The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-02-16

ing him to the
chief settlement, awaiting him there,
and quickly availing herself of their
aid started in search of him, notwith-
standing the fact that it lacked but a
couple of hours of sunset and, drive as
hard as possible, they could not hope
to reach their destination until late at
night.
And while she was speeding on her
Journey as fast as the swift horses of
Egypt could carry her, the people of
Goshen were excitedly discussing the
unusual train of events. The arrival
of Prince Moses in their midst and his
important discoveries at Joseph's
tomb the day before, followed by the
death of the aged Ammihud, the son
of Ephraim. that afternoon, had given
them much to talk about, and now
came the news that the princess
mother was also Oh her way thither,
and many were the conjectures as to
the reason of her coming.
The elders of the people gathered in
the one large room of the more preten-
tious hut of the settlement were earn
estly discussing the facts which
Moses research had uncovered when
this last bit of news was received, and
1t was then discovered that the prince
had slipped away u%nobserved while
they had been busily talking.
Does the prince know of her COM
ing?" queried one.
mo, that cannot be-" responded an
other, for this afternoon, just before
he met with us, he dispatched a mes
senger to his waiting servants at the
river landing in~structing them to re-
turn without him, and intrusting to
their care a letter TO the princess"
But Prince Moses should be in
formed Of her coming. Whittier has he
gomez"
But no one was able to tell, and mos
sengers sent In search of him returned
hours afterwards without having
found him.
And little realizing what lay before
her, the princess mother drew nearer
and nearer to the land of Goshen.
Suddenly the cavalcade halted and
the princess was aroused by the voices
of those riding in advance, and there
came to the side of her carriage one of
the attendants leading a Hebrew, who
an1Ounced that he was the bearer of
a letter for the princess which he was
to deliver to the boatmen of Moses to
carry back to her.
Feyerishly she took the roll of papy-
rus, and commanding one of the serv-
ants to come close with his lantern she
tried in the Pickering dim light to read
the message. 1t was as follows:
Dearest beloved and honored moth
er: My heart is heavy and troubled,
and | cannot return home until the
way is made plain TO me as to my flu
ture course. The records from .Joseph's
tomb have thrown light upon the hope
and destiny of the Hebrew people, as
well as the Egyptian nation, which
brings me face to face with two path
ways. Gods word to Abraham was
plain. Know Of & surety He said,
that thy seed shall be a stranger in a
land that is not theirs, and shall serve
them; and. they shall affiict them 400
years; and also that nation, whom
they shall serve, will l judge; and af-
tor,ynrd oboll tbar oo,,a o,,+ with onno.
substance The time is at hand, for
it is now almost 400 years since Abra-
ham entered Canaan in response to
Gods call, and 1t is from that time
that God reckons concerning His peo-
pie. That Egypt is not to be the de-
liverer Of my people is thus made
plain. God has declared His judgment
against her, and !. where shall | stand?I
What of all the years | have spent in
Egypt? OF what avail now anything /
might do' And tarry in Goshen to
have the way made plain. And so
adieu until then. Yours in tender
memory, Moses"
AS she read, the princess heart sank
farther and farther within her, and the
dreadful fear which filled her mind
seemed to stifle her, and her breath
in short, quick gasps. Should
she turn back or go forward? Should
she leave Moses to fight out the con
flict alone, or should she seek him out
and strive to persuade him that he
still had as prince of Egypt a mission
to perform for his people?
Leave me here Alone" she suddenly
exclaimed to the wondering attend
ants, Il must have time to think. /
will call thee when | have need of
And thus dismissed, the servants
withdrew to some distance, leaving the
princess alone in her distress and
grief.
''Oh, Moses, Moses" she moaned
softly to herself, as she rockss to and