Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-22
j JOS Il u a +:
A STORY OF EGYPTIAN-ISRAELITS LIFE.
BY PROF. GEORG EBERS,
Author of "Uarda" "An Egyptian Princess" Etc.
NOw FIRST PUBIISHEDO
lsaby caurel
BY PROF. GEORG EBERS
roopyrirhted. lsSa, by 5. S. McCaure.l

You are Ephraim, whom he loved as
son, and you are Nun, the old man hii
father. There you stand, and you will live
while Lob, and it is so hard to leave thu
light of day. Anubis will lead me before the
judgment seat of Osiris, my heart Will bI
weighed, and then" She shuddered vio
lently, opening and closing her trembling
hands; but she soon recovered herself, an6
began to speak once more. But Miriam pos
itively forbade her, as it must hasten the
end.
At this Kasana collected all her sire myth
and exclaimed quickly, and as loudly as
she could, glancing at Miriam from top to
toe: $50 YOU would hinder me from doing
what must do? Youp' There was an &C
cent of contempt in her tone; but she nc
doubt felt that she must husband her
strength, for she went on more calmly, and
as if speaking to herself: "But cannot de-
part thus-not thusl How it happened
why did it ALL must confess; and will
not complain if only he may know how it
came to pass. Oh, Nun, good old Nun,
who gave me lamb when 1 was yet but a
child loved it so-and you, Ephraim, my
boy, will tell you everything"
A painful cough here checked her utter
ance; as soon as she had recovered her breath
she turned to Miriam again and went on, in
voice so full of bitter aversion that it
startled those who knew her kindly nature:
"It is you-you. tall woman with o man. s
voice, and the learning of leech-you who
beguiled him from Tanis, and from me.
He went and came and did your bidding.
And you-you became another mans
wiie-it must have been after his coming;
yes-for when Ephraim brought your
! Whether it was grief to Joshua 1 know
not But another thing know, and that is
that have somewhat to confess before it is
too late. And none may hear it but those
who love him, and I-do you hear?-I love
| him more than all else on earthl You'll you
have husband, and God whose bidding
you zealously obey-as you yourself have
! said. What is Joshua to you? beg you
to leave US. Very few have I met in my
life to whom could not feel kindly, but
you II cannot love, 1 know not why-and
II you remain near me cannot speak-and
must-and it hurts me so to speak, But
before you go-yop are physicisn-tell
me one thing; have so many things to say
to him before 1 die-will it kill me if L
speak?''
And again the prophecies 70 und no reply
but her brief, "As you say" and her tone
was one of stern warning.
As soon as Kasana found herself alone
with the grandfather and grandson, and
Ephraim had fallen on his knees by the
bedside, while the old man, after kissing
her brow, stood with his hoary head bent to
hear her low tones, she began again:
Now, 1 am easier. That tall woman
her eyes as dark as night-they are fiery
indeed, and yet so cold-that woman-Did
Joshua love her, father? Tell me. 1 do
not ask out of idle curiosity"
HE honored her." replied the old man
-, fgog do oil 6a
is of a lofty spirit. and our God Vouchsafes
to her to hear His voice. But you, sweet
one, were dear to him even as q child; that
know"
A slight shudder ran through her frame.
For short space she closed her eyes and
blissiul smile lighted up her face. This
lasted SO long that Nun thought that
death had already claimed her, and he
leaned over her, listening to her breathing,
with the draught in his hand. She did not
seem to see him; but when at last she looked
up again, she put out her hand for the cup.
drank from it, and then went on: "I felt
as though he were there before me-Joshua
himself He wore his warriors dress, as he
did the first time he took me on his arm. I
was but little child. and was afraid of
him because he looked so grave, and my
nurse had told me that he had slain many
enemies. But was happy when he came,
and when he went away was sad And
years went on, and my love for him grew as
grew. Ny young heart was so full of
him, so full. Yes, even when I was
compelled to marry another, and after was
a widow" The last words were scarcely
audible, and she rested while before she
went on: Joshua knows it well-onlv he
does not know how anxious I was when he
was in the field, and how longed for him
till he came home again. AT last, at last,
he returned, and how glad 1 was to
see him once more! But he himself
That woman-Ephraim told me-that
tall, proud woman bade him 60 to Tithom.
Yet he came back from thence, and then, o
Nun. That was hardest of all to bear-he
refused my hand when my father offered it.
That-ah, how it hurt mel can no more
give me the cup, again"
''Then hated him; but not for long; and
1 never loved him more than when went
after the hapless prisoner-you know, boy
And then came the dreadful, horrible time,
the shameful things-but he must know it
all that he may not despise me if he ever
hears. I never knew my mother, and there
was no one to warn me. Where shall
begin? Prince Siptah-you know him,
father-the bad man who will soon be lord
over Egypt. My father is in q plot with
him. Great gods! I can speak no moreP'
"Aye, said the old man, only anxious to
stop her speaking and to help her tell all
she wished to make known, sand as Bale
raised him up. so can he overturn him. He.
even more surely than his predecessor, will
be the tool OF the man who has made him
King. know Aarsu, the Syrian, aud if I
am not deceived the time is coming when he
will aim at selzing the reins of power in
Egypt torn as it will be by internal divis-
ions, though he and his mercenaries have so
far helped others to snatch them. But you,
child, what prompted you to follow the
army and that profigate traitor?"
Kasana's eyes CLEANED more brightly
again, for the question led directly
to the matter of which she desired to
speak. and she replied as clearly as her fail
ing strength allowed, SIT was for your sons
sake-lor love of him-to procure his release.
Only the evening before had refused posi-
lively to 90 with Baie's wife. But when
had seen Joshua once more by the well, and
he-ah, he was so kind at last, and kissed
my browi And 1 saw him in misery-alas,
poor heartl saw the best Of men doomed
to perish in disgrace and sickness. And
when he went onward with chains on his
his feet il suddenly struck me."t
"Then, brave, foolish, misguided child
that you are, you determined to win the de-
yotion of the future king in order to secure
the release of your friend, my son?"
The dying woman smiled and said softly,
''Yes, yes; for that and that alone. AndI
loathed the prince. And the disgrace, the
shame-horrible, horribler'
$50 it was for my sons sake that you en-
dured it all, !" cried the old man interrupting
her, and her hand which he pressed to his
lips was wet with his tears, while she turned
to Ephriam and sighed: "And thought Of
this lad, too. He is so young and the mines
SO terrible"
Again she shuddered. The boy covered
her hand with kisses vhiIa she lnoked fan