Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-11-06
IN THE SHADOW
! OF THE SPHINX.
From the Year 1899 In Central
Park He Steps Lack to An
Gent Times In Egypt.

We entered Central park from Fifty
ninth street.
1--WE must get to the obelsk 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," | said, smling-''not sc
Interested as l am in enigmas"
looked up quickly - ''in you, for in
stance"
| She turned away.
Hurry" she said. eve are late
now, am sure"
side of the needle. the sun was almost
to the line The shadows in the mark.
ings made chem deep and distinct.
"On tie other sides the inscriptions
have been somewhat effaced by time
and exposure" she explained. "These
| are more Interesting"
We rested on the benches while she
| Indicated some of the different charac.
tiers and translated. Her cheeks burn
| ed with enthusiasm.
what a strange girl you are, Ina!'
| 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-
| 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. II
cannot remember when it began. My
| father encouraged it and helped me-
She pointed to the SCARED monument
| that was now in the shadow and dark
against the May sky. at is called Cleo
| patras needle" she continued, 'but il
dates much earlier. 1t Is said to have
| been built in honor of princess Of the
sixteenth dynasty. 1t has also been
Stllu lliuI llCl lSiilpiho "a e
yonder" She indicated the Metropoli-
tan galleries. 81 hope it Is true. II
would be beautiful if it were. We will
| go over there"
Later, Ina" l protested. "The all
is so fine. Let us enjoy it little. We
can stop as we return"
She rose, resignedly, and we walked
leisurely northward to where the park
is more wooded and quiet endeav.
ored to lead her around to the subject
nearest my heart. But she seemed 81
lent-almost inattentive. Yet she had
never opposed my suit. She had beer
only Indifferent.
We passed little spring, and, paus
ing, drank out of small hunting cuI
I carried. A step farther on we found
a rustic seat. fancied that tender
| look had come into her face, and, ell
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 queer looking
beetle dropped from the branches
above and chung tightly to my sleeve
Ina gave faint cry Of surprise.
"Oh," she said, chow strange! II
looks exactly like-I believe it is real,
ly''-
"What is, Ina?" l asked pettishly
"Some new and wonderful specimen
of the insect tribe?"
mo" she answered wonderingly
ian old one-a scarabaeus-the sacred
heart scarab of Egypt!
impossible. Ina!' laughed. "Youl
enthusiasm deceives you"
mo, no! 1t is a scarab! l am sure
Of it," she insisted. "The only emblem
Of reincarnation-of eternal life. Oh
don't let it escape! Catch it!'
The strange insect had started tc
crawl away. l have an inherited hor'
ror of all reptiles and beetles, but what
would l not do for Ina? I seized the
creature firmly with my thumb and
fingers and held it fast. Suddenly
felt sharp pain that shot up through
my arm like fire. dropped the insect
with cry
"Ah! 1t has bitten me"
Ina looked startled and concerned.
"Where" she cried. "Let me see!'
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. must have been pale. fol
she looked at me keenly.
"Give me the cup quick! l Will get
you some water"
remember handing her the little
hunting cup and of seeing her hasten
away. Then a WEAKNESS 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, NJ,
[na-Ino- firte, the Egyptian!
| was seated by the gates Of ruined
temple About us the waving palms
Beyond them the cobalt sky of Egypt
Far away. across shimmern@ waste
Of brown sand, the Sphinx gazed out
over the desert as it had done for more
than IA thousand years. Even In my
wretchedncss could not but notice tht
0snu1 Exv1lArnrc