The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-01-30

most splendid robes, and, TO
xother with IrEs, (hsrmion and myself,
she .upped Now, as she suppcd, her spirit
Jared ur wildly, even as tbs sky lights up
NJ sunset, and once more shs laughed and
sparkled o., IN brgone years, telling a. tales
Of suppers winch she and Antony had eaten
OF. Never. indeed did ] see her look more
beauteous than on tina. last fatal night OF
vengeance. And thus heif mind drew on to
that supper at Tarsus, when sre Drank the
pearl.
STRANGE she said, "strangS that ct s1e
last the mind of Antony should have turned
back to tha. night among all the nights. and
to the saying OF Harmachis. CharmiSn,
thou dost remember Harmachis, the Egyp-
tian:.
s.Surely. o Queen" she answered slowly.
And who, then, was HarmaclhsT !
asked: for was fin to know il she sor-
rowed DER my memory.
Il will tell tnee It's strange tale, and
now that all is done it may well be told.
This Harmachis was Of the ancient race Of
the Pharaohs. and having, indeed, been In
ts.ret crowned at Abydos, was sent bi.her
10 Alexandria to carry out great plot that
mad bee, formed against the rule OF 10
Roval Iagiaa. He came and gained en-
trance IN the palace IS my astrolcger, for
he was very learned in all n,agic-much -
,hou art. Dlympus-end man beautiful to
.ee. Now. this was lbs plot-that be should
s,av me and be named Pharaoh. IN truth.
it was O strong one, Tor ne mad
many friends in Egypt ana ! lew.
And on that very nigf ~oen ne
should carry out his purpose, ycs' ~ Ing
rery hour, came Charmion yonder ana toio
the plot to me, saying that she had chancs0
upon it's clew But in after days-thouRh
naught have said thereon to thee, Char
mion-I misdoubted me much OF that tale
Of thine; for, by the Gods! At this hour
do believe that thou didst love Harmachis.
and because he scorned thee thou didst be-
tray him, and for that cause also thou hast
all thy days remained q maid, which IS .
thing unnatural. Come, Charmion, tell Us
for naughtit matters now At the end"
Charnion shiyered and made answer: 1T
Is true, o Queen; also was Of the plot, and
because Harmachis scorned me l betrayed
him. and because Of my great love for him
have 1 remained unwed." And she glanced
M at me and caught my eyes, then let the
modest lashes vail her own.
$50! thought it. Strange are the ways
of women! But little cause, methinks, had
that Harmachs to thank thee for thy love
what saycst thou, Oiympuss All, and 90
thou also vast q traitor, Charmion! How
dangerous are the paths which Monarchi
treadi Well, forgive thee, for faithfully
has. thou served me since that hour.
but to my tale. Harmachis dared no
slay, lest his great party should rise in fur!
and cast me from the throne. And nov
mark the issue. Though he must murde
me, IN secret this Harmachis loved me, ant
something thereof guessed. A little. To-
the sake of his beauty and his wit, had
striven to draw him to me; and for the low
OF man Cleopatra never stfove IN vain
Therefore when, with the dagger in hi
robe, he came TO slay me, matched m.
charms agains. his viii, and need / tell you
being men and women, how l wont OF
never can l forget the look in the eyes &
that fallen man, that forsworn priest. ths
discrowned king, when, lost in the poppie
draught, saw him sink into that shamef,
sleep whence no more might he wake wit
honor! And, thereafter-till, In the end,
wearied OF him, and his sad, learned min,
for his guilty soul forbade him to be gay.
little did come to care for him, thong
not to love- But he, he who loved me, clun
TO me as adrunkard to the cup which ruiz
him Deeming that should wed him,
betrayed to NE the secret of the hidde
wealth Of the pyramid Her-for at the tin
lmucn 1eeded treasure -and together v
dared the terrors Of the tomb and drew
forth. even from dead Pharaoh's breas
See, this emerald was part thereof! 81
she pointed to the great scarabeus th
sne had drawn from the holy heart
Menka-ra. And because of what W
written in the tomb, aud of that Thil
which we saw in the tomb; ali, pest up
it!why does its memory haunt me nowl
and also because Of policy, for would ia
have won the love Of the Egyptians, / "
minded to marry this Harmachis and
clare his place and lineage to the worl
aye, and by his aid hold Egypt from I
Roman. For Delllus had then come to G
me to Antony, and after much though
determined to send him back with sha
words. But on that yery morning, es
tired me for the Court, came, Charmi
yonder, and this told her, for I would q
how the matter fell upon her mind. NJ
mark, Olympus, the power of jealousy, u
little wedge which yet hath strength
rend the tree Of empire, that secret swo
which can fashion the fate
kings! This she could in now!
bear-ldeny 1t, Chsrmion, II th
icanst, for now 1t Is clear to meD-that I
man she loved should b given to mo
husband, me, whom ~ loved! And the,