The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1919-05-11
Continued from Page 9.

why do you say she is mistress of
magicians?" / asked Indignantly.
why does one bird know another of its
own kind? Why does the water here re-
main pure, when all other water turns to
blood? Why do not the frogs croak in
Sets halls. and why do the flies avoid his
meat? Why. also. did the statue of Anon
melt before her glance, while all my magic
fell back from her breast like arrows from
a shirt of mail? Those are the questions
that Egypt asks, and would have an an
swer to them from the beloved of Seti. or
Of the god Set, she who is named the
Moon of Israel"
Then why not seek it for yourself. XII?
To you, doubtless. it would be small mat
ter to take the form of snake or a rat or
q bird, and creep or run or fly into the
presence of Merapi."
"Mayhap it would not be difficult Ana.
Or, better still, might visit her in her
sleep, as / visited you on a certain night
at Thebes, when you told me of talk you
had held with a woman in the avenue of
Sphinxes, and of what it had cost you in
gold and tears. But, as it chances. wish
to appear as a man and a friend, and to
stay a while. Bakenkhonsu tells me that
he finds life here at Memphis very pleas.
ant, free too from the sicknesses which
just now seem to be so common in Egypt:
so why should / not do the same. Ana?"
looked at his rounds ripe face. on
which was fixed a smile unchanging as that
worn by the masks on mummy collins.
from which think he must have copied it
and at the cold deep eyes above. and shiv.
cred little. To tell the truth. feared
this man. whom felt to be in touch with
presences and things that are not of the
world, and thought it wisest to withstand
him no more.
"That is a question which you had best
put to my master, Seti, who owns this
house. Come, 1 will lead you to him." ]
said.
So we went to the great portico of the
palace, passing in and out through the
painted pillars, toward my own apart
ments, whence / purposed to send a mes
sage to the Prince. AS it CHANGED this was
needless, since presently we saw him
seated in a little bay out Of reach Of the
sun By his side was Merapi, and on a
woven rug between them lay their sleep
ing infant, at whom both Of them gazed
adoringly.
strange that this mothers heart should
hide more might than can be boosted by all
the gods Of Egypt. Strange that those
mothers eyes can rive the ancient glory
Of Anon into Dust" XII said to me in so
low a voice that 1t almost seemed as
though heard his thought and not his
words, which perhaps indeed did.
Now we stood in front of these three.
and the sun being behind US, for it was
still early, the shadow Of the cloaked XII
fell upon the babe and lay there. A hate
full fancy came to me. 1t looked like the
yelled form Of an embalmer bending over
one new dead. The babe felt it, opened its
large eyes and walled. Merapi saw it, and
snatched up her child. Seti, too, rose from
his seat, exclaiming, who comes?"
Thereon, to my amazement, XII pros
tTated himself and uttered the salutation
which may only be given to the King Of
Egypt: Life! Blood! Strength! Pharaoh!
Pharaoh! Pharaoh"
who dares utter those words to me?"
said Seti. Ana, what mailman do you
bring here?"
MAY it please the Prince, he brought
me here" replied family.
Fellow, tell me who bade you say such
words, than which none were ever less
welcome"
Those whom l serve, Prince"
"And whom do you server"
THE gods of Egypt"
Then, man, think the gods must need
your company. Pharaoh does not sit at
Memphis, and were he to hear them
Pharaoh will never hear them, Prince.
until he hears all things"
They stared at each other Then, as
had done by the gate, Seti rubbed his eyes
and said:
Surely this is XII Why, then, did you
look otherwise just now?"
The gods can change the fashion of
their messenger a thousand times in a
fash. if they so will, o Prince"
Now Sets anger passed, and turned to
laughter
Xxi. XII he said. you should keep these
tricks for Court. But, since you are in
the mood, what salutation have you for
this lady by my side?"
XII considered her till she who ever