Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-03-06

the Upper and the Lower Country, here
gathered IN answer to my summons, hear
me- present unto You, with such scant
Formally IS the occasion can afford, the
Prince Harmachis, by right and true de-
scent or blood the descendant and heir of
the ancient Pharaohs Of our most unhappy
land. Priest Is he of the Utmost circle OF
the Mysteries Of the Divine Isis, Master Of
the Mysteries, Hereditary Priest of the Pyr-
amids which are by Memf Instructed in
the Solemn Rites Of the Holy Osiris. Is
there any among you who hath aught to
urge against the true line Of his bIoodl"
He paused, and my Uncle Sepa, rising
from his chair, spoke: I'VE have made ex-
animation of the records and there is none,
0 Amenemhat- He is of the ROYAL blood
his descent is true"
as there any among you," went on my
father, 'who can deny that this Royal Har-
machis, by sanctions Of the very Gods, hath
been gathered to Isis. been shown the way
OF the Osiris, been admitted to be the
Hereditary High Priest of the Pyramids
which are by Memfi, and of the Temples OF
the Pyramidsa"
Then rose that old Priest who had been
my guide in the sanctuary Of the Mother and
made answer: There is none, o Amenem-
hat; Of my own knowledge know I these
things"
Once more my father spake: SIS there
any among you who hath aught to urge
against this Royal Harmachis, in that by
wickedness of heart or life, by uncleanness
or falsity, it Is not tit or meet that we
should crown him Lord of all the Landsa'
Then rose an aged Prince of Memfi and
made answer: I'VE have inquired of these
| matters; there is none. 0 Amenemhatr'
1T is well, said my father; then naught
| is wanting in the Prince Harmachis, seed
| of Nektnebf, the Osirian. Let the woman
Atoua stand forth and tell to this company
those things that came to pass when, at the
hour OF her death, she who was my wife
prophesied over this Prince, beng filed
with the spirit of the Hathors"
Thereon old Atoua crept forward from
| the shadow of the columns and earnestly
| told those things that have been written.
I'VE have heard, +" said my father; $40 We
believe that the woman who was my wife
| spake with the divine voice?"
1--WE do" they answered.
Then my Uncle Sepa rose and spake:
"Royal Harmachis, thou hast heard.
Know now that we are gathered here to
| crown thee King of the Upper and the
hat, renouncing all his right on thy behalf.
We are met, not, indeed. in such pomp and
ceremony is due to the occasion-for that
which we do must be done in secret, lest
| our lives and the cause that is more dear to
US than life should pay the forfeit-but yet
| with such dignity and observance of the
| ancient rites as our circumstances may
command, Learn, now, how this matter
hangs, and if. after learning, thy mind
consents thereto, then mount thy throne, o
Pharaoh, and swear the oathl
| 'Long hath Khem groaned beneath the
mailed heel of the Greek, and trembled at
the shadow of the Romans spear; long has
the ancient worship of its Gods been des-
ecrated, and it's people crushed with op-
preston. But we believe that the hour of
| dehverance is at hand, and with the solemn
voice of Egypt and by the ancient Gods of
Egypt, to whose cause thou art of all men
| bound, we call upon thee, 0 Prince, TO be
| the sword of our deliverance! HearkenI
Twenty thousand good and leal men are
| sworn to wait upon thy word, and at thy
| signal to rise as one, to put the Grecian
| to the sword, and with their blood and SUBJ
stance to build thee throne set more sure
| ly on the soil of Khem than are its ancient
Pyramids-such throne as shall even roll
the Roman legions back. And for that sig
nal, it shall be the death of that bold harlot,
Cleopatra. Her death must thou compass,
o Harnachis, in such fashion as shall be
shown to thee, and with her blood anoint
the royal throne of Egypt.
"Canst thou refuse. o our Hope? Doth
not the holy love of country swell within
thy heart? Canst thou dash the cup of
Freedom from thy lips and bear to drink
the bitter draught of slavesl Great is the
emprise, and may be it shall fail, ard thou
with thy life, as we with ours, shalt pay
the price of our endeavor. But what of
that, Harmachisa Is life, then, so sweetl
Are we so softly cushioned on the stony
| bed OF Earth! Is bitterness and sorrow in
| its sum so small and scant a thing! Do we
here breathe so divine an air that we
should fear to face the passage of our
breath! What have we here but hope and
| memorya What see we hear but shadows 2
Shall we then fear to pass pure-handed
where fulfllment is and memory is lost in
its own source and shadows die in the light
which cast them! o, Harmachis, that man
alone is truly blest who crowns his life with
Deaths most splendid wreath. For since
to all the Brood of Earth Death hands his
poppy flowers, happy indeed is he to whom
there is occasion given to weave them in a
crown Of fame undying. And how can a