The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-07-04


ifSsS<z1szz@<s=zE herself, put on her
-@mosts plendid robes, AID, to
rEether with Iras, CharmIon aud myself,
she supped. Now, as she supped, her spirit
Jared up wildly, even as the SKY lights up
at sun set: and once more she laughed and
sparkled as in bygoRe years, telling US tales
of suppers which she and Antony had eaten
of. Never. indeed, did see her look more
beauteous than on that last fatal night of
vengeance And thus her mind drew on TO
that supper at Tarsus, when she drank the
pearl
Strange" she said, "strange that at the
last the mind of Antony should have turned
back to that night among all the nights, and
10 the saving of Harmachis. Charmion-
thou dost remember Harmachis, the Egyp-
tiau:'' ..-.
Surely, o Queen, 4" she answered slowly.
Aid who, then, was Harmachisp
asked: for l was fam 70 know If she sor-
roveG DER my memory.
II will tell thee It's strange tale, and
now that all is done it may well be told
This Harmachis was of the ancient race Of
the Pharaohs. and having, indeed, been in
secret crowned at Abydos, was sent bither
to Alexandria TO carry out great plot that
had been formed against the rule of Us
Roval Lagidae. de came and gained en-
trance to the palace as my astrOloger, for
he was very learned in all magic-much as
thou art, Olympus-and man beautiful to
see. Now. this was his plot-that he should
ssla- me and be named Pharaoh. In truth,
1t was a strong one, for he had
many friends in Egypt and l few
And on that very night when he
should carry out his purpose, yea, at the
very hour, came Charulon yonder and told
the plot 10 me, saying that she had CHANGED
upon its cIew. But in after days-though
naught have l said thereon to thee, Char
mion-I misdoubted me much of that tale
of thine; for, by the Godsl at this hour l
do believe that thou didst love Harmachis,
and because he scoTned thee thou didst be-
tray him, and for that cause also thou hast
all thy DAYS remained a maid, which is a
thing unnatural Come, Charmion, tell US !;
for naughtit matters now at the end"
CharDiou shivered and made answer: SIT
IS true, o Queen; also was of the plot, and
because Harmachis scoraed me betrayed
him, and because Of my great love for him
have remained unwed.n And she glanced
up at ne and caught my eyes, then let the
modest lashes vail herown.
so! thought it Strange are the ways
of women! But little cause, methinks, had
that Haruachis to thank thee for thy love;
what sayest thou, olympus! All, and so
thou also vast traitor, Charmionl How
dangerous are the paths which Nonarchs
tread! We'll. forgive thee, for faithfully
hast thou served ne since that hour.
But to ny tale Harmachis l dared not
stay, lest his great party should rise in fury
ard cast me from the throne. And now
mark the Issue Though he must murder
ne, II secret this Harmachis loved ne, and
s0nething thereof l guessed. A little, for
-ae sake of his beauty and his wit, had
sJriven TO draw him 20 me; and for the love
II man Cleopatra never strove in vain.
Therefore when, with the dagger in his
robe, he came TO slay me, l matched my
charms against his will. and need tell you,
being men and women, how ! won't Oh,
never can forget the look in the eyes of
that fallen man, that forsworn priest, that
-discrowned king, when, lost in the popped
.draugkt, Isaw him sink into that shameful
sleep whence no more might he wake with
honorl And, thereafter-till, in the end,
wearied OF him, and his sad, learned mind,
for his guilty soul forbade him to be gay
little did come 10 care for him, though
not to love. But he, he who loved me, chung
TO me as adrunkard TO the cup which ruins
him Deeming that should wed him, he
bet aged 10 me the secret of the hidden
wealth Of the pyramid Hsr-for at the time
1 much needed treasure--and together we
dared the terrors Of the tomb and drew il
forth, even from dead Pharaoh's breast
See, this emerald was a part thereof!'' and
she pointed to the great scarabsus that
she had drawn from the molly heart of
L
written in the tomb, and of that Thing
which we sag a the tomb; al, pest upon
it,why does its memory haunt me now?-
and also because Of policy, for would fam
have won the love Of the Egyptians, was
minded 10 marry this H.rmachis and de-
clare his place and lineage to the world;
aye, and by his aid hold Egypt from the
Roman For OeIiIus had then come TO call
me to Antony, and after much thought
determined TO send him back with sharp
words But On that very morning, as /
tired me for the Court, came Charmion
yonder, and this told her, for would see
how the matter fell upon her mind. Now
mark, Olympus, the power of jealousy, that
little wedge which yet hath strength TO
read the tree Of empire, that secret sword
which can fashion the fate of
kings! This she could in nowise
bear-tdeny il, Charmion. if thou
csnst for now il is clear TO meD-that the
man she loved should be given to me as
husband, me, whom he lovedI And there |
fore, with more skill and wit than / can tell ]
she reasoned with me, showing that should |
BY no means do this thing, but journey IN
70 Antony; and for that, Charui01, thank |
thee, now that all Is come and gone. And |
by q very little, her words weighed down |
my scale Of Judgment against Haruachis, |
and to Antony / went Thus It is that |
through the jealous spleen of yonder fair |
Sharmlon, and the passion Of q man where
On played as On q Tyre, all these things have /
come TO pass For this cause doth Octavian /
sit King in Alexandria; for this cause is |
Antony discrowned and dead; and for this |
cause must, l, too, die tonight ALL /
Charmion! Charmioni thou hast much to /
answer for; thou hast changed the story /
Of the world; and yet. even now, would /
not have il otherwiser'
She paused awhile, covering her ewes with /
her hand; and. looking, 1 saw great tears
upon the cheek Of Charmion
And Of this Harmachisi1 1 asked.
where Is he now, o Queeni"
SWhere is he's In Amenti. forsooth. max
ing his peace with Isis, perchance. At
Tarsus saw Antony and loved him; and
from that moment I loathed the sight Of the
Egyptian. and swore to make an end of
him; for lover done with should be a
lover dad And, being jealous, he spoke
-anze W0rG. = evil omen. even at the