Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-06-26

morrow night shall deck yonder Canopic
Gate with the heads Of Octavian and his cap
tains! Ay, cheer, and cheer againi love
that martial music which swells not as
from the different lips Of clarions, now
meath the breath of Antony and now OF
Cesar, but rather out the hearts Of honest
men who love me- Yet-and now will
speak low. a. we do speak DER the bier Of
some beloved dead-yet, If Fortune should
rise against me and #, borne down by the
weight Of arms, Antony, the soldier, dies
soldiers death, leaving you to mourn him
who ever was your friend, this u my viii,
that after our rough fashion Of the campI
here declare to you. You know where all
my treasure lies. Take Il, most dear friends,
and In the memory Of ANTONY. make just di-
vision. Then 60 to Cesar and speak thus:
Antony, The dead, to Cesar, the living,
sends greeting, and in the name Of ancient
fellowship and Of many peril, dared crave
this boon: the safety Of those who chung to
him and that which he hath given them
'Nay, let not my tears-for must weep
overflow your eyesi Why, tits not manly;
tits most womanish! All men must die.
and death were welcome were it not go lone.
Should ! fail, to your tender care leave my
children-if, pcrchance, it may avail to save
them from the fate Of helplessness. Sol
diers, enough tomorrow at the dawn we
spring at Caesars throat, both by land and
sea. Swear that ye will cling to me, even
to the last issuev'
1--WE swear!" they cried. Noble An
tony, we ewearv'
"'Tis well! Once moro my star grows
bright; tomorrow, set in the highest heav-
On, It Jet may shine tho lamp OF Cesar
downi Till then, farewellr'
He turned to go, and as he went they
caught his hand and kissed It; and 90 deep
/ ~ were they moved that many wept like
children; nor could Antony master his
grief, for, In tho moonlight, saw tears roll
down his furrowed cheek, and fall upon
that mighty breast.
And, seeing al this, was much troubled.
For well knew that II these men held firm
to Antony all might yet 80 we'll for Cleo
patrn; and though against Antony bore
no Ill will, yet must he fall, and In that fall
drag down the woman who, like some poi.
sonous plant. had twined herself about his
giant strength till Il cholzed and moldered
In hor embrace.
Therefore, when Antony went, ! went
not, but stood back in the shadow watching
the faces Of tho lords and captains 40 they
spoke together.
"Then It IL agreedl" said he who should
lead the feet. "And this we swess to one,
and all, that wo will cling to noble Antony
to tho last extremity Of fortuner
s:Ayi sy" I said, speaking from the
shadow; Icing and die!"
Fiercely they turned and seized me.
"Who 10 hei" quoth one.
"'Tis that dark-faced dog, Olympusr'
cried another, "Olympus, tho magician"
"Olympus the traitor!'' srowled another;
''put an end to him and his magic!" and he
drew his sword.
Gay! slay him; no would betray the Lord
AnfA hA Ia ~
"Hoid awhilel' said In a slow and
solemn voice, ''and beware how ye try to
murder the servant Of the Gods. am no
| traitor. For myself, abide the event here
| In Alexandria, but to you / say: Flee, fee
to Cesar! 1serve Antony and the Queen
II serve them truly; but above all serve
the holy Gods; and what they make known
to mo, that, lords, do know. And this
know, that Antony n doomed, and Cleo
patra ia doomed, for Cesar conquers
Therefore because do honor you, noble
gentlemen, and think with pity on your
wives left widowed, and your little father
less children that shall, Il ye hold to
Antony, be sold as slaves; therefore say:
Cling to Antony If ye will, and die; or fec
to Cesar and be savedi And this say be-
cause it is 80 ordained Of the Gods"
1.-THE Gods!" they growled; what Godsl
| Slit the traitors throat and stop his ILL
omened talkr"
s'Let him show US q sign from his Gods,
or let him die; do mistrust this man.
said another.
''Stand back, ye foolsl'' cried 'Stand
back-free mine arms-and l will show you
a sign" and there was that In my face
which frightened them, for they freed me
and stood back. Then lifted up my hands
and. putting out all my strength of soul,
searched the depths Of space till my Spirit
communed with the Spirit Of my Mother
Isis. Only the Word of Power I uttered
not, as I had been hidden. And the holy
mystery Of the Goddess answered to my
Spirits cry, falling in awful silence upon
the face of earth. Deeper and deeper
grew the terrible silence; even the dogs
ceased to howl, and in the city men stood
still afeared. Then, from far away, there
came the ghostly music of the sistra.
Faint it was at first, but ever as 1t came it
grew more loud, till the air shivered with
the unearthly sound of terror. I said
naught, but pointed with my hand toward
the sky. And behold! bosomed upon the
air, hoated vast vail shape that, heralded
by the swelling music Of the sistra, drew
slowly near, till its shadow lay upon US. It
came, it passed, it went toward the camp of
Cesar, till at length the music slowly died
away, and the awful shape was swallowed
in the night.
"'Tis Bacchus!" cried one. sBacchus,
who leaves lost Antonyi" and, as he spoke,
from all the camp there rose groan of
terror.
But knew that it was not Bacchus, the
false God, but the Divine Isis who deserted
Khem, and, passing over the edge of the
world, sought her home in space, to be no
more known of men. For though her wor-
ship is still upheld, though still as she is
here and in all Earths, no more doth Isis
manifest herself in Khem. / hid nv face
and prayed. but when 1 lifted it from NV
robe, loi all had fed and i was alone.
-s 81 CHAPTER xxx
OF THE SURRENDER OF THE TROOPS AND FLEET
OF ANTONY; THE DEATH OF ANTONY, AND
THE BREWING OF THE DRAUGHr OF DEATH
EX5R@%>N THE morrow, at
E~@ NA9e dawn. Antony came