The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-01-17
A LUXOR INCIDENT.

AthE az 4Ac bC4CpnOA0s
Despite the closely drawn shades the
August sunshine was filtering into the
office, and the light breeze from Lake
Michigan scarcely stirred the oppressive
atmosphere. The reading Of the manu-
scripts which the assistant editor had
passed on to him for final approval or
rejection had made eyes and brain alike
weary, and his friends visit was vel
come distraction.
We'll, who is the winner of the first
prize?" Scott inquired oheerily.
Z" A man named Edwards of Macon.
There's story l like better, but it is
out of the question.
Sounds contradictory"
"Yet it isn't. That which takes ones
fancy isn't by any means always the
best from literary standpoint, This
one is entitled An Incident at Luxor. :"
Then / ought to be a judge Of it's
merit. spent three months at Luxor. :"
1T is a distinctly amateurish at
tempt, sketch rather than story,
quite ineligible for publication as it
stands, yet much more convincing than
evidently been to Egypt and is not lack
ing in observation. There are no wild
flights of fancy borrowed from travel
ers' journals. 1t is simply plain state
ment of facts, every word bearing the
impress of truth. The inventive faculty
is altogether absent"
"You make me quite curious. Let
road ~ - Gontt
mo; you have not my patience.
Your experience has been confined to
condensed newspaper paragraphs. You
would probably lose sight of the story
in the crudeness of its setting. I'll give
you brief outline of it if you like. y
'The heroine, if she may be SO styled,
is young English girl, making a trip
to Egypt under the chaperonage of some
acquaintance. The hero is journalist
"a graduate of Harvard-the Egyptian
correspondent of a Boston paper. The
narrative commences at the point where
the Tewtikieh company's steamer Mem
phis arrives at Luxor and is moored at
the foot of the steps which lead into the
hotel grounds.
"Our heroine enters the writing
room, the only other occupant of which
is the journalist. He has already been
two months at Luxor, and being a So
ciable fellow is getting more than a lit
tie tired of the intense heat and his
own company, so the dainty apparition
in the cool white gown is welcome in
truder upon his solitude. "
Scott looked up, suddenly attentive.
He knows enough of English pecul-
iarities to be sure she will expect him
to remain as blandly unconscious of her
presence as she appears to be of his, but
copy, which judioious interview of
this sedate maiden may provide, has
been scarce with him recently, and his
professional instinct will not permit
him to neglect such a golden opportu-
nifty. Accordingly he opens the CONVEX
sation by telling her how impossible it
would be for a oountryw oman of his
own to sit still in a rocking chair. -
Scott leaned forward, his eyes gleam-
ing ouriously.
'Viotor, what is the authors namep"
"Oartright-Anice Cartrightl''
"Ahl"
Lanrow looked up inquiringly.
do you happen to know her?'
Il once knew somebody of that name,
but she did not live in this country, and
she was not literary. Go on. -
American frankness gradually over
coming English reserve, the two young
people become friendly. They discover
that in many things their tastes are sim
liar, and during the steamers three
days stay at Luxor their friendship
grows apace. Together they wander
among the ruins of the temple of Luxor,
sketch in the shadows of Karnak's pill
lars, and lunch without misgiving in
the tomb of Seti l.. In fact, it is case
of love at first sight. Is it necessary to
add that when the Memphis leaves for
Assouan our impetuous compatriot has
asked his three days acquaintance to
marry him? Do 1 make you tired,
Scott?" for Scott's elbows were resting
on his knees and his head on his hands
"No; am interested. OF course, the
girl says yes, and they live happy
ever after?"
"You forget she is English. She
promises to give him her answer when
she returns with her party from the
cataract.
"Well?i'
Scott sat upright again, strange ex-
pectancy in his voice.
1.-THE steamer on its home journey
arrives at Luxor in the early morning.
The river is falling rapidly, and, to
avoid running on to sand banks and con-
sequent delays, the manager of the
Memphis decides to sacrifice the intend
I'd extra two days stay at Luxor and
proceed direct to Cairo. The hotel Wis
itors are not astir, with the exception
of a doctor--the journalists travelling
companion-and to him the girl con-
fides letter for her suitor, accepting
him, and giving him her address in
Cairo.
early and late she watches for him
day after day, with sinking heart,
she makes some excuses to herself for
his nonappearanoe AT last the moment
arrives when she and her party must
leave Cairo. Then only does she realize
her lovers faithlessness and awake to
the knowledge that OH his part it was
merely flirtation-one way of killing
time, an incident of his visit to Egypt
already with smile and shrug dis
missed from his memory
Scott rose to his feet.
"Not SO, Victor. 1t is an incident he
will never forget see You under
stand. Where is Miss Cartwright liv-
ing?"
"But, Scott, you don't mean to say
that
"Listen My friend, DR.. Hines, was
brought back to the hotel that morning
dead-drowned You will readily see
that the horror of the catastrophe and
all it involved banished the Memphis
from my mind for the time being. Aft
erward, when among the kindly fare
wells of some of Anice's fellow passen-
gers / found no word from herself,
came to the conclusion that she thought
silence kinder than the only answer she
felt able to give. To think ones happi-
ness should depend on such a chancer'
''Miss Cartright's position must have
undergone material change She has
no literary talent and evidently no ex-
perience. This is a desperate effort to
earn money"
st is three years ago. In that time
what may not have happened? Give me
her addraaa Victor -