Warren sheaf., 1906-01-11

1t IS better for tnes to bide here,-
the voice went on relentlessly, 'for out
side the sheltering nejRhborhood of the
chosen people, the hand of the out
ragged God shall overtake Egypt and
scorch her throat with thirst and make
her veins CONCEAL for want of water"
Masanath gained her feet, crying
out wildly:
MY servants! Where are they? Let
me forth.''
The Israelite put an assuring arm
about her. Thou wilt not dare to
face the Nile again." she warned. "Stay
with u.s.
ITO starve! To perish Of thirst! To
die Of pestilence! The gods have left
us! We ore undonev'
AYE, the gods have left you," the
voice continued harshly. "Ye are CIV
en- over to the vengeance Of the God of
Abraham. Howl, Egypt! Rend thy
self and cover thy head with ashes.
Thy destruction Is but begun. For q
hundred years thou hast oppressed Is.
rael. Now Is the hour Of the children
OF Godr'
Masanath wrung her hands, but ths
voice went on.
LAS the Nile flows, so hath the blood
of Israel been wasted by the hand of
Egypt Now shall the God Of Abra-
ham drain her veins, even so, drop for
drop. For the despoiling Of Israel shall
her pastures and stables be filled with
M -
the Pharaohs shall the heavens thun-
der and scourges fall. And the wrath
Of God shall cool not till Egypt is a
waste, shorn Of her corn and her vine
yards and her riches, and foul with
dead men,"
Nothing could have been more vim
d1ctive than this disembodied voice.
Masanath thrust her fingers through
her hair and, drawing her elbows for
ward, sheltered her face with them.
when have l offended against the
Hebrew?" she cried, sick with terror.
"'Why should your awful God destroy
the innocent and the friend of Israel
among the people Of Egypt?"
Rachel, who had stood beside her,
with an increasing cloud on her face,
now spoke in Hebrew. There was
mild protest in her tones.
THE plague will pass" the voice
from the inner crypt continued. "Sev-
"en days will it endure; no more"
Deborah is mystic" Rachel added
softly, "and is gifted with prophetic
eyes. Much hath she suffered at
Egypt's hands, and her tongue grows
harsh when she speaks Of the oppres-
sion.'
NAY, but let me CO., Masanath beg
8ed. where are my servants? Came
they not after me when fed?"
"None followed thee, lady, and thy
raft went adrift."
=. LET me out Of this hideous place,
then, for must seek them. They may
be Dead"
, Her tone was imperious, and Rachel,
silently obedlent, led her to the en-
trance and pushed aside the door. In
stantly the terrible turmoil over Egypt
smote upon her ears. Next she saw the
Nile, moving slowly, black where its
clear surfaces had been green, scarlet
and froth ridden where the sun had
shone upon transparent ripples and
white foam. After that the strange
odor came to her, recalling the smell Of
affairs, but now magnifed till it was
overpoweringly strong. She sickened
and turned away.
/ Setting the door in place, Rachel led
\ her back into q corner Of the outer
chamber and laid her down on the
\ mating there.
b t"The Lord God will care for thy
servants. Fret thyself no further, but
be content here until the horror shall
pass 1 shall attend thee SO thou shalt
not miss their -ministrations." The Is
sraelite spoke with gentle authority,
smoothing the dark hair Of her guest.
!. Command In the form Of persuasion is
.doubly effective, since it induces while
it compels Masanath was most anne
nable to this manner Of entreaty, since
I it disarmed her pride while it governed
her impulses. Thus, though her incli-
nation urged against it, she ate when
the Israelite brought her bit Of cold
fowl and q beaker Of wine at midday
and again at sunset. And at night she
slept because the Israelite told her she
was safe and bade her close her eyes.
It was dawn when the fan bearers
slaughter awoke again. She sat up and
suffered Rachel to dress her hair and
battle her tiny hands and face with
solution Of weak white wine.
'.The water which we had stored
with us is also corrupted I fear we
shall thirst II we have but wine to wet
our lips Rachel explained
'"Thou dost not tell me that ye abide
i'm this place2 How came ye here? Are
i3ye lepersY Masanath asked In
frightened voice.
may, we are fugihues," Rachel an
.swered. "Who art thou, lady Z?
81, am Masanath, daughter OF Har-
hat, fan bearer to the Pharaoh
..And am Rachel Of Israel, daughter
l9f Maai, and have fed from shame.
In all Egypt this is the one and only