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About The Oregon scout. (Union, Union County, Or.) 188?-1918 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 13, 1890)
J. -.A 'I 1 CLEOPATRA." Being; an Account of the Fall and Vengeance of Harmachis, the Royal Egyptian, AS SET I0RTH BY HIS OWN HAND. By H. Rider Haggard, Author of "King Solomon's Mines," lv " She," " Allan Quntermain," Etc., Etc., Etc. aiuitrated by NICHOLL. after CATON WOO& V1LL3 and ORKIFrENHAOEN. CHAPTKR IX OF TI1E COMINO OF CHAIIMIOK, AND Or TUB WHATH Of 8KPA. Ill AT sumo night while wo sat at supper In the house, there camo it knock upon tlio door. It was opened, and a woman passed in, wrapped from head to foot in a largo dark peplos or cloak In such fashion that her face could not ba clearly seen. My uncle rose, and as ho did so the woman I uttered the secret word, i i Ht "1 mn come, my father." she said in a sweet, clear voice, "thouch of a truth it was not easy toescapo the rev els at the palace. Hut I told the Queen that the sun aud thu riot in tho streets had muilo me sick, and she let me go." "It is well," ho answered. "Unvail thy self; hero thou art safe." With a littlo sigh of weariness she un clasped the peplos and lot it slip from her, giving to my sight the face nnd form of that beauteous girl who had stood to fan Cleo patra In tho chariot. For she was very fair and pleasant to look upon, and her Grecian robos clung sweetly about her supple limb nnd budding form. Her wayward hair, flowing in a hundred littlo curls, was bound with a golden llllet, and on her feet wero sandals. Her cheeks blushed liko a flower, and her dark soft eyes wero downcast, as though with modesty, but smiles and dim ples trembled about her lips. My uncle frowned when his eyes fell upon iier dress. "Why comost thou in this garb, Char inlonl" he,.n.sked. sternly. "Is not the arers tny inoiuar? uro gooa outturn Tor thee? This is no time or place for woman's vanities. Thou art not hero to conquer, but to obey." "Nay, bo not wroth, my father," she an swered, softly; "porchance thou knowest not that sho whom I serve will have none of our Egyptian dress; it is out of fashion. To wear it would have been to court sus picionalso I camo in haste." And as she spoke I saw that all tho while she watched me covertly through the long lashes which fringed her modest eyes. "Well, well," he said, sharply, fixing his keen clanco upon her face, ' "doubtless thou speakest truth, Charmion. lie ever mind ful of thy oath, girl, and of the cause to '-which thou art sworn. Bo notllght-mtnded, and 1 charge theo forget tho beauty with which thou hast been cursed. For mark At -ii. : .. . . . I 1..,, Am . mou mis, IjIIUI imuu , iai us uuii uuo juit i IV: u-and vengeance shall fall on theo tho veu- V.. -rrnnnnn nf ITinn finrl T.nrt VOnfrejlnCO Or $ ?tho Gods! To this service," he con- Txlnued, lisning nimsou to afiger as ne ' vwent on. till his great voice rang in the narrow room, "hast thou been bred ; to this end hast thou been instructed and placed -where thou art, to gain tho ear of that 'wicked wanton whom thou seotnest to servo. Beo thou forgot it not; see that tho luxury " of yonder court does not corrupt thy purity and divort thy aim, Charmion." And his t eyes flashed and his smnll form scorned to ' grow till it attained to dignity nay, almost to grandeur. "Charmion," ho said, advanc ing toward her with outstretched linger, "I -. say to theo that at times I do not trust thee. But two nights gone 1 drained I saw thee standing in tho desert. I saw thee laugh jjand lift thy hand to heaven, and therefrom safell n rain of blood; then the sky sank ifjdown on tho land of Khem and covered it. .Whence camo tho dream, girl, and what Is Itsmeaningl Nnught have I against thee as yet; but hearken I On tho moment that I have. thougn thou art of ray kin, and I havo loved theo on that moment, I say, will I doom thoso delicate limbs, which thou lovest so much to show, to tao kilo and tu ine jacnai, nnd the soul within thee to all the tortures of the Gods I Unburied shalt thou die, and bodiless and accursoi shalt thou wander in Amentll ay, forever and ever!" Ho paused, for his sudden burst of pas sion had spont itself. But by it, more clear ly than before, I saw how deep a heart had this man beneath tho cloak of his cicrriness and simplicity of mien, and how fiercely the mind within him was set upon his ala. As for tho girl, she shrank from him terrified, nnd, placing her hands before hor face, be gan to weep. "Nay, speak not so, my father," she said, between her sobs; "for what havo I doue? Naught know I of the evil wandorrag of thy dreams. I nm no soothsayer that I should read dreams. Have I not carried out all things according to thy desire? Havo I not been even mindful of that dread oath?" and sho trembled. "Have I not played tho spy and told thee ah? Havo 1 not won tho heart of tho Queen so that she loves mo us a sister, refusing mo nothing, ay, and the hearts of thoso about hor? Why dost tuou affright mo thus with thy words and threats?" And sho wept afresh, looking even more beautiful in her sorrow than she was bofore. "Enough, enough," ho answered; "what I lave said I havo said. Be warned, and af front our sight no more with this wanton dress. Thinkest thou that we would feed our eyes upon thoso rounded arms wo Whose stake Is Egypt and who aro dedicated to the Gods of Egypt? Girl, behold thy cousin and thy King!" Bho ceased weeping, wiping hor eyos with her chiton, and I sav.' that they seemed but tho softer for her tea: . "Methlnks, most Ito.i Ilarraacbia and beloved cousin," she t 1, us she bent beforo me, "that wo are roady made ac quainted." ' "Yea, cousin," 1 answ 1, not without ibamcfacedness, for nev. beforo bad I spoken to 60 fair a maid -thou wert In tho chariot with Cleopatra this day when I struggled with tho Nubian." "Assuredly," sho said, with a smile and a sudden lighting of the eyes, "It was a gal lant fight, and gallantly didst thou over throw that black brute. I saw the fray, and, though I knew thee not, greatly did I fear for one so brave. But I paid him for my fright, for it was I who put it into the mind of Cleopatra to bid the guards strike off his band now, knowing who thou art, I would I bad said his head." And she looked up, shooting a glance at me, and then smiled. "Enough," put in ray uncle Hepa, "the time draws on. Teli thou thy mission, Charmion, and be gone." ( Thereon her manner changed. Hbe folded her bauds rac' .. tat-" Ur and s-V J Lot Pharaoh hearken unto his hand maiden. I am the daughter of Pharaoh's uncle, tho brother of his father who Is now long dead, and therefore In my veins also flows the Royal blood rf Egypt. Also I am of tho ancient laith, and hate theso Greeks and to seo thee set upon the throno has beon my deM-csthopo now for many years To this end have I, Charmion, become serving, woman to Cleopatra, that I might cut a notch wherein thou couldst sot thv foot when the hour camo to climb tho throne. And behold! O Pharaoh, the notch Is cut "This, then, Is our plot, Hoyal cousin: Thou must gain an entrance to tho House hold nnd learn its ways and secrets, and. so far as may be, suborn the eunuchs nnd captains, somo of whom I havo already tempted. This done, und nil things being propared without, thou must siay Cleo patra, and, aided by me, with thoso whom I control, in tho confusion that shall ensue' throw wide the gates, and. admitting those of our party who nro in waiting, put such of tho troops as remain faithful to the ' sword nnd sclzo tho Uruchium. Which be Ing done, thou shalt within two days hold this tickle Alexandria. At tho samo time, thoso who are sworn to theo in evorv city in Esyut shall rise in nrtns, mill 1 within ten days from tho death of Cleopatra ' thou shalt be Pharaoh indeed. This is tho 1 counsel which has been taken, nnd thou I seest, Hoyal cousin, that, though your uncle yonder doth think so ill of me. 1 have learned my part ay, nnd plnycd It." I "I hear tiiee, cousin," I answered, marvel-' Ingthat so young a wi'inan, for sho had but twenty years, coJid woavo so bold n plot, for m Its origin the scheme was hers But In thoso days I littlo knew Charmiou. "Goon; how then shall I gain cutrauco to tno paiaco of Cleopatra I'" "Nay, cousin, as things nro it is easy. Thus: Cleopatra loveth to look upon a mini, and-give mo pardon--thy face und form nro fair. To-day sho noted them, mid twico sho said sho would sho hud asked whore that astrologer might bo found, for sho held that an astrologer who could well nigh slay a Nubian gladiator with his bare hands must Indeed bo u master of tho stars. I answered her that I would causo inquiry to bo made. Ho hearken, Royal Harmachis. At midday Cleopatra sleeps in hor Inner hall that looks over tho gardens to tho ljur bor. At that hour, then, will I meet thee at the gates of tho Palace, whither come thou boldlv asking for the Lady Charmiou. I will iniiko appointment for theo with Cleopatra, so that she shall seo theo ulono when sho wakes, and tho rest shall bo for theo, Harmachis. For much sho loves to play with tho mystories of magic, and whole nights havo I known her stand watching tho stars and making a pretonse to read them. Aud but lately hath she sent away Dioscoridcs, tho Physician, lu that, poor fool! he ventured on a prophecy from the conjunction of tho stars that Cassius would defeat Mark Antony. Thereon Cleo patra dispatched to the Gcueral Allieuus, bidding him add the legions she bad sent to Syria to help Antony, to the army of Cas sius, whose victory, forsooth, was, accord ing to Dioscorides, written on the stars. But, as it chanced, Antony beat Cassius first and Brutus afterward, and so Dios corides hath departed, and now be lectures for his bread on herbs in tho museum, and hates the name of stars. But his place U empty, and thou shalt fill it; and then w will work in secret and in the shadow or the scepter. Ay, we will work like tl worm at.tho heart of arnlt till tho time oi piucsmg co.'ies, uau on iuy aaggersroucn, Royal cousin, tho fabric of this Grecian throne crumb'es to nothingness, and the worm that rotted it bursts his servile cov ering, and in the sight of empires, spreads his royal wings o'er Egypt." I gazed at this strange girl once more as tonished, nnd saw that her face was lit up with such a light as I had never seen upon tho faco of woman. "Ah!" broke in my uncle, who was watching her, "ah! I love to see thee ro, girl. Thero is tho Charmion that I knew and I bred up not the Court girl, whom 1 love not, draped In silks of Cos and fra grant with essences. Let thy heart harden in this mold ay, stamp it with tho fervid zeal of patriot faith, and thy reward shall And theo. And now cover up that shame less dress of thine and leave us, for it grows late. To-morrow shall Harmachis come, as thou hast said. And so, farewell." Charmion bowed her head, and, turning, wrapped hor dark-huod peplos around hor; then, taking my band, sho touched it with her lips and without any furthor words sho went. "A strange woman I" saidSepa, when she had gone; "a most strange woman and un certain." "Methought, my uncle," I said, "that thou wast somewhat harsh with her." "Ay," he answered, "but not without a cause. Look thou, Harmachis, beware of this Charmion. She is too wayward, and, I fear me, may be led away. In truth, she is a very woman; nnd, like a restlvo horse, Will take the path that pleases her. Brain she has, and fire; and she loves our causo; but I pray that the causo come not face to faco with hordesiros, for what her heart is sot on that will she do at any cost will sho do iw. Thereforo did I frighten her now, while I may, for who can know but that sho will pass beyond my power? I tell thee that in this one girl's hand lie all our lives; and if sho play u false, what then? Alas I and alas I that wo must uso such tools as these! But it wus needful; thero was no other way; and yet 1 misdoubt mo. I pray that it may be well; and still, ut times, I fear my niece Charciion she is too fair, and tho blood of youth runs too warm in thoso blue veins of hers. Oh! woo to tho causo that builds its strength upon a wom an's faith; forwon-en, I say, aro faithful "ATE, WR WILL WOIlK LIKE TDK WOIIM AT TUB UE1UT Of TUB ritl'IT " only where they Jove, and when they love their faithlessness becomes their faith. Tneyaronot fixed as men are fixed; they rise more high and sink more low they are strong nnd changeful as tho sea. I say to thee, Harmachis, beware of this Charmion ; for, like the ocean, she may lloatthee home; or, like theocean, she may wreck thee, and, with thee, all the hope of Egypt I" CHAPTER X. or the couino or uAnxAcms to tbb rxu AVE; HOW RE DREW PAUI.US THHOOOH Till GATES: CLEOPATRA SLEEPIHO; AUD Till MAOIO WHICH HAKMACUIS SHOWED UNTO II US it enmo to pass that on tho next day 1 arrayed myself after the fashion of ;i magician or astrol oger, in a long and flowing robe. I placed on my ho a d a cap, about which were broidered linages of tho stars, and In my belt a scribe's paletto nnd n ill of papyrus written er with mystic spells and signs. In my hiin.l I held a wand of ebony, tipped with ivory, such as is used by priests and masters of magic. Among thoso, indeed, 1 held high rank, tilling by knowledge of their secrets which I had learned at On what I lacked in that skill of hand which comes from use. And so, with no small shiune, for 1 lovo not such play, and hold this common magic in contempt, I set forth through the Bruehium to tho pulnco on tho Lochias, being guided on my way by my undo Sepa. At length, passing upthenvenue of Sphinxes, wo camo to tho great marble gateway and tho gates of bronzo within which is tho guard-houso. And here my undo left inn, breathing many prayers for my safety und success. But I udvunced with un easy nir to tho gate, wl. I was rougnly challenged by the Gnlllo sentries and asked of my name, following nnd busi ness. I gavo my name, Harmaehis the astrologer, spying that my business was with tho Lady Charmion, tho Queen's lady. Thereon tho man uuulo as though to let me pass in, when a Captain of tho Guard, a Roman nunied Paulus, camo forward and forbade it. Now, this Paulus was a lurgo liuib d man, with n woman s faco nnd n hand that shook from wine-bibbing. Never theless, ho knew me again. "Why,'' ho cried, in tho Latin tougue, to iino who camo with him, "this is tho fo.low who wrest. ed yesterday with tho Nubian glndiator, that samo who now howls for his lost hand underneath my window. Curses on tho blnek bruto I I hud n bet on him for the games! 1 have backed him ugulnst Cuius, und now ho'U never light again, nnd I must lose my money, nil through this astroloor. What is it thou snyest thou bnst business witti tho Lady Channion! Nay, then, that settles it. I will not let theo through. Fellow, I worship tho Lady Charn.ion ny, wo ull worship her, though sho gives us iiioro slaps than sighs. Aud dost thou think that wo will suffer an astrologer with such eyes and such n chest us thiuo to cut in thogumct By Bacchus, no I Sho must come out to keep tho tryst, for in thou shalt not go." "Sir," I said, humbly and yet with dig nity, "I pray that n messago may bo sent to tho Lady Charmion, for my business will not b.-ook delay." 'Yo Gods!" answered tho fool, "whom havo wo hero that he cau not wait? A Cicsur in disguise? Nay, bo off bo off! If thou wouldst not learn how a spear prick feels behind." "Nay," put In tho other officer, "ho Is nu astrologer; muke lntn prophecy mako him play tricks." "Ah," cried tho others who had sauntered up, "let him show his art. If ho is a magi ion he can pass the gates, Paulus or no Paulus." "Right willingly, good sirs 1" I answered, for I saw no other means of entering. "Wilt thou, my young and noble Lord" and I addressed him who wns with Paulus "suffer that I look thee in tho eyes? Per chance I may read what Is written there," "Right," said tho youth; "but I wish that tho Lady Charmion was the sorceress. I would sturo her out of countenance, I war rant mo." I took him by tho hand and gazed deep into his eyes. "I see," I said, "a Hold of battle utnigbt, and about it bodies strotched among them is thy body, and u hyeua tears at its throat. Host noblo sir, thou bhalt dio of sword thrusts within a year." "By Bacchus 1" said tho youth, turning whilo to tho gills, "thou art an ill-omened Boreerer I" And ho slunk off shortly after ward, as it chanced, to meet this very fate. For he was sent on service and slain in oyp. us. a 'Now for thee, great Captain 1" I said, apeakiug to Paulus. "1 will show thee how I will pass thoso gates without thy leave av, and draw thee through them after me. Be pleased to fix thy princely guzo upon the point of th's wand In my hand." Being urged thereto by n:s comrades, this hu did, not willingly; and I lot him gazotlll 1 f.aw his eyes gvovv cmj.ty as an owl's oyc Is tho sun. Then suddenly I withdjw the wand, and, shifting my own countenance Into tho place of it, I seized him with my will and stare, and beginning to turn round and round, drow him after me, his face, llerco nnd drawn, fixed, as It were, almost to my own. Then I Blowly moved backward till I hud passed the gates, still drawing aim after me, and having passed, I jerttcd my head nwny. But he fell to the ground, to riso wiping his brow and looking exceed ingly foolish. "Art thou content, most noblo Captain ?' I said. "Thou seest we have passed tho gates. Would any other noblo sir hero pres ent wish that I should show more of my skill!" "By Taranis, Lord of Thunder, and all tho Gods of Olympus thrown in, nol" growled un old Centurion, u Gaul named Brcnnus. "I liko theo not, I say. Tho man who could drag our Paulus through those gates by tho eyo, us it were, is not o mau to play with. Paulus, too, who always goes tho way you don't want him back ward, liko an ass Paulus! Why, sirrah, thou must havo a woman in one cyo and a wino cup in tho other, to draw our Paulus thus," At this moment tho talk was broken, for, coming down tho marble walk, followed by an nrmcd slavo, was Oharmion horself. She walked cairn und careless, her hands folded behind her and hor eyes gazing at nothing ness, us it wero. But it was when Char mion thus looked upon nothing that she saw most. And us sho camo tho officers und men of tho guard mado way for her bowing for, as 1 learned afterward, this girl, next lo Cleopatra's self, wielded moro power than any ono about the palace. "What is this tumult, Brcnnus?" sho said, speaking to the Centurion, and mak. ingas if she saw mo not; "knowest thou not that tho Queen sleeps at this hour, and If sho be awakened It is thou who must answer for It, and that dearly?"' "Nay, Lady," said tho Cent jrlon, humbly; "but It is thus. Wo have hero" and ho jerked his thumb toward me- "a magician of tho most postilcnt um, I cruvo his par don, of the very best sort, for ho hath but just now, only by placing his eyes close to tho noso of the worthy Captain Paulus, dragged him, the said Paulus, through tho gates that Paulus swore tho magician should not pass. By the samo token, Lady, the magician says ho has business with you which grioves me for your sake." Charmion turned and looked at mo care lessly. "Ay, I remember," she said; "and so he hath at least the Queen would seo his tricks; but if ho can do nono better than cause a sot" hero she cast a glanco of scorn at the wondering Paulus -"to follow his nose through the gates ho guards, he had better go whence he came. Follow me, Sir Magician; and for thee, Brennus, I say keep thr riotqus crew more . ilet. For thce r most' lionoraiTo r'auf-.TJ 3ot,"Cr, tChd ' next tlmo 1 nm asked for at tho gates give htm who nsks a hearing," And with a I queenly nod of her small head sho turned and led tho way, followed at a dlstauco by 1 myself and tho urmed slavo. Wo passed up tho marble walk which i runs through tho garden grounds, and is I set on either side with tuarblo statuos, for tho most p.irt of heathen Gods and God desses, whorewith thoso Lagidra woro not ashamed to defile their royal d ivellings. As length we camo to n portico with fluted col umns very beautiful to see, but of Grecian style of art, where wo found more guards, who mado way for tho Lady Charmion. Crossing tho portico, wo reached an outor marble hall wherein a fountain softly plashed, and then o by n low doorway a second chamber, known as tho Alabaster Hall, most beautiful to seo. Its roof was upheld by light columns of black marblo, but alt Its walls wero paneled with ala buster, whereon woro graven Grecian le gends. Its floor was of rich nnd tuany-hued mosaic that told tho tnlo of the passion of Psycho for tho Grecian God of Love, and about It wero set chairs of ivory aud geld. At the doorway of this chamber Charmiou bade tho armed slavo stay, so that wo passed lu alone, for tho place wns ompty save for two eunuchs who stood with drawn swords beforo tho curtains at tho further end. "I am voxed, my Lord," sho said, speak ing very low and shyly, "that thou shouldt havo met with such affront at tho gate; but the guard thero sorved a double watch, aud 1 had given my commands to tho olH per of tho company that should havo re lieved It, They aro over lusolont, these Roman officers, who, though thoy seem to serve, know weil that Egypt Is their play thing. But it is not altogether ill, for theso rough soldiers aro sup -rstitious, and here after they will fear thee. Now,bido thou here whilo 1 "pass into Cleopatra's chamber, where sho sleeps. But now havo I sung I SEIZED HIM AND DREW HIM A FT Ull ME. her to sleep, and If she bo awakened I will call thee, for sho waits thy coming." And without moro words she glided from my side. In a littlo t-imo sho returned, and, coming to my sido, spoke : "Wouldst seo tho fairest woman in nil the world asleep!" she whispered. ''If so, fol low thou mo. Nay, fc.r not; when bIio awakes she will but laugh, for sho bade me be sure to bring thee instantly, whether sho slept or woko. See, I have hor signet." So we passed up the beautiful chninljor till wo camo to whore the eunuchs Blood with drawn swords, and these would havo barred my entry; but Charmion frowned, und drawing tho signet from hor bosom hold it beforo their oyes. Thereon, having ex amined the writing that is on tho ring, thoy bowod, dropping their sword poiuts, nnd wo passed through tho heavy curtains, hroidered o'er with gold, Iuto the resting placo of Cleopatra. Beautiful it was beyond imagining beautiful with many colored murbles, with gold and ivory, i?oins nnd flowers all art can furnish und ull luxury can dream of wero hero. Hero woro pictures so real that birds might huvo pecked thti painted fruits; hero wero statues tif woman's loveliness frozen into stouo; 'ere wero draperies flue as softest silk, but woven of a web of gold; here wero couches and carpets such as 1 novcr saw. Here the air was sweet with porfumo, whilo through he open window places came the far mur mur of tho sea. At the furthor end of the chamber, on a couch of gleaming silk and sheltered by a net of finest gauze, Cleopatra lay asleep. There she lay the fairest thing that man ever saw fairer than a dream, and all about hor flowed the web of her dark hair. Ono whlto, rounded arm made a pillow for her head and one hung downward to the ground. Her rich lips wero parted in a Bmllo, showing the ivory lines of teeth: and her rosy limbs wero draped in so thin a rabo of tho silk of Cos-hold about hfcr.hv aumlul , olrrllo. mat (ho whlto gleam of flesh sh'otie th'rough it. I stood astonished, aud, though my Ihoushts had littlo bent that way, the sight of all her beauty struck mo like a blow, so hat for n moment I lost myself as it wero in tho vision of Its power, and at heart was grieved that I must slay so fair a thing. Turning suddenly from tho sight I found Channion watching mo with hor quick eyes watching as though she would search my heart. And, indeed, something of my thoughts must havo boon written on my faco in u language that sho could, read, for she whispered in my car: "Ay, It is a pity, is it not! Harmachis be ing after ull ii man, mothlnksthou wilt need all thy ghostly strength to ucrvo theo to tho deed!" 1 frowned, but before I could frame an answer sho touched me lightly on the arm uud pointed tti tho Queen. A chango hud coino upon hor; her hands wero clenched, und about her fuco, ull rosy with tho huo of sleep, gathered n cloud of fear. Her breath cumo quli k, sho raised her arms us though to ward awny a blow, and then with a stifled moan sat up und opened tho windows of her oyos. Dark they were, durlc as night; but when tho light found them thoy grow blue, even ns tho sky grows bluo bo foro tho blushlnc of the dawn. "Ciusarion?" stio suid; "where is Cassa Hon? Wns it then a dream? I dreamed that Julius Julius who is deud camo to mo, his bloody toga wrapped about his fuce, and, having thrown his urms ubouthlschild, led him uwny. Then I dreamed I died died lu blood and ugony; and ono I might not see mocked me us I died I Ahl who lu that man!" "Peace, Madum I peace!" said Charmion. " 'lis but tho magician Hurmachla, whom thou didst bid me briug to thee at this hour." "Ahl tho magician that Harmachis who overthrow tho glantl 1 remember mo now. Ho is welcome. Tell me, Sir Magician, can thy magio mirror give forth au answer to this dream! Nay, how strange a thing Is sleep, that, wrapping the mind in a web of darkness, stralghtly compels it to Its will. Whence, then, como those linages of fear rising on tho horizon of the soul like some untimely moon upon the twilight skyl Who grants them power to stalk so llfellko from Memory's thronging balls, and, point ing to their wounds, thus confront the Present with the Past! Are they, then, messengers? Doth the semi-death of sleep give ilieai a ctoattiold. in Quc-hlos- anil tnus upiTu.". n.o b'ovored t uTJ J. kinship! That was Cnwnr's self, I toll thoo, who but now stood at my side and mur mured through his muffled robe warning words whereof tho memory is lost to me. Road mo this riddle, thou Egyptian Sphinx, and I'll show theo a romnr path to fortune than nil thy stars can )olut. Thou hnst brought tho omen, solvo thou Its problcia." "In a good hour do 1 come, most mighty Queen," I made unswor, "for 1 havo somo skill In tho mysteries of sleep, which is, as thou hast rightly guessed, a stair whoroby those who uro gathered to Osiris may from time to ttmo enter nt tho gateways of our living sense, nnd, by signs and words that can bo lead of mortals thereto duly learned, repeut tho echoes of that Hall of Truth which Is their habitation. Thereby also tho messengers of tho guardian Gods may de scend In many shapes upon tho half-loosod spirit cf their choice. For, O Queen, to thoso who hold tho key, tho madness of our dreams cm show :t clearer purposo uud speak moro certainly thnu nil tho acted wlsflom of our waking life, which Is a dream Indeed. Thou didst seo great Cresnr in his bloody robe, and ho threw his arms about Princn Cunurion and led him bunco. Hearken now to tho secret of thy visions. 'Twas Civsat's self thou sawest coming to thy side from Anient! in such a guiso ns might not bo mistaken. When ho embraced the child Civsarlon bo did It for u sign that to him, and hint alone, ho passed his great ness and his love. When ho seemed to lend him hence ho led him forth from Egypt to bo crowned in tho Capitol, crowned tho Emperor of Homo nnd Lord of all tho lands. For tho rest, I know It not. It is hid from ! mo." I Thus, then, I read tho vision, though to I my sense it had u moro evil meaning. But i It "is not well to prophecy ovil unto Kings. ) Meai. whilo Cleopatra had risen, and, huv I lug thrown back tho gnat gauze, was seated I upon the edge of her couch, hor oyes fixed ir.'on piy face tho whilo her lingers played with her girdle's jeweled ends. "Of r. ir'th," sho cried, "thou art tho best of nil muglcluiiB, 'or thou rcudostmy heart, and out of tin roir;h shell of ovil omen dnuvest tho hidden sweet I" "Ay, O Qjccn!" said Charmion, who stood by with downcast oyes, and mo thought thero wus bitter meuiiiug in her soft notes; "may no rougher words over af front thy ears, uud no ovil passago lass closely trend upon Its happy sonso." Cleo patra placed her hands behind her head, und leaning back looked with half-shut oyes. "Come, show us of thy magic, Egyptian," sho said. "It is yet hot abroad, and I am weary of tho Hebrow Ambassadors and their talk of Herod and Jerusalem. 1 halo that Herod, as ho shall find nnd I will huvo I'onu of tho Ambassadors to-day, though a littlo do I yearn to try my Hebrow un thorn. What eunst thou do! Hast thou no now trick! By Scruplsl If thou canst oonjuro ns well as thou canst prophecy thou shult huvo a placo at court, with pay and perquisites to boot, and thy lofty soul doth uotscoru porqulsltes." "Nay," I answered, "nil tricks nro old; but thero are somo forms of uiagio to bo rarely used, and with discretion, that may, perchanco, bo new to theo, O Queen I Art thou afraid to venturo on the charm!" "Nuughtl fear; goon and do thy worst. Come, Charmion, aud sit thou by me. But, stay, whoro are ull tho girls! Iris and Morlr! -they, too, love magic." "Not ho," I said ; "the charms work ill be foro so many. Nowboholdl" And, gazing ut the twain, I cast down my wand upon tho marblo nnd murmured u spell. For a moment It wus still, uud then, as I muttered, tho rod slowly begau to writhe. It bont it self. It Btood on etui, and of its owu motion moved. Next it put on scales, uud bohold it was a surpout that cruwlod ami fiurculy hissed. "Fie on theo I" cried Cleopatra, clapping her hands; "callost thou that magic! Why, 'tis an old trick that any wayside conjuror can do. I havo seen it a sooro of times." "Walt, O Queen," I answered; "thou hast not icon ull." And even as 1 Bpoko tho ser pent seemed to break in fragments, and from ouch frugmeut grew a new scrpont. And these, too, broke in fragments and brod others, till in a little spaco the placo, to their glamored sight, was a seething sea ot snakes, that crawled, hissed and knotted themselves in knots. Then I mado a sign, and tho serpents gathered themselves about me, and seomed slowly to twlno themselves about my body and my limbs till, save my face, I was wreathed thick with hissing snnkes. "Oh, horrlblol horrlblol" crlod Char mion, hiding her countenance in the skirt of tho Quoou's garment. ' "Nay, enough I Magician, enough 1" said the Quoon ; "thy muglo overwhelms us." I waved my snake-wrapped arms, und all was gone. There at my feet lay tho black wand tipped with ivory, and naught bo side. Tho two women looked one upon another and gasped with wonder. But I took up tho wand and stood with, folded arms be foro them, "Is tho Queen content with ray poor art!" I asknd most humbly. uAyo, that um I, Egyptian; nevor did I neo its llkol Court astronomer nrt thou from this day forward, with right of access to tho Queen's presence Hust thou moro of such maglo ut thy call!" "Yos, Royal Egypt; suffer that tho chamber bo a littlo darkened und I will show theo ono more thing," "Half am I afraid," sho unswered; "nevertheless, do thou, Charmion, even us thl.i nnrraachis says." So tho curtains woro drawn nnd the chamber mado as though tho twilight wns at haud. I came forward and stood mo bo sldo Cleopatra. "Gazo thou there I" I said, sternly, polntinir with the wand to tho ompty spafo wnuro l had boort, "and thou shalt bohold feat which Is in thy mind." Thou for ii littlo spaco was silence, whilo tho two vemeu gazed fixedly und half fear ful ut tho (pot. Aud us thoy uazod u cloud gathered be fore them. Vory slowly it took shapo and form, und tho fut in it took wus tho form of a muu, though us yet he was but vaguely mapped upo.i tho twilight, and seemed now to grow und now to melt away. Thon I oncd with u loud volco : "Hhado, I conjuro theo, uji;.ir" And evrji ns I cried tho Thing, perfect In ovory part, leapt into form beforo us, sud den as tie (lash of day. His shape was thu shupo of Itoyul Cu:sur, the toga thrown about his faco, uud on his form u vestment bloody from u hundred wounds. An in stant so he stood, then 1 wuved my wand uud hu was gone. I turned mo to tho two women on tho couch, und then I bow Cloopatru's lovo.y faco all clothod in terror. Her lips woro ashy whlto, her eyes stared wido, and the flesh wus shaking on hor boues, "Muni" sho tasped, "man I what art thou who canst bring tho dead before our eyes!" "I am tho Queen's astronomor, magician, servant whot tho Queen wills," I un swered, laughing. "Was this tho form that was on the Queen's mind!" She mado no answer, but, rising, loft the chamber by another door. Then Charmion rose aud took hor hands from her face, Sir she, too, bad been strick en with dread. "How dost thou these things, Royal Harmachis!" she said. "Of a truth I fear thee-" Ai-, coocNIHlC DUUTOR. Thr Quaint Wy of n Surrrsnful IfeW Kntctnnil Mrillral .Mnn. Dr. Charles Wild practiced medtcino in ltrookllno, Mas., in tho days when people insisted upon tnklng largo doses, of calomel, rhubarb, jalap, picni, ipecac, antimony and countless other drugs, and on being blistered and bled. Tho doctor was eijual to tho occasion, and gave his patients tholr monoy's worth of physic and sorvlco when thoy could secure his attendance. For tho doctor was a difficult man to lltul, and, when found, to impress witli the Idea that he was actually needed. I'nless tho case was represented as a. matter of life and death, ho was apt to delay his visit until tho patient had re covered or died. Those who hunted for him, knowing his habits of going from one patient to another, without going home for a day or a night, used to go through the streets looking for "old Sal," his sorrel mare, and his familiar old buggy, standing before some hou.su door. But such was tho public eonlldonco in him, that in ordinary Illnesses people) would wait his tardy visit rather than send for another physician. The author of "Sketches of Urook llno" describes him as entering a houso in the breezy way. stamping oil tho snow or the land, throwing oil his ovor coat and letting down his black leather pouch, with nolso enough for threo men. Ills salutation, uttered In a deep, grult voice, was likely to be, If tho patient wns an nctinlntance: "Well! well! what kind ot a kick-up luve you got now'.'" , He gave nicknames to tho children, and would usk: "How's Nicodenius to day'.'1' or: "Well! is Jchabod's tooth ready for the luneo this morning'.'" A friend's child, whoso naino was Flor ence, ho called "Konio," "Milan." or by several other Italian cities. , A member of Ills family, whilo making out tho doctor's hills, was perplexed by a charge upon tho books of a visit tu "Don Sebastian." On inquiry it proved to be tho nickname ot a child of tho Cabot family. When the doctor had studied tho caso and given tho patient his doso of medi ;ino, ho would, if there was causo for anxiety, sottlo himself for u social visit of two or threo hours, during vvhluh ho told droll stories, and acted them out to tho amusement of tho children, who were very fond ot him. If tho caso was serious lie was gruvo and silent, entail ing files, If thero woro any to cittuh, or walked tho room In deep thought. il'ho doctor was moro than a physician.,, ho was tho counselor of his patients, who consulted him upon all sorts of matters, from choosing n wlfo or a hus band to building a lion-coop. Ills opin ion was an authority that few disputed,, for his good senso was seldom at fault.. 11 Is quaint humor, on leaving a sick room, would often express itself in somo such salutation as this: "Now If you can't sleep well and don't know what tu do, you uau umuso yourself with taking; an oiuotic." Youth's Companion. AMONG THE PERUVIANS. Tli South American Nation Drscrftml by ii Wisconsin Olrl. When Hon. John Hicks was appointed. United States Minister to Peru ho ohoso as Secretary of Legation a bright Amer ican girl, Miss Elizabeth L. Hanks. Since being domiciled nt Lima, tho cap ital of Peru, Miss Hunks bus kept hue eyes open, and, with instinct sharponod, by her connection with various North western nowspapors, sho bus proved a good news-gatherer. Writing' to a friend in this city, Miss Hanks says: "Procrastination is tho ruling habit of Peru. Ask a Poruvlan when ho will do any i thing and ho replies 'Mununn," which being" translated means 'to-morrow.' Nothing is ovor dono to-day, all things take placo on tho 'mamma,' which never conios. This 'manana habit is, I suppose, breathed In with ovory breath of tho air that ono taken hi Peru, iinil I am afraid I havo drawn a good deal of It into my system. "This is a vory interesting old city, and yet tho people nnd tho government aro very much behind tho times, tholr ideas being thoso of ono hundrod yearn ago. Tho city of Lliuu has boon called 'tho heuvon of women, tho purgatory of men and tho hell of asses;' und to tho Inst proposition I will heartily assont. The city is full of donkeys, nnd tho men and women who drlvo and rldo thorn al ways carry a big chunk of wood with ' them, which thoy continually apply to tho ribs of tho poor animals. Somo en thusiastic wrisor has caUod tho women of Lima tho most beautiful lu tho world. Thero uro Homo protty Peruvian girlH to he mot on tho streets or saying tholr bonds in some of tho many churches. Their dark eyes uro tho kind that would make it muu jump olt l'Izarro's hridgo into tlio river Itlinao if his suit hap pened to go wrong. Tho Peruvian mon pay a great deal of attention to tholr personal uppoaruiico and pass nway much of their time in dress suits and tooth-pick shoes. They nro very gal lant, but aro not half ho nlco as Amori ciwi men from any point of vlow. Wash ington Capital. SPEED VS. QUALITY. N'rr Conxlilcr I'liHt-llolui; f .More Iin purliliicii '1 11 it n WVIl.ltolui;. Many persons hociii to think that speed In work Is a hlghor accomplish ment than quality of work. If speed is of tlio first importance, then it may bo an apology for poor quality. If quality is of tlio first Importance, then it may ho an upology for want of speed. Ono says: "J want to loam to wrlto fast." Another Hays: "I wrlto this very hurriedly; please excuse orasureH." Would Biieh writers or workers--rather he thought quick than uccuruto? Do ihey placo tho writing abovo tho writ ton? Even a shorthand writer ought not to wrlto faster than ho can wrlto woll, Speed follows quality; quality never follows speed. It is a good thing to do good work fast. Hut it is u bad thing to do fast work badly und that in tho way it generally la dono whon tho fast-doing is hold nbo7o tho woll-dolng. Had work had hotter bo dono ho slowly that it nover gets dono at all. Tho only way to attain to high speed is to work for something bottor tbn spood, S. B. 'I'lmeti.