The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-07-11

and cried: snow let me go in peace, for !
have seen my desire upon thy foes and the
foes of Khem-ld, Ia! not in vain have
lived on beyond the years of man. I have
seen my desire upon thy enemies-I have
gathered the dews of death, and thy foe
hath drunk thereof. Fallen is the brow of
prideI The shame of Khem Is level with
the dustl Ah-would that ! might have
seen that wanton diein
"Cease, woman, ceasei The dead are
gathered to the dead. Osiris holds them
fast and everlasting silence seals their
lips. Pursue not the fallen great with In
suits. Up-let us fly to Abouthis, that all
may be accomplished
ely thou, Harmachisi - Rarmachis,
fyi-but fly not. To this end only have
fingered on the earth. Now / unite the
knot of life and let my spirit freei Fare
thee well, prince, the pilgrimage is donel
Harmachis, from a babe have loved thee,
and love thee veti But no more in this
world may share thy griefs. am spent.
Osiris, take thou my spiritl" And her
trembling knees gave way, and she sank to
the ground.
ran to her side and looked upon her.
She was already dead, and was alone upon
the earth without a friend to comfort me.
1uen anu Wcut, uO iIldH
ing me, for all was confusion in the city, and
departed from Alexandra in a vessel had
made ready. On the eighth day landed.
and, in the carrying out Of my purpose
travelled on fast across the fields to
the holy shrines of Abouthis. And here,
as I knew the worship of the gods
had been lately set up again, in the temple
of the divine SETH for Charmion had
cd fTat n of hSr nf
vengeance and to restore the lands that she
had seized, though the treasure she re-
stored not), and the temple having been
purified, now, at the season of the feast of
Isis, all the high priests of the ancient tenn
pies of Egypt were gathered together to
celebrate the coming home of the gods into
their holy place.
/ gained the city. 1t was on the seventh
day of the feast of Isis. Even as 1 came the
long array wended through the wellremem-
bered streets. i Joined in the multitude
that followed, and with my voice swelled
the chorus of the solemn chant as we passed
through the pylons into the imperishable
halls. How well known were the holy
words:
Softly we tread, our measured footsteps fall
ing
Within the sanctuary seven-foldi
Soft on the dead that liveth are we calling.
Return, Osiris, from thy kingdom cold,
Return to them that worship thee of old"
And then, when the sacred music ceased,
as aforetime on the setting of the majesty
of Rattle high priest raised the statue of
the living God and held it on high before
the multitude. With a joyful shout of
''Osiris, our hopei Osirisi Osirisr the
people tore the black wrappings from their
dress, showing the white robes beneath,
and, as one man, bowed before the God.
Then they went to feast, each at his home;
but l stayed in the court of the temple.
Presently priest of the temple drew near,
and asked me of my business; and / an
swered him that came from Alexandria,
and would be led before the council of the
high priest, for knew that the holy priests
were gathered together debating the tidings
from Alexandria. Thereon the man left
and the high priests, hearing that / was
from Alexandria, ordered that should be
led into their presence in the second hall of
columns-and so was led in.
II was already dark, and between the
great pillars lights were set, as on that
night when was crowned Pharaoh of the
upper and the lower land. There, too, was
the long line of dignitaries seated in their
CdTNcu CIldiTS anu COuuoC1 tORC6uCI'
All was the same. The same cold images
of kings and Gods gazed with the same
empty eyes from the everlasting walls.
Ay-morel Among those gathered there
were five of the very men who, as leaders
of the great plot, had sat here to see me
crowned, being the only consplrators who
had escaped the vengeance Of Cleopatra
and the clutching hand of time. I took my
Sfa nd hn Il
crowned, and made me ready for the last
act of shame, with such bitterness Of heart
as can not be written.
"Why, it is the physician olympus" said
one-''he who lived a hermit in the tombs
of Tape, and who but lately was of the
household of Cleopatra. Is it, then, true
that the queen is dead by her own hand,
physician?"
''Yea, holy sirs, am that physician; also
Cleopatra is dead by my hand"
Shy thy handl Why, how comes thisa
though well she is dead, forsooth, the wick
ed wantonI' ..
"Your pardon, sIrs, and will tell you all,
for am come hither to that end. Per
chance among you there may be some
methlnks see some-who nigh eleven years
ago were gathered in this hail to secretly
crown one Harmachis. Pharaoh of Khem!"
sit is true" they said; "but how knowest
thou these things, thou, Olympusp
''Of the rest Of those seven-and-thirty no
bles," went on, making no answer, "are
two-and-thirty missing. Some are dead. as
Amenemhat is dead; some are slain, as
Sepa is slain; and some, perchance, yet la
Dor as slaves within the mines, or live afar,
fearing vengeance"
at is So" they said; ''alas it is so. Har-
machis, the accused, betrayed the plot, and
sold himself to the wanton Cleopatra"
SIT is So" went on, lifting up my head.
'Harmachis betrayed the plot and sold him
self to Cleopatra; and, holy sirs-I am that
Hdrmdchis." The priests and dignitaries
gazed astonished. Some rose and spoke;
some said naught. II am that Harnachis;
am that traitor, trebly STEPPED in crime
a traitor to my Gods, traitor to ~ coun- |
try, traitor to my oath. come hither to |
say that have done this. / have executed |
the divine vengeance on her who ruined me |
and gave Egypt to the Roman And now |
that, after years Of toll and patient waiting, |
this Is accomplished by my wisdom and the |
help of the angry Gods, behold, come, |
with all my shame upon my head, to de- |
clare the thing l am, and take the traitors |
guerdonr'
ssMindest thou Of the doom of him who |
hath broke the oath that may not be brokel" /
asked he who first had spoken, in heavy
tones.
Il know it WELL" answered; Il court |
that awful DOOM"
"Tel rs more Of this matter, thou who
vast Harmachis."
So, in cold, clear words, laid bare all my
shame, keeping back nothing, and ever as
spoke saw their faces grow more hard, and
knew that for me there was no mercy; nor
did ask it; nor had asked, could it have