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

ly to one of the great cases, and, drawing a
key from his pocket, he unlocked it. From
the upper shelf he pulled down 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, he began with long, quivering fin
gers to undo the cerecloths and bandages
which girt it round. As the cracking rolls
of linen peeled off, one after the other,
a strong aromatic odor filled the chamber,
and fragments of scented wood and of
spices pattered down upon the marble
floor.
1t was clear to John Vansittart Smith
that this mummy had never been un-
swathed before. The operation interested
him keenly. He thrilled all over with Gu
riosity, and his bird-like head protruded
further and further from behind the door.
When, however, the last roll had been re-
moved from the four-thousand-year old
head it was all that he could do to stife an
Outcry 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 a straight,
well cut nose, while fourth and last
showed sweet, full, sensitive mouth, and
a beautifully curved chin. The whole face
was one of extraordinary loveliness, save
for the one blemish that in the centre of
the forehead there was single, irregular,
cofee-colored splotch. 1t was a triumph
of the embalmers art Vansittart Smith 5
eyes grew larger and larger as he gazed
upon it, and he chirruped in his throat
with satisfaction.
Its effect upon the Psychologist was as
nothing, however, compared with that
which it produced upon the strange attend
ant. He threw his hands up into the air,
then, hurting himself down upon the
ground beside the mummy, he threw his
arms round her, and kissed her repeatedly
upon the lips and brow. "INa petite" he
groaned in French "Ma pauUre petite :"
His voice broke with emotion and his in
wrinkles quivered and writhed,
but the student observed in the lamp-light
that his shining eyes were still as dry and
fearless as two beads of steel. For some
minutes he lay, with a twitching face,
and moaning over the beautiful
head. Then he broke into sudden smile,
said some words in an unknown tongue,
and sprang to his feet with the vigorous
air of one who has braced himself for an
effort.
In the centre of the room there was n
large circular case which contained, as the
student had frequently remarked magni-
fcent collection of early Egyptian rings
and precious stones. To this the attendant
strobe, and unlocking it, he threw it open.
On the ledge at the 81 c he placed his
lamp, and beside it a small earthenware jar
which he had drawn from his pocket. He
then took a handful of rings from the case,
and with most serious and anxious face
he proceeded to smear each in turn with
some liquid substance from the earthen
pot, holding them to the ght as he did SO.
He was clearly disappointed with the first
lot for he threw them petulantly back into
the case and drew out some more. One
Of these, massive ring, with large crys-
tai set in it, he seized and eagerly tested
with the contents of the jar. Instantly he
uttered cry of joy and threw out his arms
in a wild gesture which upset the pot and
sent the liquid streaming across the floor to
5he very feet of the Englishman. The
attendant drew a red handkerchief from
his bosom, and, mopping up the mess, he
followed it into the corner, where in mo-
ment he found himself face to face with
his observer.
"Excuse me-" me, said John Vansittart
Smith, all imaginable politeness; 81 have
been unfortunate enough to fall asleep be-
hind this door"
"And you have been watching me ?"
The other asked in English, with a most
look on his corpse-like face.
The student was a man of veracity. II
confess" said he, "that | have noticed your
and that they have aroused my
curiosity and interest in the highest de-
gree"
The man drew long famboyant-bladed
knife from his bosom. "You have had a
very narrow escape" he said; chad seen
you ten minutes ago, should have driven
this through your heart. As it is, if you
ouch me or interfere with me in any way
you are dead man.
81 have no wish to interfere with you"
he student answered. "My presence here
S entirely accidental All l ask is that
you will have the extreme kindness to show
ne out through some side door" He spoke
With great suavity, for the man was still
pressing the tip of his dagger against the
palm of his left hand, as though to assure
himself of the sharpness, while his face
preserved its malignant expression.
"If | thought" said he "But no,
perhaps it is as we'll What is your name?'
The Englishman gave it.
"Vansittart Smith, the other repeated.
: Are you the same Vansittart Smith who
gave paper in London upon FL Kab? ]
Jaw a report it. Your knowledge of the
;ubject is contemplate"
"Sir !" cried the Psychologist.
"Yet it is superior to that of many who
make even greater pretensions. The whole
leystone of our old life in Egypt was not
he inscriptions or monuments of which
you make so much, but was our hermetic
and mystic knowledge of which
you say little or nothing"
"Our old life!' repeated the scholar,
Vide-eyed, and then suddenly "Good
1od, look at the mummys face.
The strange man turned and flash d his
light upon the dead woman, uttering a
ong, doleful cry as he did so. The action
If the air had already undone all the art
If the embalmer The skin had fallen
way, the eyes had sunk inward, the dis
,olored lips had writhed away from the
Yellow teeth, and the brown mark upon
he forehead alone showed that it was in
Iced the same face which had shown such
Touth and beauty a few short minutes be-
ore.