Thomas County cat., 1890-02-20
ul... up-,es us ty to Abouthis, th.. ali

,ults. Up-les rs ny to Abouthis, that Ill
nay be accomplished"
F.; "Fly thou, Harmschis! Rarmachis.
iyi-but fly not To this end only have
fingered on the earth. Now unite the
snot of life and let my spirit freei Faro
.hee well, prince, the pilgrimage Is done
iarmachis, from q babe have loved thee,
md love thee vet! But no more In this
world may share thy griefs. I am spent
Osiris, take thou my spirit!' And her
trembling knees gave way, and she sank 70
he ground.
/ I ran TO her side and looked upon her.
She was already dead. and was alone upon
he earth without a friend to comfort me-.
I Then turned aud went, no man hinder
! ng me, for all was confusion in the city. and
departed from Alexandra in q vessel had
made ready. On the eighth day landed.
and, in the carrying out Of my purpose
raveled on fast across the fields TO
he holy shrines Of Abouthis. And here,
IS I knew the worship of the gods
lad been lately set up again, in the temple
II the divine Seth (for Charmion had
:aused Cleopatra 10 repent Of her decree OF
vengeance and to restore the lands that she
aad seized, though the treasure she re-
stored not), and the temple having been
purified, now, at the season Of the feast OF
Isis, all the high priests Of the ancient tenn
pies of Egypt were gathered together to
,elebr ate the coming home Of the gods into
their holy place.
gained the city. 1t was on the seventh
iay Of the feast of Isis. Even as came the
long array wended through the wellremem-
bered streets. I joined in the multitude
that followed, and with my voice sweiled
the chorus Of the solemn chant as we passed
through the pyions into the imperisha0le
halls. How well known were the holy
words:
..Softly we tread, our measured footsteps fall
ing
Within Tho sanctuary seven-fold!
Soft on the dead that veth arc We calling.
Return, Osiris, from thy kin sdom cold,
Return to them that worship thee Of old"
And then, when the sacred music ceased,
asaforetime on tie setting Of the majesty
of Ra-the high priest raised the statue Of
the living God and held 1t on high before
the multitude. With joyful shout OF
Osiris, our hope! Osiris! Osiris!" the
people tore the black wrappings from their
dress, showing the whits rnbes beneath,
and, as one man, bowed before the God.
Then they went to feast, each at his home;
but l stayed In the court Of the temple
Presently priest Of the temple drew near,
aud asked me OF my business; and / an
swered him that came from Alexandra,
and would be led before the council of the
high priest, for knew that the holy priests
were gathered together debating the tidinRs
from Alexandria Thereon the man left
and the high priests, hearing that was
from Alexandria, ordered that should be
led into their presence in the second hall OF
columns-nnd SO / was led in.
1t was already dark, and between the
great pillars lights were set, as on that
night when l was crowned Pharaoh OF the
upper and the lower land. There, too, was
the long line nf dignitaries seated in their
carven chairs and taking counsel together
All was the same. The same cold images
of kings AMI Gods gazed with the same
empty eyes from the everlasting walls.
Anymore! Among those gathered there
were five Of the very men who, as leaders
Of the great plot, had sat here to see me
crowned, being the only consplrators who
had escaped the vengeance OF Cleopatra
and the clutchiEg hand Of time. took my
stand on the spot where once had teen
crowned, and made me ready for the last
act of shame, with such bitterness OF heart
as can not be written.
why, it is the physician Olympus" said
one "he who lived a hermit in the tombs
OF Tape, aud who but lately was Of the
household Of Cleopatra. Il it, then, true
that the queen is dead by her own hand,
physician!"
"Yea, holy sirs, am that physician; also
Cleopatra is dead by my hand"
"By thy hand! Why. how comes thisi
though well she is dead, forsooth, the wick
ed wanton!'
"Your pardon, slrs, and I will tell you ali,
for am come hither to that end. Per-
chance among you there may be some
methnks see some-who nigh eleven years
ago were gathered In this hail to secretly
crown one Harmschis. Pharaoh Of Khem"
1t is true" they said; "but how knowest
thou these things, thou, Olympusr'