Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-08

1T is letter fer thee to bide here" the
roice went on Ielentlessly. For outside
the sheltering neighborhood of the chosen
people. the hand of the outraged God shall
cvertake Egypt~e nd scorch her throat with
thirst ami make her veins CONCEAL for want
d water.
Masanatn gained her feet, crying out
Wildly:
My servants. Where are they? Let me
forth
TIE Israelite tut an assuring arm about
her. Thou wilt not dare to face the Nile
again. sine warned. "Stay with u.s.
TIC starve! To perish of thirst! To die of
pestilence. The gods have left us! We are
undone!
Aye the gods have left you" the voice
continued harshly. I'VE are given over to
vengeance OF the God of Abraham. Howl.
Egypt! Rend myself and cover thy head
With ashes. Thy destruction is but begun.
Fer a hundred years thou hast oppressed
Israel. New IS the hour of the children of
Cod
Masanath wrung her hands, but the voice
went on.
LAS the Nile flows, so hath the blood of
Israel been wasted by the hand of Egypt.
Now shall the God of Abraham drain her
veins. even so, drop for drop. For the de-
spelling of Israel shall her pastures and sta
bes be filled with stricken beasts-for the
heavy hand of the Pharaohs shall the heav-
ems thunder and scourges fall. And the
wrath of God shall cool not till Egypt is a
waste, shorn Of her corn and her vineyards
and her riches and foul with dead men,.
Nothing could have been more vindictive
than this disembodied voice. Masanath
thrust her fingers through her hair, and
drawing her elbows forward, sheltered her
face with them.
When have l offended against the He
brew?'' she cried, sick with terror. why
should your awful God destroy the innocent
and the friend of Israel among the people
OF Egypt?
Rachel, who had stood beside her with
an increasing cloud on her face, now spoke
in Hebrew. There was mild protest in her
tones.
1.-The plague will pass" the voice from the
inner crypt continued. Seven days will it
endure. no more.
Deborah is mystic" Rachel added softly,
land is gifted with prophetic eyes. Much
hath she suffered at Egypts hands, and
her tongue grows harsh when she speaks
of the oppression"
Where are my servants? Came they not
after me when l fied?'
None followed thee, lady, and thy raft
went adrift."
Let me out of this hideous place, then,
for l must seek them. They may be dead"
Her tone was imperious, and Rachel silent
ly obedient. led her to the entrance and
pushed aside the door. Instantly the terri
BILE turmoil over Egypt smote upon her
ears; next she saw the Nile, moving slowly,
black where it's clear surfaces had been
green. scarlet and froth-ridden where the
sun had ShOne upon transparent rippleS and
white foam; after that, the strange odor
came to her. recalling the smell of the al
tar, but now magnified till it was overpow-
eringly strong She sickened and turned
away.
Setting the door in place, Rachel led her
back into a corner of the outer chamber
and laid her down on the mating there.
The Lord God will care for thy servants.
Fret myself no further, but be content
here until the horror shall pass. l shall at
tend thee. so thou shalt not miss their min
istrations." The Israeite spoke wi.a gem
tie authority, smoothing the dark h ,ir of
her guest Command in the form of per-
suasion is doubly effective, since it induces
while it compels. Masanath was most
anenable to this manner of entreaty, since
it disarmed her pride while it governed her
impulses Thus, though her inclin alton
urged against it, she ate when the Israelite
brought her bit of cold fowl and beaker
of wine at midday and again at sunset.
And at night she slept because the Israeli
lite told her she was safe and babe her close
her eyes.
1t was dawn when the bearers
daughter awoke again. She sat up and
suffered Rachel to dress her hair and battle
her tiny hands and face with a solution of
weak white wine.
THE water which we had stored with us
is also corrupted. l fear we shall thirst il
we have but wine to wet our lips" Rache!
explained
this place? How came ye here? Are we
lepers?" Masanath asked in frightened
voice.
Nay, we are fugitives." Rachel answer
ed. who art thou, lady?'
Il am Masanath, daughter of Har-hat,
fan-bearer to the Pharaoh
And l am Rachel of Israel, daughter OF
Maai. and 1 have fled from shame. In all
Egypt this Is the one and only refuge for
such as 1. If my hiding place were pub
lished no help could save me from the de-
spoiler. My one protector is she who lies
within. She is my fostermother. old and
i'll from abuse at the hands of brutal SER
wants. Thou hast my story
AS Rachel ceased, Deborah called from
within
There is more" she said. Come hither.
l am moved to tell thee
Masanath obeyed with hesitation and
pausing in the doorway of the inner
chamber, heard the story of the Israelites.
Great was her perpexity and her sorrow
when she heard the name of Kenkenes
spoken calmly and without grief They did
not know he was dead, She held her peace
till the story DONE
1.-The time for the Egyptians return is
long past. but he will come soon," Deborah
concluded.
Masanath slowly turned her head and
looked at Rachel. This then. was the love
of that dear, dead artist, for whom Mem
phis mourned and had ceased to wait. Ma
sanath choked back her tears and said
Ye need not molder in this cave. I can
hide you in Memphis.
Nay. we will await him here
But the Nile will be upon your refuge in
three weeks. Ye would starve if We drowned
not" the Egyptian protested. earnestly.
1T may be we shall not wait so long,
Rachel put in.
Masanath looked at her while she thought
busily. IF tell it, break heart. But if
they bide here, they die
After a little sigh she glanced at the wine
in one Of the small amphorae. "Mayhap
the plague is past" she said, limiting, land
am athirst."
Rachel took up another jar and went
forth. The hairy creature in the corner.
tethered to the amphora rack, slipped his
collar and followed her.
AS soon the Israelite was gone, Ma
sanath went into the inner chamber. Stand
ing by the old woman, who lay upon mat
tress. set on the top of the sarcophagus,
she said. hurriedly:
Eye may not remain here. Kenkenes is
known to me. and he will not return. He is
dead"
How did he dep
by drowning His boat was discovered
battered and overturned among the wharf
piling at Memphis, some weeks agone."
The old woman was silent for moment,
and then she shook her head.
He is a resourceful youth. and he may
have procured another boat and set this one
adrift to deceive his enemies. Yet, the time
has been SO long it may be; 1t may be-
None in Memphis doubts it. His father
hath given him up, and his house and his
people are in mourning. But we may not
lose this moment in surmises. Wilt thou go
with me into Memphis-if this sending is
withdrawn"