Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-10-05

chamber similar to the one In which had
slept at our first stopping place, only there
were two stone benches or beds in II. On
the benches lay figures covered with yell
low linen, on which "A fine and impalapble
dust had gathered in the course OF ages,
but nothing like to the extent that one
would have anticipated, for in these deep
hewn caves there was no material TO turn
To dust About the bodies on the stone
shelves and floor of the tomb were many
painted WAGES, but saw very few orna
menls in any Of the vaults
Lift the cloth up OH Holly" she said
but though pat out my hand to do So
drew it back again 1t seemed like sacri-
lege, and 10 speak the truth WAS awcd
by the dread solemnity of the place, and
of the presence before US. Then with
little laugh at my fears she drew il herself,
ONLY 10 discover another and yet finer
cloth lying over the forms upon the stone
bench. This also she withdrew, and then
for the first time for thousands upon
thousands Of years did living eyes look
upon the faces of those chilly dead, 1t
was woman, she m ght have been thirty
five years Of age. or perhaps little less,
and had certainly been beautiful. Even
now her calm, cear.cut features, marked
out with delicate black eyebrows and long
eyelashes that threw little lines of shadow
from the lamp upon the ivory face, were
wonderfully beautiful There, robed IN
white. down which her blue-black hair
was streaming, she slept her last long
sleep: and on her arm, It's face pressed
against her breast, there lay little babe.
So sweet was the sight slthough SO awful,
that confess it without shame could
scarcely withhold my tears. 1t took one
back across the dim gulf of the ages to
some happy home in dead Imperial hor,
where this winsome lady, girt about with
beauty, had lived and died, and, dying,
taken her last born with her to the tomb.
There they were, mother and babe, the
white memories of forgotten human his
tory speaking more eloquently TO the heart
than could any written record of their lives.
Reverenlly replaced the gravecoths, and
with sigh that flowers should, in the
purpose of the Everlasting, have only
bloomed to be gathered to the grave. |
turned to the body on the opposite shelf,
and gently unveiled 1t. 1t was that of
man IN advanced life with long grizzled
beard. and also robed in white. probably
the husband of The lady. who after surviv-
ing her many years came at last TO sleep
once more for good and all beside her.
We left the place and entered others.
1t would be TOO long to describe the many
thing, | saw in them. Each one had its
occupants, for the five hundred and five
years that had elapsed between the COM
pletion of the cave and the destruction of
the race had evidently sufficed 10 FL these
catacombs, numbcrless as they were. and
each appeared 10 have been undlsturbed
since the day that it was laid there. |
could fill book with the description of
them. but to do so would only be TO repeat
what | have said with variations.
"Hast thou seen enough. my stranger
guest. or shall | show thee more of the
wonders of these tombs that are my palace
halls? If thou wilt can lead thee TO
where Tisno, the mightiest and most valo-
rous King of Kor, in whose day these
caves were finished, lies in pomp that
seems to mock at nolhingness, and bid the
empty shadows of the past do homage to
his schulptured vanity
81 have seen enough. oh, queen, ans
wered MY feeble breast is overwhelm-
ed by the strength of the present Death
Mortality is weak. and easily broken down
by a sense of the companionshiptthat wait:
upon lis end. Take me hence oh, Ayesha. ,
XVII