El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-11

She was attred in the regal Dress OF
her rank How beautiful she Wasl She
came a step closer
do not urge me farther" she plead
ed. 81 am already bowed Low with my
burden 1t but makes sar parting
harder. l have only como for the last
time to tell you. 1 have prayed 70 Isis,
our sweet Isis, to show mo q way By
which 1 might cleave to yss. Te you,
whose people have destroyed her
sacred temples and brought slavery
and disgrace upon our Egypt l have
prayed to her and made rare saasGAces,
but she is silent princess q ESJpt
may not wed with the Ayksss-shs
shepherds. My hand would wtther II
l gave it to you; my love become as
venom
L ventured to protest. but she mo-
toned me to silence.
do not speak l cannot bear It'll To-
night L shall pray to the Sphinx for
peace-forgetfulnes a place whore
may hide myself apart and die. 1.
princess of Egypt, who have loved one
of the hated race and am willing to die
because of it And when l am dead
you will stand by my bier and know
that ] was faithful And when l am
wrapped in sweet balms and spices for
the sepulcher you will bring the sacred
scarabaeus and place it upon my heart
Through it we shall live again, some
where, some time. The years Of wait
ing may be long, but they will pass.
and perhaps then the gods will be more
kind"
Her arms were about my neck for
moment. Then she slipped from my
embrace. and could not follow her.
Night in Egypt The heavens swarm
ing with stars and the desert flooded
with moonlight. The white sand sinks
away from my foot, making no sound
1 hasten onward toward the blending
of desert and sky, to where, outlined
against the horizon, those serene fea-
lures stare out over the drifting sands
of centuries. Ino-firte is there. She
has said that tonight she will go there
to pray. To all else l am Obvious
blind My feet are winged, yet the way
seems long. By and by l step into
field Of dark. My footsteps slacken.
pause. l am in the shadow Of the
Sphinx.
l creep closer and listen. From be-
tween the great stone paws comes a
low sound. It is the voice of Ino-frte
praying. The words arise clear and
distinct on the still moonlit air.
80 Sphinx she means. "Thou hast
looked down upon our Egypt for a
thousand years.! Thou who hast re-
manned forever changeless through our
glory and our shame! Who didst be-
hold my sweet infancy, my happy girl
hOod-loOk down and pity me tonight
in my sorrow! And o Sphinx, IL thou
hast the power L pray thee to send me
peace! Forgetfulness! Ii thou wilt,
death! Send me oblivion, 0 Sphinx,
but take not away my Lowell Let 1t but
smolder in my senseless dust till the
light of some far off sunrise shah re-
awaken this stricken lifep'
The voice dies away. 1 creep closer.
There is faint, startled cry from tho
supplicant. Again L pause. She has
heard me. No. for she is praying again.
Listen!
90 Sphinx she cries 5oyo1sly,
swiftly hast thou answered my
prayer! 1 thank theel L thank theeP'
What can she mean? L wait breath
lessly and listen, but there is only a
faint sigh. Then my own name min
1 cannot bear it
"Ino-firter'
There is no answer. PROSTATE she
lies on the sand between the mighty
stone paws. L hesitate a moment and
call again. Then 1 approach and touch
her lightly.
"Ino-firter'
Suddenly 1 start back quickly. Just
in the shadow of her bare arm are two
wavering emerald stars. Then, hiss
ing softly. an asp starts to glide back
into the shadow. Now it is all clear.
stretch forth my hand to the reptile.
"Stopr',I cry. cit is for bothv'
Again the sharp pain in my thumb
shoots up my arm like fire.
Some one was bathing my face and |
calling my name tenderly. 1 opened |
my eyes. 1t was Ina-my Ina-with |
the little hunting cup in her hand.
"Oh, 1 have been so frightenedY' she |
and looked at me beseech- |
ingly. 1 did not find the spring right |
away, and when 1 came back just now |
with the water you were unconscious |
and talking strangely. Oh, l hope that |
horrid beetle bite has not poisoned |
your
"On the contrary" 1 smiled, 1.-The l.
pain has almost entirely gone. and l |
would endure far greater suffering for
this. 1 have waited for it so long"
By and by we walked back toward
the museum together. She did not re-
mind me Of my promise, but our steps
bent in that direction. We entered and
passed into the Egyptian room. Her
hand lay tenderly upon my arm.