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


when | am already burdened with
heavy cares? But do thou look to
this petition faithfully. 1t may be
important, and know not from whom
it is. I promised Hotep it should be-
given honest attention"
For seven days thereafter every let
Ter sent by the king was written by
Hotep. At the end Of that time he met
Meneptah again and, bending low be-
tare him, asked pardon for his insist
en,e and begged to know what disposl-
ton the son of Ptah had made OF the
petition of his friend. He was irrita-
bly, informed that the matter had been
given over to the fan bearer for atten-
tion. since the pharaoh had been too
oppressed with heavier matters to read
the letter.
In his sympathy for his friends
strait the scribe gave over his objec-
tons to Rachel. Kenkenes had suf-
fered for her, and, if he would, ne
should have her.
Between the king and persuasion was
Har-hat, vitally interested in the de-
feat Of any movement toward the aid
Of Kenkenes. The one hope for the
sculptor was the winning over OF the
Pharaoh. and only one could do it. and
that was Rameses, who was berothed
to the love of Hotep and against her
Will.
Hotep, summoning his servant, had
his disordered hail dressed, fresh robes
brought for him and a glass Of wine
for refreshment. On the way to the
palace top he met Ta-user, walking
slowly away from the staircase Ram
eses. solitary and luxurious, WIS
stretched upon cushioned divan in
the shadow Of a canopy over the by
postyle.
.sThe gods keep thee, son Of the sun"
Hotep said.
$50 it is thou, Hotep. Nay, but I
am glad to see thee
ST come to thee with news and a pc
tition,' Hotep began.
"out with thy tidings."
sThou dost remember thy friend and
mine, that gentle genius, Kenkenes:'
.I am not like to forget him so long
as bird sings or the Nile ripples make
music. Osiris pillow him most softly"
ssHe is not dead, my prince"
.sNaytw Rameses cried, sitting up.
1.-The knave should be bastinadoed for
the tears he wrung from usv'
Thou wouldst deny my petition. l
am come to implore thee to interce6e
for him.
Rameses bade him proceed.
Thou art acquainted with the ma
ture Of Kenkenes, O prince. He is
visionary, an idealist, and SO firmly
rooted are his beliefs that they are
to his life as natural as the color Of
his eyes. He is a beauty worshtper.
Athor possesses him utterly, and her
,oveliness blinds him to all other
things, particularly to his own welfare
and safety.
.In the beginning he fell in love, and
O soul like his in love is most unrea-
soning, immoderate and terribly faith
full. The maiden is beautiful saw
her-most divinely beautiful. She Is
wise, for saw that also She is good.
for felt it. unreasoning, and when
man hath a woman's intuition god
hath spoken the truth to his heart. But
she is a slave-an Israelite."
"By the gods Of my fathers, I ought
not to marvel! Nay. now, is that not
like the boy: An Israelite, and half
the noble maids Of Memphis mad for
him."
"He is not for thee and me to judge,
O Rameses,' Eotep interrupted. "The
gods blew another breath in him than
animates our souls. For thee md me
such conduct would be the fancies Of
madmen; for Kenkenes it is but living
up to the alien spirit with which the
gods endowed him. 1t seems that Har-
hat looked upon the girl and, taken by
her beauty. asked Yer at the Pharaoh $
hands for his hareu."
"Ah. the =! Why does he not marry
honorably?"
at is not for me to divine" Hotep
went on calmly. The fan bearer sent
his men to take her, but she fed from
them to Kenkenes, and he protected her
hid her away-where none but Ken
keneS and the maiden know. Har-hat
IS most desirous Of owning her, but
kenkenes keeps his counsel. There
fore Har-hat overlook him in Tape.
! where be went to get signet belong
Ing to his father, and imprisoned him
TIL what time he should divulge the
hiding place of the Israelite.'
Hath he put him to torture YETI"
aye, from the beginning, though
not by the stinado lIe rends him
With suspel~ but I have more TO tell.
There was 4 s;Snet. an all potent
signet. which belonged to the noble
Mentu''-
aye. I remember." Rameses broke
in. THAT should help the dreamer out
of his difficulty
AYE, it should. my prince, but It did
,o+ L-cnl-encS- Sa,et II to tbc Pha-a0h