Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1895-01-04

the stone.
Il am going to fall ga-ped
"Nay. let myself 90 and trust TO me,
replied Aysha, and; having no choice, l
did
felt myself slide pace or two down
the sloping surfuce of the rock, and then
pass into the air. In another instant
my feet struck agains, a rocky
oor. and | felt that was standing
:; y something solid and out of
u. nj Of the wind which 1 could hear
,g away over head As | stood
.aes there was a slip and a scutlle, and
YiO:SC came Leo alongside of me
'@. lalloo, old fellow" he called out,
M Eyyou there This is getting interest
You is it nolr'
-alst then. with "a terrible yell Job al.
EPiSi right on the top of US knocking Us
insI6 down. BY the time that we had
ugglcd to our feet again Aysha was
Grinding among US, and bidding us light
Sur lamps
DAN a couple of minutes both the lamps
MN alight, and "A curious sight they re
lealed We we've huddled up in "a rocky
ehamber, some twelve feet square. The
shamber appeared to be partly natural
I'd partly followed out of the top of the
ne. The roof of the natural part was
\ rfned of the swimming stone, and that
art of the chamber which sloped down.
ard, was hewn from the live rock
-"There," said She. safely have we
lime, though once feared that the rock
gstone would fall with ye. and preclpi-
1eye into the botlomless deeps beneath,
Y. do believe that the cleft goeth down
10 the very womb of the world. The rock
whereon the stone ,eth hath crumbled
beneath the swinging weight. And now
that he" nodding toward job, whom
they rightly call the Pig, for as pig Is
he stupid, hath let fall the plank, it will
not be easy to return across the gulf, and
to that end must make a plan. But
now rest awhile, and look at this place.
What think We that 1t is?
we know not answered.
''Wouldst thou believe that once man
did choose this airy nest for daily haoi.
tation, and did here endure for many
years, leaving it only but one day in every
ten to seek food and water and oil that
the people brought
We looked up wonderingly, and she
continued:
"Yet so it was. There was a man
Moot. he named himself-whO though he
lived in the latter days, had of the wisdom
of the sons of Kor A hermit was he, and
a philosopher. and skilled in the secrets OF
Nature, and he it was who discovered the
Fire that shall show ye, which is Ma
lures blood and life, and also that he who
bathed therein and breathed thereof should
live while Nature lives, But like unto
thee, OH Holly, this man, Moot, would
not turn his knowledge to account. Ill,
he said, was 1t for man to live, for man
was born to die Therefore did he tell
4 his secret to none. and therefore did he
come to live here where the seeker after
Life must pass, and was revered OF the
Amahagger of the day as holy. and her
nit. And when first came 10 this coun-
try-knowest thou how ! came, kallik
rates. Another time will tell thee-it is
a strange tale-I heard of this philosopher,
and waited for him when he came to fetch
his food. and returned with him hilher,
though greatly did fear to tread the gulf.
Then did beguie him with my beauty
and my wit, and tlatter him with my
tongue. so that he led me down and show
ed me the Fire, and told me of the Fire, but
he would not suffer me to step therein
and. fearing lest be should Stay me, | re-
Trained. knowing that the man was very
old. and soon would die And ! returned
having learned from him all that he knew
III the wonderful Spirit Of the World, and
&bat was much, tor the man was wise and
VERY ancient, and by purity and abstinence
land the CONCENTRATIONS Of his innocent
mind. had worn thin the veil between that
1 which we see and the great invisible
Truths. Then it was but a very few days
after met thee, my Killikrates, who had
wandered hther with the Egyptian Amen
n artas. and learned to love for the first
and last time, once and forever. so that 1t
entered into my mind to come hither with
thee and receive the gift Of Life for thee
and me. Therefore came we with that
Egyptian who would not be left behind,
and behold we found the old man Moot ly-
ing but newly dead There he lay, aud
his white beard lay on him like a garment
but surely he has long since crumbled in.
10 dust, and the wind hath born his ashes
hence.
Here put out my hand and presently
my fingers touched single human tooth,
very yellow, but sound. held it up and
showed it TO Ayesha, who laughed.
Yes" she said 1t is his without a
Ao,,ht RehOld what remaineth of Moot