Warren sheaf., 1905-11-09

talk of the guests getting up at the
princes sign-for it was customary to
permit the highest of rank to dismiss
4 company-Masanath slipped from
among them and attempted to leave
unnoticed. But Rameses was before
her and had taken possession of her
hand before she could elude him. AS
Kenkenes passed them on his way to
the door her soft shoulders were
squared; she had drawn herself as far
away from the prince as she might
and was otherwise evincing her dis
comfort extravagantly. a -.
Before them was Hotep, outwardly
undisturbed, smiling and complacent.
At one side was Ta-user, at the other
Seti, and 10 hung on Hotep's arm.
The young artist walked past them
hurriedly, moved to leave all the fer
ment and agitation behind him. IT he
had thought to forget his sorrows
among the light hearted revel Of those
that did not sorrow, he misdirected his
search. a.
At the doors the Lady Senci met him
vacated by Belts.
And there she took his face between
her hands and kissed him.
"Hail, thou son Of the royal archi-
tect!" she said.
'Having much, I am given more,'
he responded. Behold the prodigality
of good fortune. The Hathors exalt me
tn Liz
from the Lady Senci."
II was impelled truly she con-
-tessed, but by thine own face as we'll
Is by the Hathors. Kenkenes, if l did
.sot know thee I should say thou vast
pretending-thou, to whom pretense is
impossible"
He did not answer, for there was no
desire in his heart to tell his secret,
yet the unusual winsomeness Of his
fathers noble love was hard to resist.
'"Thy manner this evening betrays
thee as striving to hide one spirit and
show another" she continued, seeing
he made no response.
''What a tattling face is mine" he
said. "Is her name written there?"
He drew his fingers across his fore
head.
mo need. have been young, and
many are the young that have wooed
and wed beneath mine eyes. I know
the signs" ...-.
Again she kissed him and let him CO.
In the corridor without he received
his mantle and kerchief from a serv-
ant and continued toward the outer
portals: but befos'a he reached them Ia
meri stepped out of a cross corridor
and halted. Never before did her eyes
80 shine or her smile so fash within
the cloud Of gauzes that mantled and
covered her.
"Kenkenes, thou hast given me no
opportunity to wish thee well as the
son of the royal architect. Most heart
lily l give thee joy!'
Kenkenes kissed her hand. "And
wilt thou say that to Nechutes and put
him in the highest heaven?'
ALREADY have l wished him well,".
she responded, pretending to pout, but
he repaid me poorly"
NAY! What did he?" -l:
\, Begged me to become his wife,"
= 'And, having given him the span,
thou didst yield him the cubit also
when he asked it?' he surmised. ~..
NAY, not yet. But-shall II" She
lifted her face and looked at him, smil
ing and bewitchingly beautiful.
"Do not play with him, Ia -meri He
II worthy and loves thee most tenlerly.
Thou lowest him. BE kind to thine own
heart and put him to the rack no more.
He comes yonder," Kenkenes added III
q whisper, poor, moody boy! Go back
to him and take him all the happiness
I would to the gods knew. Farewell" :"
He pressed her hand and continued
toward the door. b..
Once again he was hailed, this time
by Rameses. Nechutes and Ta-meri
had disappeared.
lone other thing l would tell thee,
Kenkenes," the prince said. 'The
Pharaoh heard a song to the sunrise on
the Nile some time ago, and identified
the voice for him. He would have thee
sing for him, Kenkenes."
4 "The Pharaoh's wish is law" was
the STOW answer.
"Oh, 1t was not a command" Ram
eses replied afrably, for he was still
holding Masanath's hand and there
fore in high good humor with himself.
TN truth, he said the choice should be
thine whether thou wilt or not. But
more Of this later; the gods go with
thee"
kenkenes bowed and escaped.
In his room few moments later he
lighted his lamp of scented oils and
contemplated the comforts about him.
His conscience pointed a condemning
finger at him. He did not sleep. He
tossed and counted the hours.
''Sing for the Pharaoh he exclaim-
ed. "Aye, will sing till the throat of
me cracks, not for the reward of his
good will alone, but for RachePs liber-
ty-that first and the unrayeling of
! this puzzle thereafter"