The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-07-03
"To starve. To perish of thirst.

'To starve! To perish Of thirst! To
die of pestilence. The gods have left
US. We are undone"'
"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 ard cover thy head with ashes.
Thy destruction is but begun. For
hundred years thou hast oppressed Is
rael. Now is the hour Of the children
of Godr'
Masanath wrung her hands, but the
voice went on.
Gas 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 filed with
stricken beasts; for the heavy hand OF
the Pharaohs shall the heavens thun-
| der and scourges fall. And the wrath
| Of God shall cool not till Egypt is
! waste, shorn Of her corn and her vine
| yards and her riches, and foul with
| dead men,"
| Nothing could have been more VIM
dictive than this disembodied voice.
Masanath thrust her fingers through
| her hair and, drawing her elbows for
ward, sheltered her face with them.
when have I offended against the
| Hebrew" she cried, sick with terror.
.sWhy 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.
ssThe plague will pass the voice
from the inner crypt continued "Sev-
en- days will it endure; no more"
Deborah is mystic" Rachel added
softly, land is gifted with prophetic
eyes. Much hath she suffered at
Egypt's hands, and her tongue grows
| harsh when she speaks Of tce oppres-
sion.i'
"Nay, but let me go," Masanath beg
ged. 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 obedient, 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 1t was
overpoweringly strong. She sickened
! and turned away.
Setting the door in place, Rachel led
her back into corner Of the outer
chamber and laid her down on the
mating there.
.The Lord God will care for thy
servants. Fret thyself no further, but
be content here until the horror shall
pass. I shall attend thee, so thou shalt
not miss their ministrations. The Is
raelite spoke. with gentle authority,
smoothing the dark hair Of her guest.
Command In the form Of persuasion is
doubly effective, since 1t induces while
| it compels. Masanath was most anne
nable to this manner Of entreaty, since
| it disarmed her pride while 1t governed
her impulses. Thus, though her incl-
nation urged against 1t, she ate when
the Israelite brought her bit OF cold
fowl and beaker Of wine at midday
and again at sunset. And at night she
slept because the Israelite told her sh;>
was safe and bade her close her eyes.
It was dawn when the fan bearers
daughter 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.
.sThe water which we had stored
with Us is also corrupted. fear we
shall thirst if we have but wine to wet
our lips Rachel explained.
Thou dost not tell me that ye abide
in this place? How came ye here: Are
ye lepers?" N1asanath asked in
frightened voice.
Nay, we are fugitives,' Rachel an
swered. "Who art thou, LADY,
81 am Masanath, daughter of Har-
hat. fan bearer to the Pharaoh
And I am Rachel of Israel, daughter
Of Maai, and l have fed from shame.
In all Egypt this is the one and only
refuge for such as l. If my hiding
place We're published no help could
save me from the despoiler. My one
protector is she who lies within. She
Is my foster mother, o!d and i'll from
abuse at the hands Of brutal servants.
Thou hast my story
AS Rachel ceased, Deborah called
from within.
There is npre'' she said. Come
.oJ1 ~