Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-06-07

until the parting kiss OF the sun. The
red hight fell across the gray wide
plain, and it was gray no more. In
lines of scarlet and in lakes of golden
mist the air slept, shining. Hill tops
burned crimson, for palms purpled
slow IN death of day.
"Thep, : saS, moving. Gar off on the
sands, a white-robed form. Hastily /
raised my glass. Toiling among the
purpling vistas was Vor's weary
daughter. My horse
'Xartella, Xdrteiia."
"Ee stood again like a fre-red star
upon the summit of the pyramid. His
dazzling majesty as he stood in the
sun made me forget Vor's wandering
daughter. Like q swarm the Arabs
crawled up the steps of rock. Among
them was /, who looked up at the IA
diant prize, then back at the demoniac
faces as one python head after another
peered above the terrace, each coun-
tenance stamped with the same feroci-
ous determination. Was not Xartella
afraid as he looked down from his sur
rounded standing place? How could
he escape? They were not here to be
foiled. They were closing the ring
around him; more than two thirds of
the distance to the summit was passed.
They were ali we'll armed.
"Once more that fell gaze scathed
me. l was dizzy; moved heavily, as
one in q dream. i saw others clasp
their eyes. Some leaned against the
rock to rest. A stagnation seemed to
fall upon them. They moved not for
ward. Then ] heard defiant shout, a
derisive Lang h came down Ito us. Some
few lifted their heads to look. There
was blaze of red light, as if the
gorgeous sun had shattered into frag-
ments.
"No man stood upon the summit OF
the pyramid.
"Xartella was gone.
"At once rose the stricken ones; the
blinded began to see; the trembling
began to grow ferocious. found my
self still weak and cl msy. 1 leaned
upon my spear-this very broken
spear. The shaft was pressed into the
crevlce between the rocks. As
looked - bewildered - at the place
where the flames had flashed, suddenly
turned the stone upon which l stood
and l fell into depth and darkness. As
/ scrambled to my feet the heavy stone
swung into its place, shutting out the
, last ray of evening light. knew that
L was prisoner within the mighty
walls. Alone, forgotten, with only a
broken spear in my hand. Already
we ry-already thirsty. Something
told me l was Xartella's prisoner.
AT first l gave myself up to frantic
desperation. Alter awhile l regained
I sufflcIenr self control to consiler, re-
membering that delirium was destruc-
ton. Carefully l examined the walls
| until ] found one narrow passage. A
strong current of cool air made me
/ hope that there was some oIter door.
For some time / proceeded 80 steadily
and evenly that l felt encouraged.
! Then something crashed in the black
! ness, covering me with dust. Instinct,
lively / turned back. A great stone
had barred the passage. Whether ii
| were a door or merely an accidental
falling of rock l could not tell.
| cried out in horror, then rnshed on
bin ily-madly. No return now. The
| corridor was my fate.
81 seemed to see the sunny courts o
! Cairo. 1 was tortured with thirst
could hear those fountains plashing un
! der the trees. The corridor wa
| growing lower, narrower. L could not
go Dack. L crANleu on my knees. now
/ close it was. The current of air had
| ceased since the stone fell. 1t lifted my
head 1t struck the rock. l thOugh
that soon L should be crushed by TIE
J weight above. craWled like snake.
l lifted my head little. The rocks
were not therei L arose. There was
/ plenty of room. L reached my arms
about and touched no walls; and in the
darkness danced and laughed because
there was space in which to die.
/ Then 1t seemed there was tinge o.
F.; light, but l scarce dared trust my eyes
! 1t became brighter and l was Obliged
to believe. 1t was light. Soon L found
q fountain of cold, clear water nestled
in a vine-tilled recess; farther on
could see the glow of lamps. On,
danger was passed. What now?"