Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-09
CHAPTER XIX.
The Conspiracy.

The Nile rose and fell and the seasons
shifted until eight months had passed. The
period was inconsiderable. but its events
had never been equaled in like space, or
generation, or a whole dynasty. or in all the
history of Egypt.
One morning early in March Seu stood
beside the parapet on the palace OF the
king in Tanis His eyes were fixed on the
shimmering line of the northern level. but
he did not see it. Some one came with ST.
lent football and laid hand on his arm.
He turned and looked into Ta-users eyes
His face softened and he took the hand
between his own.
ALIAS! this day thou returnest into the
Hak-heb," he said.
She nodded would ! could take thee
with me, but not yet, not yet. Wait till
thou art a little older.
He sighed and looked away again. What
weighty things absorb my princes" she
asked.
Il merely pondered on mine own use
lessness," he answered.
Thou hast wealth. she began and
paused.
'tMuch can be done with gold.
"Ta-user. what wouldst thou have me
do?"
II would have thee be useful
81 shall throw away my lordly trappings,
he said. land become a litter of water this
"seti" she said, sternly. putting his hand
away, with thy people imperiled by the
sorcery of a wizard. with thy realm desc
lated by the plaques of his sending, canst
thou. on whom have built so much, thus
lightly consider thy uses and ignore the
things set at thy very hand to dog
IT have no weight with my father, ne
said soberly Thou knowest that Egypt
will never have peace until the Hebrews
depart But 1 cannot persuade my father
to release them and | cannot persuade the
Israelite to content himself to stay. Thou
dost demand much Of me If thou dost de-
mand Of me the impossible.
And thou art at thy wits end!' she
asked.
"A little way to go. Help me- ra-user'
She moved closer to him and absently
smoothed down the fine locks. disordered
by the wind. Presently she lifted his race
and said with sudden impulsiveness:
"Dost of truth, believe everything that
is told thee?"
Am 1 overcreiulous?" he asked.
Thou art. Thou belevest this Hebrew
to be honest in his show OF interest IN MS
people?'
II cannot doubt him, Ta-user. One has
but to see him to be convinced.
"One has but to see him to know that he
might be coaxed into passiveness with that
for which an Israelite would sell MS mum
my-gold!' ..,,,,o,
dost wrong him. He is the soul of misdi-
rccted zeal. His is an earnestness not 10
he frightened with death nor abated win
bribes."
She laue he'd cool little laugh.
"Deliver 10 him but the price he names
and the Israelitsh unrest will settle ike
swarm of smoked bees.
s.Ta-user it is thou that art deceived
Seu demonstrated. Even the Pharaoh
does not hesitate to assert that Mesu Is
terribly upright. Not even he would dream
p,-1 Inh
tribute"
Gazing down into his eyes, she said with
"My prince may 1 give my life into thy
hands?"
1.-The gods overtake me with their ven
geance if l giard it not" he exclaimed.
She drew him from his place on the par
apet and led him to seat in corner near
the double towers. There she sat, and he
dropped down at her feet. He crossed his
arms over her lap and lifted his face to
her.
Seti was ripe to be plucked by treachery.
His was the faith that Is fnsulted by
suggestion of wariness.
''Whie l dweIt obscurely in the Hak-
heb" she began, Il was much among the
partisans of Amonmeses. They are trlends
of the Pharaoh now, so what l tell is dead
sedtion But / heard 1t when 1t lived, and
thou knowest the penalty invited by him
who listens to criticism of the KING. AT
tend me, then, for the story is short.
thee Thy noble grandsire's first queen,
Neferari Thermuthis. adopted the Hebrew,
and when she died he shared In the allot-
ment of her treasure. But Mesu was an
exile in indian at the time, and his share
was left with Shaemus, then the heir, to
ba given over to the foster-son when he
should return. But Shaemus died, and all
thy fathers older brothers, SO the gra-
cious Meneptah came to wear the crown.
To him fell the guardianship of the He
brew treasure till what time he should re-
turn out of indian. Mesu hath returned.
Hath thy father delivered to him his in
heritance?"
Sets face famed, but, before he could
speak she went on. Not so; not one cop
per weight 1t lies untouched In the treas
ury Thine august sire does not use 1t, be-
cause he hath wealth more than he can
spend But it is the Hebrews. and If 1t
were delivered into his hands it would re-
deem Egypt. 1 know it. There, it is done.
My life is in thy hands"
The prince looked at her with wide eyes.
his cheeks flushed his lips silent;
ued reckessly. Seek out Hotep, who
hath been keeper of the records at ..thom,
and ask him."
Did he tell thee?" Seti demanded.
May; l learned 1t from another source,
not in the palace" The prince lapsed into
silence, his eyes averted. Ta-user regarded
him intently. Suddenly he raised his head
'Dost thou know the amount of his
shaTe? he asked.
1T is but moderate part of the queens
fortune since each of the kings children by
his many women was included"
He shall have it, Seti said almost i'm
patiently. "Out OF mine own wealth he shall
have it-nor as a bribe-he would not have
it so-but because 1t Is his
She caught his hands to her breast and
cried out in delight.
And I shall thy lieutenant, and none
shall know of it, save thee and me-
Nay there is danger in this" he said
gently, land / would not imperil thee. AL
ready thou hast overstepped safety for
Egypt's sake and mine More than this
VIII not let thee do
She pouted. and putting him away from
her. arose and left him. He followed her
and took her hands.
"A confederate thou must have" she
complained; and whom dost thou trust
more than Ta-rser?'
Thou dost hurry me in my plan-making,"
he demonstrated mildly. "Mayhap shall
ehoose Hotep.''
She flung, up Ter head. her face the pic
ture of dismay.
May, nay! not Hotep! OF all thy world,
not Hotep!' She exclaimed.
He lifted his tIows IN amazement.
Surely thou dost not question his fidelity
Ibis Dower?"
May! but dost thou not guess what he
will do? Thou child! Abet thee! Nay! he
would Sc. his ioCt upon thy plan and foil
thee at once with his polite hand"
"Hotep will obey as command. that thou