The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-07-24
CHAPTER XIII.
TEE SACRIFICE.

CHAPTER XIII.
TIE SACRIFICE.
@lHE royal architect sat at his
place In the workroom, but no
Ill papyrus scrolls lay before him.
His fine implements were not
In sight. The ink pots and pens were
put away, and the table was clear ex-
cept Cor copper lamp that sputtered
and fared at one end. The great art
lists arms were extended across the
table, his bead bowed upon them. his
hands clasped. The attitude was not
that Of WEAKNESS, but Of trouble.
Kenkenes hesitated. For the first
time since the hour he left Memphis
for Thebes. months before, he felt q
sense Of culpability. He realized with
great bounds Of comprehension that
the results of his own trouble had not
been confined to himself. He began
to understand how infectious sorrow
is.
d6 CkOSSSo luC 4OOu4 S100 A<AAo % SASAA
bling hand on his fathers shoulder.
Instantly the great artist lifted his
head and, seeing Kenkenes, leaped to
his feet with a cry that was all JOY.
The young man responded to the
kiss Of welcome with so little compo-
sure that Mentu forced him down on
the bench and summoned servant.
s'Rachel-thou knowest"- Kenkenes
began, speaking with an effort
"Aye, know. Didst find her?'
"Aye, and lost her even while I
fought to save her!"
"Alas, thou unfortunate" Mentu e1-
claimed. .sOf surety the gods have
punished thee too harshly!''
"Kenkenes was not In the frame OF
mind to receive so soft speech COM
posedly. A strong tremor ran over
him, and he averted his face. The
architect came to his side and smoothed
the damp hair.
.sThou needest, further the attea-
ton Of thy slave, kenkeaes," he srg-
gested.
The young nan shook hiS bead. Not
yet be SAID. Ny tine Is short, and
it is thy help need
Without further introduction Ken
kenes plunged into bis story. He had
had no time to tell it four days be-
fore. Then he had asked for Rachel
with his second word and, finding
her not, had rushed Immediately to
the search for her.
Mentu heard without comment till
the story was done. Most Of 1t he had
known from Hotep, end only the re-
cent events at the tomb excited him.
When Kenkenes made an end the
architect brought his clinched hand
down on the table with force that
made the lamp wink and the imple-
ments rattle In their boxes above him.
Course that smooth villain Har-hatT
he cried in a tempest Of wrath. "a
murrain upon his greedy, crafty lust!
The gods blast him in bis knavery!
Now is my precious amulet in his
hands. Would :t were white hot and
clung to him like a leech! Did not
warn thee from the first?"
Kenkenes raised his head.
"Can you avoid knave II he hath
designs on your" he asked. "Have I
erred in crossing his will? Have I
sinned In loving and protecting her
whom I lover"
Mentu's hands fell down at his sides.
The simple questions had silenced him.
His son was blameIess now that be
had expiated his offenses against the
law, and from the moral standpoint
his persistence in his claim on Rachel
was just-praiseworthy.
"Nay," he said sullenly, "but since
thou didst love the girl, how came it
that thou didst not wed her long ago
and save her this shame and danger?"
The bar of faith lay between us, {"
Kenkenes answered. 81 was an idol
ater, she worshiper Of the one God.
She would not wed with me, there
fore"
$50 much for Israelitish zeal. Thou
hast been q pawn for her to play dur
Jag these months. Long ago had she
surrendered if thou hadst been
Kenkenes smiled. "She did not sur
render. It was I.
Thy faith?" the architect asked in q
voice low with earnestness.
Thou hast said!.'
A dead silence ensued- Kenkenes
may have awaited the outbreak with
a quickening Of the heart. but it did
not come. Instead, the architect sat
down on the bench and gazed at his
son intently.
After a long interval he spoke.
Thus far had hoped that thou
vast taken by the Israelite but in thy
fancy. The hope was vain. Thou art in
love with her
Kenkenes endured the steady gaze
and waited for Mentu to go on.
There is no help for thee now," the
architect continued stoically. IF the
gods will but tolerate thee till the mad