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About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 1890)
CLEOPATRA." '.Being an Account of the Fall and Vengeance of Harmachis, the Royal Egyptian, AS SET FORTH BY HIS OWN HAND. Bv H. Rider Kagcard, Author of King Solomon's Mines," "She," "Allan Quatermnin," Etc., Etc., Etc. tUustratcd by NICHOI.I,. afUr CATOK WOOD V.LLE and OREOTENHAOEN. eoratod, and Its people crushed with op pression. But we believe that tho hour of deliverance Is at hand, and with tho solemn voico of Egypt and by tho ancient Gods of Egypt, to whoso cause thou art of all men bound, wo call upon thee, O Prince, to bo the sword of our delivernnccl Hearken I Twenty thousand good and leal men are sworn to wait upon thy word, and attliy signal to riso as one, to put tho Grecian to tho sword, and with their blood and sub Bt.uico to build theo a throno set more sure ly on tho soil of Kliem than arc its nnclcnt Pyramids such a throno as shall even roll tho lloman legions back. And for tliat. sig nal, it shall bo the death of that bold harlot, Cleopatra, Her death must thou compass, 0 Unrmaehis, in such fashion ns shall be shown to thee, and with her blood anoint iuu ruyui inronc 01 ugypi. "Canst thou refuse, O our Hope! Doth not the holy love of country swell within thy heart! Canst thou dash the cup of Freedom from thy lips and bear to drink the bitter draught of slaves! Great is tho emprise, nnd may bo it shall fail, nr.d thou with thy life, as wo with ours, shalt pay tho prico of our endeavor, But what ol that, Harmachis? Is life, then, so sweet! ro wo so softly cushioned on tho stony bed of Earth 1 Is bitterness and sorrow in Its sum so small and scant a thing! Do wo ncro ureaiuo so uivino nn air mat, wo iehould fear to faco tho jiassngo of our r breath f hat liavo wo hero but hope and li.memorv! 'What seo we hear but shadows! where fulfillment is and memory is lost in S-lts own sourco and shadows dio in the light which cast them! O, Harmachis, that man alono is truly blest who crowns his lifo with Death's most splendid wreath. For since to all tho Brood of Earth Death hands his poppy flowers, happy indeed is he to whom thcro is occasion given to weave them in a crown of famo undynig. And how can a .man more gloriously dio than in a great endeavor to striko tho gyves from his country's limbs, 10 that she again may stand in tho faco of Heaven and raiso tho shrill shout of freedom, and, clad onco tnoro in tho panoply of strength, trampla under foot tho memory of servitude, defy ing tyrant nations of tho earth again to sot the pail of their dominion qnhc-ijnaw.! . uem c.u.3 theo, llurmaelils. uooie, then, come, thou Deliverer; leap llko Horus rom tho Armament, break her fetters, scatter her foes and rulo a Pharaoh ca Pharaoh's throne" "Enough, enough 1" I cried, whiio tho long murmur of applauso swept about the columns nnd up tho massy walls. "Enough. Is thero any need thus to adjui mo? Had I a hundred lives, would I no most gladly lay them down for Egypt!" "Well saidl well said I" answered Sepo. "Now go forth with the woman yonder, tint she may mako clean thy hands beforo thoy touch tho sacred emblems, and thy brow boforo it is encircled of tho diadem." And sol went forth with tho old wife, Atoua, into a chamber apart, 'there, mut tering prayers, she poured puro water up on my bauds into a ewer of gold, and hav ing dipped a fine cloth into tho water, there with wiped m v brow. "O happy Egypt 1" sho said; "O happj Prince, that i.vt come to rulo in Egypt I O royal youth! -too Royal to bo a priest so shall many a fair woman think; but, per chance for theo they will relax tho priestly rule, olso how shall tho raco of Pharaoh bo .arriedon! (J happy I, who dandled theo and gavo my flesh aud b.ood to savo thee I O royal and beautiful Harmachis, born for splendor, happiness aud love I" "Cease, cease," I said, for her talk jarred upon mo; "call mo not happy till thou know est my end ; and speak not to mo of love, for with lovo comes sorrow, and mino is another and a higher way." "Ay, ay, so thou sayest and joy, too, that comes with love I Nover talk lightly of lovo, my King for it brought theo here I Lai la I but it is always tho way 'Tho gooso on tho wing laughs at crocodiles,' so goes their aying down at Alexandria; 'but when the :ooso Is asleep on tho water, it is tho croco diles who laugh.' Not but what women ara pretty crocodiles. Men worship tho croco diles at Anthnbis (Crocodopolis), but they worship women all tho world over I Lai ho-v my tonguo does run on, nnd thou about to bo crowned Pharaoh 1 Did I not prophecy it to theo! Well, thou art clean. Lord of tho Double Crowu I Go forth." And I camo forth with tho old wifo's fool ish talk ringing in my cars, though of a ruth her folly had ever a grain of wit in it. As I came, once moro tho Dignitaries roso and bowed beforo mo. Then my father, without dolay, drew near mo, and placed within my hands a golden imago of tho dlvlno Goddess Ma (Truth), and golden ' I CROWN THEE T Images of tho arks of the iltvino God Amen Ita, of tho divino Mout, and tho divine Khons, and spako solemnly ; "Thou swearest by tho living majosty of Ma, by tho majesty of Anio Ha, of Mout, andof.KiA'nsV' "I swearl'Isald. "Thou Bwcarestby tho holy land of Khem, by Bihor'a fl od, by tho Temples of tho Oods und tho eternal Pyramids!" "I swear!" "Remembering thy doom If thou shouldst tiill therein, thou swearest that thou wilt In Til things govern Egypt according to Its Wlcnt laws, that thou wilt preervothe 7rhin of its Gods, that thou wilt do equal ' matlM. that thou wilt not oppress, that thor wilt not botray, that thou wilt make Mi Bitot? wltu tu0 Hpman or tho Qrtffc- .tAOU." cr.ai'tnou win cast oumf.o loroifcn mols, that thou wilt devote thy life to the liberty of tho land of Khem!" "I swear!" "It is well. Mount, then, thy throne, that in Ih presenco of thtso thy subjects I may nnmo thee Phnraoh." I mounted upon tho throne, whereof the footstool is a sphinx, and tho canopy the overshadowing wings of Ma. Then did Amenemhat onco again draw nigh and place upon my brow tho Pshcnt, and on my head the Double Crown, and about my shoulders tho Royal Robe, and in my hands tho Scepter nnd the Scourge. "Royal Haimachis," he cried, "by these oi .nrd signs and tokens, I, tho High Priest of tho temple of Ra-Men Ma at Abouthls, crrvm thee Tharaoh of tho Upper and Iower Land. Reign and prosper, O Hopo of "Reign end prosper, Thai-ash 1" echood tho Dignitaries, bowing down boforo me. Then, ono by one, thoy sworo allcgiunca, till all had sworn. And having sworn, my father took mo by tl.o hand; in solemn pro cession ho led mo into each of the soven R;nctuaries that aro in this temple of Ra-Mcn-Mn, and in each I niado offerings, swung incense, nnd officiated ns Priest. Clad In tho Royal Robos I mndo offerings in tho Shrino of Horns, in tho Shrino of lsis, In tho Shrino of Osiris, in tho Shrine of Amen Ra, in tho Shrino of Horcmku, in the Shrino of PUih, till at length I reached the Shrino of the King's Chamber. Hero they mado their offering to me, ns the Divino Pharaoh, and left mo very weary but a K.ng. niAPTEn vni. AIlF.'Vnt.l. OF AMENEMHAT TO nA1MCntS: Ctl.MlNO OP IIAKMACUIS TO AI.KXA NDi.IA; 1 XllOttTATlON OF SEPA; THE PASSIM! OP ct.r.oPATiiA iionno ts isis: and tub ivr.it- TIIIIOWOl'THIl (ll.AlllATOIt 11V HAUMACUIS. nfi8feP70W tho long days of preparation had passed, and tho time was at hand. I was initiated, and I was crowned; so that, although tho com mon folk knew mo not, or knew mo only ns Priest, ol Isis, there were In ? Egvnt thousands who fdWw u f- at heart bowed down to was at hand, and mv soul went jto- lorin to meet it. ror i jougcu II to overthrow tho foreigner, to set Egypt free, to mount tho throno that was my her.tage, and clcanso tho temples ol my Gods. I wis fain for tho struggle, and I never doubted of ita end. I looked into tho mirror, nnd saw triumph written on my brows. Tho futuro stretched apathot glory from my feet ay, glittering with glory like Sihor in tho sun. I communed with my Mother Isis; I sat within my chamber and took counsel with my heart; I planned new temples; I revolved great laws that I would put forth for my peopln's weal; nnd in my cars rang the shouts of ox ultation that should greet victorious Pha raoh on his throne. liut still a littlo whilo I tarried at Abouthls, and, having been commanded so to do, let my hair, that had been shorn, grow again long anit black as tho raven's wing, instructing myself meanwhile in nil manly exorcises and feats of arms. Also, for a purposo thst shall bo seen, I perfected my self in that magic art of tho Egyptians and the reading of tho stars, in which things, indeed, I already had great skill. Now, this whs the plan that had been built up. My unelo Sepa had, for awhile, loft tho Temple of On, giving out that his health had failed him. Thenco ho had moved down to a house in Alexandria, to gather strength, as ho said, from tho ' C2.it h of the so:. uciL-isoV) bwn for l.'?t sel'Ve wonders of tho great MuJoum uild tho glory of Cleopatra's Court. Thcro it was planned that I should join him, for there, at Alexandria, tho egg of tho plot was hatching. Accordingly, when at last tho summons came, all things being pro parcd, I mado mo ready for tho journey mid passed into my father's chamber to ro ceive his blessing ero I went. Thero sat tho old man, as onco boforo ho sat when ho rebuked mo because I went out to slay tho lion, his long white beard resting on tho tablo of stouo and sacred writings in his hand. When I camo in ho roso from his seat and would havo knelt, crying: 'Hail, Pharaoh 1" but 1 caught him by tho hand. "It is not meet, my father," I said. "It is meet," ho nnsworcd. "It is moot that I should bow mo boforo my King. But bo it as thou wilt. And so thou goest, Harmachis! My blessing go with thoe, O .iiy son, and may those whom I servo grant It to mo that my old eyes maj , indeed, be hold thee on tho throne I Long havo I searched, striving, O Harmachis, to read the futuro that shall be, but naught can I learn by all my wisdom. It is hid from mo, and at times my heart fails mo. But hear this: Thero is danger in thy path, and it comes in tho form of woman. Long have I known It, nnd therefore hast thou been called to cho worship of tho heavenly Isis, who bids her votaries put away tho thought of woman till suvh tlmo ss sho shall think well to slacken tho rulo. O my son, I would that thou wort not so strong and fair stronger aud fairer, indeed, than any man in Egypt, ns a King should bo for In thnt strength and beauty may Ho a cause of stumbling. Beware, then, of thoso witches of Alexandria, lest, llko a worm, some one of them creep into thy heart and cat Its secret out." "Havo no fear, my father," I answorcd, frowning; "my thought Is set on other things than red lips and smiling eyes." "It is good," ho nnsworcd; "so may it bo fall. And now farewell. When next wo meet, may it bo in that happy hour when, with all tho Priests of the Upper Land, I move down from Abouthls todo my homago to Pharaoh on his throne," So I embraced him, and went. Alas I I littlo thought how wo should meet again. Thus it camo about that onco moro I passed down tho Nile, traveling as a man of no estate. And to such as wcro curious about mo it was given out that I was the adopted son of tho High Priest of Abouthls, having been brought up to tho priest-hood, nnd that I had at last ro fused tno scrvico of tho Oods, and chosen to go to Alcxan dria to seek my fortune. For, bo it remnm berod, I was by all thoso who knew not the truth r-till hold to bo tho grandson of the old wife, Atoua. On tho tenth niht, sailing with tho wind, wo reached tho mighty city of Alexandria, tho city of a thousund lights. Above them nil towered tho whito Pharos, that wondor of tho woild, from the crown whoreof a light llko tho light of tho sun blazed out a. n.-ss tho wators of tho harbor to guldo n ariners on their way across tbo wlno-dark sea. Tho vossol, for it was night, having been most cautiously mado fust to tho quay, 1 disembarked nnd stood wondering at the vast mass of houses, and confused by the ciamor of many tongues. For here all pco plos secued to bo gathered together, oach speaking after the fushlon of his own land And as I stood a young man camo und touched mo on tho shoulder, asking mo if I was from Abouthls and named Harmuchls. I said, "Yea" Thereon, bonding over mf hovbijx)red tho secret pass word Into mine ear, aud, beckoning to two slaves, balo thtua brlnj my apparel from tho ship, Tlua PPM w : asm iupy uiu, iife-miig-iu" wa; trougn tho crowd of porters who wero clamor ing for hire. Then I followed him adown tho quay, which was bordered with drinking places, whero all sorts of men wcro gathered, tippling wine and watch lug tho dancing of women, some of whom wero but scantily arrayed, and sorno not arrayed at all. And so wo went through the lamp-lit houses, till at last wo reached the shore of tho great harbor, and turned to the right along nwido way paved with granite and bordered by strong houses, having cloisters in front of them, tho liko of which I had never seen. Turning ouco more to th right, wo camo to a quieter portion of the city, whero, savo for parties of strolling revelers, tho streets wero still. Presently my guide halted at a houso built of whit stone. Yt passed in, (wid, crossing a small courtyard, entered a chamber whore thers was a light. And horo at last I found my undo Repa, most glad to seo mo safe. When I had washed and eaten ho told me that all things went well, and that ns yet thero was no thcight of evil at tho Court. Further, ho said, it having come to tho enrs of tho Queen that th Priest of On was sojourning at Alexandria, she sent for him nnd closely questioned him not ns to any plot, for of that sho never thought, but us to tho rumor which had reached her that thcro was treasure hid In tho Great Pyramid that Is by On. For, being over wasteful, sho was ever in want of money, and had bethought her of opening tho Pyramid. But l.o laughed at hor, telling her tho Pyramid was the burying placo of tho l)iino Chufu, and that naught knew ho of its secrets. Then sho was angered, and sworo that so surely ns sho ruled in Egypt sho would tear it down, stono by stone, and discover tho secret at its heart. Again ho laughed, nnd in tho words of tho proverb which thoy havo hero at Alexandria, told her that "Mountains livo longerthan Kings." There on sho smiled ut his ready answer and lot aim go. Also my undo Sepa toid mo that on tho morrow I should seo this Cleopatra. For it was her birthday (as, indeed, It was also mine), und, dressed ns tho Holy Isis, sho would pass in state from her palaco on tho Lochias to tho Serupcum to offer a sac riilco at tho shr.no of tho false God who sits therein. Aud ho said thereafter that tho fashion whereby I should gain entrance to tho household of tho Queen should bo contrived. Then, being very weary, I went to rest ; but could sleep littlo for tho strangoness of the place, tho noises in tho streets, and tho thought of tho morrow. Whilo it was yet dark, 1 rose, climbed tho stair to tho roof of tho house, and waited. Presently tho sun's rays shot out like arrows, and lit upon tho white wonder of tho marblo Pharos, where of tho light instantly sank and died, as though, indeed, tho suu had killed it. Now tho rays fell upon tho marblo palaces of tho Lochias whero Cleopatra lay, and lit thorn up till thoy flamed llko a jewel set on tho dark, cool bosom of tho sea. Away the light flew, kissing tho Soma's sacred dome, wherein Alexander sleeps, touching tho high tops of a thousand palaces and tem ples; past tho poiiicoes of tho great mu seum that loomed near at hand, striking tho lofty shrino whero, carven of Ivory, la tho imago of tho falso God Serapis, and at last seeming to lose itself in tho vast and gloomy Necropolis. Then, as tho dawn gathered into day, tho groat flood of brightness overbrimming tho bowl of night flowed into tho lower lands and streets, and showed Alexandria red in tho sunriso us tho mantlo of n king, aud 1 shaped as a mantlo. Tho Etesian wind camo up from tho nurth nnd swept a way tho vapor from tho harbors, so that I saw their blue waters rocking a thousand ships. I saw, too, that mighty molo of tho Hepta stadium; I saw the hundreds of streets, tho countless houses, tho innumerable wealth and splendor of Alexandria, setliko a queen betwixt Mareotis and tho ocean, ' and dominating both, and I was filled with wonder. This, then, was ono city in my herit. go of lands nnd cities 1 Well, it was worth tho grasping, Aud having looked my full and fed my heart, as it were, with tho sight of splendor, I communed with tho Holy Isis and camo down from tho roof. In tho chamber beneath was my uncle Sepa. I told him that 1 had been watch ing tho sun rise over tho city of Alex andria. "So I" ho said, looking at me from beneath his shaggy eyebrows; "and what thinkost thou of Alexandria?" "I think it Is liko somo city of tho Gods," I nmjwcred., AjT no replied, fiercely, "a city of the infernal Gods a sink of corruption, a bub bling well of Iniquity, n homo of falso faith springing from faleo hearts I 1 would that not ono stono of it woro loft upon nnothci stono, and that its wealth lay deep beneath yonder wators I I would that tho gulls woro screaming across its site, and that the wind, untainted by a Grecian breath, swopt through Its ruins from ocean to Mareotis I O Royal Harmachis. let not the luxury and beauty of Alexandria poison thy souso; fof in thoir deadly air Faith perishes and Reli gion can not spread her heavenly wings. When tho hour comes for theo to rule, Harmachis, cast down this accursed citv, and, as thy fathers did, sot up thy throno In tho whito walls of Momfl For I tell thee that for Egypt Alexandria Is but a splendid gala of ruin, nnd whilo it endures nil na tions of tho earth shall march through it to tho plunder of the land, and all falso faiths shall nestle In it and breed the overthrow of Egypt's Gods." I mado no answer, for there was truth In his words. And yet to me tho city seemed very fair to look on. After wo had oaten, my uncle told nio it was now time to set out to view tho march of Cleopatra, as sho wont In triumph to tho shino of Serapis. For although she would not pass till with. In two hours of tho midday, yet these peo plo of Alexandria havo so great a love of shows ana idling that had wn not presently set forth by no means could wo have romo through tho press of tho multitudes who wero already gathering along tho highways whero tho Queen must rido So wo went outto takoour placo upon nstand, fashioned of timber, that had been built at tho side of the great road which pierces through tho city, even to tho Canopm Gate. For there in my undo had purchased n right to enter, and that dearly. And with much strugglo wo won our way through tho great crowds that wcro al ready gathered in tho streets., till wo reached tho scaffolding of timber, which was roofed in with nu awning and gayly hung with scarlet cloths. Hero wo seatwl ourselves upon a bench und waited for soma hours, watching tho multltudo press past, shouting, singing nnd talking loudly in many tongues. At length camo soldiers to clour tho roud, clad, uftor tho Roman , fashion, In coats of chuln armor. After them marched horalds enjoining silcuco (whereat tho pnpuluco sang and shouted all tho moro loudly), und crying that Cleo patra, tho Queen, wus coining. Then fol lowed a thousand Cllician skirmishers, a thousand Thracians, a thousund Macedo nians, und a thousand Gauls, each armed after the fashion of their own country. Then paused ilvo hundred men of thoso , who aro o lied tho Fenced Horsemen, for both men and horses wero altogether cov- , ered with armor. Next camo youths and maidens sumptuously draped and wearing , fclden crowns, putl with, them images syia- j ch-"- uuf amr-nign, jKCTningtiua xvoon, the Heavens and the Earth. After theso camo many fair women pouring perfumes on the road, and others scattering bloom ing flowers. Now there roso a great shout of "Cleopatra! Cleopatra!" and I hold my breath nnd bent forward to seo her who dared to put on tho robes of Isis. But at that moment the mul'.itudo so gathered and thickened in front of whoro I was that 1 could no longer clearly see. So in my eagerness I leapt over the barrier of tho scaffolding, and, being very strong, pushed my way through the crowd till I reached the foremost rank. And, as I did so, Nubian slam armed vrlth thick staves and crowned with ivy leaves ran up, strik ing tho people. Ono man more especially, for ho was a giant, and, being strong, was Insolent bcyoud measure, smiting tho co pie without cause, as, indeed, is tho wont of low persons set In authority. For nigh to mo stood a woman, an Egyptian by her faco, bearing n child In her arms, whom tho man, seeing thnt sho was wrak, struck on the head with his rod so that sho fell prone, aud tho peoplo murmured. But my blood rushed of a sudden through my veins at tho sight, and drowned my reason. In my hand I held a staff of olivo wood from Cyprus, and as tho black bruto laughed at tho sight of tho stricken woman and 'ier babo rolling on tho ground, I swung tho staff aloft and smoto. So shrewdly did I striko that tho tough rod split upon the giant's shoulders and tho blood spurted forth, staining his trailing leaves of ivy. Thon, with a shriek of pain nnd furyfor thoso who smlto lovo not that thoy bo smitten did ho turn nnd spring at mot And all tho peoplo round gavo back, savo only tho woman who could not rise, leaving us twain in a ring, as it woro. On ho camo with a rush, and, as ho camo, being now mud, I smoto him with my clenched Jlst botween tho eyes, having naught elso wherowlth to smlto, nnd ho staggered liko an ox beneath tho first blow of the priest's axe. Thereat tho peoplo shouted, for they lovo to seo a light, and tho man was known to them as a gladiator vic torious in tho games. Gathering up his strength, tho kntivo camo on with nu oath, nnd, whirling his heavy staff on high, struck nt mo in such n fashion thnt, had 1 not by nlmbloncss avoided tho blow, Iliad surely been slain. But as it chanced, tho staff hit upon tho ground, and so heavily that it flow in fragments. Thereon again tho multitudo shouted, nnd tho great man, blind with siL 3j$Ajf I THEN F0U TItn FlnST TIME PAW CI.EOI'ATIIA. fury, rushed at mo to smite mo down. But with a cry I sprang straight ut his throat for ho was so heavy n man that I know I could not hopo to throw him by strength ay, nnd gripped It. There I clung, though his lists battered mo like bludgeons, driving my thumbs Into his throat. Round nnd round wo turned, till nt length ho tlunghlin self to tho earth, trusting thus to shako mo off. But I held on fast ns wo rolled over nnd over en tho ground, till at last ho grow faint for want of breath. Then I, being up permost, dravo my knee down upon his chest, und, as I boliovo, should thus havo slain him in my rage, had not my undo nnd others thero gathered fallen upon mo and dragged mo from him. And inoanwhilo, though I knew It not, tho chariot wherein sat tho Queen, with elephants going beforo nnd lions led after it, had como even to tho spot, nnd becauso of the tumult had been halted. I looked up, and thus torn, panting, my whito garments stained with tho blood that had rushed from tho mouth and nostrils of tho mighty Nubian, 1 for tho tirst timo saw Cleopatra faco to face. Hor chariot was all of gold, and drawn by milk-whlto steeds. Therein idie sat with two fair girls, clad in Oreek attire, standing ono on either side fanning her with glittering fans. There she sat In the splendid car. On her head was tho cov ering of Isis, tho golden horns between which rosted the moon's round disk and tho emblem of Osiris' throno, with tho urmus twinod nround. Bcnoath the covering was tho vulturo cap of gold, the bluo ouainolcd wings, nnd tho vulturo head with gommy eyes, under which her long, dark tresses flowed toward hor feet. About hor rouiyl ed neck was a broad collar of gold studded with omeralds aud coral. Round her arms aud wrists wore bracelets of gold studded wnn cmdrnias-ana csmi, ana .-juo ifnnu sho held tho holy symbol of life (crux ansa ta) fashioned of crystal, and in the othor tho golden rod of royalty. Her breast was bare, but under wns a garment that glls toned llko tho scaly covering of n snako, evorywhero sewn with gems, Beneath this robe was a skirt of golden cloth, half hid by a scarf of the broldered silk of Cos, falling in folds oven to the sandals that, fastened with great pearls, adorned her whito and tiny feet. All this I discerned at a glnnce, as it were. Then l looked upon tho face that face which scducco Casar, ruined Egypt nnd was doomed to glvo "Augustus tho scepter of tho world. I looked upon tho flawless Grecian features, tho rounded chin, the full, rich lips, the chiseled nostrils and tho cars fashioned liko dellcato shells. I saw tho forehead, low, broad and lovely, tho crisped, dark hair falling in heavy waves that sparkled in tho sun, tho arched eye brows and tho long bent laahes. Thero bo foro mo was iho grandeur of her imperial rhapo. Thero burnt tho wonderful oyus, liurd liko tho Cyprian violet eyes thut seemed to sleep and brood on secret things as night broods upon tho desert, und yet us tho night to shift, chango and bo illumined by cit'iims of sudden splendor born within their starry depths. All thoso wonders I saw though 1 havo small skill in tolling them. But even then I know thut it was not In theso charms ulono that tho might of Cleopatra's beauty Iny. Rath er was it in h glory and h nidi nnco cast through tho fleshy covering from tho ilorco soul within. For sho wus a Thing of flamo Iiko unto which no woman hath cvor boen nor over will be. Even when she brooded, tho flrd of her quick heart shono through her But when sho woke, and tho lightning leapt suddenly from her eyes, and the passloii-ladcii uiusla of her speech chimed upon her lips, ah 1 then who can tell how Cleopatra seemedf For In her trict all tho splendors that huve been given to woman for her glory, and all tho genius which man has drawn from lleuvon. And with them dwelt every evil ot thut greater sort which J-jHrlrt, nothing audjpukliur a -uiocu'ji laws, natn wzen empires ror ru" placo of play, and, smiling, watered tho growth of Us desires with tho rich blood of men. In her breast they gathered, to gether fashioning that Cleopatra whom no man may draw, nnd yet whom no man, hav lngseen, ever can forgot. They fashioned her grnud as tho Spirit of Storm, lovely as Lightning, cruel ts Pestilence, yot with a heart; aud whut sho did Is known. Woe to tho world when such another comes to curso Itl For a moment 1 met Cleopatra's eyes ns she idly bent herself to find tho tumult's cuuse. At first they wore somber and dark, as though they saw, Indeed, butths brain read naught. Then tticy awoke, and their very color ecme )o ahango as the colev of tho sea oh an get when the water Is j shaion. First, thero was anger wrltton in ' them; next, an idle noting; then when sho ' looked upon tho huge bulk of the man whom I had overcome and know htm for tho gladiator, something, perchance, that wns ' not fnr from wonder. At the least they softened, though, indeed, hr faco clwxnged ' not a wit. But ho who would rend Cleo- pntra's mind had need to watch her oyes, for her countcnanco vnrlod but a littlo. ' Turning, sho said somo words to her guards. Thoy camo forward and lod mo to hor, I while all tho multitudo waitod silently to seo mo slain. I I stooJ boforo hor, my arms folded on my breast. Overcomo though I was by tho wonder of hor loveliness, I hated tn my heart, this woman who dared to clotho her self In the dress of Ists this usurper who sat upon my throne, this wanton squander lug tho wealth of Egypt In chariots nnd perfumes. When sho hnd looked mo over from tho head to tho feet sho spako In a low full voico nnd in tho tonguo of Kliuml, which she alono had learned of all tho Lag ldm: "And who and what art thou, Egyptian for Egyptian I seo thou nrt who darest to smtto my slave when I mako progress through my city!" "I am Hnrmachls," I nnsworcd, boldly "Harmachis tho astrologer, adopted son of 1 tho High Priest nnd Governor of Abouthls, I who am como hither to seek my fortuno. I smoto thy slave, O Queen, becnuso for no fault ho struck down tho woman yondor. Ask of those who saw, Royal Egypt." "Unrmaehis I" sho said; "tho nanio hath n high sound and thou hnst n high look." And then speaking to a soldior who had seen all, sho bailo him toll her what had como to pass. This ho did truthfully, being friendly disposed toward mo, becauso I hud overcomo tho Nubian. Thoreon sho turned and s polio with tho girl bearing tho fan who stood besido hor -a woman having curling hair and shy, dark oyes, vory beautiful to seo. Tho girl answerod somewhnt. Then Cleopatra bado them bring tho slavo to her. Bo they led forwiud tho giant, who hnd found his breath ngaln, nnd with him the woman whom ho had smitten down. 'Thou dogl" sho snid, in tho samo low yoico; "thou coward I who, being strong, didst smlto down this woman, and, being a coward, wast ovorthrownof thisyoungman. Bee, thou, I will teach theo innuuors. Hencoforth, when thou smitest womon, it shrill bo with thy left arm. Ho, guards, sclzo this black coward aud striko off his right hand." And her commnnd given, sho sank back in liergoldou chariot, and ngaln tho cloud fathered in her oyes. But tho guards Bcizcd tho giant, nnd, notwithstanding his rrios and prayers for moroy, struck off his hand with a sword upon tho wood of tho scaffolding, nnd ho wascarrlod away groan ing. Then the procossion moved on again. As it went tho fair woman with tho fan turned hor liend, caught my oyo, and smiled and nodded us though sho rejoiced, whorout 1 wondered somowltat. Tho peoplo cheorod also and mndo josts, Baying that I should soon prnotlco astrology lu tho palaco. But us soon ns we might I nnd my undo escaped, and mado our way back to the houso. All tho whilo ho rated mo for my rashness; but when wo cams within tho ohambor of tho houso ho em braced mo and rejoiced greatly, becauso with so littlo hurt to myself I had over thrown tho giant. To roinovo whito spotH from fitrnl turo rub thorn with a cloth wot in weak apiritH of camphor, and afterward with a vory littlo linsocd oil. ' Oystors Roasted in tho Sholl: Wash tho Hhoils clean, and wipo dry. Put in a baking pan, nnd Hot iiwido tho Htovo twonty-livoinlnutoH. SorvoonhotdlslioH, with huttor, poppor and Halt. Ladios' Homo lournul. Wintor SitccotaHh: Thlscan bo mado of dry Lima beans and ciinnod corn which may bo loft from forinor dinnorH. Warm thotn ovor togothor with a littlo milk and huttor, and thicken tho milk with a littlo Hour. For a cough, boll ono ounco of flax noort in a pint of wator, Htrain and add a littlo honoy, ono ounco of rook candy, and tho juico of throo lemons; mix and boll woll. Drink as hot as posnlblo. lIotiKohold. Now Yotir'H Cako: Ono pound butter, tlin'o-fourtliH pound lard, two and ono fourth pottndH sugar, olght wino glasses wator (or two Hcant toaotipH wator), two ti'iiHpoonfiilH soda, caraway Hood, with or without, asypti ploaso. Albany.Iour nal. To got rid of llloH, don't loavo tho dinner table standing. BriiHh up all crumbs from the carpet. Keep the din ing room dnrkoncd. Keep all klmlu of food clr.iely covored, 'Never loavo Hticky npoon or iIIhIioh lying around. When cooking, put tho Hulled UIhIios Into a pan, pour wator over them und leave them until ready to wash. Novor leave the migur bucket open. Plan to Htarve the IlleHj it in easily dono. Rolled Plum Pudding: Throo cups Hlfted Hour, one cup chopped raisins, one cup whole raisins, one cup currants, one fourth pound sliced citron, ono-hnlf cup brown sugar und molasses mixed, one cup sweet milk, one tenspoonftil ground cloves, one teaspoon fill cinnamon, one half a nutmeg grated, ono teaspoon salt, one teaspoon salerntus, one egg. Add to the prepared fruit one extra tablespoon flour and stir in lust. Place in a tin mold or pail, which must be plunged In a ket tle of water and boiled steadily for throo hours. Pumpkin Preserve: Wash tho pump kins and peel them thickly, cut In tiar-I'-rs and take out the seeds; put tho seeds and skins In n pan covered with vvater and boll for half an hour, then Htrain und keep the water; cut tho pump kins In pieces one inch broad by about two inches long; weigh them and take one pound of sugar to each pound of pumpkin ami ono teueupful of tho water tho skins were boiled in; put tho sugar and water on to boll with a littlo essence of ginger, When it has boiled about ten minutes put lu tho pieces of pumpkin and boll all for half un hour or throo I quarters, till it looks transparent. Do j trolt Freo Provs. TriE BAHR JOUSSUF. A Cnnnl lltillt Hy ,1oM-p)i tThlch Has Ncrer 'rnrl Its Onirc. I low ninny of tho engincorinp works of the nineteenth century will I hero bo In existence In tho year GOOO? Vory few, wo four, nnd still less thoso thnt will continue inthofnr-olTngc to sorvo a useful purpose. Yot there is utlcnst one great unlei'tukinff conceived nnd executed by tin engineer which during the space of -1,000 years litis never reused its olllce. on which the lifo of u fertile province- nbsolutoly depends t tlny. Wo refer to tho Ruhr .loussiif tho cm ul of Joseph -built, nccniilinf-' to triitlition, by tho f-on of Jneob, nnd tvhich constitutes not the lcttft of the ninny blessings ho conferred upon l-'gypt during' tho years of his prosper ous rule. This cnnnl took its riso from the Nile ut Asitit, nnd run nearly par allel with it for nearly 2.r0 miles, sreepinji nlon; under thu western cliils f the Nile valley, with many a bund mil winding, until at length it gained in eminence, ns compared with the river-bed. which enabled it to turn westward through a nat row puss and pnter a district which was otherwise hut off from tho fertilizlni; Hoods on which till vegetation in Egypt depends. Tho northern end stood seventeen feet above low N'ile, whilo at the south ern end it wns nt tin equal elevation with the tiver. Through this cut ran a peri iiniitl stream, which watered u province named the Kayouni, endow ing it with fertility nnd siipportiii a. large population. In tho time of tho mutual Hood a great part of the canal was under water, and then tho river's current won d rush in a more direct course into tho puss, carrying with it tho rich silt, which takes the placo of tnunuro and keeps tho soil in a statu of constant productiveness. All this, with the exception of tho tradition that Joseph built it, can bo verilled to-day, and it is not moro sup position or rumor. Until eight yearn ago it was llrmly hulieved that, tho de sign has always been limited to an ir rigation scheme, larger, no doubt, than that now in operation, as shown by tho traces of abandoned canals and by the slow aggregation of wasto wator which hud accumulated in thu Birlcet ol Quoriin, but still essentially thu sumo In character. Many accounts havo been written by Greek and Uomnn historians, such as Herodotus, Strabo, Mutlanus and Pliny, and repeated in monkish legends or portrayed in the maps of tho middle ages, which agreed with tho old lore of tho district. Thoso talos explained that, the canal dug by tho ancient Is raelito served to carry tho mrplus waters of tho Nilo into an extonsivo lake lying south of the Fayotun, ami so largo that it not only modillcd tho climtito, tempering tho arid winds of the desoi'l and convortlne; thorn into tho balmy airs which nourished the vines und tho olives into a fullness and fragrance unknown In any part of tho country, but also added to tho food supply of tho laud such immense quan tities of llsh that tho royal prerogative of tlio right of piscary at tho grout weir was valued at if'JoO.OOO annually. This lake was said to bo -ISO miles round, and to bo navigated by ti fleet of vessels, whilo tho wholo circumfer ence was tho scone of industry and prosperity. Engineering. Mottoes for Various Peoplo. The Toper Put mo in my littlo bad Tho Conductor King tho boll softly. Tho Doctor All's woll thut ends woll. Tho Huttor Will hoover shoot that hat? Tho Cabman Han'som' is that hau'som' does. Tho Pickpocket My hoartgoos with my hand. Tho Policeman Far from tho mad ding crowd. The Insurance Man Along lifo and a morry ono. Tho Thin Man May my Bhadow novor grow loss. Tho Pugilist Knocking, knocking; who is thoro. Tho Fat Man Oh, that this too, too solid flush would molt. Tho Politician A long pull, a strong pull and a pull all togothor. Tho Old Maid 'Tla hotter to Iiivo loved and lost than to havo never loved at all. Tho Editor All Hnrs ahull havo their part in tho lako that burnetii with Around brimstone. N. Y. Herald. Pigs Swim a Wide Lake. A Portland man last Btiminor plncod three pigs on a beautiful isle that in nearly in tho middle of big Pocotopaug lako, his Intention being that the pigs should earn their own living on thu round littlo grassy island. Then ho rowed tho skiff in which ho had fer ried ttio pigs to thoir now homo back to his dwelling. Ho entered hln hornu and sat down and rend tho Middlesex County Hocord thirty minutes, when ho hoard three joyful nnd triumph ant squeals in tho back yard. 'Ihti throo pigs had roturnod from thulr lonely island homo. Some ono who saw tho pigs coming across tho wide lako said they steered as straight for thoir ancestral pigsty as n mariner could have laid his coin-so with a com I ass. They swam abroast, bivimted tho mltuln billows gleefully, und an Ihoy camo into port and saw tho ftw miliar old homostead grunted li salutu every timo thoy rolled up on a wave. N. Y. Sun. Tho most respleudont reputation ever earned by n Malno man Is that of a horao Jockey In Waldo County, whosu customers aro said to havo so much oonlldouco tn him that they buy by telephone or tologruph without look ing ut tho horstf.