The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-05-14

Scenuant o1 -Ha. A vast Bul1 Seeemed fixed between them. Andtyetl they loved.
 The defilement. by entersngtthe hut of paraschites the Princess Bent Anat had thought might be removed fby her house. priest, or domestic chapIain-for such things among the highly born were re- Garded as matters of form. But in the violation of Sacred regulation by the daughter of the Pharaohfthe high priest Ameni saw political opportunity not to be lightly disregarded. The wars of Rameses had caused much loss to Egypt in men and money-has booty returned home had so far been comparatively small. His grandfather had usurped the throne from his cousin and could claim only on one side his) mothers, to have the blood of Ra. Ami, the Regent, was of l fuller royal blood than Rameses and Ami was conspiring for the diadem.
 To Ameni it mattered little who sat upon the throne-so that he could use him. Firmly convinced that the common people were worthy to be fed only on mysteries and not to be trusted with the truth. that, dangerous innovations had been made and were being made in the ancient and established order of things. Ameni clung with tenacity to every jot and little ofithe old order, which he felt was passing away into chaos, and de- voted all the cunning of his great intel lect to hold back the floods which he felt were threatening to inundate tbe minds of men with new and dangerous ideas. He was already conspiring with the Regent against the absent Rameses and determined to make the purification of Bent Anat public matter, and to proclaim to the people that the daughter of the Pharoah had no more rights In matters of faith than the meanest of | the people. It would be good politics | he thought.
 | A few days later Bent Anat came with 1 her train to visit the house for Seti, where her brother was pupil. Was it her broth CT she came to see, or did she wish again to hear the voice of that fair young poet priest, Pentaur? As the princess alighted from her chariot before the tenn Ipe, where a crowd apprised of her com ing had collected, Hall to the daughter of | Rameses hail to the child of the Sum- burst from a thousand throats. But on the threshold of the door appeared Ameni in full pontifical robes, his croser extended as If to forbid her entrance. "The advent of the daughter of Rameses,'' he cried, 'is an honor to this house if she comes in | her purity. But to the unclean, be they slaves or princes, the portals of this sane tuary are closed. Tn the name of the Iimmortals from whom thou are descended ask thee. Bent Anat art thou purihed?'' | A deep flush overspread the cheeks of the maiden and there was a rushing noise in her ears. Her royal blood surged wildly at the insult. Then she returned the gaze of the high priest haughtly and deiantly. My father will communicate my answer to thee" she said and turned to go proudly.
 But at her first step her eyes encoun- tered those of Pentaur. Ameni saw the glance-hs spies had informed him of the cess. Bent Anat,' cried Ameni, "hear this, misguided child. To thee much will be forgiven. But to a servant of the Divinity'-and he turned a threatening glance upon Pentaur-"a priest who in the war of free will against law becomes a deserter, who forgets his duty and his oath--he will not long stand beside thee for-even though God has blessed him with rich gifts-he is damned. We drive him from among us, we curse him.
 A deep sympathy, a nameless anguish, seized the soul of the princess. Pentaur lhaughtily stepped forward to support her and to defy Ameni. But before he could reach her side she sank upon her knees before Ameni and said: q have sinned and have defiled myself. as thou hast said Pentaur said it by the hut of the paraschites Restore me to cleanliness, IAmeni."
 Like a flame that is crushed out by the hand, so the fire in the high priests leyes was extinguished. Graciously, al most lovingly, he looked down upon the princess and blessed her. Tn hts heart of hearts Ameni loved Petaur and admired the royal daughter of the Sun. But policy must be maintained; the old reactionary felt that he must not let This private feelings interfere with what he considered not only his duty. but
 
 said that the guilt of Bent Anat was not even yet expiated. that she would presently learn by what rites and pray CTS and exercises she might again att tain to perfect purity. And so the prin- cess returned once more to the royal palace across the river and Pentaur retired to his room to think of her whose pride had been overcome by the fear that ner haughtiness would in- volye him in difficulties and dangers. Meantime faaker was pursuing his suit with the wife of Mana. In his wis., its to the metropolis with the fair Nefert and his friend the royal Bent Anat he had run across an old woman, a reputed witch. who lived in a cave and made 8 living by selling charms and philters and by the more horrible trade of so deforming children that they grew to be dwarfs who could be sold at a great profit to furnish amusement in the houses of the great When he had spoken savagely to the old woman she had replied, Aye, you with the six toes on your right foot. you who enjoy the fortune of the noble Assa- do you threaten? Paaker stood aston ished and disturbed before the old wom- an-how did she know of the malforma- ton of his right foot? Perhaps that he was Assa's grandson might be known to her. but she told him other things which he had thought hidden, and lastly that he loved Nefert.