Warren sheaf., 1906-02-22

Tor year TO tne mines or LiDya."
ITO the minesr Masanath cried in
horror. -. .u~.....
mot as laborer-nay, the sentence
was not so harsh-but as a scribe to
the governor over them"
1T matters littlev she declared in
dignantly. ''The boy prince-the poor,
misguided young brother-sent to a
year Of Punishment, a lifelong humilla-
ton! Libya, the death country! Now,
was anything more brutal? Nay, it is
like Rameses!'
She sank back In the shadows Of her
litter, covered her face with her hands
and shuddered because of the immi-
nence of her trial.
So they journeyed on till at last
Masanath fell asleep, not from indiffer-
ence, for her fears exhausted her. but
because her mind still retained baby
hoods way Of comforting itself when
too roughly beset.
She was aroused in the middle of the
first watch by the passage Of her litter
between bewildering stretches Of lights.
She was within the palace. The SOL
diers that bore her were tramping over
a Damascene carpet and between long
lines of groveling attendants, through
an atmosphere Of overwhelming per-
fume. The messenger had been swift
and the court had had time to prepare
to greet the coming crown princess
with propriety.
10 rot nff
nath set her teeth and prepared to en-
dure. She was borne to the doors Of
the throne room, and two mobiles, gor-
geously habited, set the carved steps
A beside the litter for her feet.
Without hesitation she descended.
The great hall was ablaze with light
and lined with courtiers. The Pharaoh,
with the queen by his side again, was
In his place under the canopy.
Har-hat, glittering with gems and
rustling in snow white robes, approach
ed with triumph in his face to embrace
her. But within three steps he paused
as suddenly as though he had been
commanded. He bent his knee and
kissed the proffered hand. He had
become the subject of his daughter.
She suffered him to lead her to the
royal dais, where she knelt. The queen
descended, raised her and led her to
the throne. Meneptah met them, kissed
Masanath's forehead and blessed her.
The queen embraced her and returned
to her place beside the Pharaoh.
Masanath turned to the right Of the
royal dais and faced the prince. Thus
far her greetings had not been hard
Now was the supreme test. Har-hat
conducted her within few PAGES Of
the prince and stepped aside. What
followed was to prove Masanath's will
ingness.
Rameses stood in the center Of a
slightly raised platform, which was
carpeted with gold edged purple. Be
hind him was his great chair But
for the badge Of princehood, the
fringed ribbon dependent from a gem
crusted amulet over each temple, his
habiliments were the same as the Pha-
raoh's.
Masanaths face fell, and she ap-
preached the prince with slow steps,
Within three PAGES Of the platform she
paused and sank to her knees 1t was
done. She had acknowledged the be-
trothaI and knelt to her lord. Rame-
ses raised her. He lifted the badge of
princehood from his forehead, short
ened the fillet from which it hung, so
that it would tit her small head, and
set it on her brow.
The great palace shook with the ac-
claim Of the courtiers. Taking Masa-
mathis hand, Rameses led her down the
hall through the bending ranks of
purple wearing Egyptians to the great
portals Of the hall. There he gave her
into the hands Of a troop Of court
ladies, 1.-THE as leopards and gorgeous
as butterflies, who led her with many
sinuous obeisances to her apartments.
After a sumptuous meal Masanath
surveyed herself with a swift glance in
plate Of polished silver, which was
her mirror, and then, darting out of her
door, ran down the corridor as though
she would outstrip repentance before it
overlook her.
NAS SOAC uPOA AA11 WuOu Suc l..
= He was on the point Of entering his
apartments. He paused with his hands
on the curtains and waited for her.
"A boon, my lord" she painted, chief.
" from trepidation.
"A boon! Thou wouldst ask a boon
OF me? Nay, will not promise, for it
may be thou contest to ask thy free
dom, and that will not grant for
spleen"
Still she curbed herself. NAY, O
prince. am come to ask naught of
thee which-a wife-may not justly
ask of-her-lord."
what Is the boon that thou mayest
justly ask Of me?' 49,
my father
II am no longer in debt to thy fa-
ther."
II ask no favor for my father at thy
hands. Rather am come to crave a
boon for myself MY father asked an
Israelite maiden at the hands Of the
Pharaoh a year agone, and she was be-
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