Warren sheaf., 1905-09-07

After long interval Of motionless
absorption he sprang to his feet and,
catching wallet Of stamped and dyed
leather from the wall, spread it open
on the table. Chisel, mallet, tape and
knife he put into it and dropped wallet
and all into box near by at the sound
Of the sculptor's footsteps.
The great artist re-entered in court
robes of creamy linen, stiff with en-
broidery and gold stitching.
''Har-hat passes through Memphis to-
day on his way to Tape, where he is
to be Installed as bearer of the kings
fan on the right hand. He is at the
palace, and mobiles Of the city 60 thith-
er to wait upon him."
"The king was not long in choosing
successor to the lamented Amset,"
Kenkenes observed 'sHar-hat vaults
loftily from the nomarchship Of Bu-
bastis to an advership to the Pharaoh"
Rather hath his ascent been slower
than his deserts"
''Who succeeds him over Bubastis? %
''Merenra, another of the war tried
generals. He hath been commander
over Pa-Ramesu. Atsu takes his place
over the 1sraelites.''
''Atsu?" Kenkenes mused. II know
him not"
HE is captain Of chariots and
won much distinction during the Rebu
invasion. He is native Of Mendes."
Left alone, Kenkenes crossed the
court to the door his father had entered
and emerged later in street dress of
mantle and close fitting coif He took
up the wallet and quilted the room.
Passing through the intramural park
and the chamber of guests, he entered
the street and turned across the city
toward the east Memphis had pushed
aside her screens and shaken out her
tapestries after the noon rest and was
deep in commerce once again. From
the low balconies overhead the Damas-
Gene carpets swung, lending festivity
to the energetic traffic below.
In the district near the lower edge of
the city he met the heavy carts of
rustics, laden with cages Of geese and
II
from the wide highways of the Mem
phian nome. The broad backs Of the
oxen were gray with dust, and their
drivers were masked in CRIME.
The smell Of the river became insist
ent. In the open stalls the fshmongers
had their naked brood keeping the flies
away from the stock with leafy
branches. The limits Of Memphis end
ed precipitately at a sudden slope. In
the long descent to the Nile there were
few permanent structures Halfway
down were great lengths Of high plat
form built upon acacia piling. This
was the flood tide wharf, but it was
used now only by loiterers, who lay
upon it to bask, doglike, in the sun.
Presently there approached corps
Of servants, bearing bundles Of throw
sticks, nets, two or three fox headed
cats, bows and arrows, strings Of fish
and hampers Of fowl. Behind, on the
shoulders Of four stalwart bearers,
came litter auttering with gay col
ored hangings Beside it walked an
Egyptian Of high class. Suddenly the
bearers halted, and a little hand, im-
perious and literally aflame with Jew
els, beckoned Kenkenes from the shady
Interior Of the litter.
He obeyed promptly. At another
command the litter was lowered till
the poles were supported in the hands
Of the bearers. The curtains were
withdrawn, revealing the occupant a
woman. 5
This to the glory Of Egypt! Woman
was defended, revered, exalted above
her sister Of any contemporary ma
ton. No haremic seclusion for her,
no neutrality-suspicious. toleration of her,
no austere limits laid upon her uses.
She barred her face to the throngfne
streets; she reveled beside her brother;
she worshiped with him; she admftted
no subeerv3ency to her lord beond
the pretty Difference that It pleased
her 70 pay; she governed his househosd