The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-02-06

Y
Syi1yl aid me, prince; let 10 stretch
kif..lA this poor clay upon the bed
NexB and deck It royalty, 20 that il
may give its dumb audience
70 the messengers Of Caesar g becomes the
last OF Egypts queens"
spoke no word In answer, for my heart
was very heavy, and now that oil was done,
was weary. Together, then, we lifted up
the body and laid IT on the golden bed.
Charmion placed the urRus crown upon
the ivory brow, and combed the night-dark
hair that showed never . thread Of silver,
and for tho last time shut those eyes where
in had shone all the changing glories Of the
sea. She folded the chill hands upon the
breast whence passions breath had fed,
and Strengthened the bent knees beneath
the broidered robe, and by the head set
flowers, and there at length Cleopatra lay,
more splendid now in her cold majesty Of
death than in her richest hour Of breathing
beauty. We drew back and looked on her,
and on dead Iras at her feet
ut 10 done," quoth Charmion; 1--WE are
avenged; and now, Harmachis, dost follow
by this same roadl" and she nodded to-
wards the phial on the board.
may, Charmion. fy-I fly to heavier
death Not thus easily may end my space
Of earthly penance."
$50 be it, Harmachis, and l, Harmachis-
nv ALSO but with swifter wings. My game
IL played. ], too, have made atonement
Oh! what . bitter fate is mine, to have
brought misery on all love, and, in the end,
TO die unloved To thee have atoned; to
nv angered Gods have atoncd; and now
I 70 to ind way whereby ! may atone to
Cleopatra in that He'll where she il, and
which I must share, for she loved me well,
Harmachis; and, now that she Is dead,
methinks that, after thee, loved her best
Of all SO Of her cup and the cup Of Iras
Twill surely drink"
And she took the phial, and with steady
hand poured that which was left Of tue
poison into the goblet.
s.Bethink thee, Charmion,"I said; s'yet
mayst thou live for many years, hiding
these sorrows beneath the withered days"
"Yet may, but I will notl To live the
prey Of 90 many memories, the fount OF On
undying shame that night by night, a.
lie sleepless. shall well afresh from my sor-
row.stricken heart to live, torn by love
can not lose To stand alone, like some
storm-twisted tree, and signing day BY
day TO the winds Of heaven. Gaze upon the
desert OF nv life, while wait the lingering
lghtuing's stroke. Nay, that viii not l
Harmachis, had died long since, but l lived
on 70 serve thee; now no more thou needless
me, and / 20. Oh, fare thee well! forever
fare thee well; for not again shall lool
upon thy face, and where 60 thou goes
not; for thou dost not love mo who still
dost love that qucenly woman thou has
bounded to the death. Her thou shalt never
win. and thee shall never win
and this II the bitter end Of fate. See
Harmachis! I ask one boon before 20
and for Ill time become naught to thee bu
. memory Of shame; tell me that thou dos
forgive me 90 far - thine is to forgive, and
in token thereof, kiss me-with no lover
kiss, but KISS me on the brow, and bid NJ
pass In peace"
And she drew near to me with arms out
stretched, and pltiful, trembling lips, an
gazed upon my face.
"Charmion," answered, tive are free
oct for good or evil, and yet methinks Their
u . fate above our fate, that, blowing fror
strange shores, compels our little sails 0
purpose, set them a. we will, and drives U
70 destruction. forgive thee, Charmion
- trust in turn to be forgiven, and by thi
kiss, the first and thu last, / seal our peace
And with my lips touched her brow.
She spoke no more; only for little Will
she stood gazing on me with sad eyes, the
she lifted the goblet, and said: 'Royal Hal
machis, in this deadly cup pledge thee
would that had drunk Of it ere ever
looked upon thy face, Pharaoh, who, tn
sins outworn, yet shall rule in perfee
peace o'er worlds may not tread. who ye
shall sway . kinglier scepter than that
robbed thee of, forever fare thee we'll"
She drank. cast down tie cup and for
moment stood with the wide eyes Of on
who looks for death. Then he came, an
Charmion, the Egyptian, fell prone upo
the floor, dead; and for . moment stoo
alone with the dead.
Icrept to the side Of Cleopatra, and, no,
that none were left to see, -: down o
the bed and laid her head upon my knee
6 once before IL had been laid; in tbs
night Of sacrilegc beneath the everlastin
pyramid. Then kissed her chill brow an
went from the house Of death s'avenge,
but so-cly smitten with despair"
sPhy sician," said the officer Of tho guar
. ] went through the gates, what passt
yoador In the monument Nethought
heard the sounds of death"
'sNaught passes; oil hath passed" mad
reply, and went; and Is went in the darl
ness I heard the sound Of voices and ii
running Of the feet of Cesar's messenger
Flying swiftly to my house, found Atou
waiting ut the gates. She drew me into
quiet chamber and closed the doors.
sIs 1t doner she asked, and turned hs
wrinkled face to mine, while the lamp-ligl
etreamed white upon her snowy hair.
'sNay, why ask-I know that 1t IL done
Jay, It II done and well done, old-wif,
Ill are dead; Cleopatrs, Iras, Chsrmion-s
ssve myself"
Tho aged woman drew up her bent for
and cried: "Now let me 60 In peace, for
have seen my desire upon thy foes and Il
foes Of Khem-la, IA not In vain have
lived On beyond the years Of man. 1 ha
sssa ~ desire upsp thy snemies-I ha'