The Washington times., 1919-03-23

down the long hall and through the open
doors as though he would read the secrets
Of the skies beyond.
81 told you that courts were wearisome,
friend Ana" whispered the Prince to me
without turning his head.
Before l could answer some movement
in the throng at the end of the hall drew
the eyes Of the Prince and Of all Of US. 1
looked and saw advancing toward the
, throne a tall, bearded man already old,
although his black hair was but grizzled
with gray. He was arrayed in a white
linen robe, over which hung a wOollen
cloak such as shepherds wear, and he car
ried in his hand a long thornwood stan.
His face was splendid and very handsome,
and his black eyes flashed like fire.
He walked forward slowly, looking
neither to the left nor the right, and the
throng made way for him as though he
were a prince. After him walked another
man who was very like to him, but as
judged, still older, for his beard, which
hung down to his middle, was snow-white,
as was the hair Of his head. He also was
dressed in q sheepskin cloak and carried
a staff in his hand. Now a whisper rose
among the people.
THE prophets Of the men Of Israel! The
prophets of the men Of Israeli"
The two stood before the throne and
looked at Pharaoh, making no obeisance.
Pharaoh looked at them and was silent.
For a long space they stood thus IN the
midst of great quiet, but Pharaoh would
not speak, and none Of his officers seemed
to dare to open their mouths. At length
the first of the prophets spoke in a clear,
cold voice as some conQueror might do.
you know me, Pharaoh, and my er
rand"
81 know you" answered Pharaoh slowly,
"as well l may, seeing that we played to-
gether when we were little. You are that
Hebrew whom my sister, she who sleeps
in Osiris, took to be as son to her, giving
to you a name that means drawn FORTH
because she drew you forth as an infant
from among the reeds of Nile. Aye,
know you, and your brother also, but your
errand know not"
"This is my errand, Pharaoh, or, rather,
the errand Of Jahveh, God of Israel, for
whom l speak. Have you not heard
before? 1t is that you should let his peo-
pie go to do sacrifice to him in the wilder
ness"
WHO is Jahveh? / know not Jahveh
who serve Anon and the gods Of Egypt,
and why should 1 let your people go?"
"Jahveh is the God Of Israel, the great
God of. all gods whose power you shall
learn IL you VIII not hearken, Pharaoh. As
for why you should let the people go, ask
it Of the Prince, your son, who sits yonder.
Ask him Of what he saw in the streets OF
this city but last night, and Of a certain
judgment that he passed upon one OF the
officers Of Pharaoh. Or IL he will not tell
you, learn it from the lips of the maiden
who is named Merapi, Moon Of Israel, the
daughter Of Nathan the Levite. Stand for
ward, Merapi, daughter Of Nathan"
Then from the throng at the back OF the
hall came forward Merapi, clad in a white
robe and with a black veil thrown about
her head in token Of mourning but not so
as to hide her face. Up the hall she glided
and made obeisance to Pharaoh, as she did
so casting one swift look at Seti where he
sat. Then she stood still, looking, as /
thought, wonderfully beautiful in that
simple robe OF white and the veil Of black
Speak, woman" said Pharaoh.
She obeyed, telling all the tale in her
low and honeyed voice. At length she
ended, and Pharaoh said:
Say, Seti, my son, is this TRUTH"
at is truth, my father. BY virtue Of
my powers as Governor of this city /
death for the crime of murder done by
him before my eyes in the streets Of the
city"
"Perchance you did right and perchance
you did wrong, son Seti. At least you are