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

els since Kenkenes died?'' the captain
asked by way Of answer.
Nechutes shook his head. ''The gods
have dealt heavily with Mentu,' he
/ said after little silence. 'Not ever
the body Of his son returned to him for
burial"
Ear-hat, who had been perched On
the arm Of Ta-meri's chair, broke in:
.'ATayhap the young man is not
! dead" he surmised.
! 'All the Memphian nome hath been
searched, my lord" Meres protested.
.Are, but these fighty geniuses are
/ not to be measured by doings Of other
| men. Perhaps he hath gone to teach
the singing girls at Abydos or Tape
/ "Ah, my lordr' protested Ta-neri,
horrifed.
| Har-hat shrugged his shoulders and
/ lapsed into silence. Rameses leaned
toward Masanath again. The express
1 sion on his face during the talk and
the tone he chose now showed that he
I had not heard nor was even conscious
! Of the silence that had fallen. His
words were low spoke-, but each Of his
companions heard.
"In warfare it is common for. foe
to hedge his adversary about so that
| fight he must. Thou art woman and
cunning, and lest thou join thyself to
another and elude me ere the battle
is on I would better treat thee to
strategy. shall wed thee first and
WOO thee afterward."
Ta-user leaned across the table and,
sweeping the pawns away with her
arms, said, with a smile:
, "Quarreling over game Of draughts!
Which is in distress, in need Of allies?'
"Come thou and be my mercenary,
Ta-user,'' Masanath said, with impul-
siye gratitude. ssRameses hath lost
and demands restitution beyond rea-
son.
Har-hat had risen the instant the
words had passed the princes lips and
left the group. He did not wish to let
his face be seer. A dash of dark color
grew in the heirs pallid cheeks, partly
because he knew he had been heard,
partly because be was angry at the
princess interruption.
At this point it was seen that the
! Pharaoh and his queen were preparing
to leave the hall. All the company
arose, and, after the royal pair had
passed out, the guests began to depart
Rameses left his party and, joining
I.Har-hat, led the fan bearer away from
the company.
"It seems that thou, with others,
heardest my words with Masanath,' y
the prince began at once. '1t is we'll
for it saves me further speech now.
/ went thy daughter as my queen"
Har-hat seemed to ponder little be-
fore he answered 'sMasanath does
not love thee" he said at last.
Rameses contemplated the fan bear
er narrowly for moment. Come;
thcu hast g game" he. said finally.
"Out with 1t! Name thy stake"
when thou canst use me courteous
=, Rameses," he said. with dignity,
II shall talk with thee again. Mean
while do not build on wedding with
Masanath. shall mate her with him
who hath respect for her father"
"Out with it!' he insisted more calm
". "What is it-power, wealth or
wife? These three things I have to
give thee. Take thy choice
II would have thee use me respect
fully, reverently," Har-hat retorted
warmly. 81 would have thee speak
favorab;y Of me- would have thee do
me no injustice by deed or word nor
peril nay standing with the king. This
demand Of thee. will not buy it."
II am to keep silence in the council
chamber and resign to thee >the. mold
ing Of my plastic father. It is well,
for am not pleased with ruling before
wear the crown. But mark me!
Thou shalt not advise me when I rule
over Egypt. What more?"
$50 thou obseryest these things I am
satisfied
"Gods, but thou art moderate! Ma
sanath is worth more than that Do I
take herr"
81 shall speak with her" Har-hat re-
sponded, land give thee her word
/! For moment the prince contemplate
ed the fan bearer, then he turned with
out word and strobe out Of the cham
ber In corridor near his own apart
ments he overlook the daughter Of Har-
hat. Her woman was with her.
The prince stepped before them.
The attendant crouched and fed
somewhere out Of sight. Masanath
drew herself to the fullest Of her few
inches and waited for Rameses to
speak.
"Come, Masanath," he said, thou
canst reach the limit Of thy power to
be ungracious and but fix me the firmer
in my love for thee. am come to tell
thee that have won thee from thy fa-
ther''
Thou hast not won me from my
| no ropiio6