The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-05-18

SWSEAuS never = WOEQs anu just LuSu
the Prince Seti reached Us and saw
him.
Take that man." he commanded,
flushing with anger, and guards
sprang into the darkness to do his
bidding. But Laban was gone.
On the second day Of the dark
ness the tumult was great, on the
third Il was terrible. A crowd
thrust the guard aside, broke down
the gates and burst into the palace.
humbly demanding that the lady
Merapi would come 70 pray fo~
them, yet showing BY their mlen
that II she would not come they
meant to take her.
What is to be done?" asked Seti
Of XII and Bakenkhonsu.
THAT is for the Prince TO Judge"
said Ki. though I do not see how
It can harm the lady Merapi to
pray for US In the open square Of
Memphis"
"Let her CO., said Bakenkhonsu,
lest presently we should all 90
further than we would"
Il do not wish to 60" cried Mer-
api mot knowing for whom am
to pray OF how"
:, BE Il as you will, lady, said
Sed in his grave and gentle voice.
Only, hearken to the roar Of the
mob. II You refuse, think that
very soon every one Of Us win have
reached a land where perhaps Il Is
not needful to pray at all" and he
looked at the infant In her arms.
Il will CO." she said.
She went forth carrying the child
and ! walked behind her. So did
the Prince. but in that darkness he
was cut on by a rush Of thousands
OF folk and saw him no more till
all was over. Bakenkhonsu was
with me leaning on my arm, but
XII had gone before US, for his own
ends, as / think. A huge mob
moved through the dense darkness,
in which here and there lights
hoated like lamps upon a quiet sea.
did not know where we were
going until the lights Of one Of
these lamps shone upon the knees
Of the colossal statue Of the great
Rameses, revealing his cartouche.
We went on through court after
pillared court, priests leading US
by the hand, still we came to a
shrine commanding the biggest
court Of all, which was packed with
men and women. It was that of
Isis. who held at her breast the
infant Horus.
20 friend Ana" cried MeTapi,
give help. They are dressing me
In strange garments"
tried to get near to her. but
was thrust back, q voice, which
thought was that Of XII, saying:
~On your life. fool"
Presently q lamp was held up,
and by the light Of Il I saw Merapi
seated IN a chair dressed like a
goddess, in the saeeFdotaI robes Of
Isis and wearing the Vulture cap
headdress = beautiful exceedingly.
In her arms was the child dressed
as the infant Horus.
Pray for US, Mother Isis" cried
thousands Of voices, "that the
curse Of blackness may be re-
moved"
Then she prayed. saying:
20 nv God, take away this curse
OF blackness from these innocent
people" and all Of those present
repeated her prayer.
At that moment the sky began
to Hehten and in less than the half
or an hour the sun shone out.
When Merapi saw how she and the
child were aFrayed she screamed
aloud and tore on her jeweIIed
trappings, crying: "Woel Woe!
Woe! Great woe upon the people
O. Egypt"
But in their Joy at the new found
light few hardened to her, who they
were sure had brought back the
sun. Again Laban appeared for a
moment.
Witch! Traitress!" he cried.
You have worn the robes Of isis
and worshipped In the temple Of
the gods Of the Egyptians. The
curse Of the God Of Israel he on
you and that which is born of you
sprang at him. but he was gone.
Then we bore Merapi home swoon-
ing.
So this trouble passed by. but
from that time forward Merani
would not suffer her son to be taken
out Of her sight.
Why do you make so much of
him. lady?" asked one day.
Because ! would love him well
while he is here. friend" she an
swered. "but of this say nothing to
his father"
A while went bv s~d we heard
that still Pharaoh would not let the
IsraeliteF go. Then the Prince Setf
sent BakenkhNnsu and myself to
Tanis to see Pharaoh and to say to
him:
Il seek nothing for myself and I
forget those evils which You would
have worked on me through ZEAL
ousy. But say unto you that If
YOU will not let these strangers go
great and terrible things shall be-
fall you and all Egypt Therefore,
hear my prayer and let them 60"
Now. Bakenkhonsu and I came
before Pharaoh and we saw that
he was greatly aged. for his hair
had gone gray about his temples
and the flesh hung in bags beneath