Thomas County cat., 1890-01-23
lsked the rough-bearded sailor.

these people called mountain that we haG
sighted, and therefore took the name q
hazard. And as Olympus henceforth was
known.
Here with these rough hsher-folk did
abide for the half Of year, paying them q
little out Of the sum Of gold that had come
safely ashore upon me. For long was it be
fore my bones grew together again, and
then was left somewhat of q cripple; for
who had been so tall and straight and strong
now limped-one limb being shorter than
the other. Aud after I recovered from my
hurt, still lived there, and toiled with
them at the trade Of fishing; for whittier
should 60 or what should do that knew
not, and, tor awhile, fain was to become
q peasant fisherman, and so wear my weary
life away. And these people entreated me
kindly, though, as others, they feared me
much, holding me to be a wizard brought
hither by the sea. For methinks that my
sorrows had stamped so strange an aspect
on my face that men gazing thereon grew
fearful Of what lay beneath its calm.
There then I abode, till at length one
night as / lay and strove to sleep, great
restlessness came upon me, and o mighty
desire once more to see the broad face Of
Sihor. But whether this desire was of the
Gods or born of my own heart, not knowing
can not tell So strong was it at the last,
that before it was dawn Irose from my bed
of straw, and clothed myself in my fisher
garb, and, because had no wish to answer
questions, thus took farewell Of my hum
BILE hosts. First on the well-cleaned table Of
wood placed some pieces Of gold, and then
taking pot Of -four / strewed 1t in the
form Of letter-writing-
'1his gift from Olympus, the E5yptian, rho
returns into the sea-"
Then went, and on the third day came
to the great city Of Salamis, that is also on
the sea. Here abode in the fisherman's
quarter till a vessel was about to sail for
Alexandria, and to the captain of this ves-
sci. man of Paphos, l hired myself as a
sailor We sailed with favoring wind,
and on the fifth day l came to Alexandria,
that hateful city, and saw the light glaring
on its golden domes.
Here might not abide. So once again l
hired myself out as sailor, giving my
labor in return for passage, and we passed
up the Nile. And from the talk of men 1
learned that Cleopatra had come back to
Alexandria, drawing Antony with her, and
that together they lived in royal state in
the palace on the Lochias. Indeed, the
boatmen already had a song thereon, which
they sang as they labored at the oar. Also
heard how the galley that was sent to
search for the vessel which carried the
Syrian merchant had foundered with all
her crew, and the tale that the Queens as
tronomer, Harmachis, had flown to
Heaven from the roof of the house at
Tarsus. And the sailors wondered because
/ sat and labored, and would not sing their
rlbald songs of the loves of Cleopatra. For
they, too, began to fear me, and mutter con-
corning me among themselves. Then l
knew that / was a man accursed and set
apart-a man whom none might love.
On the sixth day we drew nigh to
Abouthis, where left the craft, and right
glad were tn, sailors to see me go. And,
with breaking heart, / walked through
the fertile fields, seeing faces that well
knew. But in my rough disguise and limp
ing gait none knew me. At length came,
as the sun sank, near to the great outer
pylon of the Temple; and here l crouched
down in the ruins of house, not knowing
wherefore had come or what l was about
to do. Like lost OK l had strayed from
far, back to the fields of my birth, and for
what2 II my father, Amenemhat, still
lived, surely he would turn his face from
mel dared not 60 into the presence of
my father. I sat hidden there among the
broken rafters and idly watched the pylou
gates, to see if perchance a face knew
should issue forth. But none came forth or
entered in, though the great gates stood
wide; and then l saw that herbs were
growing 'twlXt the stones, where, no herbs
had grown for ages. What could this be!
Was the Temple deserted! Nay; how could
the worship of the eternal Gods have
ceased that for thousands of years had,
day by day, been offered in the holy
place! Was, then, my father deads It
we'll might be. And yet, why this silencel
where were the priests? where the
No more could / bear the
doubt, but as the sun sank red crept like
3 hunted jackal through the open gates,
and on till l reached the first great Hall of
Pillars. Here paused and gazed around
sight, not a sound IN the dim and
holy place! Onwith a beating heart went
10 the second great hall of six-and-thirty
pillars, where had been crowned Lord of
Ill the Land; still not a sight or sound +!
Thence, half fearful of my own football, SO
,errible did it echo in the silence of the de- |
serted Holes, passed down the passage of |
he names Of the Pharaohs toward nv IA |
hers chamber. There still swung the cur
ain DER the doorway; but what would |
here be within!- also emptiness? lifted |
t, and noiselessly passed in, and there in his |
arven chair at the table whereon his long |
White beard flowed down, sat my father, |
Amenemhat, clad in his prIestly robes. At |
lrst thought that he was dead, so still he |
at; but at length he turned his head, and |
aw that his orbs were white and sightless
ie was blind, and his face was thin as the
ace Of dead man, and woeful with age and
rief.
stood still and felt the blind eyes wan
ering over me. I could not speak-I dared
OF speak to HIM; would go and hide my
elf afresh.
Already had turned and grasped the cur
ain, when, in deep, slow voice, my father
poke:
Come hither, thou who vast my son and
rt traitor. Come hitler, thou Harmachis,
'hereon Khem builded up her hope Not
! vain. then, have l drawn thee from far
way! Not in vain have held my life in
e till heard thy football creeping down
lese empty Holes, like the football of
lief!"
"Ohl my father,"I gasped, astonished. !
Thou art blind; how knowest thou mef'
"How do / know thee and askest thou
Iat who hast learned Of our lorel Enough,