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


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CHAPTER xxI-Continued.
The world revolved slowly about Rachel
and the sustaining structure OF her frame
seemed to lose its rightly. She put our
her hands, blindly, and they were caught
and clasped about Kenkenes' neck. And
there in the strong support Of his tighten
ing arms, her face hidden against the leap
ing heart, all time and matters of the world
drifted away. IN their place was only a
vast content, featureless and full of soft
dusk and warmth.
Gone were all the fdemure resolutions, the
memory of faith or unfaith. Nothing was
patent to her except that this was the man
she loved and he had returned from the
dead Presently she became vaguely aware
that he was speaking Though little un-
steady and subdued, it was the same mel
ody of voice that she seemed to have
known from the cradle.
Rachel! Rachelr' he was saying, why
didst thou not go to my father as 1 bade
thee? Nay, 1 do not chide thee. The JOY
of finding thee hath healed me of the
wrench when 1 found thee not at my
fathers house at dawn today. But tell me-
Why didst thou not go?"
IL feared" she faltered after silence.
my father? Nay. now. dost thou fear
me? Not SO; and my father is but myself
grown old.
1T was not that feared him, but that
1 feared that thou And she paused and
again he helped her.
''That I was dead? That I had played
know? Forgive me- Since the tenth night
l left thee 1 have been in prison.
I'm PRISON. she exclaimed, lifting her
face. Alas, that did not think OF 1t. 1t
is mine to beg thy forgiveness, kenkenes,
and on my very knees!
$50 thou dfdst think 1t, in TRUTH She
hid her face again and craved his pardon
But he pressed her to him and soothed
her.
NAY, 1 do not chide thee. Had I been
in thy place, 1 might have thought the
same. But it is passed-gOne>N1th the horror
of this horrible season-Osiris be thanked.
Thanks be to the God of Israel" she de-
manded from her shelter.
And the God of Israel" he said obedi-
emily.
May, to the God of Israel alone" she
insisted, raising her head.
He laughed little and patted her hands
softly together.
TT was but the habit in me that made me
name Osiris. There is no god for me, but
love"
80 long, so long, Kenkenes, and not any
change in thee?" she sighed. How hath
Egypt been helped of her gods, these griev-
Gus days?"
1.-The gods and the gods. and ever the
gods!' he said What have we to do with
them? Deborah bade me turn from them and
this 1 have done with all sincerity. Much
have I pondered on the question and this
have 1 concluded. Egypt's holy temples
have been vainly built; her worship has
been wasted on the air. There was and is a
Creator, but, Rachel that Power whose
mind is troubled with the great things is toe
great to behold the petty concerns of men
My fortunes and thine must direct, for
though we implored that Power till we died
from the fervor of applications, 1t
could not hear. whose ears are filled with
the murmurings of the travelling stars Why
we were created and forgotten, we may not
know. How may we guess the motives OF
anything too great for us to conceive!
Whatsoever befalls us results from our use
at the hands of men, or from the nature
of our abiding-place. We must defend our
selves, prosper ourselves and live for what
we make of life. After that we shall not
know the troubles and the joys of the
world, for the tombs are restful and sound
less. Is it not so, my Rachel?"
She shook her head. Thou hast gone
astray. !Kenkenes. But thou vast un-
taught"
Il have reasoned, Rachel, and the power
l have found in my ponderings makes all
the gods seem little. Thy God must mani
fest Himself more fearfully; He must over
throw my reasoning before I can bow to
Him. And if, of surety, He is greater
than the power / have made, will He need
my alteration or listen to my prayers? Nay,
nay, my Rachel If thou wilt have me
worship, let me fail on my face to thee
She interrupted him with a quick gesture
kenkenes. have prayed in vain for the
light to fall on thee?' she asked sadly.
He smiled, and moved closer. looking
down into her face as he had done when
he studied 1t as Athor
NAY. hast thou done that and hast thou
not been heard? Thou dost but fix me in
mine unbelief. Did any god exist he would
have heard thy supplications. Come lei
us make an end of this. There are sweet
er themes l would discuss. Where hast
thou been, these many months? Not here
in this haunted cave ~
His lightness sank her hope to the lowest
ebb. A sudden hurt reached her heart His
unregeneracy suggested indebtedness to
her. Their positions had been reversed. 1t
was she that had been denied. Duty re.
asserted itself with a Gliding sting
Il have been a guest with Masanath-"
1.-THE daughter of Har-hatv' he cried, re-
treating a STEP
1.-The daughter Of mine enemy" she went
on. "She found me here by accident and
took me to her home in Memphis. There
Deborah died. And there, eighteen days
agone, discovered who 1t was that shelter
ed me. and now 1 return to my people,"
Kenkenes whitened.
"And leave me?' he asked quietly.
Think me not ungrateful,' she said. II
have said no word of thanks. since there is
none that can express a 1.-THE of my great
Indebtedness to thee"
II have achieved nothing for thee Not
even have I won thy freedom. 1 have fall
ed. But shameless In mine undeserts. am
come to ask my reward nevertheless" He
was very near to her. his face full of pur-
pose and intensity, his voice of great re-
straint.
THAT which once thou didst refuse to
hear thou hast known for long by other
proof than words he went on. Let me
say 1t now. 1 love thee, Rachel" Taking
her cold hands he drew her back to him.
"Once I forbore," he continued, the per-
suasive calm in his manner frightening,
because 1 knew it would hurt thee to say
me nay 1 told myself that was brave.
then, when the actual loss of thee was dis
tant. But thou wilt leave me now and my
fortitude for thy sake is gone. / am selfish
because / love thee SO. The extreme is
reached 1 can withstand no more. Dost
thou love me. Rachel?"
What need for him to wait for the word
that gave assent? Was there not eloquent
testimony in her every feature and in
every act of that hour he had been with
her? But his hands trembled, holding hers,
till she told him AYE"
Then ask what thou wilt of me- he
said the restraint gone, desperation taking
it's place. Il submit, SO thou dost yield
myself to me. Shall 1 pray thy prayers
kneel in thy shrines? Shall go back with
thee into slavery? Shall learn thy tongue,
turn my back on my people, become one OF