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

He shook his head ut lies between me
and Atsu to care for you, and the peril Tor
you and for US Is equal. My name Is as
good as published, for I am gifted with
length of limb beyond my fellows. was
found before the statue and they. descrio-
ing me to the priests. will prove to the
priests, who know my calling, that the son
of Mentu has committed sacrilege. Ana
the priesthood would not wait till dawn to
take me-
Il will stay with thee, Kenkenes,' she
said, simply.
He became conscious of the collar on his
breast and drew it forth.
with this" he began, assuming light
ness, Il fear 1 gave thee offense one day
and thou hast held it against me. NOW let
me heal that wound and sweeten thy re-
gard for me with this same offending trim
ket. Wilt thou take it as peace onerlns
from my hands and wear 1t always. ohe
bent toward him and, with Worsnlpiils
hands, he put aside the loosened bralds ana
clasped the necklace about her throat.
There are ten rings" he continued: LEI
them be named thus telling them on WIN
his fingers. This first of all-Hope-n
shall be thy stay; this-Faith-it shall COM
fort thee; this-Good Works-it shall pub
lish thee; this-Sacrifce-it shall win three
many victories; this-Chastity-it shall ne
thy name; the next-WlsdomIt s haii
guide thee; after it-Steadfastness-ft snail
keep thee in all these things; Truth-lt
shall brood upon thy lips; Beauty-it SHAH
not PERISH this. the last, Is Love. of which
there is naught to be said. 1t speaketh
for itself"
Their eyes met at his last words and
for a moment dwelt. Then Rachel looked
away.
Are the fastenings secure?" she asked.
Firm as the virtues in good woman
"They will hold. I would not lose one
of them"
long silence fell. The curious activity
of desert-life, interrupted for the time by
the presence of the fugitives, resumed its
tenor and droned on about them.
The two in the shortening shadow of
the great rock were glad Of the water
bottle. The necessity Of comfortable shell
Kenkenes. He put aside his dreams and
thought aloud.
What cover may I offer thy dear head
this night?" he began. I'VE may not re-
they lie In wait for us. Toora is deserted
and so tempting a spot for fugitives that
1t will be searched Immediately. Not
howell this side of the Nile but will be Wis
tied l would take thee to my father"
Nay she said firmly. II will take
af1iction to none other. Already have
undone two of the best of Egypt. 1 will
carry the distress no further.
d
How far wilt thou trust in me, Rachel?"
She raised her face and looked at him
with serious eyes.
I'm all things needful which thou wilt
require of me-
And thou canst sleep this night in an
open boat?" She nodded.
tomorrow. them he continued taking
her hand, I'VE shall reach Nehapehu, where
l can hide thee with some of the peasantry
on my fathers lands. And there thou
canst abide until go to Tape and return.
Thou must know, he continued, ex-
planning, the Athor of the hills is not my
hrst sacrilege. Once l committed a worse.
After the death of Rameses, we went to
Tape, my father and 1, to inscribe the
Indictments and carve the scene of the
Judgment of the Dead in the tomb of the
great king. Now, l am my fathers only
child and have been taught his craft
have been an apt pupil, and he had no fear
in trusting me with the execution of the
fresco- l had long been in rebellion prac-
t!cing IN secret my lawless ideas. and 1 was
seized with an uncomfortable aversion to
marring those holy walls with the conyen-
tonal ugliness commanded by the ritual.
assembled my ideas and dared. 1 worked
rapidly and well. The work was done be-
fore my father discovered it." Kenkenes
paused and laughed little.
Suffice 1t to say the fresco was erased.
And the solemnity of the crypt was hardly
restored before my father found that his
sacred Slgnet, which he always wore was
gone. Nay. nay, l might not search for it
more than the fruitless once, for he de-
clared, and of truth believed firmly that
the great king had reclaimed his gift. I did
not and never have l believed it, Now l
need the signet and l shall go after it on
the strength of that belief
Having found it, l shall appeal to Me-
neptah for thy liberty and safety and what
ever boon thou wouldst have and for my
self What thinkest thou? Shall go on?''
Rachel smiled and looked up at him
gratefully.
Once again the silence fell and was not
frequently broken thereafter.
There invitation in her manner
and he could not speak what he would.
The sun dropped behind the Libyan hills
and the heights filed with shadow At
length he said:
1T is time
Lifting her to her feet, the ape attending
them, he went toward the Nile hand in
hand with Rachel, his love all untold.