Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1880-10-29

| bling, and moving restlessly among the
papers like frightened frog; it was M
if under the influence Of electricity,
and heard distinctly the sharp, dry
sound Of it, little heel, rs hard rs the
hoof Of a gazellc. was not absolutely
satisfied with my new acquisition, hav-
ing n decided preference for sedennry
paper weights, and it seemed to me
most unnatural that feet should move
about without legs, and in short | be-
gan To experience sensation Of posi-
tive fear.
Suddenly the folds Of one Of my cur
tains was disturbed and ! heard
sound like that Of n person jumping ON
one foot. ! must confess that ! was
very warm and very cold by turns; that
| seemed to feel cold peculiar wind
blowing ON my back, and my hair rose;
lifting my nightcap above my head.
The curtains were parted and ! saw
advancing the most remarkable figure
imaginable. II wa that Of u young girl
her coloring deep cate-au-lait, like
the Nayaduo Amani She was of singu-
lar beauty of the purest Egyptian type;
her almond-shaped eyes, with corners
slightly raised, were shaded by eye
lnshcs 50 black that they were almost
blue; her nose was sharply cut and
Grecian in its dclicacy, and she might
have been taken fora Corinthian bronze
if the high check bones and the some
what African contour Of the lips had
not betrayed the hicroglyphic race ON
the borders of lhc Nile
Her delicate arms were loaded with
bands Of metal Her hair was dressed
IN countless plaits, and on her breast
hung 4 little idol Of green porcelain
A band If gold glttcred on her fore
head, and - faint tint Of rose blended
with the clear copper hnc of her
cheek
~ to her costume, il was most
strange, consisting simply Of bandages
covered with red and black herogly-
phics and heavy with bitumcn. BY one
Of those strange intellectual gymnastics
80 frequent in dreams ! heard the
hoarsc, sharp, voice Of the old bric-a-
brnc merchant repeating, like Il mon
otonous refrain, the same words which
he had used with so marked and mys-
FERROUS IN emphsis: Pharaoh will be
displcased. He loved his daughter
dcyotcdly, the dear old man"
Strangely enough, the apparation had
but one foot, and his discovery was not
altogether reassurlng to me.
She moved toward the table where
the little foot was quiycring and trem-
blclng with ever increasing rcstlcssncss
As She stood leaning on the edge saw
tears drop from her ewes. Although
silent could sec her thoughts in her
face, She stood looking ut her feet
for il was III fact hers with charm
ing expression, full Of sadness and ut
the same time of certain coqucttish
grace But the little foot continued to
run about from one side of the table To
the other, ~ if impcled by steel
springs. Two NJ three times She put
out her hand toward il rs If TO seize il
but it always cudcd her.
Then began between the Princess
Hcrmuuthcs and her foot, which
seemed endowed with individual life, II
most remarkable dialogue III the Cop
tie languages IN use thousands Of years
ago. happily at that precise time | was
perfectly familiar with the Coptic
Tho Princess lIormouthcs said in Il
voice clear and vibrating rs 4 crystal
| Hell
AN. my dear little foot, why do YOU
! lcc from mo. when always lavishc,l
upon you the tCndcrest caro-? bathed
you in perftmcd water in an alabastcr
basin; polished yuur little heel with
pumisc stone dipped III palm oil; your
nails we're trimmed with golden PIN
GERS and polished with the tooth OF a
| hippopetamus; | always chose for you
the most beautiful Of embroidered and
painted sandals Which were the envy
Of all the girls in Egypt; Your large toe
was always omlamentod with rings rep
rcscnting the sacred sarnbmus, and you
carried the lightcst possible weight that
n lazy little foot could desire,
The foot answered IN sullly, yetcd
| tome,
You know perfectly well that no
longer belong To myself; | have been
bought and paid for; the old merchant
knew very we'll what mischief he WAS
making; he has always owed you i
grudgc because you would not marry
him; ii Is Il malicious trick he is play
ing You The Arab who forced open
your real coffin, being in the subter-
rmcan wall in the Metropolis Of The
hcS, was employed rs him to prevent
your joining Your royal forcfuthcrs.
Have you livc louis dor to pay for
me-
Alas no; havenothng My jew
els, my rings, my purses Of gold and
silver, aro all gone. have heen rob
bed Of NIL | possess, answered tile
Princess. signing.
Then cried aloud unable to keep
silence. "pmucrsS, have never in my
life taken dishonesty the foot Of amy
living person; and although You have
not the tive louis dor which il cost me,
| willingly return II To you. | should
hc in despair il through me So charm
ing 4 person as the Princess Her
moutheS should hc lame
delivered this little Grafton with the
air Of uouhadonr, feeling that the
beautiful Egyptian must he impressed
by it.
She turned toward mc, her face beam.