Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1900-03-08

nved IN egypt many years before. 1
even began to realize dimly that was
Amenomhat ~, of whom the histories
said so life
Then I met Nerissa. and for awhile l
budied no more. There was no one,
5othing else in. all the world that mat
;ered the least to me. | became her
accepted lover, and for few months L
lived in paradise.
After this l had strong fever. In
the dreams and delirium the past came
back to me, and when / was well again
! remembered 1 was Amenemhat and
she was Numidea, the blue-eyed slave.
As I had ordered by the spell, l 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 l tortured myself
that she did not love me as I loved her.
"When We are married-it will come"
7 told myself. at shall come"
One day in the spring we were sitting
together. Rupert had come home on
furlough from his regiment in In
Ola. and came first to see me. They
looked at one another for long time
There was remembrance in their eyes.
Fool that I had been to think myself
wiser than the gods! He was Kales.
The room grew dark and l tainted.
When came to they propped me up
with pillows and sat beside me. They
smoke as if they had known one an
other for years. 1t seemed, they said,
flat they must have met before, and
they talked iestingly of transmigra-
ton of souls
After that they seemed always meet
ing. The light leaped into their faces
Wien they saw each other. They
looked wistfully backward when they
parted. I cnueated Nerissa to hasten
our wedding day, but she tearfully re-
fused.
suppose" she said, that we had
made a mistake, after all? Sometimes
/ tbink-" She paused here, and when
questioned her she was silent.
One evening l went slowly into her
boudoir and heard them talking pas
sionately. I 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
antly. "Ycu love mel You are mine
by right, Nerissa-my dear!"
"uush." she sobbed. flush! am
his-your friends. promised"
You do not love him. You cannot
love him"
ooh. 7 have triedl" she cried. Then
he took her in his arms and comfort
ed hcr-he who had been my friend.
l went stealthily away. 1t was well
mat l had no weapon then.
That night ! dreamed the old dream
of her death. in the morning l con
cealed small sharp dagger about me
and went to see Ler. When 1 kissed
her she half turned her face away.
"TIaye you anything to say to me
Ner.ssa?" l asked.
No" She answered, with a little
catch In her voice. 81 do not think
so. Oh no.
"Nothing?" 1 asked again. Think
Ny fingers fumbled at the dagger
When she confessed that she was
faithlcss, l would Stay her. l thought
Nothing" she said, slowly. "Only
pane the day that you will She
was loyal. since she knew how greatly
I loved her. 1 might have known.
Kiss me-" / cried fercely. She
Welded Just one faint little embrace
I caught her in my arms and kisset
her hair, her eyes and her lips a thou
sand times. Then the words
of Charmicles, the charioteer, came
back to me. IF l loved her enough
oh king, perchance 1 should set he
free"
snapped the dagger before her an'
threw the pieces away
Il came to kill you," 1 said. Thel
fed into the street. People leapet
aside from my path as I sped along tt
my old friend, Dr. Strange.
''Put me away" I demanded, 90
some day 1 shall kill her. l am mad!
So they put me away.
That is ten years ago. 1 have staye'
here since, except twice, when the,
have taken me to Egypt for some re
searches. l am seeking for the spell
Soon I shall find it. Then shall
slcep-to wake again. This time sh
loved me q little. There will be
third act-and who knows?
He dropped his head in his hand
and was silent. left him thus.
"a sad case" said the doctor. 81
very sad case. Homicidal mania, com
plicated with the delusion that he
an ancient king 1t is thousan
pities. lie is the authority Of tn
century on Egyptian antiquities, 20
know. ana on most points as sane a
you OF l. "-Madame.