The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-02-12

as went through the gates, ''what passes
yonder In the monumentl Methought
| heard the sounds OF death" 4
"Naught passes; all hath passed. Imade
| reply, and went, and as went in the dark
ness heard the sound Of voices and the
| running of the feet Of Caesars messengers.
| Flying swiftly to my house, found Atoua
| waiting at the gates. She drew me into o
quiet chamber and closed the doors.
as II donep she asked, and turned her
wrinkled face to mine, while the lamp-light
streamed white upon her snowy hair
"Nay, why ask-I know that 1t is done"
SAY, IL Is done and well done, old-wife;
all are dead; Cleopatra, Iras, Charmion-al
save myself"
The aged woman drew up her bent form
and cried: Snow let me go In peace, for
have seen my desire upon thy foes and the
foes Of Khem-ld, ldi not In vain have
lived on beyond the years Of man. l have
seen my desire upon thy enemies-l have
gathered the dews of death, and thy foe
hath drunk thereof. Fallen is the brow OF
pridel The shame Of Khem is level with
the dust! Ah-would that | might have
seen that wanton diep
"Cease, woman, ceasel The dead are
gathered to the dead. Osiris holds them
fast, and everlasting silence seals their
lips. Pursue not the fallen great with In
suits. Up-let us fly to Abouthis, that all
may be accomplished"
"Fly thou, Harmachisl - Harmachis,
fyl-but fly not. To this end only have
fingered on the earth. Now l unite the
knot Of life and let my spirit freel Fare
thee well, prince, the pilgrimage is done!
Harmachis, from babe have loved thee,
and love thee vet But no more In this
world may share thy griefs [ am spent
Osiris, take thou my spiritp And her
trembling knees gave way, and she sank TO
the ground.
1 ran to her side and looked upon her.
She was already dead, and was alone upon
the earth without friend TO comfort me.
Then turned and went, no man hinder
ing me, for all was confusion In the city, and
departed from Alexandria In vessel I had
made ready. On the eighth day landed,
and, In the carrying out Of my purpose
the holy shrines Of Abouthis. And here,
as I knew the worship Of the gods
had been lately set up again, In the temple
Of the divine SETH (for Charmion had
caused Cleopatra 10 repent Of her decree Of
vengeance and to restore the lands that she
had 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 10
celebrate the coming home OF the gods into
their holy place.
gained the city. It was on the seventh
day Of the feast Of Isis. Even as came the
long array wended through the welLremem-
bered streets. joined In the multitude
that followed, aud with my voice swelled
the chorus Of the solemn chant as we passed
through the pylons into the imperishable
halls. How well known were the holy
words: ,I #r r..r.
"Softly We tread, our measured footsteps fall-
ing
Within the sanctuary seven-foldi
Soft on tho dead that liveth are We calling.
Return, Osiris, from thy kingdom cold,
Return 70 them that worship thee OF old"
And then, when the sacred music ceased,
as saforetime on the setting Of the majesty
Of Rattle high priest raised the statue Of
the living God and held II on high before
buO tuulNlbuuOt w lbu lOlIul uuOuL Vi
"0siris, our hopei 0sirisi 0sirisp the
people tore the black wrappings from their
dress, showing the white robes beneath,
and, as one man, bowed before the God.
Then they went TO feast, each at his home;
but stayed In the court OF the temple.
Presently priest Of the temple drew near,
and asked me OF my business; and / an.
swered him that came from Alexandria,
and would be led before the council Of the
high priest, for knew that the holy priests
were gathered together debating the tidings
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-and so was led in.
II 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 OF dignitaries seated in their
carven chairs and taking counsel together.
All was the same. The same cold images
OF kings and Gods gazed with the same
empty eyes from the everlasting walls.
Ay-morel Among those gathered there
were five OF the very men who, as leaders
Of the great plot, had sat here 10 see me
crowned, being the only consplrators who
had escaped the vengeance OF Cleopatra
and the clutching hand Of time took my
stand on the spot where once had been
crowned, and made me ready for the last
act Of shame, with such bitterness OF heart
as can not be written.
"Why, 1t is the physician Olympus l' said
one-"he who lived hermit In the tombs
OF Tape, and who but lately was Of the
household OF Cleopatra. Is II, then, true
that the queen is dead by her own hand,
physiciani"
"Yea, holy sirs, am that physician; also
Cleopatra is dead by my hand"
"By thy handl Why, how comes thisi
though well she is dead, forsooth, the wick
ed wantonl'
"Your pardon, slrs, and i will tell you all,
for am come hither 10 that end. Per-
chance among you there may be some
methlnks see some-who nigh eleven years
ago were gathered In this hall 10 secretly
crown one Harmachis, Pharaoh Of Khemi'
1T is true" they said; "but how knowest
thou these things, thou, olympusr
'Of the rest OF those seven-and. thirty no
bles," went on, making no answer, ''are
two-and-thirty missing. Some are dead. as
Amenemhat is dead; some are slain, as
Sepa is slain; and some, perchance, yet la
Dor as slaves within the mines, or live afar,
fearing vengeance"
SIT Is So" they said; "alas II Is so. Har-
machis, the accursed, betrayed the plot, and
sold himself 10 the wanton Cleopatra"
'It is So" went on, lifting up my head.
"Harmachis betrayed the plot and sold him
self 10 Cleopatra; and, holy sirs-I am that
HdT1ndchtsn The nrieata and dIonitariaa