Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-07-10

81 ] may give it's dumb audience
to the messengers of Caesar as becomes the
last of Egypts queens"
spoke no word in answer, for my heart
was very heavy, and now that all was done,
was weary. Together, then, we lifted up
the body and laid 1t on the golden bed.
qCharmion placed the ur8us crown upon
the ivory brow, and combed the night-dark
hair that showed never a thread of silver,
and for the 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
SIT is DONE" quoth Charmion; tive are
avenged; and now, Harmachis, dost follow
by this same road?" and she nodded to-
wards the phial on the board.
may, Charmion. fy-I fly to heavier
death. Not thus easily may I end my space
of earthly penance."
$50 be it, Harmachis, and I, Harmachis-
I fly also, but with swifser wings. My game
is played. I, too, have made atonement.
Oh! what bitter fate is mine, to have
brought misery on all I love, and, in the end,
to die unloved. To thee have atoned; to
my angered Gods have atOned; and now
I go to find way whereby may atone to
Cleopatra in that He'll where she is, and
which must share, for she loved me well,
Harmachis; and, now that she is dead,
methnks that, after thee, loved her best
of all. So of her cup and the cup Of Iras
will surely drink"
And she took the phial, and with steady
hand poured that which was left of the
poison into the goblet
s.Bethink thee, Charmion,"I said; 'yet
mayst thou live for many years, hiding
these sorrows beneath the withered days"
"Yet I may, but 1 will not! To live the
prey of so many memories, the fount of an
undying shame that night by night, as
lie sleepless, shall well afresh from my sor-
row-stricllen heart to live, torn by a 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 my life, while I wait the lingering
Iightning's stroke. Nay, that will not L;
Harmachis, Ihad died long since, but lived
on to serve thee; now no more thou modest
me, and l go. Oh, fare thee welll forever
fare thee well; for not again shall I look
upon thy face, and where 1 go thou goest
not; for thou dost not love me who still
dost love that queenly woman thou hast
bounded to the death. Her thou shalt never
win, and thee I shall never win,
and this is the bitter end of fate. See.
Harmachisl I ask one boon before I go,
and for all time become naught to thee but
o memory of shame; tell me that thou dost
forgive me so far as thine is to forgive, and,
in token thereof, kiss me-with no lovers
kiss, but KISS me on the brow, and bid me
pass in peace"
And she drew near to me with arms out
stretched, and pitiful, trembling lips, and
galed upon my face.
sCharmion, - answered, s'we are free to
act for good or evil, and yet methinks there
is a fate above our fate, that, blowing from
strange shores, compels our little sails Of
purpose, set them as we will, and drives us
to destruction. I forgive thee, Charrnion,
as trust in turn to be forgiven, and by this
kiss, the first and the last, I seal our peace. -
And with my lips touched her brow.
She spoke no more; only fer little while
she stood gazing on me with sad eyes, then
she lifted the goblet, and said: Royal Har-
machis, in this deadly cup I pledge thee;
would that I had drunk of it ere ever
looked upon thy face, Pharaoh, who, thy
sins outworn, yet shall rule in perfect
peace DER worlds may not tread, who yet
shall sway kinglier scepter than that l
robbed thee of, forever fare thee we'll"
She drank. cast down the cup and for q
moment stood with the wide eyes of one
who looks for death. Then he came, and
'Charmion, the Egyptian, foil prone upon
the floor, dead; md for q moment stood
alone with the dead.
Icrept to the side Of Cleopatra, and, now
that none were left to see, sa. down on
the bed and laid her head upon my knee,
as once before it had been laid; in that
night Of sacrilege beneath the everlasting
pyramid. Then I kissed her chill brow and
went from the house Of death ''avenged,
but sorely smitten with despair"
physician" said the officer of the guard
as went through the gates, s'what passes
yonder in the monument Methought
heard the sounds of death"
"Naught passes; all hathpassed," Imade
reply, andBwent; and as went in the dark
ness I heard the sound of voices and the
running of the feet Of Cesar's messengers.
Flying swiftly to my house, found Atoua
waiting at the gates. She drew me into q
quiet chamber and closed the doors.
'sIs it done" she asked, and turned her
wrinkled face to mine, while the lamp-light
-streamed white upon her snowy hair.
SHAY, why ask-I know that it Is done"