The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-06-26

Of Ptah. Wilt thou not prove thy love
for Kenkenes and aid him p
Raueses did not answer immediate
". Thoushtfully he leaned his elbow
on his knee and stroked his forehead
With his hand. His black brows knit
ted finally.
my hands are tied, Hotep," he be-
gan biuntiy. II permit the sway or
this knave over my father because /
am constrained"
Eotep broke in earnestly.
surely so small a matter OF cour-
tesy-if such it may be called-should
not stand between thee and this most
pressing need"
AVE. thou hast said-if it were only
small matter of courtesy. Thou
knowest. O my Hotep, that l am be-
trothed to the daughter Of Har-hat
Hotep was on his feet by this time,
his face tu-nci away. Rameses cou!d
not guess what a tempest ragged 10 ms
heart
.Be thou assured the prince contin-
ned grimly, that only so long as Ma
sanath is not yet mine shall l endure
Har-hat. After that he shall fail as
never knave fell or so deserved to fali
before. Aye-but stay, Hotep. nave
not done. l have some small gram OF
hone for this unfortunate friend OF
ours. The marriage hath been delayed
l shall press my suit and wed Masa-
nath sooner, if she will, and kenkenes
need not decay in prison
Hotep did not stay longer. He ooWeo
and departed without word.
Rameses Immediately hurried to the
well of the stairway.
sHotep.r' he called. The SCRIBE nail
way down, turned and looked up.
~Return to me in an hour. Give me
time to ponder, and I may more prof
itably help thee" the prince command
ed. Rotep bowed and went on.
The hour was barely long enough 1or
the smartins soul Of the scribe to
soothe itself. Deep, indeed, bis love
for Kenkenes that he returned at all.
Masanath's name, spoken so familiar
". so boastingly, by the prince was
fresh outrage to his already aHronteu
heart.
AT the end Of the hour he went once
again to Rameses.
.Thou hast said," the prince began
Immediately, that Har-hat hath I'M
nrisoned Kenkenes till what time ne
Shall divulge the hiding place OF the
Israelite?'
Hotep bowed.
1.-THE fan bearer charges him Win
slave stealing
"And sacrilege," the scribe added.
The prince opened his eyes. Aye
Kenkenes carried his beauty love into
blasphemy. He executed statue OF
Athor in defiance of the sculptor's rit-
ual. For this also Har-hat holds
heavy hand over him."
..He deserves his i'll luck. Mark me
now. He will not go mad with years
Imprisonment, and he will profit by it.
Furthermore, he cannot be persuaded
into betraying the Israelite if he knows
how long and how much he will have
to endure. Once sentenced, Har-hat
can add nothing more thereto
Rameses clapped his hands. The at
tendant that appeared he ordered 10
bring the scribes writing case and I'M
plements. When the servant returned,
Hotep, at sign from Rameses, pre-
pared to write. write thus to the
iailer at Tape: BY order Of The crown
prince. Rameses. the prisoner, Kenke-
nes. held for slave stealing sud sacri-
lege. is sentenced to Imprisonment for
one year y
Hotep lifted his pen and looked his
rebellion.
"Writev' the prince exclaimed. u do
him kindness, with lesson added.
Were it in my power to free him l
would not till he had learned that the
law is inexorable and the power of its
ministers supreme. Go on-'at such Ia
Dor as the prisoner may elect. No fur
ther punishment may be added there
TO. AulX uly SSeil duo oChN eAAAS "A@N
out fail. Thou canst write whatever
thou wilt to Kenkenes. For the Is
raeIite shall not concern myself. The
nearer friends to Kenkenes may look
to her. Mine shall be the care only to
see that the are not harassed by the
fan bearer. In this I fulfill the law.
Let Har-hat help himself
He dropped back on his divan, and
Hotep slowly collected his writing ma
terials and departed.
Meanwhile Kenkenes seldom saw
human face. FOOD and water in red
clay vessels, bearing the seal of The
hes. were set inside his door by disem-
bodied hands. At intervals he saw the
keeper, always attended by the inev-
table scribe. but the visit was a mat
ter of inspection, and rarely was the
prisoner addressed.
He expected the return OF his mes
senger in twenty days after the mans
departure. At the expiration Of that
time his suspense and apprehension be-
came more and more desperate at the