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CHAPTER XIX. THE CONSPIRACY. |77s)HE Nile rose and fell, and the seasons shirted until eight months had passed. The period was inconsiderable, bat its events had never been equaled in a like space, or a generation, or a whole dy? nasty, or in all the history of Egypt One morning early in March Seri stood beside the parapet on the palace of the king in Tanis. His eyes were fixed on the shimmering line of the northern level, but he did not see it Some one came with silent footfall and laid a hand oh his arm. He turned and looked into Ta-user's eyes. His face softened, and he took the hand between his own. "Alas, this day thou retumest into the Hak-heb," he said. She nod?cd. "Would I could take ? thee with me, but not yet, not yet ~ Walt till thou art a little older." He sighed and looked away again. "What weighty things absorb my prince?" she asked. *T merely pondered on mine own uselessness/' he answered. ?_ "Thou hast wealth," she began and s paused. "Wherein doth that make me use? ful?" "Much can be done with gold." "Ta-user, what wouldst thou have Ae do?" "I would have thee be useful." "I shall throw away my lordly trap r pings," he said, "and become a lifter of water this day." "Seti," she said sternly, putting his hand away, "with thy people imperiled bj the, sorcery of a wizard, with thy realm desolated by the plagues of his sending, canst thou, on whom I have built so much, thus lightly consider thy \ uses and ignore the things set at thy very hand to do?" "I have no weight with my father," ; he said soberly. "Thou knowest that Egypt will never have peace until the . Hebrews depart Bat I cannot per? suade my father to release them, and g I cannot persuade the Israelite to con " tent himself to stay. Thou dost de? mand much of me if thou dost demand ofjne the impossible." I "And thou art at Thy wits' end?" she j asked. I "A little way to go. Help me, Ta user. Bear with me." j She moved closer to him and absent- 1 iy smoothed down the une locks, dis ^ ordered hy the wind. Presently she lifted his face and said with sudden impulsiveness: "Dost of a truth, believe everything that is told thee?" "Am I overcredulous?** he asked. "Thou art. Thou believest this He? brew to be honest in his show of inter? est in his people?" "I cannot doubt him, Ta-user. One has but to see him to he convinced." "One has hut to see him to know that he might be coaxed into passive? ness with that for which an Israelite would seil ms mummy-gold!" "Nay, nayr Seri exclaimed. "Thou dost wrong him! He is the soul of mis? directed zeal His is an earnestness not to be frightened with death nor abated with bribes." She laughed a cool laugh. "Deliver to him but the price he names, and the Israelitish unrest will ; settle like a swarm of smoked bees." 'Ta-user, it is thou that art deceiv? ed," Seti remonstrated. "Even the Pharaoh does not hesitate to assert that Moses is terribly upright Not' even he would dream of offering the wizard Hebrew a peace tribute." Gazing down into his eyes, she said, with sudden solemnity: "My prince, may I give my life into thy hands?" "The gods overtake me with their vengeance if I guard it not" he ex? claimed. She drew him from his place o? the parapet and led him to a seat in a -corner near the double towers. There she sat and he dropped down at her feet He crossed his arms over her lap and lifted his face to her. Seti was ripe to be plucked by treachery. His was the faith that is insulted by a suggestion of wariness. "While I dwelt obscurely in the Hak Leb," she began, "I was much among the partisans of Amon-meses. They are friends of the Pharaoh now, so what I tell is dead sedition. But I heard it when it lived, and thou know? est the penalty invited by him who listens to criiicism of the king. At? tend me. then, for tbe story is sbort. "The hlscory of Moses is an old tale to thee. Thy noble grandsire's first queen, Xeferari Thermuthis. adopted the Hebrew, and when she died he shared in the allotment of her treasure. But Moses was an exile In Midian at the time, and his share was left with Shaemus, then the heir, to be give:: over to the foster son when he shoul?! return. But Shaemus died, and all thy father's older brothers, so the gracious Meneptah came to wear the crown. To him fell the guardianship of the Hebrew's treasure till what time he should return out of Midian. Moses hath returned. Hath thy father deliv? ered to him his inheritance?" Seti's face flamed, but before he could speak she went on: "Not so; not one copper weight It lies untouched In the treasury. Thine august sire does not use it because he hath wealth more than he can spend. But it is the He? brew's, and if it were delivered Into his hands lt would redeem Egypt T -$ A Romance of the Days When the Lord Redeemed the Children o f Israel From the Bondage of Egypt By Elizabeth Miller 3-$> Eobbs-Merrill Company know it There, lt is done. My life is In thy hands/' The prince looked at her with wide eyes, his cheeks flushed, his lips si? lent "Wouldst thou have proof?" she con? tinued recklessly. "Seek out Hotep, who hath heen keeper of the records at Pithom, and ask him." "Did he tell thee?" Set! demanded. "Nay, I learned it from another source, not in the palace." The prince lapsed into silence, his eyes averted. Ta-user regarded him intently. Sud? denly he raised his head. "Dost thou know the amount of his share?" he asked. "It Is but a moderate part of the queen's fortune, since each of the king's .children by his many women was in? cluded." "He shall have it," Seti said almost impatiently. "Out of mine own wealth he shall have it, not as a bribe-he would not have it so-but because it is his." She caught his hands to her breast and cried out in delight "And I shall be thy lieutenant, and none shall know of it save thee and me." "Nay, there is danger In this," he said gently, "and I would not Imperil thee. Already thou hast overstepped safety for Egypt's sake and mine. More than this I will not let thee do." She pouted and, putting him away from her. arose and left him. He fol? lowed her and took her hands. "A confederate thou musFhave," she complained, . "and whom dost thou trust more than Ta-user?" "Thou dost hurry me in my plan mak? ing," he remonstrated mildly. "Mayhap I shall choose Hotep." She flung up her head, her face the picture of dismay. "Nay, nay, not Hotep! Of all "thy, world not Hotep!" she exclaimed. - He lifted his brows in amazement "Surely thou dost not question bis fidelity-his power?" "Nay, but dost thou not guess what ! he win do? Thou child! Abet thee! I Nay, he would set his foot upon thy ! pltn and foil thee at once with his politic hand." "Hotep will obey as I command, that thou knowest" be said, with dignity. **nwu wilt not reach the point' of command with him," she vehemently Insisted. "He would catch thine intent ere thou hadst stated it and would make thee aghast at thyself in a twin? kling by his smooth reasoning and vivid auguries. Nay, if thou art to have thy way in this, 1 wash my hands of it We are as good as undone." She turned away from him, but he followed her contritely. "I submit" he said helplessly. "Ad rise me, but I-nay, ask me not to en? danger thee, Ta-user." She slipped her arm about his neck and. pressed close to him. "Nay, Seti, thou dost overestimate the peril. The Hebrew will not betray us, and who=?lse will know of it? I shall make a journey into Goshen, And Moses and bid him meet thee at a certain place. There thou shalt como at a certain time with the treas? ure, and tho feat is done. But if we fail"-she flung her head back and be? witched him with a heavy eye-"will lt be hard for me to persuade the king?" Set! contemplated her with bewilder? ment In his face. The youth and in? nocence in his young soul revolted, but there was another element that yield? ed and was pleased. "Have it thy way, Ta-user," he said, with hesitation in his words, while he continued to gaze helplessly into her compelling 'yes. She laughed and kissed him. "I will see thee again soon." Putting him back from her, she descended the stairway. Straight through the corridors to? ward the royal apartments she went There was an elasticity in her step that spoke of exultation. The Hathors were indulging her be? yond reason. A soldier of the royal guard paced outside the doorway of the king's apartments. Ta-user flung him a smile, and, passing him without a word of leave asking, smiled again and disap? peared through tlie door. Meneptah, who sat alone, raised his head from the scroll he was laborious? ly spelling. If he had meant to resent the intrusion the impulse died within him at the charming obeisance the prin? cess made. As she aro.se at his sign Har-hat en? tered. Ta-u.ser came near to the king, smiling triumphantly at the fan bear? er. ..The gods sped my feet," she said, "and I am here first Hold thy peace, noble Har-hat Mine is the first au? dience." Having reached the king's side, she dropped on her knees and folded her hands on the arm of his chair. "A boon. O shedder of light! So much thou owest me. Behold, I came to thee on the hope of thy promises. What have I won therefrom? Naught save, perchance, the smiles of Egypt at my disappointment." "Wilt thou reproach me, Ta-user, for my son's willfulness?" was Meneptah's tactless reply. Ta-user shot an amused glance at the discomfited countenance of Har hat and went on. '"Nay. O my sovereign. I do but wish to incline thine ear to me. Say first thou wilt grant me my boon. I do not ask for thy crown or thy son or for an army or treasure or anything but that which thou wouldst gladly give me be? cause of thy just and generous heart" ''Thou hast my word, Ta-user." "Give me ear, then," she continued. "Thou hast among thy ministers a no? ble genius, the Architect Mentu" The king >roke in with a dry -smile. "Wouldst have him for a mate?" She shook her head till the emeralds pendent from the fillet on her forehead clinked together. Nothing could have been more childlike than the pleased smile on her face. "Nay, nay, he would not have me," she protested. "But he hath a son." "He had a son, but he is dead," the king ans wei xL "Not so! He is in prison, where thy counselor, the wicked, unfeeling, jeal? ous, rapacious I^ar-hat bath entombed bim!" Har-hat sprang forward as the king lifted an amazed and angry face. "Back I" she cried, motioning at him with her full arm. "It is time the Ha thors overtook thee, thou ineffable knave!" "I protest r the fan bearer cried, losing his temper. "Enough of this play," Meneptah said sternly. "Go on with thy tale, Ta user. I would know the truth of this." "Thou wilt not learn it from the princess," Har-hat exclaimed. "Ahr Ta-user ejaculated, a world of innocence, surprise and wounded feel? ing in the word. "Thy words do not become thee, Har hat** Meneptah said. The fan bearer closed his lips and gazed fixedly at the princess. She drooped her head and went on in a voice low with hurt "The gods judge me if my every word is not true! Har-hat imprisoned him because the gallant young man loved the maiden whom Har-hat would have taken for his harem." Meneptah's face blazed. "Go on," he said sharply. "The fan bearer had some little right on his side, for the young man had committed sacrilege in carving a statue and had stolen the maiden away and hidden her when Har-hat would have taken her. The maiden is an Israelite, and her hiding place is known to this day only by herself and her unhappy lover. Now comes the villainy, O thou short of temper," she continued, look? ing at the fan bearer. "Thy father, O shedder of light the incomparable Pharaoh who reigns in Osiris, gave Mentu a signet When Kenkencs was overtaken and thrust into prison, he sent this signet to thee, O my sovereign, with a petition for his release and for the maiden's freedom. The writing and the signet came into "Back!" she cried. I Har-hat's hands, and he ignored them, I though the signet commanded him in the name of the holy one." Her voice lowered with awe and dismay at his unregeneracy. "Kenkenes is still in prison." "Now, by the gods, Har-hat," Menep? tah exclaimed angrily, "I would not have dreamed such baseness in thee!" The fan bearer was stupefied with wrath and astonishment Words ab? solutely refused to come to him. Ta user accused him with the wide eyes of fearless righteousness. Presently she went on: "Already hath he languished eight months in prison. His offense against the gods and against the laws of the land hath been expiated. I would have thee set him free now, O Meneptah, that he may return to his love and comfort her." Meneptah reached for the reed pen. "Hold!" cried Har-hat. . "Thou dost forget thyself, good Har hat," the princess saki, with dignity. "Thou speakest with thy sovereign." "But I will be heard!" be exclaimed violently. "Hear me, I pray thee, son of Ptah." Meneptah removed the wetted pen and waited. "Thou didst give the maiden to me thyself!" be began precipitately. "Thy document of gift I have yet. He stole ber, hid her away, committed sacrilege and abused two of my servants nigh unto death when they sought for her. Hath he any more right to her than I? Art thou assured that he hath an honorable purpose in "mind for "her? She is comely and well instructed in service, and I would have put her in my daughter's train, even as the He? brew Miriam was lady in waiting to Nef erar i Thenn uth is. "* thou dost ex? amine the- records of the petitions to thee thou wilt find that I asked her expressly for household service. It ls false that I had any other purpose in mind. "As to the signet," he continued breathlessly, "there is no word upon it concerning the palliation of a triple crime! Shall we invoke the king in the blameless name of the holy one and demand forgiveness in the name -of him who forgiveth no sin? Further? more, thou didst give the writing into my hands, and in obedience to thy c?ram.'md I acted as I thoughl My purposes have been willful torted:.'" Meneptah frowned with perp But while he pondered Ta-user near to him and said to him ver ly: "If his wc^ds be true, O my eign, one lo"v%ly Israelite Is as s< able as another. The young mau this maiden. Doubt it not. H< worthy offspring of that noble Mentu. If be offended, he natl fered sufficiently. Let him go, I j thee." I "It Is my word against her sun I O Meneptah," Har-hat insisted. I The king frowned more and st his cheek. "Thine anger should be abat* this time, Har-hat." he said feebl "His rebellion is not yet broke have not the slave yet." the fan t retorted. "Mayhap he Is ready to surr lier now." "Not so!" the prince?s put in. hath endured eight months. If it SOO years his silence would b< same. It is proof of my boast th loves her. No man who would coi his flesh aione would suffer lengths of mortification of flesh! him go, my king, and give the souled fan bearer another Israelit his daughter^' "Have it thy way, Ta-user. Cor me In an hour," Meneptah said ? wrote. "Now promise that the signet go back to Menin," she continued. "As thou wilt, Ta-user," the kin plied. She caught up the roll, hesitate*: a moment and then kissed his c deliberately and was gone. THE JAPANESE TREATY. Mikado's Country Will Insist on mission of Coolies-Alleged Of Memorandum of Foreign Min Shows Change of Attitude of Japanese. Washington, July 7.-That the , anese government will not conser the renwal o fthe present day tr with the United States if this gov ment reserves the right to inse: clause in the context excluding J; nese coole' labor from contine United States is indicated by semi ficial advices purporting to repre government views from Minister I ashi, which were received here tc from Ototaka Yamaoka, the pers< representative of Count Okuma, 1< er of the Progressive party. Mr. Yamaoki. who visited the 1 ted States in April and perfect'-* alliance with the Japanese of the cific coast for the purpose of brin? about the overthrow of the Sai ministry and the annulment of the elusion clause in the immigration is authority for the statement 1 Foreign Minister Kayashi has ree ed from Secretary of State Root a - liminary "note" regarding the i treaty with the two governments i pose to substitute for the convent which expires July IT, ?rlL ' draft of the new treaty submitted Secretary Root, according to the cc munication from Mr. Yamaoka, c; ed for the renewal of article 2, cia 4. of ':he present treaty, which gi to each nation the right to regulate i migration. With reference to "note" submitted by Secretary* Rc Mr. Yamaoka says that Foreign M ister Hayashi has issued an effie confidential memorandum outlin: the Japanese government's attiti on the question of the limitation immigration, which in substance is follows: "First. That the government of t United States has submitted a pi posai'for the enactment of a trea which provides for the limitation immigration. The government ol'Ja an has rejected the proposal and "rc not in the future entertain any su proposition. "Second. That in the new trea' which is to be operated from the 44 year of Meiji (1911) the governme of Japan will insist on striking o the article 2, clause 4 (def.r.ing ti power reserved by the contract!] parties to enact laws with regard police and immigration regulations For that purpose *he government Japan shall take a more vigorous a . titude. * * * Although :he neg tiations for that end are not yet d veloped, we firmly believe that tl government of the United State wi fight with determination to presen the clause. ..Third That the government < Japan contemplates sending repr< sentatives to the United States to ir vstigate conditions on the Pacifi coast and to determine if the Japanes residents are discriminated against." Mr. Yamoaka. it is said, has se;4 copies of Foreign Minister Hayashi' confidential memorandum to the Jar anese societies of San Francisco an Seattle and to correspondents of Jori anese newspapers iv. this country. r> Masuji Miyakawa, ihe Japanese ia\~? vcr; admitted that ne had seen ; copj ot' the communication which ?being distributed by Yamaoka an; ?characterized the attitude :>f Foreigi Minister Hayashi a.- a concession l* the Progressives, who have strongly lopposed the clause in the immigratioi j bill excluding coolie labor from thi: I ! country. - France Looks for Peace, j Paris. July 7.-President Roosevelt*?; decision to dispatch a fleet of war j I ships to the Pacific has lead the more sensational newspapers in France tc jump at the conclusion that the situa? tion is more delicate than appears on th>- sm-face. This view, however, is ab? solutely repudiated in responsible cir? cles, where the utmost confidence is (expressed, that existing or future dif {ferences between the United States ? will be amicably adjusted, i Nevertheless, the possibility of com? plications was foreseen, when France two months ago, in ? the spirit of friendship, tendered her good offices, with a view to having Japan and the United States conclude an arrange? ment covering all questions relating to the Pacific. In military circles, where the situ? ation is regarded from a different standpoint, the , dispatch of battle? ships is considered an elementary measure of prudence, on the ground that strategically it will protect the United States against being caught napping, and, diplomatically, it will force Japan's hand, if that nation harbors aggressive' designs. A significant feature of the French comment is that the possibility of trouble occurring is considered only from the side of Japan. The Soliel regards the San Francisco, incidents as a mere cloak to the real issue, which, it thinks, may be traced to the determination of Japan to enforce j her commercial supremacy in China I and the Pacific. "For Japan, now or never," it adds. "It ten years, when the American "Tn ten years, when the American ble, and the Panama canal has been completed, it will be too late." Germany Thinks WeTl Fight. Berlin, July 7.-The conviction of an ultimate cinfiict between Japan and the United States appears to be widespread in Germany. It is one of the subjects certain to be referred to wherever diplomatists and military and naval officials avd ethers, accus? tomed to follow international politics, meet. The newspapers agree that President Roosevelt is earnestly trying to satisfy the Japanese requests. They agree also that Japan asks nothing unrasonable. They recognize that the difficulty lies in the question of race, the economic antagonism of the Cal? ifornians against the Japanese and the constitutional impossibility pf federal coercion. It is believed by many that the group of rul'ng statesmen in Japan are preparing to fight the United States for the mastery of the Pacific, regardless of the San Francisco inci? dents. The strategists of the admiralty re? gard a naval war between Japan and the United States as the most inter? esting problem of the' day. Careful studies that have been worked out are unfavorable to the United States, because the American fleet, although of greater power than that of Japan, would have to seek a fight in Japan's home waters. SOUTH CAROLINA NEWS NOTES. Items of Interest Condensed and Par agraphed for Quick Reading. Capt. B. W. Raysor, a prominent citizen of Walterboro, is dead at his home at the age of 76 years. Cherokee Falls, on the Savannah river, in Abbeville county, will be developed. James Mallory, convicted of mur? der, will be hanged in Bennettsville on July 26. The Graniteville Manufacturing Company has erected a hall for the use of the mill operatives at a cost of $20,000. . Dexter Williams, white, was shot and killed by William Baker, colored, near Springfield. The first car over the inter-urban electric line between Anderson and Belton was run Monday. About $330,000 was paid out in Greenville county Monday in divi? dends. Sam Richardson was shot by Jake Anderson at Piedmont last Sunday. They got into a fight over a game of cards. Dr. John D. Pitts has resigned as pastor of the Laurens First Baptist Church. Mayor Rhett of Charleston has in? structed Chief of Police Boyle to enforce ' the ordinance prohibiting oarbeis shaving customers on Sun? day. . Rev. J. W. Korrine, pastor of St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Charles? ton, has resigned, having received a jail from a prominent church ir. Philadelphia. Dispensary Auditor West has is? sued a statement to county dispen? sers telling them how to make omt their statements as required by law. Gov. Ansel has appointed Judge D. E. Hydrick to preside over a two ' weeks' special term of court to be held in Greenville, commencing the third Monday in July. The dentists of South Carolina de? cided to prosecute all those who en? gage in the illegal practice of dentis? try. The convention voted S250 for the prosecution of such cases. Mr. John E. Cotton, one of the old? est and best known traveling men of the south, died at his home in Union on Sunday night. A company has been organized in Horry county for the purpose of raising a fine breed of stock. R. B. Scarborough is president. The railroad commission has or? dered the Southern Express Company to reduce the charges on vegetable. from Young's Island. Chief Justice Pope has decided tha; the money lenders in Charleston must .>:iy the $1.000 license required by the city ordinance or close up shop. It is intimated that Captain Clay, commandant of the cadets at Clemson College* resigned because of the con? duct of the senior class during com? mencement. Th'- plans prepared by Architect LeFaye of Columbia for the new ho u-\ in Greenville have been accepted. The hotel will be erected on the Cox proprty on Monument Place. Stop That Cold To check early colds or Grippe with "Preventics" means sure defeat for Pneumonia. To stop a cold with Preventics is safer than to let it run and ba obliged to cure it afterwards. To be sure.- Pre? ventics will cure even a deeply seated cold, bet taken early-at the sneeze stage-they break, ar head off these early colds. That's surely better. That's why they are called Preventics. Preventics are little Candy Cold Cures. Ko Quin? ine, no physic, nothing sickening. 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