Warren sheaf., 1905-12-28

l want thy daughter as my queen"
Har-hat seemed to ponder little be-
fore he answered. "Masanath does
not love thee," he said at last.
Rameses contemplated the fan bear
er narrowly for moment. Come:
thou hast a game" he said finally.
'Out with 1t! Name thy stake
"When thou canst use me courteous
~, Rameses," he said, with dignity,
Il shall talk with thee again. Mean
while do not build on wedding with
Masanath. shall mate her with him
who hath respect for her father
"Out with it!'' he insisted more calm
~. what is it-power, wealth or
wife? These three things l have to
give thee. Take thy choice"
Il would have thee use me respect
fully, reverently," Har-hat retorted
warmly. Il would have thee speak
favorably Of me. would have thee do
me no injustice by deed or word nor
peril my standing with the king. This
I demand Of thee. I will not buy it,
. II am to keep silence in the council
ing Of my plastic father It is we'll,
for I am not pleased with ruling before
wear the crown But mark mel:
Thou shalt not advise me when I rule
over Egypt. What more?" .,
$50 thou observest these things I am
satisfied"
Goods, but thou art moderated! Ma:
sanath is worth more than that. Do I
take her?" >;..- -. ,z
II shall speak with her." Har-hat re-
sponded, land give thee her word"
For moment the prince contemplat-
ed the fan bearer, then he turned with
out word and strobe out Of the cham
Der. In corridor near his own apart
ments he overlook the daughter of Har-
hat. Her woman was with her. ~.
The prince stepped before them.
The attendant crouched and fed
somewhere out of sight. Masanath
drew herself to the fullest of her few
speak, .-.
"Come, Masanath," he said, ''thou
canst reach the limit of thy power to
be ungracious and but fix me the firmer
in my love for thee. l am come to tell
thee that have won thee from thy fa-
ther."
'Thou hast not won me from my
self," she replied.
"Nay, but shan.'' sss.--s,-.. 3.
'"Thou dost overestimate thyself," she
retorted. Catching up the fan and
chaplet that her woman had let fall,
she made as though to run past him.
But he put himself in her way and,
with shining eyes, caught her in his
arms. r r r.
Sooner would sit upon the peak of
a pyramid all my life than upon q
throne with thee; sooner would be
crowned with fire than wear the asp of
a queen to thee. Ny father may wed
me to thee, but will never love thee,
nor say it, nor pretend it. Thou wilt
not win a wife if thou dost take a
queen by violence. Release me!''
'Thou dost rivet mine arms about
thee."
She stiffened herself and savagely
submitted to her imprisonment.
Rameses laughed and. bending her
head back, kissed her repeatedly and
with much tenderness. She struggled
madly, but he held her fast.
"There! Garry thy hate of me only
to the edge of sleep and dream sweetly
Of me-"
He released her and continued down
the hall.
AS he turned out of the smaller pas
sage into the larger corridor Ta-user
stepped forth from the shadow Of a
pillar. The huge column dwarfed her
into tininess. The hall was but dimly
lighted by single lamp and that far
ed above her head.
Rameses paused, for she stood in his
path
"Not yet gone to thy restT' he asked.
"Restv' she said scornfully. "Gone
to night long frenzy Of relentless
consciousness tossing, wasted
prayers. have not rested since I
left the Hakheb."
Her voice sounded hollow In the
great empty hall.
$50? Thou art ready for the care of
the physicians by this. then, 0 my sis
ter
II am not thy sister,"
What? Hast quarreled with the
gentle Seti?''
'.Rameses, do not mock me. Seti
does not even stir my pulses. He
could not rob me Of my peace
'What temperate love! Mine makes
my temples crack and fills mine hours
with sweet distress" !"
Ta-user looked at him for moment,
then, raising her hands, caught the
folds of his robe over his breast.
''Rameses, how far wilt thou go IN
this trifling with the Lady Masanath?"
''To the marrying priests" Without
looking at her he .loosed her hands,
swung them idly and let them go.
"Stay, Rameses," she urged, CATCH
Ing at his robes once more. Il would
have thee know something. But am
to tell thee in words what / would
have thee know? Surely have not
l. AHnr