The Irish standard., 1889-12-14

ness and preparation. sat- and crouched
upon a rug, nigh to the door, lay the aged
Atoua. White was her hair as snow,
and shriveled with age the wrinkled
countenance of the woman who, when all
deserted me, had yet chung to me, in her
great love forgetting my great sins. Nine
years! nine long years. and now, once
again, set my foot in Alexandria! Once
again in the appointed circle OF things !
came forth from the Solitude OF preparation
to be a fate to Cleopatra: and this second
time came not forth to fail. And yet how
changed the circumstance l was out OF
the story; my part now was put the part OF
the sword in the hand of Justice; no more
might hope to make Egypt free and great
and sit upon my lawful throne. Khem was
lost, and lost was /, Harrnachis. In the rush
and turmoil of events the great plot, where
of had been the pivot, was covered up and
forgotten; scarce did memory OF it re-
main. The curtain of dark night was clos
ing in upon the history Of my ancient race;
it's very Gods Were tottering to their fall
already could I, IN the spirit, hear the
shrek of the Roman eagles as they tapped
their wings above the furthest banks of the
Sihor. Presently reused myself and bade
Atoua go search mirror and bring it to
me, that might look therein.
And this I saw: a face shrunKen and
pallid whereon no smile came; great eyes
grown wan with gazing into darkness look
ing out, beneath the shaver head, emptily
as the hollow eye-pits of the skull; a
wizened, hating form wasted by absti-
hence, sorrow and prayer; q long, wild
that ever trembled like leaf; bowed shout
ders and lessened limbs. Time and grief
had done their work, indeed; scarce could
think myself the same as when, the Royal
Harmachis-in all the splendor of my
strength and youthful beauty first had
looked upon the woman's loneliness that
did destroy me. And yet within me burned
the same fire as Of yore; yet was not
changed, for time and grief had no power
to alter the immortal spirit of man. Sea-
sons may come and go; Hope, like a bird, may
fly away; Passion may break its wings
against the iron bars Of Fate; illusions may
crumble as the cloudy towers of sunset
fame; Faith, as running watef, may slip
from meath our feet; Solitude may stretch
itself around US like the measureless desert
sand; Old Age may creep as the gathering
night over our bowed heads grown hoary in
their shame; yea, bound to Fortunes wheel.
we may taste Of every turn OF chance--now
rule as Kings, now serve as slaves; now
love, now hate; now prosper and now per
ish. But still, through all, weare the same;
for this is the marvel of Identity.
And as I sat and thought these things IN
bitterness, there came Q knocking at the
door.
''Upen, Atoua!' / said.
She rose and did my bidding; and a
woman entered, clad in Che Grecian robes.
TWAS Charmion, still beautiful as Of old.
but sad-faced now and very sweet to see.
with q patient fire slumberlng "a 4er down
cast eye. 81 IS l.5ss 5 II. n 5s.
She entered unattended; and, speaking
no word, the old wife pointed e. where j
sat, and went ss ss85 AZ
s'Old man, = she said, addressing me-.
sslead me q the Learned olympus i coma
upon tho Queens BUSH u
rose. md mn had. Jool i ; mn