The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-01-16

"a iitlitiltR~ scented Oil, the pct
Ia (liIIlHlN ured tapestries. the
Ia sliliIM rich Syrian rugs
ititHLH and, amid all this lux
q ~ M ury. bcthought me OF the
.'|TLAXW tomb OF the Harpers that is
9sNIzt4 at Tape. and of the nine
long years of dark loneli
ness and preparation. sat. and crouched
apon q rug. nigh to the door. lay the aged
Atcua. White was her hair as snow,
and shrivc!ed with age the wrinkled
.ounfenance of the woman who, when all
deserted me. had yet chung to me, in her
great love forgetting my great sins. Nine
Years! nine long years! and now, once
again, set my foot In Alexandria! Once
again in the appointed circle OF things |
came forth from the solitude of preparation
10 be a fate to Cleopatra: and this second
time l came not forth to fail. And yet how
changed the circumstance! / was out OF
the story: my part now was but the part OF
The sword in the hand Of Justice: no more
might hope to make Egypt free and great
and sit upon my lawful throne. Khem was
lost, and lost was /, Harmachis. In the rush
and turmoil Of events the great plot. where
Of had been the pivot, was covered up and
forgotten: scarce did memory Of 1t re-
tIaAH. liz curtain VI ddIh ulHHI Was CiUS-
ing in upon the history of my ancient race:
its very Gods were totterlng to their fall;
already could l, IN the spirit. hear the
shrek Of the Roman eagles as they tapped
their wings above the furthest banks Of the
Sinor. Presently reused myself and babe
Atoua 70 search mirror and bring it to
me. that might look therein.
And this | saw: face shrunken and
palli1 ,yharnan M smile ss,Yno. great aypS
grown wan with gazing into darkness look
ing out, beneath the stlaven head, enlptily
as the hollow eye-pits Of the skull; \
WlzeIcd, hating form wasted by absti-
nence, sorrow and prayer: a long, wild
beard of iron gray: thin, blue-veined hands
that ever trembled like leaf: bowed shout
tiers and essencd limbs Time and grief
had done their work, indeed: scarce could
think myself the same as when, the Royal
Earmachis-In all the splendor of my
strength and youthful beauty first had
looked upon the woMan's loneliness that
did destroy me. And yet within me burned
the same fire as of yore: yet / was not
changed, for time and grief had no power
To alter the immortal spirit OF man. Sea
sons may come and go; Hope, like bird, may
fly away: Passion may break its wings
against the iron bars Of Fate; illusions may
cruMbie as the cloudy towers OF sunset
fame; Faith. as running water. may slip
from meath our feet; Solitude may stretch
itself around us like the measnreess desert
sand; Old Age may creep as the gathering
night over our bowed heads grown hoary in
their shame; yea, bound TO Fortunes wheel,
we may taste of every turn OF chance-now
rule as Kings, now serve as saves; now
iose, now late: now prosper and now per-
isn. But still. through ali. we are the same:
Tor this is the marvel of Identity.
And as sat and thought these things in
bitterness, there came knocking at the
door.
.Open. Atoaa.' ! SAID.
She rose and did my bidding; and q
woman entered, clad in the Grccian robes.
II was Charmion, still beautiful as Of old,
nut sad-faced now and very sweet to see,
with patient fire slumbering in her down
as. eye.
She entered unattended; and. speaking
no word. the old wife pointed to where l
sat, and went.
"Old man." she said, addressing me.
lead me 10 the learned Olympus. l come
upon the Queens business
rose. and. lifting my head. looked upon
her. She gazed, and gave little cry.
surely" she whispered. glancing round,
surely thou art not that" And she
paused.
THAT Harmachis whom once thy foolish
heart did love, @ Charmion. Yea, am he,
rid what thou seest most fair lady. Yet
IS Harmachis dead whom thou didst love:
but Olympus, the skilled Egyptian, waits
upon thy words!'
.sCeasc,'' she said, land OF the past but
ono word, and then-why. let it lie, Not
well with all thy wisdom canst thou know
true woman's heart il thou dost believe,
Hanachis, that it can change with the
changes OF the outer form, for then as
surealy could no love follow its beloved to
that last place OF change-the Grave.
Know thou, learned Physician, am Of that
sort who, loving once, love always, and be-
irg not beloved again, 60 virgin TO the
death"
She ceased and, having naught to say,
bowed M head in answer Yet, though
nalght l said. and though this woman
passionate folly had been the cause of all
our ruin, TO speak truth, in secret l was
thankful to her who, wooed Of all and living
in this shameless Court, had still through
the long years poured out her unreturned
love upon an outeast, and who, when that
poor broken slave of Fortune came back in
such unlovely Guise, did yet hold him dear
III heart. For what man is there who does
not prize that gift most rare and beautiful,
iha.one perfect thing which no gold can
bly-a womans unfeigned lovea
Il thank thee that thou didst not an
swer," she said: "for the bitter words which
thou dilst pour upon me in those days that
long arc dead. aud far away in Tarsus, have
not lost their poisonous sting, and in my
of
scorn, new venomed through thy solitary
years. So let it be. Behold. put it from
me that wild passion of my son. and she
looked up aud stretched out her hands a.
though 70 press some unseen presence back
II put it from me though forget it may
nai There, It's done, Harmaehis; no more
shall my love trouble thee. Enough for me
,aat once more my eyes behold thee, before
sleep seals thee from their sight. Dost re
member how when would have died by tn,
dear hand. thou wouldst not slay, but dds
iii me live to pluck the bitter fruit o
crime, and be ;.ccursed by visions of th
evil had wrought and memories Of the
whom had ruined.'
GAY. Charmion, well do remember"
s>.rcly hath the cup Of punishment bee
i.lcd Oh couldst thou see into the recor
Of my heart aud read thereon the suffering
that have borne-borne with smilin
face thy justice would be satisfied indeed!
"Andyet, If report be true, Charmion, tho
art the first Of all the Court, and therein tn
laos. powerful and beloved. Doth nc
Octavianus give it forth that he makes wa
rot on Antony, nor even on his mistress
Cleopatra; but on Charmion and Irasi"
"Yea, and think what 1t has been TO N
thus, even OF my oath to thee, TO be force
To eat the bread and do the biddings Of on
whom 80 bitterly hate!-one who ha
robbed me Of thee, and who, through tn
workings Of my jealousy, brought me
that which am, brought thee to shame, On
ali Egypt to it, ruin Can jewels and richie
and the fiattcry Of princes and mobiles brin
happiness TO such one - ], who am NOR
,wretched than the meanest scullion wench
Oh, often have wept till was blind; IN
sbeA when tho hour came. must arse -