The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1906-02-23

I@SsA"'"- tured concerning
STs~l the princess and
her son Moses.
The mystery surrounding the depar-
ture of Moses with the aged Hebrew.
the hasty journey of the princess three
days later, and her return. The whis-
pered accounts of the servants who
had accompanied her, and their omin-
GUS shakes of the head as they told
with mysterious air of the midnight
ride, of the messenger bearing Moses
letter, of her strange conduct and her
journey back again in melancholy 81
lence, all furnished endless and alb
sorbing topics for conversation, and so
persistently did the princess shut her.
self i'll her W private apartments
that the servants were left quite to
their own devices.
ut is the third visit which the prin-
cess has made to the temple within the
last two days" whispered one Of her
maids, to a group of other servants
who had eagerly gathered about her to
hear the latest bit of gossip.
"Sh-sh'" cautioned one Of the scry-
ants who was standing on the out
skirts of the group and commanded a
view of the long hall leading from the
entrance to the inner apartments of
the palace. Here he comes"
An awed silence fell upon all as they
looked in the direction in which the
speaker pointed. There, coming across
the marble-tiled floor, a figure vas
seen approaching. The stride was I'M
even and slow, as though the spirit
within was unwilling to have the feet
move, and every few steps there came
a pause suggestive of an inclination to
turned backward.
In wondering silence they watched
the man as he turned and went to-
wards the apartments of the princess,
and not until he had disappeared with
in the doorway did they dare to move.
In the apartments of the princess
that morning there had been unusual
stir and commOtion. Almost before the
sun had risen the princess had hast
ened to the temple and, after several
hours spent there, had returned and
gone Immediately to her own rooms,
She was in more cheerful mood than
for several days past.
Il shall be very busy" she said to
her maid, Tasis, rs she settled herself
upon her couch and took from the
folds of her robe a parchment. do
not let anyone disturb me, save Moses.
Oh, Tasis, do you suppose he will
come to-day? Oh, he must come" and
she almost sobbed in the intensity of
her longing. She felt she was quite
ready for him now, and fondled the
papyrus sheets in her hand with con-
fldent assurance.
1t was thus Moses found her. In fact,
engYossed was she that she did not
hear his approach until he was quite
by her side. With an eager, glad cry,
she sprang up and threw her arms
about his neck. Neither spoke a word
she because quite overcome by her
emotions, and he because the agony
clutching at his heart had paralyzed
both tongue and lips and he could not.
ooh, Moses, | am glad you have
come, for l can help you" she said at
last, and Withdrawing her soft arms
from about his bearded face she turned
eagerly and recovered the parchment
which had slipped upon the floor. See,
here are records which will help you.
| received your letter" she ran on
hastily, as though she feared he might
break in with some word of objection,
land you must know that its message
filled my heart with deep apprehension
and pain. | know you have suffered,
too, but it will all come right, and we
shall be happy once more Listen:
Egypt, the fair daughter Of the
Nile, the nourisher of nations in times
past, shalt continue without end. And
from her shall stream life and light.
This is the word Of the great sun god
i'd the stars of heaven in their
agree and smile benignantly up
the favored children of the land,
upon Thermutis and her illustrious
son, for unto them shall come all the
of their hcarts!'"
Whence came such words" Moses
in surprise.
1T Is gathered from the ancient rec
ords of the Egyptians, and the priest
has not only searched them out but
has studied the heavens and learned
that there is confirmation of that rec
ord, and a prophecy concerning thee
and me-"
But why hast thou talked with the
priests?"
Because / desired their views con-
corning the words which thou dost
seem ready to accept as final, and hast
lost all reason concerning
thy future and thy possible service to
thy people"