The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-11-07

with the cursed elixir still sweetening nv
blood and guarding me against that which
| would court. Now, at last, l have come
to the end of it
II have travelled in all lands and have
dwelt with all nations. Every tongue is
the same to me- | learned them all to help
pass the weary time. | need not tell you
how slowly they drifted by, the long dawn
of modern civilization, the dreary middle
years, the dark times of barbarism. They
are all behind me now. l have never
looked with the eye of love upon another
woman. Alma knows that | have been
constant to her.
at was my custom to read all that the
scholars had to say upon ancient Egypt. |
have been in many positions, sometimes
atfiuent, sometimes poor, but | have always
found enough to enable me to buy the
Journals which deal with such matters
Some nine months ago was in San Fran
cisco, when read an account of some dis
coveries made in the neighborhood of
Abaris. My heart leaped into my mouth
as | read it, it said that the excayator had
buried himself in exploring some tombs
recently unearthed. In one there had
been found an unopened mummy with an
inscription upon the outer case setting
forth that it contained the body of the
daughter of the Governor of the city in the
days of Tuthmosis. 1t added that on re-
moving the outer case there had been ex-
posed large platinum ring set with a
crystal, which had been laid upon the
breast of the embalmed woman. This,
then, was where Parmes had hid the ring
of Thoth. He might well say that it was
safe, for no Egyptian would ever stain his
soul by moving even the outer case of
buried friend.
''That very night [ set off from San
Francisco, and in few weeks found my
les dlce more at Abaris, if few sand
heaps and crumbling walls may retain the
name Of the grand city. l hurried to the
Frenchmen who were digging there and
asked them for the ring. They replied
that both the ring and the mummy had
been sent TO the Boulak Museum at Cairo.
To BOulak | went, but only to be told that
Mariette Bey had claimed them and had
shipped them to the Louvre. | followed
them, and there, at last, in the Egyptian
Chamber, | came, after close upon four
thousand years, upon the remains of my
Atma, and upon the ring for which l had
sought so long,
But how was | to lay hands upon them
How was | to have them for my very own ?
1t CHANGED that the office of the attendant
was vacant. | went to the Director. |
convinced him that L knew much about
Egypt. In my eagerness | said too much.
lie remarked that a professors chair
would suit me better than seat in the
Conciergerie. knew more, he said, than
he did. 1t was only by laundering and
letting him think that he had overstimated
my knowledge that | prevailed upon him
to let me move the few effects which have
retained into this chamber. 1t is my first
and my last night here.
"Such is my story, Mr. Vansittart
Smith. | need not say more to a man of
your perception. BY a strange chance
you have this night looked upon the face
of the woman whom loved in those far
of days. There were many rings with
crystals in the case, and [ had to test for
the plantlnum to be sure of the one which
wanted. A glance at the crystal
has shown me that the liquid is in
deed within it, and that | shall at last be
able to shake off that accursed health
which has been worse to me than the
fouleSt disease. l have nothing more to
say to you. | have unburdened myself.
You may tell my story or you may with
hold it at your pleasure. The choice rests
with you. | owe you some amends, for
you have had narrow escape with your
life this night. | was a desperate man,
and not to be baked in my purpose. Had
| seen you before the thing was done, |
might have put it beyond your power to
oppose me or to raise an alarm. This is
the door. 1t leads into the Rue de Rivoli.
Good nightI'
The Englishman glanced back. For
moment the lean figure of Sosra the Egyp-
tian stood framed in the narrow door way.
The next moment the door had slammed,
and the heavy rasping of bolt broke on
the silent night
1t was on the second day after his re-
turn to London that Mr.. John Vansittart
Smith saw the following concise narrative
in the Paris correspondence of the Times
"Curious Occurrence in the Louvre
Yesterday morning a strange discovery was
made in the principal Egyptian chamber.
The curriers' who are employed to clean
out the rooms in the morning found one of
the attendants lying dead upon floor with
his arms round one of the mummies. So
close was his embrace that it was only with
the utmost difficulty that they were
separated One of the cases containing
valuable rigns had been opened and rifed.
The authorities are of opinion that the maR
was bearing away the mummy with some
idea of selling it to private collector, but
that he was struck down in the very act
by longstanding disease of the heart 1t
IS said that he was a man of uncertain age
and eccentric habits, without any living
relations to mourn over his dramatic and
untimely end.