Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-11-16
IN THE SHADOW
! OF THE SPHINX.
From the Year 1899 In Central
Park He Steps Back to An
cient Times In Egypt.

4scSsSSsSssSsSssSeS SeSSeSS>SsSSSSSsScSSSS
We entered Central park from Fifty
ninth street.
eve must get to the obelisk as soon
as possible" said Ina. ''The hero
glyphics are so much clearer just be-
fore they are entirely in shadow"
We quickened our steps.
''You know, am not so interested in
hieroglyphics," l said, smiling mot so
interested as | am in enigmas'
looked up quickly '.in you, for in
stance"
She turned away.
Hurry she said. 1--WE are late
now, l am sure
When at last we faced the eastern
side of the needle, the sun was almost
to the line The shadows in the mark
ings made them deep and distinct
"On the other sides the inscriptions
have been somewhat effaced by time
and exposure" she explained. t'These
are more interesting"
We rested on the benches while she
Indicated some of the different charac-
ters and translated. Her cheeks burn
ed with enthusiasm.
"What strange girl you are, Inar'
l complained "You care more for the
myths of the past than the realities of
the present"
She did not seem to hear.
"Or for dreams of the future"
added in whisper.
She looked straight ahead at the
obelisk and said nothing Her profile
against the foliage beyond startled me.
1 had not noticed before how perfectly
Egyptian it was. was going to refer
to this, but something in her manner
made me hesitate. Presently she spoke.
81 have always had an inclination for
these things" she said earnestly. Il
cannot remember when 1t began. My
father encouraged 1t and helped me. "
She pointed to the SCARED monument
that was now in the shadow and dark
against the May sky. "It is called Cleo
patra's needle" she continued, but ii
dates much earlier 1t is said to have
been built in honor of a princess of the
sixteenth dynasty. 1t has also been
said that her mummied remains are
yonder." She indicated the Metropoli-
tan galleries. Il hope it is true. 1t
would be beautiful if it were. We will
go over there"
Later. Ina l protested. "The air
is so fine. Let us enjoy it little. We
can stop as we return"
She rose. resignedly, and we walked
Ieisurely Dorthward to where the park
is more wooded and quiet. / endeay-
ored to lead her around to the subject
nearest my heart. But she seemed ST.
lent-almost inattentive. Yet she had
never opposed my suit. She had been
only Indifferent.
We passed little spring, and, paus-
ing, drank out of a small hunting cup
carried. A step farther on we found
a rustic seat l fancied that tender
look had come into her face, and, en-
couraged by it, l urged her to give me
some assurance of regard. 1t was very
peaceful there, and we were shut in by
overhanging boughs. Presently took
her hand. AS l did so a queer looking
beetle dropped from the branches
above and chung tightly to my sleeve.
Ina gaye faint cry of surprise.
"0h,7 she said, "how strangel 1t
looks exactly like-I believe it is real
ly''-
What is. Ina?" l asked pettishly.
''Some new and wonderful specimen
of the insect tribeT'
NO. So answered wonderingly,
'an old one scarabaeus-the sacred
heart scarab Of Egyptw
Impossible, InaY' laughed. "Your
enthusiasm deceives you"
NO, no! 1t Is a scarab! / am sure
of 1t, she insisted 'sFhe only emblem
of aforementioned eternal life. oh,
don't let it ESCAPED Catch ite'
The strange insect had started to
crawl away. | have an inherited hor-
ror of all reptiles and beetles, but what
would l not do for Ina2 l seized the
creature firmly with my thumb and
fingers and held it fast Suddenly l
felt sharp pain that shot up through
my arm like fire. / dropped the insect,
with cry.
"Ah! 1t has bitten mer'
Ina looked startled and concerned.
"Where? she cried. ''Let me seer
l turned my thumb toward her.
There were two minute drops of blood
issuing, as from the punctures Of a
needle. My arm was becoming numb
with pain. l must have been pale, for
she looked at me keenly.
"Give me the cup, quick / will get
you some waterr'
/ remember handing her the little
hunting cup and of seeing her hasten
away. Then weariness seemed to
weigh upon my lids, and plunged into
darkness. A moment later recovered
consciousness and opened my eyes.
Ina was standing before me- No, not
Ina Ino-firte, the Egyptiani
was seated by the gates of ruined
temple. About us the waving palms
Beyond them the cobalt sky of Egypt
Far away, across shimmering waste
of brown sand. the Sphinx gazed out
over the desert as it had done for more
than thousand years. Even in ny