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

taken by the Israelite but in thy fancy.
The hope was vain. Thou art in love with
her."
Kenkenes endured the steady gaze and
waited for Mentu to go on.
There is no help for thee now" the ar
chitect continued stoically. IF the gods
will but tolerate thee till the madness
leaves thee after thou art welded and sat
1sf1ed, 1t may be that thou wilt turn again
to the faith of thy fathers. But If would
fix thee in thine apostasy / should try to
persuade thee now"
AYE. and further. should be moved to
urge thee into heresy," calmly responded
kenkenes
The artist flung up one hand in a gesture
of dissent, and arising. walked toward the
door of the work room. There he leaned his
shoulder against the frame and looked out
at the night. Presently Kenkenes went to
him and laid his hand on his sleeve.
II am going to Tanis," Kenkenes began
with forced restraint, Ito discover if Har-
hat hath taken Rachel. If he hath. the
Lord God make iron of my hands till
strangle him.
"Madman!' Mentu exclaimed. Thou wilt
be f1ayed,''
BE assured that I shall earn the fay
ing! The punishment shall be no more
savage than the deed that invites it! But
enough of that If 1 go to Tanis and find
her the spoil of the fan-bearer, thine au-
curry will hold. 1 return not to Memphis.
She may have returned to her people. And
If she be in Goshen 1 must reach her, find
her before her people depart. Having
found her" but Kenkenes stopped and
made no effort to resume. Mentu set his
teeth, his hands clenched and his whole
figure seemed to denote intense physical
restraint. Suddenly he whirled upon his
son.
Thou wilt go with her. out of Egypt?"
he dema nded
Il shall go with her. out of Egypt" J..
second watch, Kenkenes changed his dress
and made himself presentable. Then, with
out further counsel with the murket, he
went silently and unseen to the portal of
Sencis house. After a long time, for her
household had been asleep, he was adj
mitted. and the Lady Senci, perplexed and
surprised, joined him in the chamber of
guests.
With few and simple words he told his
story, pictured his fathers loneliness and.
while she wept silently, begged her to be-
come his fathers wife-on the morrow
There was no long persuasion: the need
OF the occasion was sufficient eloquence for
the royal architects noble love.
An hour after the next days sunrise
Mentu and Senci repaired together to the
temple, and when they returnead Senci
went not again into her own house.
In preparing for his departure. Kenkenes
asked at the hands of his father, not his
patrimony, for that would have been an
embarrassment of wealth, but such portion
OF 1t as might be carried in small bulk. In
mid-afternoon Senci brought him a belt of
gazellehide and in this had been sewed
ioiluiie III gems. Inc afchltect mad given
his son his full portion and more.
At the close-of day, with his face set and
colorless, Kenkenes stepped into the mar
row passage before his fathers house. The
great portal closed slowly and noiselessly
behind him. He did not pause. but sprang
into his chariot and was driven rapidly
away.
At landing near the northern limits of
Memphis he took punt babe farewell to
his sad-faced charoteer and pushed off
The broken bluffs about Memphis the
temples, the obelisks. the sphinx the pyra-
mids melted into night behind him. He
kept his head down that he might not
look his last on his native city
He had reached that point where endur-
ance must conserve itself