Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-14
CHAPTER XIV.
Before Egypt's Throne.


fourteen days after her departure from
Memphis.
1t was near sunset when company OF
royal guards, under Menes, rode up from
the north.
The captain flung himself from his horse
and hurried to Masanath's litter.
Holy Isis. Lady Masanath." he eX-
claimed; where in all Egypt hast thou hid
den myself these fourteen days: me
whole army of the north hath been search,
ing after thee, and Rameses hath raVeo
like mailman since that day long past on
which thou shouldst have arrived In rams.
81 have. been on the way" she answered
loftily. 1.-THE haste of the prince Is un-
seemiy. 1 would not fatigue myself nor
court disaster by incautiousness, these
perilous days
these fourteen days in the matter of court
gossip" the captain said. Wherefore am
come as thy informant with such news as
thou shouldst know. For, being Ignorant OF
the infelicities in the household of the king
1t may be that thou wouldst ask after the
little prince, Seti, and wherefore the queen
appears no more at the side or the fharaoH
nor speaks with thy lord nor sees thy nople
father: and Furthermore, where Ta-user
hath taken herself and other things Whlcn
would embarrass thee to hear answered
openly
listen Serious words from the lips of the
light hearted captain were not common, ana
when he spoke in that manner 1t was time
to take heed.
tune and of the treason of Ta-user and her
party, and the placing of price upon her
head but nothing more hath come TO mine
ears. Is there more. OF truth? .-
Remember, / pray thee, the captain re-
piled, riding near to her, that bring thee
this for thine own sake, not for the love OF
tale-bearing. On the counsel OF hafheses
this day the Pharaoh sentenced Setl 10 oan-
ishment for year to the mines OF Lib
va
.To the mines!' Masanath cried In horror.
Not as laborer. Nay, the sentence was
not so harsh. But as a scribe 10 the COVER
1T matters little" she declared indignant,
w. The boy prince-the poor, misguided
young brother sent to year banlshment-
a lifelong humiliation Libya, the death
country Now. was anything more brutal?
Nay 1t is like Rameses!
She sank back to the shadows of her lit
ter covered her face with her hands and
shuddered because of the imminence of her
trial.
SO they journeyed on, till at last Masa-
nath fell asleep-not from indifference, Tor
her fears exhausted her-but because her
mind still retained babyhoods way of COM
forting itself when too roughly beset
She was aroused in the middle of the first
watch nv the passage of her litter between
bewildering stretches of lights. She was
within the palace. The soldiers that bore
her were tramping over Damascene car
pet and between long lines of groveling at
tendants, through an atmosphere OF over
whelming perfume. The messenger had
been swift and the court had had time to
prepare to greet the coming crown princess
with propriety.
After the first spasm of terror Masanath
set her teeth and prepared to endure. She
was borne to the doors of the throne room
and two mobiles gorgeously habited set the
carved steps beside the litter for her feet
Without hesitation she descended.
The great hall was abiaZe with hgnt ana
lined with courtiers. The Pharaoh, with the
queen by his side again, was in his place I'M
der the canopy
Har-hat. glittering with gems and rustling
In snow-white robes, approached with trl-
umph in his face to embrace her. But with
in three steps he paused as suddenly as
though he had been commanded. He bent
his knee and kissed the pronered hand. he
had become the subject of his daughter.
She suffered him to lead her to the royal
dais where she knelt. The queen de-
scended, raised her and led her to the
throne Meneptah met them, kissed Masa-
maths forehead and blessed her. The
queen embraced her and returned to her
place beside the Pharaoh.
Masanath turned to the right of the
royal dais and faced the prince. Thus far
her greetings had not been hard. Now
was the supreme test. Har-hat conducted
her within few PAGES of the prince and
stepped aside. What followed was to
prove Masanath's Willingness.
Rameses stood in the center of slight
ly raised platform, which was carpeted
with gold-edged purple Behind him was
his great chair. But for the badge or
princehood the fringed ribbon dependent
from gem-crusted amulet over each
temple, his habiliments were the same as
the PharaohS.
Masanath's face fell and she approached
the prince with slow steps. Within three
PAGES of the platform she paused and
sank to her knees. 1t was done. She had
acknowledged the betrothal and knelt to
her lord. Harnesses raised her. He lifted
the badge of princehood from his fore
chr cd hn
hung so that it would fit her small head.
and set il on her brow.
The great palace shook with the ac
claim of the courtiers. Taking Masanath's
hand Rameses led her down the hall
through the bending ranks of purple
wearing Egyptians to the great portals
of the hall. There he gave her into the
hands of troop of court ladies. 1.-the as
leopards and gorgeous as butterflies, who
led her with many sinuous obeisances to
her apartments.
After a sumptuous meal Masanath sur
veyed herself with swift glance in
plate of polished silver which was her
mirror, and then, darting out of her door,
ran down the corridor as though she
would outstrip repentance before 1t over
took her.
She came upon him whom she sought.
He was on the point of entering his
apartments. He paused with MS hands
on the curtains and waited for her
"A boon, my lord" she painted, chiefly
from trepidation.
"A boon! Thou wouldst ask boon of
me! Nay l will not promise, for it may be
thou contest to ask thy freedom, and that
will not grant for spleen"
Still she curbed herself, Nay, o Prince
l am come to ask naught of thee which--a
wife-may not justly ask of-her-lord.'
What is the boon that thou mayest just
ly ask of me?''
My father"
Il am no longer in debt to thy father"
II ask no favor for my father at thy
hands. Rather am l come to crave a boon
for myself. My father asked an Israelite
maiden at the hands of the Pharaoh year
agone, and she was beloved by my friend
and thine. She fed from my father and
was hidden by the man she loved"
AYE, know the story. Hotep brought it
to mine ears months ago. The man was
Kenkenes. and thy father overlook him and
threw him into prison in Tape, What
more?'
THE Israelite IS gone, and my fathers
servants are still seeking for her. and l
would not have her taken
Thou art queen. What is she, slave
to thee?"
"A sister. my comforter, my one friendr'
Thou canst find sisters and comforters
and friends among high-born women of
Egypt. had laid kenkenes folly concern
ing this Israelite TO the moonshine genius
the madness touches whatsoever looks upon
her.
1T is her goodness and her grace that