Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1896-10-18
WHEELING REGISTER, SUNDAY, OCTOBER 49, 1896.
groves and gardens that embowered his

groves and gardens that embowered his
dwelling.
It was q veritable Eastern paradise
maze OF shady walks and restful arbors.
Cool rills and flashing fountains were at
every turn; the earth was bright with
blossoms and the foliage above wish the
gay plumage Of birds; the air was charg-
ed with perfumes and vibrant with tW!t-
terings.
These beautiful grounds hung on a
terrace over a small fertile valley
an oasis. lying in the deep depression Of
the desert: the terraces, indeed, quite en-
clrcled the place, and most Of them were
green with growing crops. The floor OF
the valley, however, was not Of uniform
verdure, but curiously mottled, green
and brown; for the soil was productive
only near the springs, which gushed up
from a great depth, as l was told, and
probably derived their water from the
Nile at some remote point Near tie
center was q pond of considerable area,
beside which rose the fretted dome and
banded minarets OF a mosque; and every
where among the scattered groves ap-
peared little hamlets, the mud hutS CT
the fellahin.
Of this tiny relm-which, after all,
numbered more than a thousand sous
my friend was absolute ruler. The place
though rarely visited, was not unknown
to the Egyptian government, but beyond
the exaction of certain annual tribute
there was no inference
The sun had set, and the fiery after
glow had Redeemed the brown and
wrought its subtle change in the green
over all the landscape, when we reached
heavy, battened door in the cliff, and
again entered the sub,erranean passages
leading to the mysterious chamber
My son." said my guide in trembling
tones, as we passed along he dim ayen-
! ues. my son and friend OF friends-for
such trust You may prove 70 an old man
who is strangely drawn to you, and who
may never see the full completion OF his
llfe's laOors-you shall now know my
secret, and view the greatest marvel that
earth can show. Yet N sru,h you can
not see il; 1 can show you only phen0m-
ena."
We had reached the entrance of the
gallery where / had first discovered aim.
Dismissing the attendant who had thus
far lighted US, he stepped to niche In
The wall and inserted his hand. Instant
Nv the place was Illuminated by an in
tense but shadoYleSs light; it seemed to
;rradiate from roof aid walls and the
very air abou, us.
1t is electric he said. "The elab-
or9ti1n of the method was q mere Incl
dent Of my more serious researches
though it cost me months TO study"
He led me to the large empty ring
which had so excited my curiosity.
Touch H." he said, but press softly
and he guided my hand within the cir.
Gle. Nothing was visible tnere-acsO-
lutely nothing, even in that all-paTYad-
ing light; yet my fingers We're met by
something smooth and hard. ore"
back startled: q faint prime Of my finger
lips was apparent, hung in space.
DO you see?" he exclaimed n TIL
umDh. There has been nothing Ike it
since man frs, walked upon the ea'h.
Il IS a lens-an aeJhriJe lens.
AN aethTi-e iens''
Again I gazed long and minuiely; OK
cep. those finger prints, apparently m
pressed on nothing, l could detect nei.h-
er blur nor glimmer. l pressed with
both hands upon the visible surface; 1t
was pa,pable enough.
Carefully. Carefully" be cried. yet
it is harder than any diamond; the keel
es. steel would glide over it without
scratch. But it is more precious than
all the diamonds in The world anu / am
childish. love il as mother loves her
first BORN
"Aethriter 1 exclaimed. '"Harder than
diamond. yet as invisible as thought. A
/ lens! A camels head could not reach TO
| the top of it,
He made a gesture toward il that was
like alteration. 81 have called il ac,h-
rite" he said, reyerenly, for unless il
be the true crystalline Of the ntefsteJiW
aether l know not wha, .t may be. Out
OF the heavens it felI-jhis wondrous sub
stance-ages ago; and -hsy who frs.
found. bu, could moi or dared not shape
il. named It the Eye OF Anmon Iia. This
symbol was deeply carved on tie walls ci
the pit where my treasure lay entomted,
I secure from the touch OF tm5 and the