The Washington times., 1919-04-06

that she glanced at him sharply, be added
in gruff tSles:
Brother, either this woman lies or 81 e
is none other than the maid they call Noon
Of Israel who dwells with old Jabez the
Levite. her uncle. What think you?"
Il think. brother. that she lies, and for
three reasons / answered, falling iAto the
jest. First she is too fair to be Of the
black Hebrew blood"
"Oh, sirs!" moaned Merapi, "my mother
was a Syrian lady Of the mountains. with
skin as white as milk and eyes blue as
the heavens"
Secondly" l went on without needing
her, eff the great Prince seti Is really in
Goshen and she dwells there. it Is un-
natural that she should not have gone to
look upon him. Being a woman only two
things would have kept her away; one
that she feared and hated him, which she
denies, and the other-that she liked him
too well, and, being prudent. thought It
wisest not to look upon him more"
When she heard the first Of these words
Merapi glanced up with her lips parted as
though to answer. Instead, she dropped
her eyes and suddenly seemed to choke,
while even in the moonlight saw the red
blood pour to her brow and along her white
arms.
"sir," she gasped. "why should you az
front me? swear that never till this mo-
ment did 1 think such a thing Surely 1t
would be treason"
without doubt" interrupted Seti. yet
one Of a sort that kings might pardon"
Thirdly" l went on as though heard
neither Of them, 'if this girl were what
she declares, she would not be wandering
alone in the desert at night. seeing that
have heard among the Arabs that Merapi,
daughter Of Nathan the Levite, is a lady Of
no mean blood among the Hebrews and
that her family has wealth. Still. how
ever much she lies. we can see for our
selves that she is beautiful"
eyes. brother in that we are fortunate,
since without doubt she viii sell for high
price among the slave traders beyond the
desert"
"Ot, sir!" cried Merapi. seizing the hem
of his robe, surely you who feel, know
not why. are no evil thief. who have a
mother and, perchance, sisters, would not
doom a maiden to such a fate. Misjudge
me not because am alone. Pharaoh has
commanded that we must and straw for
the making Of bricks This morning
came far to search for 1t on behalf Of
neighbor whose wife is III in childbed.
nH
self upon the edge of a sharp stone. See"
and holding up her foot she showed q
wound beneath the instep from which the
blood stin dropped, sight that moved
both of us not little, "and now cannot
walk and carry this heavy straw which Il
have been at such pains to gather"
''Perchance she speaks truth, brother"
said the Prince, "and If we took her homel
we might earn no small reward from Jabezl
the Levite. But first tell me, maidenl
what was that prayer which you made tOl
the moon, that Hathor should help your
hearth"
"sir." she answered. "only the idolatrousl
Egyptians pray to Hathor. the Lady Of
Love"
'I thought that all the world prayed to
the Lady OF Love, maiden. But what Of
the prayers. Is there some man whom you
desiTe?"
None" she answered angrily.
''Then why does your heart need so
much help that you ask 1t Of the air? Is
there perchance someone whom you do
not desire?"
She hung her head and made no answer
"COme, brother" said the Prince, this
lady is weary of us and think that if she
were a true woman she would answer our
questions more readily. Let US go and
leave her. As she cannot walk we can
take her later If we wish"
"Sirs,'' she said 81 am glad that you are
going. since the hyenas will be safer com.
pany than two men who can threaten to
sell a helpless woman into slavery. Yet
as we part to meet no more I viii answer
your question. IN the prayer to which you
were not ashamed to listen did not pray
for any lover; I prayed to be rid of one"
Now Ana" said the Prince, bursting
into laughter and throwing back his dark
cloak, "do you discover the name Of that
man Of whom the lady Merapi
wishes to be rid. for I dare not
She gazed INTO his face and uttered a
little CRY.
"Ahi" she said. 81 thought I knew the
voice again when once you fOrgOt your
part. Prince Seti. does your Highness
think that this was a kind jest to practice
urOn one alone and in fear?"
Lady Nerapi" he answered smiling. "be
not wrOth, for at least IL was a good one
and you have told us nothing that we did
not know. You may remember that at
TaniS YOU said that you were affianced and
there was that in your voice. Suffer
mo now to tend this wound of yOu~s"
Then he knelt down. tore a strip from
his ceremonial robe Of fine linen, and began
to bind up her foot. not unskilfully, being