The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-04-10
Kenkcnes gouc the man a smiling nod.

VTa -
Henkcnes gouc the man q smiling nod.
Of deep thought grew on his face.
After a long interval Of motionless
absorption he sprang to his feet and,
catching wallet OF stamped and dyed
leather from the wall, spread it open
on the table Chisel, mallet, tape and
knife he put into it and dropped wallet
and all into a box near by at the sound
of the sculptor's footsteps.
The great artist re-entered in court
robes Of creamy linen, stiff with en-
broidery and gold stitching.
''Har-hat passes through Memphis to-
day on his way to Tape, where he is
to be installed as bearer Of the kings
fan on the right hand. He is at the
palace, and mobiles Of the city go thith-
er to wait upon him."
''The king was not long in choosing
successor to the lamented Amset," :"
Kenkenes observed. ''Har-hat vaults
loftily from the nomarchship of Bu-
bastis to an advership to the Pharaoh" :"
Rather hath his ascent been slower
than his deserts
'Who succeeds him over Bubastis?"
"Merenra, another Of the war tried
generals. He hath been commander
over Pa-Ramesu. Atsu takes his place
over the Israelites"
'Atsu?" Kenkenes mused. Il know
him not"
"He is captain Of chariots and
won much distinction during the Rebu
invasion. He is native Of Mendes."
Left alone, KenKenes crossed the
court to the door his father had entered
and emerged later in a street dress Of
mantle and close fitting coff. He took
up the wallet and quilted the room.
Passing through the intramural park
and the chamber of guests, he entered
the street and turned across the city
toward the east. Memphis had pushed
aside her screens and shaken out her
tapestries after the noon rest and was
deep in commerce once again. From
the low balconies overhead the Damas-
Gene carpets swung, lending festiylty
to the energetic traffic below.
In the district near the lower edge Of
the city be met the heavy carts Of
rustics, laden with cages Of geese and
crates Of prodzce, moving slowly In
from the wide highways Of the Mem
ph:an nome, The broad backs of the
oxen were gray with dust, and their
drivers were masked In CRIME.
The smell Of the river became insist
ent. In the open stalls the fshmongers
had their naked brood keeping the flies
away from the stock with leafy
branches. The limits Of Memphis end
ed precipitately at a sudden slope. In
the long descent to the Nile there were
few permanent structures. Halfway
down were great lengths Of high plat
! form built upon acacia piling. This
was the food tide wharf, but it was
used now only by loiterers, who lay
upon it to bask, doglike, in the sun.
Presently there approached corps
Of servants, bearing bundles OF throw
sticks, nets, two or three fox headed
cats, bows and arrows, strings Of fish
and hampers Of fowl. Behind, on the
shoulders of four stalWart bearers,
came a litter futtering with gay COL
ored hangings. Beside 1t walked an
Egyptian Of high class. Suddenly the
bearers halted, and little hand, In
perious and literally afame with jew
els. beckoneG KenkeneS from the shady
intsrior Of the litter.
&c cbeyed promptly. at anotner
c,1g.D and the litter was lowered till
! IT,, poles were supported in the hands
OF the bearers. The curtains were
w!thIlawn. revealing the occupant-a
woman.
This to the glory Of Egypt! Woman
was defended, revered, exalted ABOVE
her sister Of any contemporary ma
ton. No haremic secluston for her,
no semicontemptuous liberation OF her,
no austere limits laid upon her uses.
She barred her face to the thronglng
streets: she reveled beside her brother;
she worshiped with him: she admitted
no subserviency to her lord beyond
the pretty Difference that it pleased
her to pay; she governed his household
and his children; she learned she
wrote, she wore the crown. She might
have successor. but no supplanter.
Here. then, openly and in perfect
propriety, was woman abroad with
her suitor.
She might have been eighteen Years
old but there WAS nothing &rlisn N
her gorgeous beauty. She was red
rose. full blown.
Ter robes were i double thickness CT
ioose= mcshcd white lii.en, with 4 deli
cate stripe Of scarlet: her headdress a
e.agle swatbing of scarlet sauze. She
! were moi one. but many kinds Of jew