The Jamesburg record., 1900-02-24

remembrance.
This is how people drew in Egypt
thousands of yesterdays ago." he said.
The hnes-are all straight, because they
we're cut upon stone. See. these ara
--.------ - - - --~s
archers, and these are horses, and this
looks like big bull.'
touched the figure of Apis reverent-
ly with my hand.
This" said, "is q god"
Another time they took me to mu-
scum, and 1 stopped by carven sar-
cophagus and would not move away.
There were things craven upon it that
/ seemed almost to understand, and
names that were half familiar.
When l went back to school stood
aloof from the games to dream OF fly
ing spears and racing chariots. My
playfellow-I will call him Rupert
was always in the memories with me.
Often when we wrestled together the
playground seemed to swim away. In
stead there came vision of yellow
sand and blue skies, and dark, black
haired playmates around, and shout
Ing Ol Ncll btllfSAy Aitt1C Ming OhSSp
when he had been i'll for long time,
and I went to see him, a name sprung
up almost to my ips-the name was
forgotten, but knew it had been his
name long before.
After leaving school devoted myself
to Egyptian antiquities. They seemed
to present no difficulty to me, and
soon made great name. Meanwhile
the conviction grew upon me that had
lived in Egypt many years before. !
even began to realize dimly that was
Amenemhat w., of whom the histories
said so little.
Then I met Nerissa, and for awhile
studied no more. There was no one,
nothing else in all the world that mat
tered the least to me. L became her
accepted lover, and for few months l
lived in paradise.
After this I had a strong fever. In
the dreams and delirium the past came
back to me, and when was well again
I remembered. I was Amenemhat and
she was Numidea, the blue-eyed slave.
AS 1 had ordered by the spell, was
reborn to live with her again. Kales,
her lover, had known no spells, told
myself. So he was in the future or the
past, perhaps by thousand years, as
the gods had ordered, and she was not
for him but for me. The thought OF
her wrong in the past made me won
drously tender to her, and she was al
ways gentle. Yet 1 tortured myself
that she did not love me as loved her.
"When we are married-it will come"
I told myself. "It shall come"
One day in the spring we were sitting
together. Rupert had come home on
a furlough from his regiment in In
dia, and came first to see me. They
looked at one another for a long time.
There was remembrance in their eyes.
Fool that had been to think myself
wiser than the gods! He was Kales.
The room grew dark and I tainted.
When I came to they propped me up
with pillows and sat beside me. They
spoke as if they had known one an
other for years. 1t seemed, they said,
that they must have met before, and
they talked jestingly of a transmigra-
ton of souls.
After that they seemed always meet
ing. The light leaped into their faces
when they saw each other. They
looked wistfully backward when they
parted. 1 entreated Nerissa to hasten
our wedding day, but she tearfully re-
fused.
Suppose" she said, "that we had
made mistake, after all? Sometimes
l think" She paused here, and when
I questioned. her she was silent.
One evening I went slowly into her
boudoir and heard them talking pas
Gionately. 1 fingered behind a great
screen. 1t was an unworthy thing to
do; but I would have done worse-far
worse-for love of her.
"You love me-" he said, triumph
artly. "Ycu love me! You are mine
by right, Nerissa-my dear!'
Hush" she sohbed Flush! 1 am
his-your friends. 1 promised"
"You do not love him. You cannot
love him."
''Oh, I have tried!" she cried. Then
he took her in his arms and comfort
ed hcEhe who had been my friend.
l went stealthily away. 1t was well
that had no weapon then.
That night dreamed the old dream
of her death. In the morning I con-
cealed small sharp dagger about me
and went to see her. When I kissed
her she half turned her face away.
Have you anything to say to me,
Nerissa ?" I asked.
mo-" she answered, with a. little
catch in her voice. 81 do not think
so. Oh, mol"
"Nothing?" asked again. Think"
My fingers fumbled at the dagger.