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

-I
Tanis the next day after the
"A arrival of Meneptah there came
tHl a messenger from Thebes to
Hotep, and the royal scribe re-
!. tired to his apartments TO read the let
ter.
And after he had read he was glad
that he had secluded himself, for his
demonstrations Of relief at the news
the message impaired were most e2-
trayagant and unrestrained. For the
moment he permitted no reminder OF
Kenkenes' present plight to subdue his
ioy in the realization that his friend
was not dead.
- Having eXulted, he read the letter
again, and then he summoned all his
shrewdness to his aid
He would wait till the confusion OF
the courts settling itself had suosldeo
before he presented the petition TO
Meneptah. Furthermore, he would re-
lieYe his underlings and write the
kings COMMUNICATIONS with his own
hand till he knew that the reply to
Kenkenes had been sent. Har-hat
should be watched yigilantly.
But order and routine were not re
stored in the palace of Meneptah. The
unrest that precedes q, national crisis
had developed into irritability and pug
nacity.
Tanis was within hearing Of the
plants Of Israel, and the atmosphere
ouiyered with omen and portent.
Moses appeared in this place and that,
each tine nearer the temporary capital,
and wherever he came he left rejoicing
or shuddering behind him.
Meanwhile the fan bearer laughed
his way into the throne. Meneptah's $
weakness for him grew into stubborn
worship. The old and trusted minis
ters of the monarch took ofense and
sealed their lips; the new held their
peace for trepidation. The queen, here
tofore meek and self efacing, laid
aside her spindle one day and, meeting
her lord at the door OF the council
chamber, protested in the name OF his
dynasty and his realm.
But the king was beyond help, and
the queen, angry and hurt, bade him
keen Har-hat cut Of her sight and re-
turned TO her women. Thereafter even
Megeptah saw her rarely.
The hetrathaI OF 22ameses TO Har-
hats daughter gave further material
for contention. Il seemed TO in!icst-
that the fan bearer had builded for
himself for two reigns.
Hotep's situation was most poignant
" unhappy. He was fixed under the
same roof with the man that had taken
his love by piracy. He must greet him
afably and reverently every day. He
must live in daily contemplation OF
tie i.ne when he must meet Masa-
nath also as his sovereign-the wife OF
the prince. whom he must serve till
death. Hardest of all, he must wear a
serene countenance and cover his sor-
row most surely for his own sake and
for Masanath's.
Ta-user still remained at court. Seh,
In fume Of boyish indignation at
Rameses, attended her like shadow.
Among the courtiers there were others
who were not alive to the true nature
Of the princess and who joined Seti
in his resent ment against the heir.
Amon-meses aud Siptah, snarling and
rnalevolent, had left the court abrupt
iy on the morning Of its departure for
Tanis. The Hak-heb received them
once again, and an ominous calm set
tied over that little pocket Of fertility
in the desert-Nehapehu.
Thus the court was torn with fac
tons. Gid internal dissensions made
themselves evident again, but the vast
mrrmur in Goshen was heard above
the strife.
All this had come to pass in the short
space of month. When half Of that
time had elapsed Hotep, fearing to de-
lay the petition Of Kenkenes longer
lest conditions should become worse
rather than better, met the Pharaoh
in the hall one day and gave him the
writing. Earnestly the scribe impress
ed Meneptah with tie Importance OF
the petition and begged him to ac-
quaint himseA in an hour Of solitude
with its contents and the identity OF
the suppiicant.
Meneptah promised and continued te
his apartments. There Har-hat came
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