai"
A shadow fled across her glowing fsoa.
"I know not; he was lately wounded in a
brawl and methinks the blow aatcratea
him"
'He seamed hot orated, end there was
that about his voice whloh doth rlngna my
ears like some oracle of fate. Bo wildly,
too, he looked upon thee, Egypt with those
piercing eyes of his, like one who loved and
vat h&LMi Lhrrrarh tht love." .
" Tls a strongs man, I tell thee, boble
Antony, and a teamed. Myself, at tunes, I
almost fear him, for deeply is be versed m
the ancient arts of EevDt Knowest thon
that the man is of royal blood, and onoe he
clotted to slav met Bus I won him over.
and slew him not for he hod .the key to se-
crets that I f uln would learn; and, indeed.
I love his wisdom, and to listen to his deep
talk of all hidden things."
"By Bacchus, but I grow joalous of the
knavel And now, Egypt!"
"And now I have sucked bis knowledga
dry and have no more cause to fear him. 1
Didst thou not tee that these three nights
I have made blm stand a slave amid my
slaves, and call aloud the hours as they fled
In festival I Ho captive king marching in tby
Roman triumphs can have suffered keener
pangs than that proud Egyptian Prince at
he itood snd shamed behind my couch," .
Here Charmlon laid her hand on mine
and pressed It as though In tenderness.
"Well, he shall trouble us no more with
his words of evil omen," Cleopatra went on
slowly; "to-morrow morn he dies dies
swiftly and in secret leaving no trace of
what his fato bath been. On this is my mind
fixed; of a truth, noble Antony, it is fixed.
Even as I speak the fear of this man grows
and gothors In my breast Half om I minded
to give the word even now, for till he be
dead I breathe not freely," and she mode
as though to riso.
, "Let it be till morning," be said, catching
her by the hand ; "the soldiers drink, and
the deed will be ill done. 'Tis pity, too, I
love not to think of men slaughtered in
their sleep." ,
"In tbe morning, perchance, may the
hawk have flown," she answered, ponder
ing. "He hath keen ears, this Harmauhls,
and can summon things that are not of the
earth to aid him. Perchance even now be
hears me in the spirit;, for, of a truth, I
seem to feel his presence breathing round
me. I could tell theo but no, let him bet
Hoble Antony, be my tiring woman and
loose me this orownof gold; it chafes my
brow. Be gentle, hurt me not so." : -.
He lifted tbe urssus crown from ber
brows, and she shook loose her heavy
weight of hair that all about her like a
garment .
Take thy crown, Royal Egypt" he said,
speaking low, "take it from my hand; I
will not rob thee of It but rather set It more
firmly on that beauteous brow."
"What means my Lord!" she asked,
smiling and looking into hit eyes.
"What mean I! Why, then, this; hither
thou earnest at my bidding, to make an
swer to the charges laid against thee as to
matters politic. And knowest thou, Egypt'
that hadst thou boon other than thon art
thou kodst not gone bock to Queen it on'
the Nile; fgrof this I om sure, the charges
against thee are true, in foot' But being
what thou art and look, tbou I never did
Nature serve a woman better I I forgive
thee nlL E'en for the sake of tby grace
and beauty I forgive thoe that wbich bath;
not boon forgiven to virtue, or to patriot
ism, or to tbe dignity of age I See, now, howj
good a thing Is woman's wit and loveliness,
that can moke Kings forget their duty and)
cozen e'en blindfolded Justice to poop ere
she lifts her sword ! Take back thy orown,
O Egypt! my care now it is that though it
be heavy, it shall net chafe thee." ' (
"Royal words are those, most noble.
Antony," tho mado answer; "gracious and,
generous words, such as befit the Con
queror ot the world And touching my mis;
deed t in the past If misdeeds there hove
been this I soy, and this alone, then I
knew not Antony. For, knowing Antony,'
who could sin against him! What woman
could lift a sword against one who must be
to all women as a God one wbo, seen and
known, draws after him the whole al
legiance of tho heart as the sun draws
flowers! And what more can I soy and not
cross the bounds of woman's modesty!
Why, only this set that crown upon my
brow, great Antony, and I will take it os s
gift from thee, by tbe giving mode doubly
door, snd to thy uses will I guard it There
now am I tby vassal Queen, and through
me all old Egypt that I rule doth homage
unto Antony the Triumvir, who shall be
Antony the Emperor and Khem's Imperial
Lord."
And he, having set the orown upon ber
locks, stood gating on her, grown passion
ate In the worm breath of her living beauty,
till at length be caught ber by both bandt,
and, drawing ber to blm, kissed her thrice,
savinri
"Cleopatra, I love tbee, Bweet I I love
tbee as ne'er 1 loved before l "
Bbe drew back from his embrace, smiling
softly; and ss she did so the golden clralet
ot tbe sacred snakes fell, being but loosely
set upon ber brow, and rolled away into the
darkness beyond the ring of light
Even in the bitter anguish of my heart I
sow tbe omen and knew its evil Import But
these twain took no note.
"Thou lovest me!" she sold moot sweetly;
"how know I that thou lovest met Per
chance 'tls Fulvia whom thon lovest-Ful
via, thy wedded wife!"
"Nay, 'Us not Fulvia; 'Us thee, uieopotra,
and thee alone. Many women hove looked
favorably upon me from my boyhood up,
but to never a one hove I known such de
sire as to thee, O thon Wonder of ,ho
World, like onto whom no womon ever
wss I Const thon love me, Cleopatra, and
to me be true not for my place and power,
not for that which I oon give or con with
hold, not for tbe stern muslo of my legions'
tramp, or for the light thot flows from my
bright star of fortune; but for myself, for
the soke of Antony, the rough captain,
m-own old in cam rial Av. for the sske of
Antony tbe reveler, tbe frail, the unfixed
of purpose, but wbo never yet did desert a
friend, or rob a poor man, or take an enemy
unawares! Boy, canst thou love me, Bgyptf
for It thou canst why, I am more happy
thon though to-night I sot orown ed in the
Capitol at Rome absolute Monarch of tbe
World!" . ..... . ,
And ever as he spoke she gazed on him
with wonderful eyes, sod In them shone a
light of truth and honesty suoh as was
strange to me. ,
"Thon spenkost plainly," she said, "and
sweet are thy words unto mine ears
sweet would they be even were things
otherwise than they are, for what womon
would not love to see tbe world's mooter ot
ber feet! But things being as they are,
why, Antony, what oon be so sweet as thy
sweet wordtl The smooth harbor of his
rest to tbe storm-tossed mariner surely
that Is sweet I The dream of h Daren't bliss
that cheers the poor ascetlo priest oa his
path of sacrifice surely that is sweet I Ths
sight ot Down, the rosy-flngered, coming In
his promise to glsd the watching Earth
surely thot is sweet I But oh I not one ot
these, nor all dear, delightful things that
are, con match the honey-sweetaess ot thy
words to me, O Antony t For thou knowest
not never const thon know how drear
bath been my life and empty, since thus it
is ordained that ia love onlyoan woman
lose ber solitude I and I have nsser loved
never might I love till this happy night'
Ay, take me in thy arms, and let ns swear a
great oath of love on oath that may not be
broken while life is la ns I Behold I Antony I
now and for ever do 1 row most strict
fidelity unto thee I How and forever ami
thine, and thine alone I"
Then Charmion took me by tbe hand sad
drew me thenoe. i-... '
'Hast seen enough!" she asked, when
once more we were within the chamber and
the lamp wss lit .
"Yea," I answered, "my eyes are
opened"
. ITO ! 90XTIXVB0.I
WBOB - LAST ERIE EAILROAD,
TIME TABLE In Effect Dec. 9, 1881). .
OSNTntLIT4N04BDTUIt.
EASTWARD. No5 NoT NoBNol
t. m.i
p m. p. m. n.m,
1 00 4 3.1 7 46
1 68 6 48 10 Oo
80 8 19
186 til Ke.l
2 60 B4Ja. m.
8 06 6 6H 8 80
8 88 T 8" 8 88
4 18 8 01 8 18
5 06 660 8 66
586 0 16 4 86
...... 84 8 85
11 84 7 6
1 50 8 15 11J8
t 00 6 80 8 80
8 40 7 00 7 00
6 50 714 7 14
7 80 7 45
...... ,' '
I "i'si oo 8 oo
i 8 on 8 40 8 40
i 8 15 8 10 8 10
foledo
Oak llsrbor
Fromont ........
Clyde
Boilovue
Bionroeviils
Norwalk
Wellington
Creston
Orrvtlle
7 48
8 41
til
9 a
55
10 10
1100
11 ss
.Ar
, Ar
ltiO
Akron
Youngs town
Plttsbumh ..
190
S bi
7
IS 40
1 80
1 S3
, Ar
Orrvllle
Lv
Masslllon....
Navarre
Valley i unction
Canal Dover... ,
Cambridge
.-.Ar
Marietta. ............Ar
valley l unction
Shorrodnvllle...
Bowereton .....Ar
WESTWARD. No 4 o So 8 So 10
s. m
o. m.
p. Ul.
4 U0
Bowereton Lv
Bberrodevllle
Vslley Junction Ar
Marietta Lv
Cambridge
Canal Dover Lv
Valloy Junction.... .Lv
Navarre
Masslllon
8 16
880
(56
10 60
1106
11 8H
36
9 47
10 45
18 16
4 ir
44U
It 5.1
8 M
4 00
7 06
7 55
8 80
S 15
5 Oil
U 60
5 8"
1 IS
1 501
6 66
Orrvllle Ar
t 46
Plttsbnrgh ...Lv
8 40 l840'
10 84 I 68
Youngstown..,,
Akron
Orrvllle Lv
Creston
Wellington
Norwalk
MonroeviU
Bellevne ,
Clyde ,
Fremont..,
OakHarhof
18 68
1 55l
8 80,
818'
4 08,
41 18:
4 831
-4 48!
5 01j
5 95
90
p..m
8 13
1 88
7 46
8 80
10 10
1055
1145
880
8 48
8 05
1 88
T 85
7 61
8 05
8 SS
8 45
940
8 87
9 04
1155
915
18 10
18 81
18 88:
108
Toledo - Ar!
165
p.m.
,a. m.
HURON DIVISION.
NORTH
SOUTH
Ko.87. No. 85 Lv. As. No, 86 Ne.88
8 0BFSI MonroeTllle 1159 8 15
8 4 " 855am Norwalk 9 68 8 80
4 10 " 7m Milan 88 8 08
4 40 " 7 50 " Hnron 9 00 5 50
Dailv. '
Train No. 8 nine to Monroevllle only.
Train No. 18 leaves Toledo T:48 p. m., carries
passengers from Toledo only to points west of
fclntswoy. .
Tbls road Is now open through from Toleaoto
Bnwrreton, connecting with the Pennsylvania sys
tem for all points Bart '
thbovum 91a sasvirs. ' , .
Between Toledo, Cambridge and Marietta.
" . snd Bowereton.
, and Akron, Tonngstown snd
Pittsburgh. - ,
" Chicago, Akron, Youngstown snd Pitts
, burgh.
A. 6. BLAIR. JAMES M. n ALL,
Goa l Msnager. ' Uen'l Pass. Agt.
Mrn.M. A. Lineback's Statement.
IlHKi'if atic Sybup Co.. Jackson, Mich.
Gents: For the post ten years I have
breo a suffer from liver complaint and
rheumatism. Findiug no relief my ron
(tlliiio became so wretched tint I had no
hope ol recovery. Seeing llililmrd's
KheuinHtic Syrup advertised t purchased
tlx bottles snd am now entirely cured,
imtb from Kheumstinni and the liter
ircublf. - Have also used Hiblmnl'tRlieu '
malic Plasters with tbe best result.
I can certify to the truth of the above
stuteiui-nt. Mrs. Linebsck was cured of
rheumatism and liver trouble by the useol
ilibbard's Hlieiininiic Syrup and Plasters.
Hoi. KiTTEmso, Druggist Lisbon, Iowa.
For ml by E. W. Adams, Druggist.
. A Bemarkuble Letter.
The following letter from' Mr. W. A;
TUcniifon, of Colli mus.W is , l pecuUnrly .
InWnnliijf: "My wife," syn he, lias been
irrHtt'd In ber lit-sd, sinmarli and nervous
proktratlnn by three doctors In New York,
two In Chicago, one in Philadelphia, one
In Cincinnati, and at the large inaiittitn in
Buffalo for 10 montlit. They sll failed,
lint oti'i bottle of Dr. Miles' Rrstoraiive
Nervine helped her wonderfully." This
should be nsed tn all headaches, back,
airties cliunc ( lite. nervous disturbances
tin, rheumatism, ete. Ask at E W. Adams
drug- tre lor n f rre trial bottle and Dr,
Miles' now book ou die Nervc-s and Heart' '
LEASES OF MEN OJY
'Hint, t sMhutsotM, Narvouit Do-ul.tf , Loerl Motvx i rV
Lulli of Krior n Yoatti sr nptssdilr and ptrmcrsjnt hr
run!. Lon u 'tut Inn urni trott n ( d' ir u lulL
--
TUl TMTly Bubticrtption Jrio of
The Cleveland
WEEKLY
ONE OF THE BRIGHTEST
. AND CLEANEST
FAM I LY N EWSPAPER5
IN THE COUNTRY,
, IS ONLY . i
ONE DOLLAR
PER YEAR.
It has unlimited facilities for
publishing all the latest and.
, ... .j.. most reliable . .t..
an
The LEADER'S special de
partments have always been a
popular feature and are highly
valued, by Its large and con
stantly - Increasing circle of
rfl.clr3
Its MARKET REPORTS re
ceive unremitting attention
and are absolutely reliable.
Tb3 C!cic!2nd LEADER Stcris at ths
, 1 Head of Qblo't fc;:; .
ustcmsc rou IT. . t.
THE LEADER PnMTISS CO..
CLCVCLANO, OHIO
' It it not sad to see so many young men
very day of whom this can he said f
Ynuug ban take my advice. .. Biop all
Indiscretions which you buy )iho
Itsed, keep good hours, retire early, nod
bolld up your shattered tysiem by usinjr
Sulphur Bitters, which will cure jou,
Old Phtbicus.
I II II i I 7 1 II 111 . 1
tt O i ii Oi.i.S Im- U hS jj
A
1
"7
'v
I ,
I ...