Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-26
CHAPTER VIII.
The Collar Of Gold.

The Collar Of Gold.
The next morning after his meeting with
the golden-haired Israelite Kenkenes came
early to the line Of rocks that topped the
north wall Of the gorge. and. ensconced be-
tween the gray fragments. looked down un-
seen on her whenever she came to the val
leys mouth. All day long the children came
staggering up from the Nile. laden with
dripping hides, or returned In free and
ragged line down the green slope of the
field to the river again, with their captain
and co-laborer, Rachel.
At the summit of the wooden slope the
beautiful IsraeIite, who had preceded her
charges, passed up the burden of each one
to the Hebrews on the ~scaffold. From his
aery Kenkenes watched this particular
phase of her tasks with interest. She was
not too far from him for the details of her
movements to be distinguishable, and the
posture of the outstretched arms and lifted
face fulfilled his requirements. He aban-
doned the modelling of her features for that
day and copied the attitude.
At sunset he retired cautiously. but sew
eral dawns found him among the rocks
with reed pen. papyri and molds of clay.
when he climbed to his retreat within the
walls of stone the hillside in the late
afternoon he hid several studies OF the girls
head and statuettes of claE under the mat
ting.
AT last ne began the creation of Athor
the Golden. '-ih
For days he labored feverishly. forget
ting to eat, fretting because the sun set
and the darkness held sway for so long
Having overstepped the law, he placed
no limit to the extent of his artistic trans
gression. =
That evening-it was several days after
the face of the goddess had begun to
emerge from the block of stone-he went
to the upper end of the gorge and passed
through the camp on his way home, that
he might meet his model.
Halfway to the Nile he came upon her
whom he sought.
II wanted to see thee" SAID Kenkenes
with that frightened longing of man
who hath resolved on confession and meet
eth his confessOr on a sudden. Now that
the moment hath arrived | marvel how I
shall make my peace with Athor, whose
command 1 most deliberately broke"
She raised her beautiful eyes to his face
and waited for him to proceed The pose
Of the head was exactly what he wanted.
Rapidly he compared every detail of her
face with his memory Of the statue Of
Athor, noting with satisfaction that his
studies had been happily faithful. His
scrutiny was SO swift and skillful that there
seemed to be nothing unusual In his gaze.
Il am culpable but impenitent," he con-
tinued. Il shall not forswear mine Of
Tense Neither is there any need of a plea
to justify myself. for my very sin is it's
own justification. Behold me. 1 perched
myself like a sacred hawk at the mouth
of the valley and flched thy likeness. Do
with me as thou wilt. but I shall die reit-
Grating approval of my deed"
His eXtravagant speech wrought an In
teresting change on the face before him.
There was a pronounced curve of her
mouth, a slight tension in the chiseled nos
tril-in fact, an indefinable disdain that
had not been there before 1t would be-
come Athor well. Kenkenes understood
the look, but he did not finch. Instead
he let his head drop slowly until he looked
at her from under his brows. Then he
summoned into his eyes all the wounded
feeling, pathos, soft reproach and appeal.
of which his graceless young heart was
capable, and gazed at her.
Khufu might have been as easily melted
by the twinkle of a rain drop. Never in
his life had he faced such comprehensive
contemplation. Calm. monumental and icy
disdain deepened on every feature.
Kenkenes stood motionless and suffered
her to look at him. Being a man of fine
SOUL the eloquent gaze spoke well-deserved
rebuke. He knew that his color had risen.
and his eyes fell in spite of heroic efforts
to keep them steady. His sensations were
unique; never had he experienced the like
When he recovered himself her blue eyes
were fixed absently on the distant quarries.
Every impulse urged him to set himself
right in the eyes of this most discerning
slave.
wilt thou forgive meg" he asked earn
estly. Il would 1 could make thee know
1 crave thy good will
There was no mistaking the honesty in
these words. Her face relaxed instantly.
But fear 1 have not set about it wise
ly," he added. Let me give thee a peace
offering to prove my contritibn."
He slipped from about his neck the collar
of golden rings and moved forward to put
1t about her throat ~ e.
She drew back, her face flushing hotIy
under an expression Of positive pain.
'"Thou. as an Egyptian hast honored me,
a Hebrew, with thy notice, I have deserv-
ed neither gift nor fee.r, - 20
May. but let US put 1t differently" he
replied. as a man. have, given thee.
maiden, offense and = having repented.
you'd appease thee with peace-offering
The Israelite's blue eyes ~ were yelled
that she had hidden a smile In them
"Am I forgiven he persisted.
So thou wilt offend no, further" she said
without raising her eyes II
Il promise. And now. since the goddess
hath refused mine offering. may not take
it back: What shall 1 do with this?'' he
asked. holding up the collar of gold.
Put 1t about thy statues neck," she said
softly.
Kenkenes gasped and retreated a step.
Instantly she was imploring his pardon.
1T was forward spirit in me that made
me say II; l pray thee. forgive me-
Thou hast given no offense, but how
dOst thou know of this-teil me that"
II came upon 1t by accident three days
ago. knew myself the moment I looked,
and it was not hard to guess whose work
1t was"
Thou hast told no one?.'
swer.
Thou hast caught me In a falsehood..
he said
II am carving a statue against the canon
OF the sculptor's ritual for the sake of my
love OF beauty. Until thou didst come upon
u, aione possessed the secret. Thou