Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-02


of life Even at the Memphian shore
there was little activity.
When the line of cultivation ended Ken
kenes knew he was in the precincts OF the
Marsh of the Disseminated Soul. He roWeo
across what he believed to be one air OF
it's width and drew into the reeds. he
dragged the bari far up on the shore, once
more lifted Deborah and started up the
warm sand.
At the base of the limestone cliff he de-
posted his burden and brought together
This he fired after many failures by strik,
ing together his chisel and stone; hacneI
hid the blaze from the Nile while ne mace
and lighted torch of twisted Ieeos anu
light he discerned stairway OF Tough-
hewn steps leading into cavity In the
wall. The southern side or the ascent
was sheltered by an outstanding buttresS
of rock.
He put the torch into Rachefs hand,
and. taking UP Deborah. climbed dozen
steps to dark opening half closed oy
fallen door. Pushing the obstruction asioe
with his foot, he entered. When they were
all within he closed the entrance and un-
rolled the reeds.
There was a helter-skelter OF mice past
them and rustic of retiring insects Inc
torch blazed brightly and showed him
squat copper lamp on the floor of the outer
chamber. The vessel contained sandy
dregs Of oil and dirty floss OF cotton.
With an exclamation of surprise Ken
kenes lighted the wick, and after little
suffering 1t burned smokily.
NAY, now, how came a lamp In tnls
tomb?" he asked without expecting an an
swer.
The chamber was low-roofed and small
the whole interior rough with chisel marks.
To the eyes of the sculptor, accustomed 10
the gorgeous frescoes in the tombs or the
Memphian metropolis the walls looked bare
and pitiful. There were several prayers in
the ancient hieroglyphics but no ancestral
records or biographical paintings. Several
strips of linen were scattered over the
floor, with the customary litter of dried
leaves. dust, refuse brought by rodents.
cObwebs and the cast-of chrysalides of in
sects. In one corner was bronze jar.
Kenkenes examined it and found it con-
tanned cocoanut oil for burning.
"Of truth this is Intervention of the
gods" he commented, little daZed. but
filling his lamp nevertheless.
Ahead Of him was black opening lead
ing into the second chamber. He stopped,
and, entering, held the lamp above his
head. He cried out, and Rachel came to
his side
In the center of the room was a stone
sarcophagus of the early, broad, f1at-topped
pattern. In one corner was a two-seated
bari, in another a mattress Of woven reeds.
Leaning against the sarcophagus was a
wooden rack containing several earthen-
ware amphorae; on the floor about it was
a tousled litter of waXed outer cere-
ments torn from mummies All these
things they observed later. Now their
wide eyes were fixed on the top of the
coffin. At one time there had been a
dozen linen sacks set there, but the mice
and insects had gnawed most of them
away. The bottoms and lower halves yet
remained. forming calyxes. out of which
tumbled heaps of gold and silver rings,
zones, bracelets, collars and masks from
sarcophag gall of gold; images of Isis in
lapfs lazuli and amethyst; scarabs in gar
nets and hematite, khem in obsidian, Bast
in carnelian, Besa in serpentine signets in
nf dion dc vx,Iio Oh,
been Babylonian gems of spoil.
1.-The plumber of Khafar and Sigur, by my
mummy Kenkenes calculated.
will they return?" Rachel asked in
voice full of fear.
They are gathered to Amenti for their
misdeeds many months agone," he ex-
planned. See how thickly the dust lies
here without a print upon it. They were
tomb robbers. None of the authorities
could discover their hiding place, and 10!
here it is
He walked round the sarcophagus and
found at the head, or the floor several
bronze cases sealed with pitch He opened
one of them with some difficulty. Flat
PACKAGES wrapped with linen lay within.
DRIED gazelle meat-and 1 venture there
Is wine in those anphorae They lived
here, | am convinced, and fed upon the
food offerings they fiIched from the tombs.
was there ever such intrepid lawlessness?"
kenkenes swept the Jewels as if they had
been almonds into an empty amphora and
returned 1t to the rack. The mattress he
lad upon the broad top of the sarcophagus.
Where go we tomorrow asked De-
kenkenes did not answer Immediately.
Another plan for RacheFs security had
Deen growing In his mind, and his heart
ieaped at the prospect of its acceptance by
her.
There is a large boat here. and we might
go to On, he began at last. There is
one way possible to save Rachel from this
man as long as live, and would she were
tions.''
Name them and let me judge"
ne hesitated for proper words and his
cheeks flushed. Deborah looked at him with
comprehension in her gaze
Rachel is not blind to my love for her.
and thou. too, art discerning Yet I would
declare myself l love Rachel. and 1 would
Pharaoh could take her from me by law"
Deborah raised herself with difficulty, and
after peering into the inner chamber to see
where Rachel was, approached him softly
Thou lowest Rachel. Aye. that is a tale
l have heard oftener than have fingers to
count upon. From the first men of her
tribe l have heard it. from the best of
heart and stayed by my side. Now thou
contest. young, comedy, gifted with fair
speech and full of fervor. Thou lowest as
she would be loved, and her heart goes out
to thee. even as thou wouldst have Tin
love"
Kenkenes' face glowed and his fine eyes
shone with JOY
But mark thout' she continued passive
ly. IF thou wouldst save her, think upon
some other way, for thou mayest not wed
her. Jehovah planteth the faith of Abra-
ham anew in Israel. In Rachel and in
Rachel's house it died not during the hun
dred years of the bondage Therefore the
name is godly. OF her, what would thy
heart say? Hath she not beauty hath she
not wisdom, hath she not great winsome-
ness? There is none like her in these DAYS
among all the children of Abraham. TO
her Israel looketh for example, for since
she compeleth by her grace. those who be-
hold her will consider whatever she doeth
as good.
Thou bowest down to beetle" she went
on without pausing. Thou worshipest a
cat; thou offerest up sacrifice to an image
and conservest abominable and heather
rites. Thou art idolater, and as such
thou art not for Rachel And vet. this
further: If thou canst become worshiper
of the true God thou shalt take her Never
have 1 seen an Egyptian won over to the
faith of Abraham, but there approached a
time of wonders and l shall not marvel"
kenkenes turned to Deborah.
LET 1t pass, then. Deny me not the low
of loving her. nor her the small content OF
loving me. If there should be change. let
1t be in thy prohibitions, not in our love.
Enough. Art thou weary? Wouldst thou
sleep?"
Nay" she answered bluntly
''Then l would take counsel with thee
Thou knowest the end of Israeli" he asked.
81 know the purpose of the Ph aranb Iut