The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-11-10

her rank. How beautiful she was! She
came step closer.
do not urge me farther" she plead
ed. II am already bowed low with nv
burden. 1t but makes our parting
harder. have only come for the last
time to tell you. have prayed to Isis,
our sweet Isis, to show me way by
which might cleave to you To you,
whose people have destroyed her
sacred temples and brought slavery
ana disgrace upon our Egypt. l have
prayed to her and made rare sacrifices,
but she is silent. A princess of Egypt
may not wed with the Hyksos-the
shepherds. My hand would wither il
l gave it to you; my love become as
venomw
l ventured to protest, but she mo-
toned me to silence.
do not speak. cannot bear 1t! To-
night l shall pray to the Sphinx for
peace-forgetfulness, place where
may hide myself apart and die. l, a
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 | 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 nprhonS tbnn bc
kind"
Her arms We're 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.
l 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-irte 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 step into a
field OF dark. My footsteps slacken,
pause. am in the shadow of the
Sphinx.
creep closer and listen. From be-
tween the great stone paws comes a
low sound. 1t is the voice of Ino-trte
praying. The words arise clear and
distinct on the still moonlit air.
90 SnhinvvS oh
looked down upon our Egypt for
thousand years! Thou who hast re-
NAMED 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. if thou
hast the power pray thee to send me
peace! Forgetfulness! II thou wilt,
death! Send me oblivion, o Sphinx,
but take not away my love! Let it but
smolder in my senseless dust till the
light Of some far off sunrise shall re-
awaken this stricken life!'
The voice dies away. creep closer.
There is faint, startled cry from the
supplicant. Again l pause She has
heard me. No, for she is praying again.
Listen! S2'a'
20 Sphinx she cries joyously,
Swiftly hast thou answered my
prayer! l thank thee! thank theew
What can she mean? l wait breath
lessly and listen. but there is only a
faint sigh. Then my own name min
gled with that of Isis. step forward.
l cannot bear it.
'Ino-frtev'
There Is no answer. PROSTATE she
lies on the sand between the mighty
stone paws. l hesitate moment and
call again. Then approach and touch
her lightly.
"Ino-frtey'
Suddenly | 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. l
stretch forth my hand to the reptile.
"Stop! cry. ''lt is for both"
Again the sharp pain in my thumb
shoots up my arm like fire.
Some one was bathing my face and
calling my name tenderly. opened
my eyes. 1t was Ina-my Ina-with
the little hunting cup in her hand.
"Oh. have been so frightenedw she
exclaimed, and looked at me beseech-
ingly. did not find the spring right
away. and when came back Just now
with the water you were unconscious
and talking strangely. Oh. hope that
horrid beetle bite has not poisoned
you"
"On the contrary" smiled, 1.-THE
pain has almost entirely gone. and
would endure far greater suffering for
this. | 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
mana lay tenderly upon my arm.
"She for whom the obelisk was built
lies here" said Ina.
We approached one of the glass in
closures, wherein Law richly decOrat.