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

The royal architect sat at his place In the
work room but no .papyrus scrolls lay be-
fore him: his fine implements were not in
sight; the ink pots and pens were put
away and the table was clear except for
copper lamp that sputtered and flared at
one end The great artists arms were ex-
tended across the table. his head bowed
upon them. his hands clasped. The atti-
tude was not that Of WEAKNESS, but OF
trouble.
Kenkenes hesitated. For the first time
since the hour he left Memphis for Thebes.
months before. he felt a sense of culpabil-
ity He realized. with great bounds OF
comprehension, that the results Of his own
trouble had not been confined to himself.
He began to understand how infectious
sorrow Is.
He crossed the room and laid trembling
hand on his fathers shoulder Instantly
the great artist lifted his head and, seeing
Kenkenes, leaped to his feet with a cry
that was all joy.
The young man responded to the kiss of
welcome with SO little composure that
Mentu forced him down on the bench and
summoned a servant.
''Rachelthou knowest-" Kenkenes be-
gan. speaking with an effort.
AYE 1 know. Didst find her?''
AYE. and lost her. even while 1 fought
tC save hertz
"Alas. thou unfortunater' Mentu eXclaim-
ed. 'Of a surety the gods have punished
thee too harshlyl''
Kenkenes was not in the frame of mind
to receive so soft speech composedly. A
strong tremor ran over him and he averted
his face. The architect came to his side
and smoothed the damp hair.
Thou needest. further. the attention of
thy slave. Kenkenes." he suggested.
The young man shook his head Not
yet" he said MY time is short, and 1t
is thy help 1 need"
Without further introduction Kenkenes
plunged into his story. He had had no
time to tell it four days before. Then he
had asked for Rachel with his second
word. and finding her not. had rushed i'm
mediately to the search for her.
Mentu heard without comment TIL the
story was done. Most of it he had known
from Hotep. and only the recent events at
the tomb excited him.
When Kenkenes made an end the archi-
tect brought his clenched hand down on
the table with a force that made the lamp
wink and the implements rattle in their
boxes above him.
Course that smooth villain Har-hat!" he
cried in tempest of wrath "A murrain
upon his greedy, crafty lust! The gods
blast him In his knavery! Now is my pre-
cious amulet in his hands. Would 1t were
white-hot and chung to him like leech!
Did I not warn thee from the first?'
Kenkenes raised his head.
"Can you avoid a knave If he hath de-
signs on your" he asked. Have 1 erred in
crossing his will? Have slnned in loving
and protecting her whom / lover"
Mentu's hands fell down at his sides. The
simple questions had silenced him. His
was blameless now that he had expiated
his offenses against the law. and from the
moral standpoint his persistence in his
claim on Rachel was Just--praiseworthy.
Nay" he said sulenly. but since thou
didst love the girl, how came 1t that thou
didst not wed her long ago and save her
this shame and danger?'
1.-The bar of faith lay between u.s." Ken
kenes answered. II was an idolator, she a
worshiper of the One God. She would not
wed with me. therefore,"
$50 much for Israelitish zeal! Thou hast
been pawn for her to play during these
months. Long ago had she surrendered IL
thou hadst been"
Kenkenes smiled. "She did not surrender
It was l."
'-rhy faith?" the architect asked in
voice low with earnestness.
Thou hast said!'
A dead silence ensued. Kenlsenes may
have awaited the outbreak with quicken
ing OF the heart, but 1t did not come In
stead, the architect sat down on the bench
and gazed at his son intently.
After a long interval he spoke.
Thus far had hoped that thou vast