Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1899-11-16

''Do not speak. | cannot bear it! To
night | shall pray to the Sphinx for
peace -forgetfulness, place where /
may hide myself apart and die |, 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 perhaps then the gods will be more
kind"
Her arms were about my neck for a
moment. Then she slipped from my
embrace, and l 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 viii go there
to pray. To all else | am oblivious-
blind. My feet are winged, yet the way
seems long. By and by ! step into a
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. 1t is the voice of Ino-firte
praying The words arise clear and
distinct on the still moonlit air
20 Sphinx she means. ''Thou has
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 sorrowl And o Sphinx, If thou
hast the power pray thee to send me
peacei Forgetfulnessi If thou wilt,
DEATH Send me oblivion, o Sphinx,
but take not away my lovel Let it but
smolder in my senseless dust till the
light of some far off sunrise shall re-
awaken this stricken lifen'
The voice dies away. j Greer. closer.
There is FAINT, startled cry from the
supplicant. Again l pause. She has
heard me. No, for she is praying again.
ListenI
20 Sphinx she cries joyously,
swiftly hast thou answered my
prayer! thank theeI l thank theer'
What can she mean? | wait breath
lessly and listen, but there is only a
faint sigh. Then my own name min
gled with that of Isis. l step forward.
/ cannot bear it.
'.Ino-firter'
There is no answer. PROSTATE she
lies on the sand between the mighty
stone paws. / hesitate moment and
call again. Then l approach and touch
her lightly
'Ino-firtef'
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. 1
stretch forth my hand to the reptile.
''StopT' l cry. 1T is for botht''
Again the sharp pain in my thumb
shoots up my arm like fire.
Some one was bathing my face and
calling my name tenderly. l opened
my eyes. 1t was Ina my Ina-with
the little hunting cup in her hand.
'Oh, l have been so frightenedl'' 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
your
ION 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
hand lay tenderly upon my arm.
"She for whom the obeIisk was built
lies here" said Ina.
We approached one Of the glass in
closures, wherein lay richly decorat-
ed cartonnage and the embalmed re-
mains of woman Together we pass
ed around to the end of the case. Then
/ barely refrained from crying out On
a little black placard was painted in
white letters the name, "Ino-flrte."
Ina looked up at me inquiringly.
"You must have heard the story" she
said. ut is the name you spoke up
there unconsciously."
''Yes." answered, sit comes back to
me now, but it was all SO long ago
had forgotten Black and White.