The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1908-10-01
WANTED: A MUMMY.

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by Rider Haggard, and had caught
"Egyptira" Il made this word up my
self and think it rather good)). [ had
been lunching with them, and we were
sitting in the drawing room afterward
having coffee.
Herbert is getting too learned" said
Mariana, ''and too ultra Egyptian for
anything; his remarks at times are very
obscure. You see that little statue OF
Isis?'' she said, pointing to one on the
mantelpiece. l nodded. ''Well, what
do you think happened the other day q?
He couldn't find it, and at dinner he
said to Southgate, Have you seen the
Isis I bought this morning?' Southgate
said he would ask cook. He did.
Was they strawberry or vanilla
ices, STRIP he. asked, because ices was
things as was apt to run if left, and he'd
better take and go and fetch them.'"
I giggled and remarked that if they
were going to get Egyptian with South
gate [ would come round with type
writer and take down what I heard.
Herbert came in at that moment, and
said he had a yearning to 60 to the
British museum and look at the mum
mics. Mariana said for her part looking
at Herbert would do just as well, and
didn't even cost cab fare. But Her
bert was so eager to be off, he took no
notice of the remark. We went to the
museum, and we went to the Egyptian
room there. Herbert was in raptures.
what wonderful process it was"
he said, ''this preserving of the bodies
of kings and priests" He waxed senti-
! mental. |' Tow delightful it would be
for you, Mariana" he saia, 1T / were
to die young, as I often feel I shall, to
have me preserved, as it were, ever at
your side; you could put me in tie
drawing room, and on Sundays you
might have ten with me for great
treat"
Mariana quite agreed with him, she
said She thought that was almost the
incest way to have him about the house.
Herbert looked at her suspiciously, and
then resumed his soliloquy.
'How exquisite" he said, passing
from mankind to the lower animal king
dom, to have ones pet cat ever by ones
side, though unable to utter its erst-
while musical note"
IF all the pet cats have ever had
were preserved II Spices" interrupted
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into the house at all.''
wYou have no soul for sentiment,
Mariana said Herbert; ''you do not
I vearn and hunger as 1 do for the glo-
rious days of ancient Egypt, for the
pomp and power and magnifcence of
the courts of the Pharaohs.''
mo. | must confess I DON'T said
Mariana; "but I do hunger for mullins
| of
stuffy place. All these people do seem
so dreadfully dead. I'm sure they're un-
lucky, too. | read once that they are
haunted by evil spirits. Do let's go.''
We went. At tea Herbert had far
away look in his eyes, and said, in an
absent way, he thought he should buy a
mummy; didn't think he could live any
longer without a mummy.
Don't do it." said Mariana, 'it is sure
to be haunted, and goodness knows what
will happen
eve will see," said Herbert; and he
seemed to be in kind of trance as he
finished the buttered toast. | do not
wish to be rude about Herbert, but he
makes a perfect beast of himself over
buttered toast. 1 like buttered toast
myself, in moderation; but I haven't
that abnormal craving for it that Her
bert has. There was a very buttery lit
tie brown bit had hoped to secure for
myself. I did not secure it-Herbert
did As the guest, felt I had right
to it and it quite spoilt my evening, and
I left with rather strained feelings
though [ don't think they noticed any
thing.
was very busy after that, and could
not 60 into the fiat, but dropped in
!; about coffee time after dinner week
later Southgate's face was grave and
serious, and he glanced furtively over
his shoulder as he took my coat.
"How is everyone, Southgate?"
, asked.
''Up to now, sir we are all alive AND
we'll; but'-and here he lowered his
voice-'Mr. Herbert has gone and bought
an old Egyptian king in box, md they
have got it in the drawing room"
Mummy" l said. $50 he did gel
l one, after all >"
| "He calls it mummy, sir, think
E but to my mind the word ISN'T hal
strong enough. I don't 'od with ths
thing; no more does cook And thu
things that is going on in this 'ouse
The canary died yesterday, and he Sc:
he is going to make Il mummy of it
; He's down there now in the kitchen will
the remains of the canary, and l really
: don't know cow it'll all end,'' he said, al
/ he ushered me into the drawing room.
t Mariana was alone.
t ''You are a stranger" she said, rs w
, shook hands. "But I an glad you'v,
j. come, as something must lie done abcu
: Herbert. It's all through having reac
Cleopatra Certain books affect him il
: that way; it's most trying for me. Hav'
you heard about the canary?'
said [ had, and we sat in gloomy
silence. Presently a rustling and com
motion was heard outside, and Ellen, TIN
cook, appeared.
Il beg your pardon, ma'am," she said
breathlessly, "but might I be permitted
to sit in the dining room; the kitchen
is in such state, and the smell of the
new Egyptian process Mr.. Herbert ha:
thought of for splicing the canary j;
more than can stand"
II feel it is time for me to go to the
rescue said; and hurried down the
stairs, but l met Herbert coming up.
/ Isn't it annoying?" he said. Every
thing was going so well with the pre-
serving of the canary, and 1 left it only
a minute on the table while [ went t.
the cupboard to get some more nutmeg
and the cat got at it. l am very sorry
! really, because, apart from my work
being destroyed, Mariana was very fonG
of that cat, and [ can't be certain that
some of the chemicals / bought at the
: | l.. oso4