The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-03-14

N.Y. . forth to meet II. For L longed
to overthrow the foreigner, TO set
Egypt free, to mount the throne that was
my heritage, and cleanse the temples of
my Gods. was fain for the struggle, and
never doubted of its end. l looked into
the mirror, and saw triumph written on
my brous. The future stretched path of
glory from my feet-ay, glittering with
glory like Sihor in the sun. l communed
with my Mother Isis; l sat within my
chamber and took counsel with my heart !;
Iplanned new temples; 1 revolved great
laws that would put forth for my peoples
veal; and in my ears rang the shouts of ex-
ultatIon that should greet victorious Pha-
raoh on his throne
But still little while / tarried at
-Abouthis, and, having been commanded SO
to do, let my hair, that had been shorn, grow
again long and black as the ravens wing,
instructing myself meanwhile in all manly
exercises and feats of arms. Also, for a
purpose that shall be seen, perfected my
self IN that magic art of the Egyptians and
the teading of the stars, in which things,
indeed, already had great skill.
Now, this was the plan that had been
built up. Ny uncle Sepa had, for awhile,
left the Temple of On, giving out that his
health had failed him. Thence he had
moved down to a house in Alexandria, to
gather strength, as ne said, from the
breath Of the sea, and also to learn for him
self the wonders of the great Museum and
the glory of Cleopatrs's Court. There it
was planned that l should join him, for
there. at Alexandria, the egg of the plot
was Matching. Accordingly, when at last
the summons came, all things being pre-
pared, l made me ready for the journey
ami passed into my fathers chamber to re
-ceive his blessing ere / went. There sat
the old man, as once before he sat when lie
rebuked me because went out to slay the
lion, his long white beard resting on the
table of stone and sacred writings in his
hand. When / came in he rose from his
seat and would have knelt, crying: Hail,
Pharaoh but caught him by the hand.
'.It is not meet, my father" said.
sit is meet he answered. 1T is meet
that should bow me before my King. But
be it as thou wilt. And so thou goest,
Harmachisl My blessing go with thee, o
my son, and may those whom | serve grant
it to me that my old eyes may, indeed, be-
hold thee on the thronel Long have /
searched, striving, o Harmachis, to read
the future that shall be, but nauGht can /
learn by all my wisdom. It is hid from me,
and at times my heart fails me. But hear
this: There is danger in thy path, and it
comes in the form of woman. Long have /
known it and therefore hast thou been
called to the worship of the heavenly Isis,
who bids her votaries put away the thought
of woman till such time as she shall think
well to slacken the rule. o my son, /
would that thou vert not so strong and fair
and fairer, indeed, than any man
ia Egypt, as King should be-for in that
strength and beauty may lie a cause of
stumbling Beware, then of those witches
of Alexandria. lest, like worm, some one
of them creep into thy heart and eat its
secret OUT
"Have no fear, my father" I answered,
frowning; my thought is set on other
things than red lips and smiling eyes,
1T is gcod,'' he answered; $50 may it be-
ftll. And now farewell When next we
iseet, may it be in that happy hour when,
with all the Priests of the Upper Land, l
move down from Abouthis to do my homage
20 Pharaoh on his throne.''
So embraced him, and went. Alas! /
little thought how we should meet again.
Thus il came about that once more I
passed down the Nile, travelling as man
of no estate. And TO such as We're curious
adopted son of the High Priest of Abouthis,
having been brought up to the priesthood,
and that had at last refused the service
of the Gods, and chosen to so to Alexan-
~dria 10 seek my fortune. For, be it remem-
bered, l was by all those who knew not the
truth still held to be the grandson of the
old wife, Atoua.
. On the tenth night, sailing with the wind,
we reached the mighty city of Alexandria,
the city of a thousand lights. Above them
all lowered the white Pharos, that wonder
of the world, from the crown whereof
light like the light of the sun blazed out
across the waters of the harbor to guide
mariners on their way across the wine-dark
sea The vessel, for 1t was night, having
been most cautiously made fast to the quay,
4 disembarked and stood wondering at the
vast mass of houses, and confused by the
clamor of many tongues. For here all peo-
piles seemed to be gathered together, each
speaking after the fashion of his own land.
And as stood a young man came and
me on the shoulder, asking me II I
was from Abouthis and named Harmachis.
4 said. "Yea-" Thereon, bending over me.
BE whispered the secret password into mine
ear. and, beckoaing to two slaves, bade