Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-25

But the wind of the tempest was blowing
again. A fine powdery snow was spreading
over the immense desert.
"Let US stop here and rest" said Eva, ''since
We are condemned to death; and. besides, who
has not been2 / wish to die in peace in thine
own arms
They looked for a cavity among the ruins
and seated themselves. contemplating the end
less space covered with powderv snow.
The young woman crouched feverishly, hold
ing her husband in her arms, trying 10 struggle
with her energy against the invasion Of the
cold that penetrated her. He had drawn her to
his heart and warmed her with his kisses. But
the wind and the tempest had resumed their
sway, and the fine snow beat in clouds around
the pyramid.
My beloved" he resumed, 1--WE are the
last inhabitants of the earth, the last sur
vlvors OF so many generations. What re-
mains Of all the glories. Of all the countries,
Of all the works Of the human mind; of all
the sciences, Of all the arts, Of all the inven-
tions? The entire globe is at this moment
only tomb covered with snow"
"Yes," she said. Il have heard Of the beau
ties who reigned over the hearts of kings and
shone like admirable stars in the history of
humanity. Love. beauty, all must end. Hove
you, and die. Oh. how l would have loved
that dear treasure. the one who will never live.
But no, We must not die, must we? No..
walk"
ner 1eet, already frozen ana DenumDed, naO
become inert. She tried to rise and fell back.
Il seem to be sleepy" she said. "Oh, let US
Sleep"
And throwing her arms around Omegar she
pressed her lips to his. The young man lifted
her beautiful form and laid her on his knees
She was already asleep.
II love you," he said again. "Sleep, I shall
watch over you"
Then his fixed gaze, shining with lastlight,
lost itself in search for the unknown in the
desolate gray sky and in the silent and endless
plain. No sound came to trouble the death Of
nature: the snow wind alone moaned around
the pyramid and seemed to wish to awaken the
old Pharoah sleeping il its depths for SO many
million years.
Suddenly the noise of footsteps and means
was heard. lost in the distance. Was it some
lethargic awakening in the interior of the mon
umenH Was it heavy bird thrown by the
tempest against the dismantled steps? Was it
some polar bear come with the snow? The
noise ceased. A joyful cry sounded, and with
one bound dog, broken by fatigue, jumped on
the sleeping couple.
It was Omegar's dog that had looked for him,
followed him (how?) and found him in spite of
the distance, the solitude and the snow.
he called his master and mistress, licked
their face and hsQds and covered them with
his body to warm them. But they did not
awake.
And the snow continued to fall in fine DOW
der on to the entire surface of the earth.
And the earth continued to turn on its axis
night and day and to float through the inn
mensity of space.
And the sun continued to shine, but with a
reddish and barren light. But loEg afterward
1t became entirely extinguished and the dark
terrestrial cemetery continued to revolve in
the night around the enormous invisible black
ball.
And the stars continued to scintillate in the
immensely of the heavens.
And the infinite universe continued to exist
with Its billions of suns and its billions of liv-
ing or extinct planets.
And in all the worlds peopled with the joys
OF life love continued to bloom beneath the
smiling glance Of the Eternal.
CAMILLE FLAMMARIoN