The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-05-09

MN<tLiS was uulil, tbiAu NY oOui Nchu
nv :" forth to meet it, For longed
to overthrow the foreigner, to set
Egypt free, to mount the throne that was
my heritage, and cleanse the temples Of
my Gods. Twas fam for the struggle, and
VI never doubted Of its end. | looked into
the mirror, and saw triumph written on
my brows. The future stretched path Of
glory from my feet-ray, glittering with
glory like Shor in tho sun. | communed
with my Mother isis sat within my
chsmber and took counsel with my heart;
Tplanned new temples; | revoived great
laws that would put forth for my peoples
veal; aud in my cars rang the shouts Of ex-
ultation that should greet victorious Pha-
raoh on his throne
But still little while l tarricd 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 reading 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 he said, from the
breath Of the sea, and also to learn for him
self the wonders Of the great Museum and
the glory of Cleopatras Court. There it
was planned that 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
and passed into my fathers chamber to re.
ceive his blessing ere went. There sat
the old man. as once before he sat when he
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 l came in he rose from his
seat and would have knelt, crying; Hail,
Pharaoh" but caught him by the hand.
at is not meet my father,n said.
sit is meet" he answered. ut is meet
that should bow me before my King But
be it as thou wilt. And so thou goest,
Harmachis9 My blessing 20 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 1t 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 votares put away the thought
nf m CHI ha1 iplS
we'll to slacken the rule. 0 my son,
would that thou vert not so strong and fair
stronger and fairer, indeed, than any man
in Egypt, as King should be-for in that
strength and beauty may lie 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"
SHAVE no fear, my father" answered,
frowning; "my thought is set on other
things than red lips and smiling eyes"
ait is good" he answered; $50 may it be-
fall And now farewell. When next we
neet, may 1t be in that happy hour when,
with all the Priests Of the Upper Land, I
move down FROM Abouthis to do my homage
to Pharaoh on his throne"
So 1 embraced him, and went. Alssi I
little thought how we should meet again.
Thus it came about that once more /
passed down the Nile, travelling as man
Of no estate And to such as wers curious
shout me it was given out that / was the
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 go to Alexan-
dria to seek my fortune. For, be it remem-
bered, 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,
Swe 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 a