The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-06-19
CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVI.
TIE LOVE OF RAaEsEs.
- Y the goth OF. May the court Of
4 Meneptah was ready to pro-
LII essd sssa so Tar gaais, sol 4,s p.,rso.
would depart. Tonight he received no
bic Memphis for final reyel..
His palace was aglow from its tre-
mendoIs portals to the airy hypostyie
upon its roof and from far reaching
wing to wing with countless colored
lights. From every architraye and cor
nice depended garlands and draperies,
and tinted banners waved unseen il
the dark. The great loteform pillars
supporting the porch were fesEooned
with lotus flowers, and the approaches
were strewn with palm leaves.
When the portals opened a broad
shaft Of light shot into the night. a
multitude Of attendants was seen bow
Ing. Gusts Of reedy music and bab-
bic and the smell Of willing flowers
and Punish incense swept into the
cutter air.
Within, the great feast began and
proceeded to completeness. The ta-
bles were removed and the stage Of the
reyeJ was far advanced. The levels
OF scented yapor from the aromatic
torches undulateI midway between the
ceiling and the floor and belred the
frescoes upon the paneled walls. Far
up the yaulted hall the Pharaoh and
his queen, in royal isolation, We're
growing weary.
The company, which was large, had
fallen into easy attitudes, an exciting
game of draughts or story teller or
beauty attracting groups here and
there ever the hall.
Before one table whereon the scat
tered pawns Of game yet lay Ram
eses lounged in a deep chair, semi
recumbent figure in marble and OBJ
sidian. Beside him, where she had
seated herself at his command, was
Nasanath.
There was Seti at Ta-users side, but
10 was not at the feast She mourned
for Kenkenes. Ta-meri was there. the
bride of week to Nechutes, who how
cred. about her without eye CT ear for
any other of the company. Siptab,
Meues, Har-hat, all of the group save
Hotep ard Kenkenes, were present anG
near enough to be Of the crown princes
party, yet scattered sufficiently to talk
among themselves.
The game of draughts, prolonged from
sone to many, had ended disasrously
for the prince in spite Of his most gal
liant efforts to win Masanath, against
: whom ne had played, finally thrust the
spawns away and refused to play fur
sther with him.
1aThou dost make sport for the Ha-
shofs, 0 prince she said. "Haye re-
spect for thyself and indulge their ca
price no more"
aHast thou not heard that we may
compel the godsy' he asked. Perhaps
I do but indulge them, Of truth. But
le. me set mine own will against fate
and there shall be no more losing for
me-
sIt is pre- carious game. Perchance
there is as strong will thine, COM
2eTing the aathors conrarily to thine
s#n desires. What, then, O RamesesT
sBy the gambling god, 10th, I shah
Try it!r' he exclaimed. s3The opportun3-
E is before me even now
He took her hand.
81 catch thy meaning, beloved Of Isis!
Thou didst challenge me long ago, and
long ago took it up. Thus far have
we fenced behind shields. Down with
the bE,, hide, now, and bare the hearth
"Thou dost forget thyself," she re-
torted. wrenching her hand from him.
sAThe eyes of thy guests are upon thee
He laughed. The princes doings be
come the fashion Let me be seen and
there shall be no woman's. hand Cn-
possessed in this chamber
"Thou shalt set no fashion by me.
Neither shalt thou rend the Hathors
between thy wishes and mine. Fur
hermore, if thou dost forget thy
princely dignity, thy power will not
prevent me If would remind thee Of
thy lapse"
Her reply seemed to awaken a train
Of thought in the prince. He did not
respond Immediately. He leaned his
elbows on his knees and, clasping his