The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-01-30
IN THE SHADOW
OF THE SPHINX.
From the Year 1899 In Central
Park he Steps Back to An
oient Times In Egypt.

as possible, said Ina. 1.-The Nero
glyphics are so much clearer just be-
fore they are entirely in shadow"
/ We quickened our steps.
tsYou know, am not so interested in
hieroglyphics,' said, smiling mot so
interested as l am in enigmas"-she
looked up quickly Fin you, for in
stance"
She turned away.
Hurry" she said. 1--WE are late
now, am sure"
When at last we faced the eastern
side of the needle, the sun was almost
to the line. The shadows In the mark
ings made them deep and distinct.
ION the 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 strange girl you are, InaP'
I 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 a whisper.
She looked straight ahead at the
obelisk and said nothing. Her profile
against the foliage beyond startled me.
I 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.
II have always had an inclination for
these things" she said earnestly. II
cannot remember when it began. My
father encouraged it and help, me"
She pointed to the Scared mHtaRs... 8
that was now in the shadow an -
against the May sky. 'It is called Cleo
patra's needle" she continued, "but it
dates much earlier. 1t is said to have
been built in honor Of princess of the
sixteenth dynasty. 1t has also been
said that her mummied remains are
yonder" She indicated the Metropoli-
tan galleries. Il hope it is true. 1t
would be beautiful if it were. We will
go over there"
later, Ina," 1 protested. "The air
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. I 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 been
only Indifferent.
We passed little spring, and, paus-
ing, drank out of small hunting cup
l carried A step farther on we found
a rustic seat | fancied that tender
look had come into her face, and, en-
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 did so a 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! 1t
looks exactly like-I believe it is real
ly''-
"What is, Ina?' 1 asked pettishly.
"Some new and wonderful specimen
of the insect tribeT
"No," she answered wonderingly,
IAN old one-a scarabaeus-the sacred
heart scarab of EgyptF'
Impossible, Ina~ laughed. "Your
enthusiasm deceives you"
mo, no! 1t is a scarab am sure
Of it," she insisted. 1.-THE only emblem
of reincarnation-of eternal life. Oh
don't let it escaped Catch til"
The strange insect had started to
crawl away. 1 have an inherited hor-
ror of all reptiles and beetles, but what
| would l not do for Ina? l seized the
creature firmly with my thumb and
fingers and held it fast. Suddenly l
felt sharp pain that shot up through
my arm like fire. 1 dropped the insect,
with cry.
"Ah! 1t has bitten meW
Ina looked startled end concerned.
"WhereY' she cried LET me seeY'
/ turned my thumb toward her.
There were two minute drops of blood
issuing, as from the punctures of a
needle. Ny arm was becoming numb
with pain. I must have been pale, for
she looked at me keenly.
"Give me the cup, quick! l will get
you some waterP'
/ remember handing her the little
hunting cup and of seeing her hasten
away. Then a WEAKNESS seemed to
,,.ot<,l, ,,~oy, ~ lido opd rI11nood info
darkness. A moment later recovered
consciousness and opened my eyes
Ina was standing before me. No, not
na-Ino-f1rte, the Egyptian!
1 was seated by the gates of ruined
temple About us the waving palms.
Beyond them the cobalt sky of Egypt.
Far away, across a shimmering waste
Of brown sand, the Sphinx gazed out
over the desert as it had done for more
than a thousand years. Even in my
Indebtedness could not but notice the
rare setting it all made for Ino-nrte'
She was attired in the royal dress OF
her rank. How beautiful she was! She
came a step closer.
"Do not urge me farther" she plead
ed. 81 am already bowed low with my
burden. It but makes our parting
harder. 1 have only come for the lasi
time to tell you. l have prayed to Isis
our sweet Isis, to show me way BY
which 1 might cleave to you. To you
whose people have destroyed hel
sacred temples and brought slavery
and disgrace upon our Egypt. haVi
prayed to her and made rare sacrifices
but she is silent. A princess of Egyp
may not wed with the Hyksos-th'
shepherds. My hand would wither i
gave it to you; my love become al
J venomw
/ ventured to protest, but she mo
toned me to silence.
"Do not speak. l cannot bear 1t! To
night shall pray to the Sphinx TO
ace-forgetfulness, a place where
may hide myself apart and die. l,
princess of Egypt, who have loved on
of the hated race and am willing to Oh
because of it. And when l am dea'
you will stand by my bier and know
that | was faithful. And when an
wrapped in sweet balms and spices 10
the sepulcher you will bring the sacre'
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 NOR
kind"
Her arms were about my neck for
moment. Then she slipped from M
embrace, and could not follow her.
Night in Egypt. The heavens swarm
ing with stars and the desert hoode