The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-01-30

/ 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-flrte is there. She
has said that tonight she win go there
to pray. To all else am obliviors-
blind. My feet are winged, yet the way
seems long. BY and by l 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-frte
praying. The words arise clear and
distinct on the still moonlit air.
20 Sphinx she moans "Thou hast
looked down upon our Egypt for a
thousand yearsI 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. If thou
hast the power / pray thee to send me
peace! Forgetfulness! If thou wilt,
death! Send me oblivion, o Sphinx,
but take not away my Lowell Let it but
smolder in my senseless dust till the
light Of some far off Sdnrise shall re-
awaken this stricken lifep'
The voice dies away. 1 creep closer.
There is a faint, startled cry from the
supplicant. Again l pause. She has
heard me. No, for she is praying again.
Listen!
20 Sphinx she cries joyously,
swiftly hast thou answered my
prayer! thank thee! thank theeP'
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. step forward.
cannot bear it.
"Ino-firte"
There is no answer. PROSTATE she
lies on the sand between the mighty
stone paws. l hesitate a moment and
call again. Then approach and touch
her lightly.
'Tno-frteT"
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. I
stretch forth my hand to the reptile.
"Stopv' l cry. sit is for bothw
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.
ooh, have been so frightened" 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
S5orkid- beetle bite has not poisoned
your
ION the contrary" I smiled, "the
pain has almost entirely gone, and l
would endure far greater suffering for
this l have waited for 1t 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 obelisk 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 a woman. Together we pass
ed around to the end of the case. Then
1 barely refrained from crying out
a little black placard was pain
white letters the name, "Ino-frt
Ina looked up at me inquiringly.
"You must have heard the story,
said. at is the name you spoke
there. unconsciously."
EYES," answered, ut comes back
me now, but it was all so long agc
had forgotten" Black and White.