The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-07-11

] may give its dumb audience
10 the messengers Of Caesar as becomes the
last of Egypt's queens"
spoke no word in answer, for my heart
was very heavy, and now that all was done,
was weary. Together, then, we lifted up
the body and laid 1t on the golden bed.
Charmion placed the uraeus crown upon
the ivory brow, and combed the night-dark
hair that showed never a thread of silver,
and for the last time shut those eyes where
in had shone all the changing glories Of the
sea. She folded the chill hands upon the
breast whence passions breath had fed,
and Strengthened the bent knees beneath
the broidered robe, and by the head set
flowers, and there at length Cleopatra lay,
more splendid now in her cold majesty of
death than in her richest hour of breathing
beauty. We drew back and looked on her,
and on dead Iras at her feet.
sit is DONE" Quoth Charmion; tive are
avenged; and now, Harmachis, dost follow
by this same roadl" and she nodded to-
wards the phial on the board.
"Nay, Charmion. fy-I fly to heavier
death Not thus easily may end my space
of earthly penance."
$50 be it, Harmschis, and l, Harmachis-
fly also, but with swifser wings. My game
is played. !, too, have made atonement-
Obi what bitter fate Is mine, to have
brought misery on all I love, and, in the end,
to die unloved. To thee have atoned; to
my angered Gods 1 have atoned; and now
go to find a way whereby may atone to
Cleopatra in that He'll where she is, and
which must share, for she loved me well,
Hartnachis; and, now that she is dead,
methinks that, after thee, loved her best
of all. So Of her cup and the cup Of Iras
will surely drink"
And she took the phial, and with a steady
hand poured that which was left of the
poison into the goblet.
"Bethink thee, Charmion,"I said; '.yet
mayst thou live for many years, hiding
these sorrows beneath the withered days"
"Yet may, but will notl To live the
prey Of SO many memories, the fount of an
undying shame that night by night, as l
lie sleepless, shall well afresh from my sor-
row-stricIen heart to live, torn by a love 1
can not lose. To stand alone, like some
storm-twisted tree, and signing day by
day to the winds of heaven. Gaze upon the
desertof my life, while wait the lingering
lightning's stroke. Nay, that will not /;
Harmachis, Ihad died long since, but lived
on to serve thee; now no more thou modest
fare thee well; for not again shall look
upon thy face, and where go thou goest
Lot; for thou dost not love me who still
dost love that queenly woman thou hast
bounded to the death. Her thou shalt never
win, and thee 1 shall never win,
and this is the bitter end of fate. See,
Harmachisl ask one boon before go,
and for all time become naught to thee but
q 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 NE on the brow, and bid me
pass in peace" ......
And she drew near to me with arms out
stretched, and pitiful, trembling lips, and
gazed upon my face.
sChRrmion, - answered, tive are free to
act 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, seal our peace"
And with my lips touched her brow.
She spoke no more; only iGr little while
she stood gazing on me with SAD eyes, then
she lifted the goblet, and said: Royal Har-
machis, In this deadly cup ! pledge thee;
would that ] had drunk Of it ere ever I
looked upon thy face, Pharaoh, who, thy
sins outworn, yet shall rule in perfect
peace DER worlds / may not tread, who yet
shall sway a kinglier scepter than that
robbed thee of, forever fare thee well"
She drank. cast down the cup and for a
moment stood with the wide eyes Of one |
who looks for death. Then he came, and |
'Charmion, the Egyptian, fell prone upon |
the floor, dead; and for q moment / stood |
alone with the dead.
Icrept to the side OF Cleopatra, and, now |
that none were left to see, / SAL down on |
the bed and laid her head upon my knee,
as once before it had been laid; in that |
night Of sacrilege beneath the everlasting |
pyramid. Then kissed her chill brow and |
went from the house Of death stavenged, |
but sorely smitten with despair
Physician, J" said the officer of the guard |
as went through the gates, '.what passes |
yonder in the monuments Methousht I /
heard the sounds Of DEATH
'Naught passes; al hath passed, % I made |
reply, and went; and as went in the dark
ness l heard the sound of voices and the /
running of the feet of Cesar's messengers.
Flying swiftly to my house, found Atoua
waiting at the gates. She drew me into a
quiet chamber and closed the doors.
SIS it donel" she asked, and turned her
wrinkled face 70 mine, while the lamp-light
streaned white upon her snowy hair.
ssNsy, why askI know that it is done "