Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-21
CHAPTER XXI.
The Promised Land.

CHAPTER XXXII.
The Promised Land.
One sunset, shortly after his marriage,
word came to the tent of kenkenes that an
Amalekite chieftain on his way to Egypt
had paused for the night just within the
encampment of Israel.
Here may be an opportunity to speak
with thy father" Rachel suggested. The
prospect Of talking once again to those he
had left behind was one too full Of pleasure
for the young Egyptian to receive calmly
Hurriedly he dispatched one Of his serving
men to the Amalekite to bid him await
message But Rachel called the messenger
back.
Tell the Amalekite that thou contest
from an Egyptian noble. For SUCH tiny
master is and this chieftain is more willing
to take command from Egypt than from
Israeli
The servant in his enthusiasm and the
importance of his mission told the AMAZE
kite that he came from prince of Egypt.
The chieftain was youth who had just
succeeded his father over his people ana
was on his way to Memphis bearing tribute
to Meneptah. To this tributary nation
Egypt was remote splendid and full OF
glamor. The name was synonymous OF the
world and all the glories thereof, and par
ucularly had it appealed to the active I'M
agination of this youth. He had seen many
Egyptians, but they were naked prisoners
laboring in the mines of Sinai, or overseers
or scribes or the ancient exile who was
governor of the province.and surely THESE
were not representative of the land.
Now he was to get a glance at real
Egypt.
In the early hours of the dawn fol-
lower came to his pallet and told him IN
awed tones that the prince was without
Tremulous with pleasurable reputation ne
went out into the misty daybreak twilight
of the open. And there he met an imperial
stranger who lowered over him as pam
over a shrub. At q single glance the Amai-
ekite saw that there was a circiet or gold
about the brow, that the face was fine ana
that the garments swept the sands All
this was significant, but when the stranger
delivered him two rolls, one addressed 10
the chief of the royal scribes of the Pha-
raoh, the other to the royal murket, ana
paid him with jewel, the Amaleklte, con-
WINGED and satisfied, Frustrated himsel,
But we may not know what the you.li
thought when he found that there were lew
in all Egypt like this princely stranger.
After these writings came, with all ndel-
ity To the hands of those who loved MIN
in Egypt, silence fell between them ana
Kenkenes.
Meneptah erected no more monuments
after the eighth of his reign, for In that
year Mentu the murket' alea. Soi ne s'o atI
fill his place. since to his name was at
tached the title the Incompatible, as De
fitted the artist of that great Pharaoh, hke-
wise titled who had so loved him ana ms
and his artist son who had served his king
so we'll. set up no sculptor nor any murket
in his place 1t was the one graceful act
In the life of the feeble king, the one reso-
tuition to which he held most tenaclously.
Though Mentu's union with Senci was
short, it was most happy, save perhaps
for the absence of kenkenes. But AFTER
the letter came from the Weil-peloNed son
there was more cheer in the heart OF the
father. Kenkenes was not dead, only ab-
sent as he would have been had he lived IN
Tanis or Thebes. Furthermore, the young
man had spoken glowingly and at leng.n
on the future of Israel and the Promised
Land, and Mentu told himself that he
might visit Kenkenes one day in that new
country.
Since there were no children in their
house. Senci and the murket spoiled Anu
bis and in the eyes of his devoted master
the ape had earned his soft life. Shortly after
the departure of Kenkenes Mentu discov-
cred the ape burying something in the SAND
of the court yard flower beds. In spite of
the favorite's vigorous protests Mentu
overturned the tiny heap of earth ana DIS
covered therein the lapis-lazuh slgnet.
There was but one explanation of the apes
possession of the germ. He had torn the
scarab from about the neck of unas when
he flew in his face, the moment the light
went out. After his nature, he kept the
Jewel because 1t was bright.
All these things-the discovery of the sig
net in the tomb, the safety of kenkenes
when all the other first-born had died. and
the testimony or the miracles ~ lllt pOWti
of Israers God-made the good murket
think deeply. Indeed. all Egypt thought
deeply after the Exodus of israel and TO
such extremes was this sober thinking car
ried that through very fear many a1oed
the name of the Hebrews God to the Pan
theon. Mentu did not go so far, because he
saw the Inconsistency in such procedure
but he shook his head and pondered and
was not wholly satisfied with many things
In the Osirian creed.
OF the love of Hotep and Masanath some
thing yet remains to be told 1t was com
mon to examine the entire family OF
traitor as to their completely in ms ms
deeds and the option lay with the Pharaoh
whether or not they should bear. some OF
his punishment. Har-hat was dead the
army destroyed at his hands When he
news of the disaster reached Tanis Men
eptah's anger and grief knew no bounds.
After RameseS had been inferred at
Thebes beside his fathers. and the court
had returned to Memphis, the king sum-
moned Masanath. the sole representative
of the family of Har-hat to give reason
why she should not be accused of compile
ity in the treason of her father.
Meneptah had taken counsel with none on
this step. Perhaps he had an mixing mat
it would be unpopular: perhaps he thought
he was but fulfilling the law. Hotep was
AT On comforting his family, who mourned
over Belts and most of the other MINIS
tiers were scattered over Egypt lamenting
their own dead and few expected the UNI
gallant act of the king.
But one day, when all the court had re-
assembled Masanath came into the great
council chamber. Alone and dressed in
mourning she seemed so little and defense
less that Meneptah stirred uncomfortably
in his throne Slowly she appro .ched the
dais and fell on her knees before the king.
The great gathering of courtiers held its
breath, wondering and plying.
Such was the scene upon which Hotep
came all unknowing. At a glance he I'M
derstood the situation. 1t was too much
tit E,,Ir
of horror, indignation and compassion. he
dropped his writing case and scroll, and.
rushing forward, flung himself on his knees
beside her, one arm about her, the other
extended in supplication to the Pharaoh.
Meneptah, who, from the moment of
Masanath's entrance into the council cham
ber had begun to repent his ill-advsed act
was glad to be won over. At the end of
Hotep's tmpassioned story he came down
from the dais, and raising Masanath, kissed
her and put her into the young mans arms.
Supplementing his pardon with command,
he ordered his scribe to marry the sad little
orphan at once and take her away from the