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

creature Win the uOSI OeduI1 pOlSOuo.
That cat is alive in Lower Egypt at the
present moment. There was nothing Of
mystery or magic in the matter. 1t was
simply chemical discovery, which may
well be made again.
'Iove of life runs high in the young
It seemed to me that | had broken away
from all human care now that | had abol-
lshed pain and driven death to such dis
lance. With a light heart | poured the
accursed stuff into my veins. Then l
looked round for some one whom | could
benefit. There was a young priest of
Thoth, Parmes by name, who had won my
goodwill by his earnest nature and his de-
yotion to his studies. To him | whispered
my secret, and at his request l injected
him with my elixir. I should now, re-
iected, never be without companion of
the same age as myself.
"After this grand discovery relaxed
my studies to some extent, but Parmes con-
tinued his with redoubled energy. Every
day | could see him working with his
TASKS and his distiller in the Temple of
Thoth, but he said little to me as to the
result of his labors. For my own part, |
used to walk through the city and look
around me with exultation, as | reflected
that all this was destined to pass away and
that only l should remain. The people
would bow to me as they passed me, for
the fame of my knowledge had gone
abroad
There was war at this time, and the
Great King had sent down his soldiers to
the eastern boundary to drive away the
Ir-1-r To -
Abaris, that he might hold it for the King.
| had heard much of the beauty of the
daughter of this Governor, but one day as
l walked out with Parmes we met her,
borne upon the shoulders of her slaves. |
was struck with love as with lightning.
My heart went out from me. | could have
thrown myself between the feet of her
bearers. This was my woman. Life with
out her was impossible. l swore by the
head of Horus that she should be mine. l
swore it to the priest of Thoth. He turned
away from me with brow which was as
black as midnight
"There is no need to tell you of our WOO
ing. She came TO love me even as | loved
her. 1t seems that Parmes had seen her
before | did, and had shown her that he
too loved her, but | could smile at his pas
sion, for knew that her heart was mine.
The white plague had come upon the city
and many were stricken, but | laid my
hands upon the sick and nursed them with
out fear or seattle. She marveled at my
daring. Then l told her my secret and
begged her that she would let me use my
art upon her.
"'Your flower shall then be unwithered, ]
Atma,' l said Other things may pass
away, but you and l. and our great love for
each other, shall outlive the tomb of King
Chefru'
"But she was full of timid maidenly OBJ
jections Was it right? p she asked, was it
not thwarting of the will of the gods ?
If the great Osiris had wished that our
years should be so long, would he not him
self have brought it aboutY
with fond and loving words overcame
her doubts, and yet she hesitated. 1t was
a great question, she said. She would think
it over for this one night. In the morning
/ should know her resolution. Surely enc
night was not too much to ask. She
wished to pray to Isis for help in her
decision.
with sinking heart and a sad fore
vi evil L lSll llcE WIFI lltI tlIG-NO-
men. In the morning, when the early
sacrifice was over, I hurried to her house.
A frightened slave met me upon the steps.
Her mistress was i'll, she said, very i'll.
In frenzy l broke my way through the
attendants and rushed through hall and
corridor TO my Atma's chamber. She lay
upon her couch, her head high upon the
pillow, with pallid face and glazed eye
On her forehead there blazed single angry
purple patch. | knew that hell mark OF
old. 1t was the scar of the white plague.
the sign manual of death.
"Why should | speak Of that terrible
time? For months | was mad. fevered, de-
lirious, and yet l could not die. Never
did an Arab thirst after the sweet wells as
/ longed after death. Could poison or
steel have shortened the thread of my ex-
istence, | should soon have Tejoined my
love in the land with the narrow portal.
l tried, but it was of no avail. The ac-
cursed influence was too strong upon me.
One night as lay upon my couch, weak
and weary, Parmes, the priest of Thoth,
came to my chamber He stood in the cir
Gle of the lamplight and he looked down
upon me with eyes which were bright with
a mad Joy.
"Why did you let the maiden die? he
asked; why did you not strengthen her as
you strengthened me@
az was too late,' answered. But /
had forgot. You also loved her. You are
my fellow in misfortune. Is it not terri
bic to think of the centuries which must
pass ere We look upon her again? Fools,
fools that we were to take death to be our
enemyp
"'You may say that he cried with
wild laugh the words come well from
your lips. For me they have no meaning
"'What mean you? cried. raising my
self upon my elbow. Surely. friend, this
grief has turned your brain His face was
ahame with joy and he writhed and shook
like one who hath devil.
DO you know whittier go? he asked.
"'Nay,' l answered, I cannot tell
"1 90 to her. said he She lies en-
balmed in the further tomb by the double
palm tree beyond the city WALL
"'Why do you go there?' | asked.
"'To dier he shrieked, to die / am
not bound by earthen letters
"'But the elixir is in your blood Icried.
az can defy it. said he; 4 have found
stronger principle which Will destroy 1t.
1t is working in my veins at this moment,
and in an hour l shall be dead man.
shall join her and you shall remain be-
hind
GAS looked upon him 1 could see that
he spoke words Of truth The light in his
eye told me that he was indeed beyond the
power of the elixir.
"'You will teach me?' l cried.
"'Neverp he answered.
'I implore you, by the wisdom of Thoth,
by the majesty of Anubisr
"'It is useless he said, coldly.
"'Then will find it out / cried.
"fYou cannot, he answered; it came to
me by chance There is one ingredient
which you can never get. Save that which
is in the ring of Thoth; none will ever
more be made