The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-09-12

me, and l 60 Oh, fare thee well forever
fare thee well; for not again shall look
upon thy face, and where 60 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 / go,
and for all time become naught to thee but
memory Of shame; tell me that thou dost
forgive me so far rs 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 10 me with arms out
stretched, and ptiful, trembling lips, and
gazed upon my face.
"Charmion,n answered, "we are free TO act
for good or evil and yet methinks there is
fate above our fate, that blowing from
strange shores, compols our little sails OF
purpose, set them as we will, and drives US
to destruction. forgive thee, Charmion,
as trust in turn to be forgiven, and by this
kiss, the first and the last, l seal our peace"
And with my lips 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 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 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 tie cup and for a
moment stood with the wide eyes of one
who looks for death. Then he came, and
Charmion, the Egyptian, fell prone upon
The floor, dead; and for a moment | stood
alone with the dead.
Icrept to the side of Cleopatra, and, now
that none were left to see, | sat 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 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, "what passes
yonder in the monuments Methought l
heard the sounds of death"
"Naught passes; all hath passed" made
reply, and went; and as | went in the dark
ness | heard the sound of voices and the
running of the feet of Cesal's messengers,
Flying swiftly to my house, found Atoua
waiting at the gates. She drew me into
quiet chamber and closed the doors.
as it donel" she asked, and turned her
wrinkled face to mine, while the lamp-light
streamed white upon her snowy hair.
"Nay, why ask-I know that it is done"
SAY, it is done and well done, old-wife
all are dead; Cleopatra, lras, Charmion all
save myself"
The aged woman drew up her bent form
and cried: snow let me so in peace, for
have seen my desire upon thy foes and tho
foes of Khem-la, lai not in vain have
lived on beyond the years of man. l have
seen my desire upon thy enemics-I have
gathered the dews of death, and thy foe
hath drunk thereof. Fallen is the brow Of
pridel The shame of Khem is level with
the dust! Ah-would that l might have
seen that wanton dep
"Cease, woman, cease! 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 Aoouthis, that all
: may be accomplished"
ely thou, Harmachis - Harmachis,
Hyl-but fly not. To this end only have
fingered on the earth. Now l unite the
knot of life and let my spirit freel Fare
Thee well, prince the pilgrimage is done
: Harmachis, from a babe have l loved thee,
and love thee vet! But no more in this
world may share thy griefs. am spent
Osiris, take thou my splritm And her
trembling knees gave way, and she sank &c
the ground.
l ran to her side and looked upon her.
She was already dead, and l was alone upon
the earth without friend to comfort me,
Then turned and went, no man hinder
Ing me, for all was confusion in the city, and
departed from Alexandra in vessel haC
made ready. On the eighth day landed,
and, in the carrying out Of my purpose
Travelled on fast across the fields tc
the holy shrnes Of Abouthis. And here
as | knew the worship Of the gods
had been lately set up again, in the temple
of the divine Seth for Charmion haC
caused Cleopatra to repent of her decree Of
vengeance and to restore the lands that she
had seized, though the treasure she re
stored not), and the temple having beer
purified, now, at the season Of the feast o
: Isis, all the high priests Of the ancient tenn
, pies of Egypt were gathered together Il
celebrate the coming home of the gods int
their holy place.
| gained the city. II was on the seventh
| day of the feast of Isis. Even as came tn
| long array wended through the well-remeu
, bered streets. | joined in the multitud
, that followed, and with my voice swelle,
the chorus Of the solemn chaut as we passet
. through the pylons into the imperishabl
halls How well known were the hol
, words:
softly we tread, our measured footsteps fal
l ing
Within the sanctuary seven-foldl
Soft on the dead that liveth ars we calling.
Return, Osiris, from thy kingdom cold,
: Return to Thorn that worship thee of old.
And then, when the sacred music ceased
asaforetime ON the setting Of the majest
; of Rattle high priest raised the statue {
the living God and held it on high befor
the multitude. With a joyful shout {
, "Osiris, our hope Osiris 0sirisln til
people tore the black wrappings from thei
dress, showing the white robes beneath
, and, as one man, bowed before the Gee
Then they went to feast, each at his home
8 but | stayed in the court Of the temple
Presently priest of tue temple drew nea
: and asked me of my business; and al
swered him that came from Alexandra
aud would be led before the council of Il
high priest for knew that the holy priest
were gathered together debating the tidinG
from Alexandria Thereon the man le
and the high priests, hearing that WI
- from Alexandria, ordered that should
led into their presence in the second hall
: coUmns---and so ! was led in
1t was already dark, and between u