The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-12-28

ana 8Gf6fgntGUSQ, the OeNteSkMdesZs8sN 4
the broidered robe, and ny tho
flowers, and there at length Cleopat ~
more splendid now in her cold MAJ n "
death than in her richest hour of breathin6a
beauty. We drew back and looked 90 hex,
and on dead Iras at her feet. .s
SIT is done,.' quoth Chartnion;; ssyRo 4reS
avenged; end now, Harmachis, dost follow
by this same roada'' and she nodded t0-;
wards the phial on the board.
Nay. Charmion. fly-1 fly to heayiek
death. Not thus easily may end my space
of earthly penance." s5Ess$
$50 belt, Harmachis, and /, Harmachis-
/ fly also, but with swifter wings. Ny game !
is played. j, too, have made atonement.
Oh! what bitter fate Is mine, to have
brought misery on all love, and, in the end,
to die unloved. To thee have atops = - u
tmy angered Gods have atoned; and nov
II 70 to find way whereby may atone e
cleopatra in that He'll where she is, ana
which must share, for She loved me well
,Harmachis; and, now that she IS dead
.methinks that, after thee, loved her best
'of all. So Of her cup and the cup OF lral
j I will surely drink. y
! And she took the phial, and with a'steadJ
hand poured that which was left OF the
poison into the goblet.
''Bethink thee, Charmion,"I said; '.ye'
Imayst thou live for many years, hiding
these sorrows beneath the withered days.
tsYet I may, but will not! To live the
prey of so many memories, the fount Of al
undying shame that night by night, asl
lie sleepless, shall well afresh from my sor.
row-stricken heart to live, torn by love-
can not lose. To stand alone, like some
storm-twisted tree, and signing day BY
day to the winds of heaven. Gaze upon the
deserto my life, while wait the lingering
lghtning's stroke. Nay, that will not L;
Harmachis, Ihad died long since, but lived
on to serve thee; now no more thou needesi
me, and l go. Oh, fare thee welil forever
fare thee we'll; for not again shall looA
upon thy face, and where 60 thou goes1
not; for thou dost not love me who etiu
dost love that queenly woman thou hast
bounded to the death. Her thou shalt never
win, and thee I shall never win.
and this is the bitter end of fate. See,
Harmachis ask one boon before ] 20,
and for all time become naught to thee but
memory Of shame; tell me that thou dost
forgive me so far as thine is to forgive, and,
in token thereof, kiss me-with no lovers
kiss, but KISS me on the brow, and bid me
pass in peace"
And she drew near to me with arms out
stretched, and pltiful, trembling lips, and
gazed upon my face.
''Charmion, answered, 1--WE are freeto aot
for good or evil, and yet methinks there is
fate above our fate, that, blowing from
strange shores, compels our little sails Of
purpose, set them as we will, and drives US
to destruction. forgive thee, Charmion,
as trust in turn to be forgiven, and by this
kiss, the first and the last. I seal our peace"
And with my lips I touched her brow.
She spoke no more; only for a little while
she stood gazing on me with sad eyes, then
she lifted the goblet and said: Royal Har-
machis, in this deadly cup I pledge thee;
would that had drunk Of it ere ever
looked upon thy face, Pharaoh, who, thy
sins outworn, yet shall rule in perfect
peace DER worlds may not tread, who yet
shall sway kinglier scepter than that /
robbed thee of, forever fare thee we'll
She drank, cast down IL g cup and for
moment stood with the wide eyes of one
who looks for death. Then he came, and
Charnlion, the Egyptian, fell prone upon
the floor, dead; and for moment stood
alone with the dead.
crept to the side of Cleopatra, and, now
that none were left to see, sat down on
the bed and laid her head upon my knee,
as once before it had been laid; in that
night of sacrlege beneath the everlasting
pyramid. Then kissed her chill brow and
went from the house Of death s'avenged,
but sorely smitten with despair"
''Physician,'' said the officer Of the guard
as went through the gates, what passes
yonder in the monument Methought
heard the sounds of death.'
s'Naught passes; all hath passed." Imade'
reply, and went; and as I went in ne dark.
ness I heard the sound of voices and tho
running of the feet of Caesars messengers.'
Flying swiftly to my house, I found Atoua
waiting at the gates. She drew me into q
quiet chamber and closed the doors.
sis it done9'' she asked, and turned her
wrinkled face to mine, while the lamp-light
streamed white upon her snowy hair.
s'Nay, why ask-I know that it is DONE"
SAY, it is done and well done, old-wife;
all are dead; Cleopatra, Iras, Charmion all
save myself"
The aged woman drew up her bent form
and cried: CHOW let me go in peace, for
have seen my desire upon thy foes and the
foes of Khem-l,, LAT not in vain have
lived ON beyond the years of man. have
seen my desire upon thy enemies-l have
gathered the dews of death, and thy Zoe
hath drunk thereof. Fallen is the brow Of
pride! The shame of Khem is level with
the dustl Ah-would that I might have
seen that wanton ,die!'
sCease, woman, cease! The dead arc
gathered to the dead. Osiris holds them
fast, and everlasting silence seals their
lips. Pursue not the fallen great with In,
suits. Up-let us fly to Abouthis, that all
may be accomplished"
Oily thou, Harmachisl - Hamachis,.
ay!-but fly not. To this end only have
fingered On the earth. Now I unite the.
knot of life and let my spirit freel Fare.
thee well, prince, the pilgrimage is donel
Harmachis, from babe have loved thee.
and love thee vet! But no more in this.
world may share thy griefs. I am spent,
Osiris, take thou my spirit!" And her
! trembling knees gave way, and she sank TO-
the ground.
I ran to heF side and looked upon her.
She was already dead, and was alone upon
The earth without a friead to comfort me- }.
Then turned and went, no man hinder:
ing me, for all was confusion in the city, and
departed from Alexandria in a vessel I had
made ready. On the eighth day landed.
and, in the carrying out of my purpose
travelled on fast across the fields to
the holy shrines Of Abouthis And here,
as knew the worship Of the gods