Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-14
CHAPTER XVI.
M

Inc t1rSt-Born.
At the door of her apartments Masanath
was met by the faithful Mari, who drew
her within and showed her triumphantly
that the usurpng ladies-in-waiting had de-
parted. The unhappy girl was grateful for
the change. The relief for her sorrow was
its expression, and she dreaded the restraint
put upon her by the presence of discerning
and unfamiliar eyes.
All desire for sleep had left her. Mari,
weary and heavy-headed begged her to re-
tire but she would not. So at last the wait
ing woman, at her mistress command, lay
down and slept.
The night wore on to It's noon, and Masa-
nath was becoming drowsy, in spite of her
determination to keep sleepless vigil until
dawn, when she was aroused by commo-
ton in the vicinity of the palace. There
were indoor cries and shouts for help ana
frantic knocks upon doors without.
Masanath passed into the outer room to
the window that looked upon the city.
Every house had light, which fiickered
and appeared at this window and that, and
the streets were full of flying messengers,
who cried out as they ran. Now and then
chariot, drawn at full speed dashed past,
and by the f1uttering robes of the occupants
Masanath guessed them to be physicians.
All Tia MS was in an uproar, and it's alarm
possessed her at once.
Awake. awake, Nari!' Masanath cried,
Shaking tHe sleeping woman. something
has befallen the city. 1t is in the palace
and everywhere"
Meanwhile a chorus of screams smote
upon her ears, and the wild outcries of men
filled the great palace with terrifying
clamor.
Masanath. shaking with dread, wrung her
hands and wept. Mari, stupid with fear,
sat up and listened.
Presently some one came running and
beat with frenzied hands upon the door.
open! Open! In the name of Osiris,"
cried voice, which, though it quaked with
CONSERVATION, Masanath recognized as her
fathers
She flew to the door and wrenched 1t open.
Har-hat. half-dressed, stood before It,
Father, what manner of sending is tI1s?"
she cried
Death" he painted Come with mel"
He caught her arm and ran, dragging her
after him down the corridor, half-lighted,
but murmurous with sound.
What is it, father?" she begged as he
hurried her on.
he gods only know. Rameses hath been
smitten and is dying. or even now is deadr'
"Rameses!' she breathed in a terrified
whisper "Rameses! And an hour ago |
talked with him-so strong, so resolute, so
full of life-O Holy Isisr'
1T is pestilence sent by Mesu The
whole city is afflicted. Ptah shield usr'
All the jewellers of the palace were flocked
about the apartments of Rameses. The
royal pair, the kings ministers, the imme-
date companions of Remeses. the high
priest TONI the ftdneS1Oe temple TO Set at
Tanis and corps of leeches were present
The couch was surrounded.
Sell was not present, for only in the last
moment had some one realized that the
young prince should be brought. Hotep
had gone to conduct him to the chamber
The queen inert and lfeless, lay on the
floor at the foot of the princes bed. Most
of the physicians bent over her Her wo-
men, chiefly the wives of the ministers,
were hysterical and helpless.
But it was Meneptah who froze the hearts
of his courtiers with horror.
Because of his obstinacy Egypt had gone
down into famine, pestience and destruc
ton. Without more than ordinary concern
he had watched the hand of the scourge
pursue it into ruin till what time he should
relent, and he had not relented.
But now that dread Hand had entered
within the boundaries of his loves and had
smitten Rameses, his heir. his idol!
The effect upon him was terrible. The
death chamber rang like torture dungeon.
Nechutes and Menes by united efforts,
barely prevented him from doing self-mur-
der. The earnest attempts of the priest to
quiet him were totally useless Nothing
could have been more shocking.
The violent scene wrought Masanath's
already overstraned nerves to the highest
pitch of distress. The blood CONCEALED in
her veins and her steps Jagged but Har-
hat. for some purpose not apparent to any
who looked upon his daughters anguish,
drew her to the very side Of the couch. The
leeches. who had been vainly seeking for
eyes of the covering girl fell on the prince.
Rameses had seen the Hand that smote
him.
The look on the frozen features completed
the undoing of Masanath's self-control and
she collapsed beside the bed, utterly pros
trated
Hotter entered with Seti. The boy princes
face was infiamed with much weeping, and
he flung himself upon the cold clay OF
Rameses forgetting wholly that the older
brother had urged the passage of a harsh
sentence upon his young head.
The courtiers, who had stoically witnessed
Meneptahs frantic grief. turned now and
hid their blinded eyes. Hotep went to the
Pharaoh and laid his hand on the mon
arch's shoulder. The action commanded.
Exhausted by his frenzy Meneptah leaned
against his scribe. The cup-bearer and
the captain released him and Hotep spoke
quietly.
"Seest thou, o my king, the sorrow of
thy people? Behold thy young son and
fort her. If thou. their staff art broken.
who shall bear them up in their sorrow?
Break not. Be thou as the strong father
Of thy great son, that from the bosom
of Osiris he may look upon Egypt and
sleep well. seeing that in his loss his king
dom lost not her prop and stay, her king,
also
fhe scanty manhood of the monarch.
thus ably invoked, responded somewhat.
He raised himself and permitted Hotep to
conduct him to the side of the boy prince.
Sell Tell down at his fathers feet, and
Hotep took Meneptah's hand and laid it on
the bowed head.
Thou dost pardon him. o son of Ptah"
the scribe said in the same quiet voice
The king nodded weakly and wept afresh
After the prince had clasped his fathers
knees and covered the hand with kisses
he obeyed the scribe's sign and went away
to his mothers side. Again Hotep, COM
pelling by his low voice, spoke to the king
and the assembly listened.
The gods have not limited the darts of
afhicton to thee, son of Ptah. Rameses
Journeyed not alone into Amenti He took
Kingdom with him. Behold, the Hebrew
hath loosed his direst plague upon Egypt.
and by the lips of an Israelite In the
streets. every frst-born in thy realm per-
ished in the home of his father this nightr'
The entire assembly cried out, and most
of them ran sobbing and praying from the
chamber Instantly the outcry and clamor
in the palace broke forth again, for the in
habitants knew that the bow which had
smitten Rameses had fallen on one of their
own.
Meneptah staggered away from Hotep,
his frenzy upon him again.
Send them hither," he cried hoarsely
waving his arms toward a white-faced
courtier that had stood his ground Send
them hither-thc Hebrews, Mesu and Aaroni
Israel shall depart before they make me
sink the world! For they have sent mad
ness upon me! I condemned my gentle SON.
/ punished those who gave me wise counsel
II hnt I'D TNer.,,N n -