The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1894-07-19

Gulue' Anu mere, rs IN many Other
rambles, valuable adjunct to the party
was the English physician. Sir Roger
Anyffe, long resident in Cairo, whose
skill had won the confidence of the khe-
dive beyond that of any native hakeem,
and whom the foreign colony quite idol
lied.
One whole morning was devoted to the
Sphinx. Sir Roger had given much
valuable information about the grand
colossus Of Gizeh, hewn mostly from the |
solid spar rock, some hundred PAGES east
ward of the second Pyramid. He had
taken part in the excavations at the
front to which the party had descended
Edith seemed deeply impressed with the
giant proportions of the statue-looking
upward, as they stood between the fore
paws of masonry which make its total
length some hundred and seventy-two
feet, the great head rearing fifty-six feet
over them.
"How majestic she looks" she ex-
claimed with half sigh.
$50 you insist on the female theory"
Sir Roger asked with SMILE
Certainly l do" she answered ear
nestly Il am sure she is the embodi-
| ment of the earliest legend of the name
of the wickedness of woman and her
punishment"
sob, very WE'LL" the old surgeon
laughed back. "Then We'll dismiss the
broken beard theory, or change it into
the bow of her ladyship's nightcap. 1t
is useless to argue with one woman
about her views of another--especially
when ono is thirsty" And he moved
off to where Lord Martindale stood,
with his back to them and the statue,
deep in contemplation of the immediate
present as represented by the Bass ale
and potted meats Harris was carefully
transferring from hamper to the slat
that perhaps held down the ashes of s
long dead king.
"And how calm the grand face is
though scanned by ages!" the woman
added. "She looks as though her mem
cries of the past cannot be broken by
the littleness Of the present. And such
a present."
The tone of the last words made La
tours glance follow hers toward Lore
Martindale. Then it sought her eyes, t.
find in them restless contempt, seer
once or twice before, but always dis
, missed as Pigment of his own magma
= ton. But as her eyes met his the ligh
y in them grew softer, and again she raise,
a them to the towering head above them.
"And those deep lines may meal
either suffering or thought" she added.
"They probably mean age in part,
Latour answered, smiling. But il
larger part they mean that your adopte
. countrymen are only vandals, in plat
y cutaways, who have despoiled her ma.
esty's countenance for souvenirs befor
y excavation spared it. And in part, toe
u the tears are blows from lances of tn
u Bedouins. The followers of the prophet
q in the pure simplicity of their faith, re
70 vile those images and symbols of ma
Ii teriality which their cousins Of Rom
y and Oxford and Hindoostan bow dow
= before. They show their contempt b
~ blows as well as words; though griey
10 to dispel your more poetic view"
Then all the grander that calm upo
IL the face which insult even cannot break
l. The exclamation had more the rest
y nance of thought Unborn than tt
sound of casual criticism; and again l.
+ tour saw the dark face turned from tt
~ Sphinx toward the men about the lunc
1 "This Sphinx has always been to n
, the most interesting of all the mon
III ments," he said, turning again. "Whet
O. er king or queen, or god, the diver
theories leave me understanding her o.
~ gin and purpose less than any of thel
She puzzles me, even as she seems
OF have puzzled the ancients."
III Naturally. She is woman
stone" Edith answered. Even WON;
of flesh has been the riddle of the ages
d. Perhaps" he answered. "And IL
,,c' statue is typical. The tablets in b
ne breast may symbolic those illegil
things every woman hides in her oy
hu BOSOM
ed "And which are not comprehend
10 even when shown to man." she broke
quickly. "Yet, as shown in the stat
" here, those very mysteries may form
hottest chapel, in which her better S
does sacrifice higher than was e'
burned upon that altar in the lilo
paws"
"Then you would imply" the man
Joined quickly, that the popular ca
myth of the Sphinx must have b.
woven by some woman; that the de-
of him who guessed not her riddles '
lust punishment for his lack of comp
y hending that incomprehenslble thing
ny woman's heart"
" His eyes were glowing upon her fl
f0 hers were far away beyond the de-
e sands. But the features softened, as
u the low, rich voice that said-he kl
} not whether to herself or him:
=, "And vet Gdipus came at last to
l 1t must be so ever if Gdipus will {
\ dare the test. IT'S his lack of courage,
her inscrutability, that leaves woma
=sa be she stone or flesh-the riddle of
ages!"
Then into the philosophy of the e
maed past crushed the ruthless reaI
of the present The cockney groom
'iie preached and said:
,, az "Wud ye leddyship ave me pull
'i nav hale now:'
'il0 And waving his hand across the
, d. provised table over the possible Ptol
oou. Lord Martindale's voice rang cheeril
nade ,,o ,,o,t,, . da1on do,a phoroobs
D, 9" know"
'oie' Without reply Edith moved toy
llull' the others But Latour saw her lip