Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-02-15

nlmseI OF MS geological studies. III give.
a shiny effect. But there was something
more here. There was a sense OF power, O
wisdom-so I read them and of weari
ness, utter WEAKNESS, and ineffable despair
1t may be all Imagination, but | never had
SO strong an impression. By Jove, mus
have another look at themw He rose and
paced round the Egyptian rooms, but the
man who excited his curiosity had disap
peared.
The student sat down again in his quiet
corner and continued to work at his notes
He had gained the information which he
required from the papyri, and it only re.
manned to write it down while it was still
fresh in his memory For time his pen
ell travelled rapidly over the paper, but
soon the lines became less level, the words
more blurred. and finally the pencil fell
upon the floor, and the head of the student
dropped heavily forward upon his chest.
Tired out by his journey, he slept so
soundly in his lonely post behind the door
that neither the clanking civil guard, nor
the footsteps of sightseers, nor even the
loud hoarse bell which gives the signal for
closing, were sufficient to arouse him
Twilight deepened into darkness, the
hustle from the Rue de Riyoh waxed and
then waned, distant Notre Dame changed
out the hour of midnight, and still the
dark and lonely figure sat silently in the
shadow. 1t was not until close upon l in the
morning that, with sudden gasp and an
intaking of breath, Vansittart Smith re-
turned to consciousness. For 4 moment it
flashed upon him that he had dropped
asleep in his study chair at home. The
moon was shining ftfully through the I'M
shattered window, however, and, as his eye
ran along the lines of mummies and the
endless array of polished cases, he remem-
bered clearly where he was and how he
came there. The student was not a nerv-
Gus man. He possessed that love of a
novel situation which is peculiar to his
race. Stretching out his cramped limbs,
he looked at his watch, and burst into a
chuclle as he observed the hour. The
episode would make an admirable anec-
dote to be introduced into his next paper
as relief to the graver and heavier specu-
lations. He was little cold, but wide
awake and much refreshed. 1t was no
wonder that the guardians had overlooked
tl1ll, III LuC OOOI luICW It's ntdNN
shadow right across him.
The complete silence was impressive
Neither outside nor inside was there
creak or a murmur. He was alone with
the dead men of dead civilization What
though the outer city reeked of the garish
century In all this chamber
there was scarce an article, from the
shriveled ear of wheat to the pigment box
Of the painter, which had not held its own
against four thousand years. Here was the
fiotsam and jetsam washed up by the great
ocean of time from the far-of empire.
From stately Thebes, from lordly Luxor,
from the great temples of Heliopolis, from
a hundred rifed tombs, these relics had
been brought. The student glanced round
at the long silent figures who fickered
vaguely up through the gloom, at the busy
toilers who were now so restful, and he fell
into a reverent and thoughtful mood. An
unwonted sense of his own youth and in
significance came over him. Leaning
back in his chair, he gazed dreamily down
the long vista of rooms, all silvery with
the moonshine, which extended through
The whole wing of the widespread building.
His eyes fell upon the yellow glare of
distant lamp.
John Vansittart Smith sat up on his
chair with his nerves all on edge. The
light was advancing slowly toward him,
pausing from time to time, and then COM
ing jerkily onward. The bearer moved
In the utter silence there was
not suspicion of the pat of football. An
dea of robbers entered the Englishman's
lead. He snuggled up further into the
corner. The light was tIo rooms off. Now
t was in the next chamber, and still there
was no sound. With something approach
ing to thrill of fear the student observed
a face, floating in the air as it were, behind
the flare of the lamp. The figure was
wrapped in shadow, but the light fell full
upon the strange, eager face. There was
40 mistaking the metallic glistening eyes
and the cadaverous skin. 1t was the at
tendant with whom he had conversed.
Vansittart Smiths first impulse was to
come forward and address him. A few
words of explanation would set the matter
clear and lead doubtless to his being con-
Quoted to some side door from which he
might make his way to his hotel. As the
man entered the chamber, however, there
was something so stealthy in his move
ments and so furtive in his expression that
the Englishman altered his intention.
This was clearly no ordinary Official walk
ing the rounds. The fellow wore felt
soled slippers, stepped with rising chest,
and glanced quickly from left to right,
while his hurried, gasping breathing
thrilled the fame of his lamp. Vansittart
Smith crouched silently back into the cor
ner and watched him keenly, convinced
that his errand was one Of secret and
probably sinister import.
There was no hesitation in the others
He stepped lightly and
swiftly to one of the great cases, and, draw
ing KEY from his pocket, he unlocked it.
From the upper shelf he pulled down a
mummy, which he bore away with him,
and laid it with much care and solicitude
upon the ground. By it he placed his
lamp, and then squatting down beside it In
Eastern fashion hebegan with long, CULVER
ing fingers to undo the cerecleths and
bandages which girt it round. As the
rolls of linen peeled off one after
the other a strong aromatic odor tll!ed the
chamber, and fragments of scented wood
and of spices battered DOWN upon the mar
BILE floor.
It was clear to John Vansittart Smith
that this mummy had never been I'M
swathed before. The operation interested
him keenly. He thrilled all over with
curiosity, and his bird-like head protruded
further and further from behind the
door. When, however, the last roll had
been removed from the 4,00O-year-old
head, it was all that he could do to stltle
an olItcrv OF amazement. First, cascade
of long, black, glossy tresses poured over
the workmans hands and arms. A second
turn of the bandage revealed low, white
forehead, with pair of delicately arched
eyebrows. A third uncovered a pair OF
bright, deeply-fringed eyes, and straight,
well-cut nose. while fourth and last
showed a sweet, full, sensitive mouth,
and beautifully-eurved chin. The
whole face was one Of extraordinary
loveliness. save for the one blemish that