Telegram-herald., 1889-10-22

3
q the divine Setni (f0r Charmioa hzd
caused Cleopatra 70 repeat Of her decree Of
ve8zsance and % restore the lands that she
had seized, though the treasure she re-
stored mott, aud the temple having been
purified. now, az the season OF the feast Of
ISIS, az the hlgn priests OF the ancient TEN
pies Of Egypt were gathered together 70
cele0rats the coming home Of the gods into
their holy place.
gained the city. II was On the seventh
day Of the feast Of Isis. Even as came the
long array wended through the well
bered streets. l joined IN the multitude
that followed, and with ny voice sws.led
the chorus Of the solemn chant IS We passed
through the pylons into the inperlshaoie
halls. How well known were the holy
words:
5orly We treaa. our measured footsteps fall
lng
Within ths sanctuary sevsn-folti
soft on the dead that liyeta are We calling.
Return. Osiris from thy kingdom cold,
Return 10 them that worship thee of old"
And then, when che sacred music ceased,
ss aforetime on the setting Of the majesty
Of Rattle high priest raised the statue OF
the living God and held IL on high before
the multitude. With a Joyful shout OF
+'O8lfls, our uOpc4 OsLis- O>ltAS. tAc
people tore the black wrappings from their
dress, showing the white robes beneath,
and, as one man, bowed before the God.
Then thoy went 10 feast, each ~ his home;
but | stayed In the court OF the temple
Presently priest Of the temple drew near.
and ASKED me Of my business; and | al
swered him that came from Alexandria,
and would be led before the council Of the
nigh priest, for knew that the holy priests
were gathered together debating the tidings
from Alexandria Thereon the man leff
and the high priests, hearing that was
from Alexandria ordered that should be
led into their presence In the second hall OF
cOlGmns-~nd SO | was led In.
IL was already dark, and between the
great pillars lights were set, as on that
night when was crowned Pharaoh OF the
upper and the lower land. There, too, was
the long line OF dignitariss seated in their
carven chars and taking counsel together
AL was the same. The same cold images
OF kings aud Gods gazed with the same
empty eyes from the everlasting walls
Ay-morel Among those gathered there
were five Of the very men who, as leaders
Of the great plot, had sat here 10 see me
crowned, being the only consplrators who
had escaped the vengeance Of Cleopatra
and the clutching hand Of time. / took my
stand on the spot where once l had been
crowned, and made me ready for the last
act OF shame with such bitterness OF heart
as can not be written.
why, il is the physician Olympusr' said
one-"he who lived hermit in the tomos
Of Tape. and who but lately was OF the
household Of Cleopatra. Is it, then, true
that the queen IS dead by her own hand,
physiciani"
''Yea, holy sirs, am that physician; also
Cleopatra is dead by my hand
by thy handl Why, how comes thisi
though well she is dead, forsooth, the wick
ed wanton"'
"Your pardon, slrs, and / viii tell you all,
for l am come hither to that end. Per-
chance among you there may be some
methinks see some-whO nigh eleven years
ago were gathered in this hall 10 secretly
crown one Hsrmachis. Pharaoh of Khemr'
'It is true" they said; "but how knowest
thou these things, thou, Olympus"
'Of the rest Of those seven-and- thirty no
bles," went on, making no answer, ARE
two-and-thirty missing. Some are dead, as
Amenemhat is dead; some are slain, as
Sepa is slain; aud some, perchance, yet la
Dor as slaves within the mines, or live sfar,
fearing vengeance
ut is so" they said; ''alas it is 50. Har-
machis, the accursed betrayed the plot, and
sold himself 10 the wanton Cleopatra
1T Is So" | went on, lifting up my head.
"Harmachis betrayed the plot and sold him
self TO Cleopatra; and. holy sirs-I am that
Harrndchis" The priests and dignitaries
gazed assOnished. Some rose and spoke;
some said naught. Il am that Harmachis;
am that traitor. trebly stepped in crime
traitor TO my Gods, a traitor to my coun-
try. traitor 70 my oath. / come hither TO
say that have done this. 1 have executed
the divine vengeance on her who ruined me
and gave Egypt % the Roman. And now
that, after years Of toll and patient waiting.
this - accomplished by my wisdom ana the
help OF the angry Gods. behold, l come,
with all my shame upon my head, 10 do
clare the thing l am, and take the traitors
guerdon ~
"Miudest thou Of the doom OF him who
hath broke the oath that may not DC brokel"
asked he who first had spoken, in heavy
tones.
Il know It we'll" answered; ~ court
that awful doom"
''Tell us more OF this matter, thou who
vast Harmachis"
SO, in cold. clear words, laid bare all nv
shame. keeping back nothing. and ever as
spoke / saw their faces grow moro hard, and
knew that FOR me there was no mercy; nor
did I ask it; nor had I asked. could IL have
been granted When. - last, had done,
they put me aside while they took counsel.
Then they drew ne forth again and the
eldest among them. a man very old and ven
cradle, the priest OF the temple OF the divine
Hatshepu az Tape, spoke in icy accents:
Thou. Harm achis. we have considered
this matter. Thou hast siuBed the three
fold deadly sin. On thy head lies TIE bur
den Of the woe % Khem. this dsv snthraled
of Rome 70 Isis the mother MYSTERY. thou
hast offered the deadly insult and thou hast
broken thT holy oa-h For al of these
sins there IS. as vel thou knowest, but one
reward, and that reward is thine Naugnt
can it weigh IN the balance of our justice
that thou hast slain her who was thv cause
of stumbling. naught that thou c0mest 20
name thTsef the viiest thing who ever
stood within these walls. on thee. also.
must fal the curse Of Menks-ra, thou false
PRIEST thou forsworn patriot thou
Pharaoh. shameful and discrowneo Hc-e.
where We SET the dou1le crown upon thy
head, we doom thee - the doom Go 20
thv dun EeCn. and await the falling Of It's
stroke Go remembering what thou
mightest have been and what thoa art. aud
nay those Gods who. through Thy EVIL do
ing. shah perchsnce ere long cease - be-
worshiped within these holy temples give
- thee that mercy ~hlch We deny Lead
him forfhf'
50 they took ne and led me- FORTH With
bowed head went. looking not up, aud Tet
A. Z. De W 1T T, VI. D.