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

hesitation in his words, while he continued
10 gaze helplessly into her compelling eyes.
She laughed and kissed him. II will see
thee again soon" Putting him back from
her she descended the stairway.
Straight through the corridors toward
the royal apartments she went. There was
ultation.
The Hatiiors were indulging her beyond
reason.
A soldier of the royal guard paced out
side the doorway Of the kings apartments.
Ta-user flung him smile, and. passing him
without word of leave-asking. smiled
again and disappeared through the door,
Meneptah who sat alone. raised his head
from the scroll he laboriously spelling.
If he had meant to resent the intrusion. the
impulse died within him at the charming
obeisance the princess made.
AS she rose at his sign, Har-hat entered.
Ta-user came near to the king, smiling tri-
umphan tly at the fan-bearer.
The gods sped my feet" she said. "and
am here first. Hold thy peace, noble Har-
hat Mine Is the first audience
Having reached the kings side, she drop
ped on her knees and folded her hands on
the arm of his chair.
"A boom o Shedder of Light! So much
thou owest me- Behold came to thee on
the hope of thy promises. What have l.
won therefrom? Nausht save. perchance:
the smiles of Egypt at my disappointment.
wilt thou reproach me, Ta-user. for my
sons wilfulness?" was Meneptah's tactless
reply
comfited countenance Of Har-hat and went
on.
Nay, o my sovereign. / do but wish to
incline thine ear to me. Say first thou wilt
grant me my boon. j do not ask for thy
crown. or thy son. or for an aspy, or treas
ure or anything but that which thou
wouldst gladly give me. because OF thy just
and generous heart.
Thou hast my word. Ta-user."
Give me ear, then" she continued Thou
hast among thy ministers noble genius
the architect Mentu-
The king broke in with dry smile
"Wouldst have him for a mater
She shook her head till the emeralds pen
dent from the fillet on her forehead ciinked
together. Nothing could have been more
childlke than the pleased smile on her
face.
NAY. nay. he would not have me-" she
protested. But he hath SON..
He had son. but he Is dead the KING
answered
Not so, He is in prison where thy
| counselor. the wicked, unfeeling, jealous
rapacious Har-hat hath entombed him!
Har-hat sprang forward as the KING hiteo
an amazed and angry face.
Back" she cried motioning at him with
her full arm ut is time the Hathors over
| took thee thou ineffable knave!'
Il protest." the fan-bearer cried' losing
his temper
Enough of this play" Meneptah said
sterniy. Go on with thy tale la-user'
would know the truth of thus
Thou wilt not learn II from the prin-
cess Har-hat exclaimed.
"Ah,' Ta-user calculated, a world of In
nocence surprise and wounded feeling IN
.sThy words do not become thee Har-
hat" Meneptah said. The fan-bearer CLOS
ed his lips and gazed fixediy at the prin-
cess.
She dropped her head and went on in
voice low with hurt.
1.-The gods judge me II my every word
is not true, Har-hat imprisoned him be-
cause the gallant young man loVed the
maiden whom Har-hat would have taken
for his harem.'
Meneptah's face blazed 60 on ne saio
sharply.
saThe fan-bearer had some little right on
his side, for the young man had commit,
ted sacrilege In carving a statue. and hau
stolen the maiden away and hidden her
when Har-hat would have taken her Inc
maiden is an Israelite. and her hiding pace
is known to this day only by herselI a ,n
her unhappy lover. Now comes thy VII
lainy o thou short of temper, she cohtIh-
ued looking at the fan-bearer
"Thy father. o Shedder or Light, the IN
comparable Pharaoh who reigns in Osiris,
gave Mentu a signet. When kenkenee was
overtaken and thrust into prison he sent
this signet to thee, o my Sovereign, with
petition for his release ana iof I'M, the ssnet
came into Har-hat's hands and he Ignored
them though the signet commanded MIN IN
the name of the holy One Her voice
lowered with awe and dismay at ms uiiFe-
generacy "Kenkenes is still in prison.
Now. by the gods. Har-hat!" Meneptah
exclaimed angrily, 81 would not have
dreamed such baseness in thee"
The fan-hearer was stupe.ied with wrath
and astonishment Words absolutely re-
fused to come to him. Ta-user accused him
with the wide eyes OF fearless righteousness.
Presently she went on:
ALREADY hath he languished eight months
in prison. His offense against the gods ana
against the laws of the land hath been ex-
plated. l would have thee set him free
! ~ .sat, hot he OF
his love and comfort her.
Meneptah reached for the reed pen.
Hold" cried Har-hat.
Thou dost forget myself, good Har-hat"
the princess said with dignity. Thou
speakest with thy sovereign.
But / will be heardr' he exclaimed vio-
lently. Hear me! I pray thee, Son OF
Ptah!'
Meneptah removed the wetted pen and
waited
Thou didst give the snaiden to me thy
self" he began precipitately. Thy docu-
ment of gift have yet. He stole her, hid
her away, committed sacrilege and abused
two of my servants nigh unto death when
they sought for her. Hath he any more
right to her than l 2 Art thou assured that
he hath an honorable purpose in mind for
| her? She is comely and well instructed In
| service, and 1 would have put her In my
daughters train, even as the Hebrew
Miriam was lady-n- waiting to Neferari
Thermuthis. If thou dost examine the rec
ords of the petitions to thee thou wilt find
that l asked her expressly for household
service. 1t is false that 1 had any other
purpose in mind.
LAS to the signet." he continued breath
lessly, there is no word upon it concerning
the palliation of a triple crimei Shall we
invoke the king In the blameIess name Of
the holy One. and demand forgiveness in
the name of Him who forgiveth no sin?
Furthermore, thou didst give the writing
into my hands, and in obedience to thy COM
mand / acted thought best. My pur-
poses have been willfully distortedr
Meneptah frowned with perplexity But
while he pondered. Ta-user drew near to
him and said to him very softly:
IF is..words be true, o my sovereign,
one lovely Israelite is as serviceable as am
other. The young man loves this maiden.
Doubt 1t mott He is a worthy offspring OF
that noble sire, Mentu. If he offended he
hath suffered sufficiently. Let him go,
pray thee"
1T is my word against her surmises, o
Meneptah," Har-far Insisted.
The king frowned more and stroked his
cheek.
Thine anger. should be abated by this
time, Har-hat." he said feebly.
His rebellion is not yet broken. i have
not the slave yet" the fan-bearer retorted.
"Mayhap he is ready to surrender her
now"