Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-12

Last night / lay under the tent OF a
son Of Israel. at Pithom. When l arose.
| two hours before dawn, horsemen began
| to gallop through the city toward the
| south. The inhabitants were aroused; there
was much running to and fro, and the inn
was fun of lights
I'VE approached and when the tumult
had died and the Egyptians were so fun
| of the tidings that they were glad to re-
| neve themselves even to an israelite. l
asked and learned their story. Many times
| afterward on my way hither | heard II
| from the lips of men whom / passed, so
| am not deceived.
| Seven days agone, under an evil star,
| a yelled woman came to the temple OF
| Bast. in the village of image-makers.
and made offerings to the idol. She re-
| manned in the shrine, praying for time
without reason, though she pretended
| to worship, until a certain space should
elapse. At the end of the hour in which sle
| came. another woman. closely covered, her
mouth hidden, entered and knelt near her.
| In little they arose and went forth to-
gether, and Jambres, who Is priest al the
| little temple, grown suspicious by reason
| Of their behavior, looked after them. The
wind swayed the garments Of the second
stranger, and showed the foot and ankle
| of a man. Filled with wonderment jam
bres laid aside his priests robes and garb-
| ing himself like a wayfarer. followed. They
left the village, going east where the road
| leadeth along the canal. which Is hidden
| by the sprouts of young trees. Farther up
| the way were servitors who waited for the
man and woman. but the two stepped out Of
| earshot, and sat by the road to talk.
"Jambres, hidden in the fringe OF bushes
| behind, heard them.
They laid a snare. And thou. o prince.
vast to be trapped therein
.Seti's eyes were yelled and his face show
| ed heightening of color.
Thou vast to come to the temple I'm the
village of imag e-makers with treasure to
| give into the hands of Moses. Thy mes
| sage to my brother was to be delivered
| by the Princess Ta-user. She delivered it
not. The word she should have brought
came to Moses by a son of Belial' god
| less Hebrew sent by Jambres, for the
T, brotherhood of priests would have had
Moses come to the temple, for their own
| ends. But the servants of the Lord God OF
| Israel are keen-eyed and they, know
| jackar from a hare However, these mat
ters I did not hear from the people All
| that / heard in Pithom may be talked OPEN
ly over Egypt. - -,
| .,The man and the woman laid their
plans, and they were these: Last night, the
| man ard his servants were to lie at
Pithom, and today they were to meet thee
| at the temple of Bast overpower thee. take
thy treasure and, with the woman, ny
| to some secure place. with the treasure
they were to hire them soldiers 1nefcen-
| aries and take arms against the king tiny
| father"
| The speaker paused again. Sets breast
| labored and his gaze was fixed upon the
| Hebrew
1.-THE ire of Jambres was kndled against
the plotters and he called an assembly or
the priests within short distances from inc
coveries before them. They pledged them
selves to proceed to Pithom last night
which was the night they came together
| in council and take the traitors. But one
among their number. a young priest who
knew the woman, played them false, en-
/ tered the city before his fellows and
| warned the plotters. They had fled, with
| the priests in pursuit.
"My son, the man was Sptah. son OF
| Amon-meses; the woman, the Princess
Ta-user."
! Tba nr;nce.s faca took on n N nsa ne beauty
| In each cheek scarlet stain-his lips
smiled without parting and his eyes gilt
| tered. He did not question the Hebrew
story. Something within him corroborated
every word. He sprang to his feet and
with unnatural laugh flung his hand
above his head.
Now. by Horus" he cried. II must get
! back to Tanis. l would ask the pardon OF
Ramesesr'
Aaron arose and laid OBTAINING hands
upon him.
II did not tell thee this that I might be
bearer of evil tidngs. i came forth TO
meet thee that thou mayest save myself.
Far be it from me to bring misfortune
upon Israels one friend in Egypts high
places. Return to Tanis with all speed and
take the treasure with thee. Then only
will the intent rest against thee
mot so,' Seti interrupted harshly. wilt
| thou rob me of the one balm to my hu-
| initiation? Wilt thou defeat me also I'm the
one good deed l would do? Take thou the
| treasure and be glad that il fell not into
| the hands of the wanton. Let me depart"
| But Aaron was planted in his way.
'Knowest thou not what they VIII do
| with thee? Thou wouldst have given aid
to the enemy of Egypt. Thou knowest the
penalty. Sooner would Israel make ii i
garment of sackcloth and feed upon aims.
than yield thee up to thine enemies for
thy COLDS sake"
But Seti would not hear him. IT care not
what they do with me-" he said, THE gods
grant they lay upon me extreme weight OF
the law. / go back to Tanis one re-
turneth to his beloved. 4"
He shook off the Israelite's hands or
dered the black to give the treasure over
to the Hebrew, and finging himself upon
his horse. galloped furiously toward Tanis.
The pickets on the outer wall of TanIs
halted him, but when they beheld his face.
their pixies fell and with hands on knees.
they bade him pass. The palace sentries
started and gave him room.
The great palace hall was crowded and
full of excitement. Meneptah had summon
ed the court to the royal presence.
In his loft above the throng stood the
king. purple with rage. The queen in her
place at his side. was staying his out
stretched hand Below at his right stood
Rameses, the kingliest presence that ever
graced royal sitting. At the left of Men
eptah was Har-hat, complacent and Sc
rene
Out in the center of a generous space
stood Moses. Every eye. wide and expec-
tant, was fixed upon the Israelite
The pale and troubled queen strove an
vain. Meneptah thrust her aside and shak-
ure before him ended the audience in a
voice violent with fury.
Get thee from me! Take heed to thy
self; see my face no more. For in that
day thou seest my face. thou shalt dier'
After the speech the silence fell, deepened
grew ominous. None breathed. and the
overweight nerves of the court reached
the limit of endurance
Then Moses answered. His tones were
quiet his voice full of calm more terrify-
Ing than an outburst had been.
Thou hast spoken we'll" he said. "I
Will see thy face no more"
Another breathless silence and he turned
the courtiers shrinking from his way, and
passed out of the hall.
At the doors. his eyes fell upon Seti He
made no sign of surprise. Indeed his
glance seemed TO indicate that he expected
the prince. He raised his hand and ex-
tended it for a moment over the boys head
and went forth.
The strength went from Sets limbs the
passion from his brain, and when Rameses
with grim purpose in his face beckoned
him. he obeyed meekly and Frustrated him.
self before the angry king.
CTo be continued Monday