The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-02-12

Mn
" may give It's dumb audience
70 the messengers OF Cesar as becomes the
last Of Egypts queens"
spoke no word In answer, for my heart
was very heavy, and now that all was done,
Twas weary. Together, then, we lifted up
the body and laid 1t on the golden bed.
Charmion placed the ureus crown upon
the ivory brow, and combed the night-darlv
hair that showed never 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.
at is DONE" quoth Charmlon; 1--WE are
avenged; and now, Harmachis, dost follow
by this same roadw and she nodded to-
wards the phial on the board.
NAY, Charmion. fy-I fly to heavier
death. Not thus easily may / end my space
Of earthly penaHce"
"So be II, Harmachis, and !, Harmachis--
fly also, but with swfter wings. Mygame
is played. /, too, have made atonement.
Oil what a bitter fate Is mine, TO have
brought misery on oil love, and, in the end,
10 die unloved. To thee have atoned; 10
my angered Gods / have atoned; and now
/ 20 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,
methinks that, after thee, loved her best
OF all. 80 OF her cup and the cup Of Iras
will surely drink.n
And she took the phial, and with steady
hand poured that which was left Of the
poison into the goblet
"Bethink thee, Charmion,"I said; "yet
mayst thou live for many years, hiding
these sorrows beneath the withered days"
"Yet I may, but / will noti 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.stricken heart 10 live, torn by q love
can not lose To stand alone, like some
storm-twisted tree, aud signing day by
day TO the winds Of heaven. Gaze upon the
desert OF my life, while wait the lingering
Harmachis, had died long since, but lived
on 10 serve thee; now no more thou needest
me, and i go. Oh, fare thee Welt forever
fare thee well; for not again shall look
upon thy face, and where go thou goest
not; for thou dost not love me who still
dost love that queenly woman thou hast
bounded 10 the death. Her thou shalt never
win, and thee shall never win,
and this Is the bitter end Of fate. See,
Harmachis ask one boon before / 20,
and for all time become naught 10 thee but
q memory OF shame; tell me that thou dost
forgive me SO far as thine Is 10 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 pltiful, trembling lips, and
gazed upon my face
"Charmion, !" "Ianswered, two are free 10
act for good or evil, and yet methinks there
is fate above our fate, that, blowing from
strange shores, compes our little sails OF
purpose, set them as we will, and drives US
10 destruction. forgive thee, Charmiop,
as trust in turn 10 be forgiven, and by this
kiss, the first and the last, seal our peace.n
And with my lips l touched her brow.
She spoke no more; only for 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 had drunk Of It ere ever
looked upon thy face, Pharaoh, who, thy
sins outworn, yet shall rule in perfect
peace o'et worlds may not tread, who yet
shall sway kinglier scepter than that
robbed thee OF, forever fare thee well"
She drank. cast down the cup and fer a
moment stood vito the wide eyes Of one
who looks for death. Then he came, and
Charmion, tho Egyptian, fell prone upon
the floor. dead; and for q moment I stood
alone with tho dead.
Icrept To tho side Of Cleopatra, and, now
that mono were left TO see, / sa. down on
tho bed and laid her head upon my knee,
- onco kesore q had been laid In that
syzh: VI q. Ssitsge beneath the everlasting