Evening star., 1927-10-01

beads: her hair was all twisted into
little cords. and she wore upon her
bosom little idol-fgure of green
paste, bearing a whip with seven
lashes. which was an image of Isis.
Her brow was adorned with a shin
ing plate of gold. \ few traces of
paint relieved the cOppery tint of her
cheeks. Her costume seemed like that
belonging to freshly unbandaged
mummy.
One strange circumstance. which
disturbed me. was that the apparition
had only one foot: the other was bro
ken off at the ankle. She approached
the table and supported herself upon
the edge of the desk. She addressed
the foot, for it was hers, in the Coptlc
tongue. Luckily. | understood Coptlc
perfectly well that night. for
grasped that the foot would not return
to her. since | had bought and paid
for it. and it was legally mine now.
Princess" l exclaimed. Il never
kept any ones foot unjustly. rake
yours back. l make you a gift or II.
She took the foot. which no longer
resisted. and put it on with some
skill. She walked about the room u
little, testing it.
How pleased father will be-" 81
said. He was so unhappy because
of my mutilation. From my birth
he had set whole nation at work
following out a tomb so deep that
he might preserve me intact untll
the last day, when souls must be
weighed. Come with me to my father.
He will receive you gladly. for you
have given me back my foot"
l thought this proposition natural
enough. / put on a dressing gown
with something of an Egyptian pat
tern. sor slippers, and said l was
ready.
Before leavir,, Hermonthis took
from her neck the little ldol-ngure
Of green paste and laid it on the
scattered sheets where the foot had
been. 1T is only fair" she said. that
should replace your paperweight."
She gave me her hand and we
seemed to fly swiftly through the air.
Obelisks commenced to tower in the
distance. Then, ere | knew 1t. | was
led through mountain OF granite.
and along halls hewn through the liv-
ing rock. Soon we were i'm vast
hall, so enormous that the eye could
not reach its limits.
I heheld the kings Of ancient races
seated upon thrones-grand old men.
though dry and withered like parch-
and Hermonthis presented me to her
father.
''You are brave young man." he
said. land worthy lad to return my
daughters foot. What recompense
do you desire?"
Filled with that daring inspired by
dreams in which nothing seems im-
possible. l said: 1.-The hand Of yof
daughter What could be fairer
exchange for her foot?"
The Pharaoh was astonished at my
witty request. "Where are you from,'
he asked. land what Is your age?"
II am from France and l am 81
years old" l replied.
"Twenty-seven years old. and you
wish to marry my daughter. who Is
30 centuries old" exclaimed the
Pharaoh. Still. Hermonthis herself
didn't seem to think it so strange.
why" said her father, when YOU
are dust we'll still be preserved. Men
selves any longer. MY daughter must
have a husband who will last well.
See how vigorous | yet remain-I will
he present on the last day of the
world with the same body and the
same features which had during my
lifetime. Behold. my flesh is solid as
baSalt. nv bones are bones Of steel.''
Suddenly he extended a hand to-
ward me. See how mighty is my
grasp still" he said. and clutched my
hand in the English fashion with a
strength that buried my ring in the
ferh of my fingers.
He squeezed me so hard that
awoke, and found my friend Alfred
shaking me by the arm to make me
get up.
You everla aeting sleeper" Alfred
exclaimed. why don't YOU get up?"
Great heavens" ] cried. at IS
almost noon. Look for that permit
lying on my d"sk-I must hurry
! started to find it myself. but fancy
my astonishment when I beheld In.
stead Of the munlmy's foot I had
hoi-hr the evening before. the little
cre"n naste i6nl left in its place by
tho Princess Hermoufbis'