The Washington times., 1919-05-04

and above all earthly things de-
sired her as his companion, while
IL once / spoke those words, what
ever my own gain or loss and what
ever her secret wish. that she
would never be.
So conquered, though the VIC
tory left me trembling Ike a child,
and wishing that Ihad not been
born to know the pangs Of love
denied. Ny reward was very swift,
for Just then Merapi unfastened .
gem from the breast Of her white
robe and held Il toward the moon,
as though 70 study t. IN an IN
slant I knew Il again. Il was that
royal scarab Of laDis-lasuh with
which IN Goshen the Prince had
made fast the bandage on her
wounded foot, which also had been
suatched from her breast BY some
power on that night when the
statue Of Anon was shattered IN
the temple.
Long and earnestly she looked
at Il, then having glanced round 20
make sure she was alone sne
pressed Il TO her lips and kissed
II thrice with passion, muttering ]
know not what between the kisses
Now the scales fell from my eyes,
and I knew that she loved SetI,
and oh! how ! thanked my guard
ian god who had saved me from
such useless shame.
/ wiped the cold damp from my
brow and was about 70 Zee away,
discovering myself with as few
words as might be, when, looking
up, I saw standing behind Merapl
the figure OF a man. who was watch
ing her replace the ornament In
her robe. While I hesitated . mo-
ment the man spoke and / knew
the voice for that Of Setf.
What gem IS that. lady, which
you admire and cherish 50 tan
derly?' asked Seti. In his slow
voice that 50 often hid a hint or
laughter.
She uttered a little scream, and
springing up saw him.
"Oh! my lord" she exclaimed,
pardon your servant. was sit
ting here in the cool, as you gave
me leave to do, and the moon was
so bright-that-I wished to see IL
by Il I could read the writing on
this scarab"
"And could you. lady? VIII you
suffer me to tfyP
Very slowly and coloring. 50 that
even the moonlight showed her
bushes. she withdrew the O-na-
ment again and held it toward him.
Surely this Is familisr to met
Have I not seen II before?' be
asked.
perhaps. I wore Il that night
in the temple, your Highness."
"You must not name me High
ness. lady I have no longer any
rank in Egypt"
II know-because of-my people.
OH It was noble"
"But about the scarabaeus," he
broke IN with q wave Of his hand.
Surely 70 IS the same with which
the bandage was made fast upon
your hurt-oh! years agof
'Yes, It is the same" she an
swered, looking down.
Il thought II. And when I gave
it to you, I said some words that
seemed to me well spoken at the
time. What were they? L cannot
remember. Have you also forgot
ten?"
"Yes-I mean-no. You said that
now / had all Egypt beneath my
foot, speaking Of the royal car
tOuche upon the scarab"
"Ahi I recall. How true, and
yet how false the jest, or proph'
ecy?"
"How can anything be both true
and false. Prince?"
"That I could prove to you very
easily. but Il would take an hour
or more, so 1t shall be for another
time. This scarab Is a poor thing.
give it back to me and you shall
have better. Or would you
choose this signet? AS / am no
longer Prince Of Egypt it is useless
to me-"
Keep the scarabS Prince. Il Is
your own. But ! will not take the
ring because it IS
-'useless to me. and you
would not have that which is with
out value to the giver. Oh! I
string words i'll, but they were not
what | meant"
mo, Prince, because your royal
ring is too large for one so small"
"How can you tell until you have
tried?. Also that is a fault which
might perhaps be meDded."
Then he laughed. and she laughed
also, but as yet she did not take
the ring.
"Have you seen Ana?" he went
on. 81 believe he set out to search
for you, in such a hurry indeed
that he could scarcely finish his
report to me-"
did he say that?"
''No. he only looked it. So much
so that / suggested he should seek
YOU at once. He answered that he
was going to rest after his lone
journey. o" perhaps 7 said that he
ought TO do so. I forget. as often
Cne does. on so beauteous a night
when other. thoughts seem nearer"
'Why did Ana wish to see me,
Prince?"
How can I tell? Why does 8
man vyho fS efiII yo,,povpopf ~