The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-01-22

ness and preparation. l sat. and crouched
upon a rug, nigh TO the door, lay the aged
Atoua White was her hair as snow,
and shriveled with age the wrfnkled
countenance Of the woman who, when all
deserted me, had yet olung 10 me, in her
great love forgetting my great sins. Nine
yearsl nine long years. and now, once
again, set my foot In Alexandria, Once
again in the appointed circle Of things
came forth from the solitude OF preparation
10 be q fate 10 Cleopatra; and this secone
time came not forth TO fail. And yot how
changed the circumstance was out oil
the story; my part now was but the part Of
the sword In the hand OF Justice; no more
might hope 10 make Egypt free and great
and sit upon my lawful throne. Khem wai
lost, and lost was /, Harmachis. In the rush
and turmoil OF events the great plot, where
OF had been the pivot, was covered up ane
forgotten; scarce did u memory Of II re
main. The curtain OF dark night was clos
lug in upon the history Of my ancient race,
Its very Gods w're tottering 10 their fall,
already could l, IN the spirit, hear the
shrek Of the Roman eagles as they tapped
their wings above the furthest banks OF the
Sihor. Presently reused myself and bade
Atoua go search q mirror and bring II te
me, that might look therein.
And this saw: face shrunken and
pallid whereon no smile came; great eyes
grown wan with gazing into darkness look.
ing out, beneath the shaven head, emptily
as the hollow eye-pits Of the skull;
wizened, hating form wasted by absti.
nenoe, sorrow and prayer; q long, wild
beard ofiron gray; thin, blue-veined hands
that ever trembled like leaf; bowed shoul.
ders and lessened llmbs Time and grief
had done their work, indeed; scarce could
think myself the same as when, the Royal
Harmachis-in all the splendor OF my
strength aud youthful beauty-I first had
looked upon the woman's loveliness that
did destroy me. And yet within me burned
the same fire as Of yore; yet was not
changed, for time and grief had no power
10 alter the immortal spirit OF man. Sea-
sons may come and 60; Hope, like bird, may
hy away, Passion may break It's wings |
aglinst Tie iron bars Of Fate; illusions may |
crumble - the cloudy towers Of sunset |
fame; Faith, as running water, may alp |
from meath our feet; Solitude may stretch |
Itself around us like the measureiess desert |
sand: Old Age may creep as the gathering |
night over our bowed heads grown hoaryin |
their shame; yea, bound 10 Fortunes wheel, |
we may taste OF every turn OF chauce-now
rule a. Kings, now serve as slaves; now
love, now hate; now prosper and now per.
ish But stli, through all, we are the same;
for this Is the marvel OF Identity.
And a. sat and thought these things in |
bitterness, there came q knocking ut the
door.
"open, Atouap, SAID.
She rose and did my bidding; and a
woman entered, clad in the Grecian robes.
IL was Charmion, still beautiful rs Of old,
but sad-faced now and very sweet TO see,
with patient IRE slumberIng In her down.
cast eye jl
She entered unattended; and, speaking
no word, the old wife pointed TO where /
sat, and went
"0ld man." she said, addressing me,
"lead me 70 the learned Olympus. l come
upon the Queens business.o
rose, and, lifting my head, looked upon
her. She gazed, and gave little cry.
"Surely,n she whispered, glanclng round,
'surely thou art not that" And she
paused.
THAT Harmachis whom once thy foolish
heart did love, o Charmioni Yea, I am he,
and what thou seest, most fair LADY. Yet
II Harmachis dead whom thou dldst love:
but Olympus, the skilled Egyptian, waits
upon thy wordsfp 80 I7,S
accaser' She said, sand Of the mast but
one wotA and fhen-why, Jet II lie Not
wen with al thy wisdom canst thou know
3 trls womss'f htart u thoa dost believe,