Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-10-27
BY ElIzABETh MILLER

ne thought to make untif he had won tnde
for which he strove. He went to bury the
mating in the sand and TO hide other EVIL
! dences of recent occupancy about the niche
He left the block of stone undisturbed, for
the transgression was not yet apparent on
the race OF Athor. The scrolls, which had
been concealed under the carpeting, were
too numerous for his wallet to contain, but
| he carried the surplus openly in his hand.
1t was sunset before he had made an end.
TO return to the Nile by way of the cliff
front would nave saved him time, but there
was boyish wish in his heart to look
| again on the lovely. face that had helped
him and baffied him. So he descended into
| the upper end of the ravine and slowly
| passed the outskirts of the camp, but the
bond-girl was nowhere to be seen. The
spaces between the low tents were filled
with feeding laborers, and there was an
unusual amount Of cheer to be noted among
Israel of Masaarah. Kenkenes heard the
talk and laughter with some wonderment
as he passed. He admitted that he was
disappointed when, without glimpse of
Rachel he emerged into the Nile valley.
But he leaped lightly down the ledge,
crossed the belt of rubble, talus and desert
sand. and entered the now well-marked
meadow land on either side. Egypt was in
shadow-her sun behind the Libyan heights
but the short twilight had not fallen.
Overhead were the cooling depths of sky,
as yet starless, but the river was breath
ing on the winds and the siblant murmur
of its waters began to talk above the
sounds of the city. To the north, the south
and the east was pastoral and desert quiet;
to the west was the gradual subsistence of
urban stir. Frogs were beginning to croak
in the distance, and in the long grain here
and there nocturnal insect chirped and
stilled abruptly as the young man passed.
Within rod Of the pier some one called:
MY master!'
The voice came from distance, but he
knew whom he should see when he turned.
Half way across the field toward the quar-
ries Rachel was coming with a scroll in
her lifted hand. He began to retrace his
| steps to meet her. but she noted the action
and quckened her rapid walk into running.
Thou didst drop this outside the camp"
she said as she came near. II feared 1t
might have somewhat pertaining to the
statue on it. and 1 have brought it. with
the permission of the taskmaster." She
stopped. and putting her hand into the
folds OF her habit on her breast, hesitated
as If for words to speak further Kenkenes
interrupted her with his thanks
How thou hast fat1gued thyself for me-
Rachel Out of all Egypt. 1 doubt If I
| might find another constant guardian of
my welfare. The grace of the gods attend
thee as faithfully. l thank thee most
gratefully
The purpose in her face dissolved, the
nand that seemed to hold somewhat in the
I0 1,t.s OF her habit relaxed and fell slowly.
Whlle kenkenes waited for her to speak
ne noted that a dress of unbleached linen
replaced the coarse cotton surplice she
had worn before, and her feet were shod
with simple sandals-lan extravagance
among slaves. But the garb was yet too
mean The sculptor wondered at that mo-
ment how the sumptuous attire of the
high-born Memphian women would be-
come her. He shook HIS head and in his
imagination dressed her in snow-white
robes, with but the collar of rings about
his picture of splendid simplicity
Hast thou not something more to tell
! me?' he asked kindly. do thou rest here
on the wharf while we talk. Art thou not
Nay, thank thee,'' she faltered. IT
may not linger." Theshand once again
sought the folds over her breast
way hGl II w aJi m h ds WAX With thee on thy
Nay, she protested, flushing, "and
again, ! thank thee. It is not needful."
She made a movement as if to leave him
but he stepped to her side. i'''A'
Gut upon thee, daughter of Israel, thou
a in,, ungra "a clous, he demonstrated, laugh
ingly. i cannot think thee SO wondrous
brave: For it is a long walk to the camn
and the night will be pitch-black WHY
may .!,r, | not go with thee?'
There is naught to be feared"
OF a truth? Those hills are as fu1l If
Wild beasts as Amenti is of spirits And
even if no hurt befell thee, the trepidatio
OF OH that long Journey would be cruel Nay:
next offering, did 1 send thee back to
camp alone. wilt thou come?'
! she bowed and dropped behind him. Her
resolution f to maintain the forms of diff
Iefent rank between them was not charac-
Leristlc of other slaves he had known
mere was no presumption or humble graf
itude IN her manner when he would offer
her the courtesies of an equal but he had
met the disdain of a peer once when he
thought he talked with a slave There
was something hooking in her perfunctorv
reference, but her pride was genuine Her
conduct seemed to say: II would liefer
De Hebrew and slave than a princess
OF the God-forgotten realm of Egypt.
The young sculptor was unruffled how
+, ING ~, hi
interest, the evidence that tended to show
that the Israelite had something more TO
tell him. that her courage had failed her
and that her hand had sought sopatbing
concealed in her dress. He recalled the for
mer meetings with her and arrived at a
surmise so sudden and so conclusive that
with difficulty he kept himself from making
outward demonstration of his conviction
II he collar, by Apis! 1 offended her with
the trinket. And she came to make me take
1t back, but her courage fed. Fie upon my
clumsy gailantries! | must make amends
would not have her hate me-
He broke the silence with an old old re-
mark-one that Adam might have made to
Eve.
dark easement in the heavers-a blink of
the eye and the lamp is al!ght"
so 1 watch them every night But they
are swifter here in Memphis. At Mendes,
where Israel toiled once, they are more
deliberate she answered readily
AYE, but you should see them at Philae.
They ignite and bound into brillance like
sparks of meeting metal and flint All but
the tropics are precpitatei''
Il know them not" she ventured.
Their acquaintance is better avoided
They have no mean-they leap from ex-
treme to extreme. They are violent. inn
moderate. 1t is instant night and instant
day; it is the maddest passion of summer
always. Nature reigns at the top of herr
voice and chokes her realm with the fervor
of her maternity. Nay. give me the north
/ would feel the earth's pulse now and
then without burning my fingers"
There is room for choice in this land of
thine" she unused after little
Land of mine" he repeated inauiringly.
turning his head to look at her. us it not
also thine?"
May, it is not the. Hebrews and it never
was" the clear answer came from the
"soH he exclaimed. ibo.After four hum
dred years in Egypt they have not adopted
I'VE have but sojourned here a night.
The journeys end Is farther on.
Israel hath made a long night of the So
Nay she answered Thou hast not
said Alright 1t is Egypt that hath made
long night of our sejourn."
There was a silence, IN which Kenkenes
felt accused and Uncomfortable 1t would
REQUIRE little to make bharsh the temper
of the talk 1t lay. with him. one of the
race of offenders, to make amends.
err &c for me- tn admit E,pynf'c cy, ona