The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-01-09

sun, and in this place Of desolation the Dr.
vine PharaOhs, my forefathers, followed
out their tombs In the solid rock, whereof
the most part are lost to this day, so cum
ningiy have they been hidden But some
are open, for the accurscd Persians and
other thieves broke into them in search OF
| treasure. Andone nght-for by night only
did leave my hiding place-just Us the
dawn was breaking on the mountain tops,
wandered alone in this sad Valley of
Death, like to which there Is no other, and
presently came to the mouth of tomb hid
den amid great rocks, which hereafter
knew for the place of the burying Of the
Divine Rameses, the third OF that name,
now long gathered to Osiris. And by the
faint hight of the dawn creeping through
the entrance l saw that it was spacious,
and that within were chambers. On the
following night, therefore, returned, bear
ing lights, with Atoua, my nurse, who
ever minlstered faithfully to me rs
when ! was little and without discre-
ton. And we searched the mighty
tomb and came to the great hall OF
the sarcophagus Of granite, wherein
mystic paintings on the walls-the symbol
of the Snake unending, the symbol Of Ra
(the SUM, resting upon the Scarabeus, the
symbol Of Ra resting upon Nout, the SYM
Dol of the Headless Men, and many others
whereof, being initiated, well / read the
mysteries. And opening from the long-de
sccnding passage found chambers where
on were paintings beautiful to behold, and
OF all manner Of things. For beneath each
chamber is entombed the master Of the
craft whereof the paintings tell, he who
was the chief Of the servants of the craft
IN the house Of the divine Rameses. And
on the walls of the last chamber-on the
left-hand side, looking toward the hall Of
the sarcophagus-are paintings exceeding
beautiful, and two blind Harpcrs playing
Upon their bent harps even before the God
Mou: and beneath the floor these Harpcrs,
who harp no more, IRE soft ut sleep Here.
then, In this gloomy place, even IN the tomb
Of the Harpers and the company Of the
dead, took up my abode; and here for
eight long years did / work out my pen
ance and make atonement for my sin. But
Atoua, because she loved to he near the
light, abode in the chamber of the Beats
that Is, the first chamber on the right-hand
side Of the gallery looking toward the hall
Of the Sarcophagus.
And this was the manner Of my life. On
every second day the old wife. Atoua. went
forth and brought from the city water and
such food as Is necessary to keep the life
from failing, and also tapers made from fat.
And one hour at the time OF sunrise and
one hour ut the time Of sunset did / 90
forth also to wander in the valley for my
health's sake and to save my sight from
failing in the great darkness Of tiS tomb.
But the other hours Of the day and night,
save when climbed the mountain 10 watch
the course Of the stars, / spent in prayer
and meditation and sleep, till the cloud Of
sin lifted from my heart and once more
drew near to the Gods, though with Isis, my
heavenly Mother, might speak no more
And exceeding wise grew also, bordering
on all the mysteries whcrcto held the key.
For abstinence and prayer and sorrowful
solitude wore away the grossness Of my
flesh, and with the eyes Of the Spirit !
learned to look deep into the heart Of things
till the JOY Of Wisdom fell like dew upon
my soul.
Soon was the rumor waited about the city
that q certain holy man named Olympus
abode in solitude in the tonlbs of the awful
Valley of the Dead: and hithcr came people
bearing sick that might cure them And
gave my mind to the study of simples,
wherein Atoua instructed me; and by lore
and the weight Of thought gained great
skill in medicine and healed many sick. And
thus ever, as time went on, my fame was
noised abroad; and 1t was said that was
also a magician, and that in the tombs
had commune with the spirits OF the dead.
And this, indeed, did-though it 10 not
lawful for me to speak Of these matters.
1,nC 10 ~ mr.
need Atona 90 forth to seek food and water,
for the people brought it-inore than was
needful, for no fee would receive. Now,
at first, fearing lest some might In the
hermit Olympus know the lost Harmachis,
would only meet those who came in the
darkness Of the tomb. But afterward, when
learned how through all the land twas
held that harmachis was certainly no
more, came forth and sat in the mouth
Of the tomb and ministered to the sick, and
at times calculated nativitics for the great.
And thus my fame grew continually, till
at length folk journeyed even from Meniii
and Alexandra to visit me; and from them
learned how Antony had left Cleopatra
for awhile, and, Fulvia being deaa. had
married Oetavia, the sister of Cesar. Many
other things learned also.
And in the second year this did: dis
patched the old wife, Atoua, disguised as .
seller Of simples, to Alexandria. bidding
her seek out Charmion, and, If yet she
found her faithful, reveal to her the secret
Of my way of life. 80 she went, and in the
fifth month from her sailingreturnei, bear
ing Charmion's greetings and token. And
she told me that she had found means tosee
Charmion, and, i'll talk, had let fall the
name of Harmachis, speaking of me as one
dead; whereat Charmion, unable to control
her grief, wept aloud. Then, reading her
heart for the old wife was very clever,
and held the key Of knowie ige-shc told
ner that Harmachis yet lived, and sent her
greetings. Thereupon Charmion wept yet
more with joy, and kissed the old wife, and
made her gifts, bidding her tell me that
ever she kept her vow, aud waited for my
coming and the hour Of vengeance. So,
having learned many secrets, Atoua re-
turned again to Tape.
And In the following year came messen-
gers to me from Cleopatra, bearing sealed
roll and great gifts. Iopened the roll and
read therein:
"Cleopdtrd to Olympus, the learned Egyptian
who dwe,letA In the Valley Of Death by Tar.
"The fame Of thy rcnown. o learned
Olympus, hath reached our ears. Tell
thou, then, this to US, and II thou tellest
Alright greater honor and wealth shalt thou
have than any in Egypt: How shall we
win back the love Of noble Antony, who is
bcwitchcd Of cunning Octavia and tarries
long from uss'
And herein saw the hand Of Chalmion,
who had made known my renown to Cleo
patra.
All that night I took counsel with my
wisdom, aud on the morrow wrote my
answer as 1t was put into my heart to the
destruction Of Cleopatra and of Antony.
And thus wrote:
olympus the Egyptian 10 Cleopatra the
Queen!
go forth into Syria with one who shall
be sent to lead thee; thus shalt thou win
Antony to thy arms again, and with him
gifts more great tEan thou canst dream"
And with this letter / dismissed the
messengers, budding them share the
presents sent BY Cleopatra among their
company.
l So they went wondering