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Copyright. 1904. by thc CHAPTER XXIV. THE TKA1TOES. HE morning: of the second day after the lifting of the darkness lay golden over Egypt, bine shadowed before the houses . and trees to the west and shimmering and illusory toward the east. A slow moving, fragmentary elend had gath? ered: in the zenith just after dawn, and for many minutes over the northern part of Goshen there had been a per? pendicular downpour of illuminated rain. Now the sky was as clear and w bine as a sapphire, and the little wind *V was burdened with odorous scents from the clean washed pastures of Is? rael. Setl had crossed the border into Goshen at daybreak and was now well into the grazing lands, yet scintillating / with-the rain. The hoofs of his fat lfttle ^horse were patched with wet sand of the roadway, and there was no dust on the prince's modest raiment Behind the youth plodded two heavy headed, limp eared sumpter males driven by a big boned black. . Setl was not far from his destina ^tion? an obscure village of Image mak Jf ers directly south of Tanis and situated on the northern border of Goshen. The same region that furnished clay to Is? rael for Egypt's bricks? afforded mate rial-for terra co tra statuettes. AhAftri of him were fiefas with doods of sheep upon the uplands and ' cattle standing under the shade of dom A palms. Here - and there hovels with tba MIPS no higher than a man's head or kew tents dark with long use and lifted at one side stood m a setting of green. About them were orderly and productive gardens. Nowhere was any sign of the desolation that prevailed A?ver Egypt 4jM Se? looked upon the beautiful pros? perity of Goshen at first with the nat? ural delight loveliness inspires and then with as much savage resentment as bis young soul could feel. Belting this garden and stretching for 700 miles to the south was Egypt desolate, bar ^terec and comatose. The God of the Hebrews had avenged them fearfully. They had provocation,'* he muttered to himself, "but they have overdone their vengeance.n A 5sure appeared on the road over the comb of a slight ridge, and Seri re? garded the wayfarer with interest He was a Hebrew. His draperies ?kwero kx>se, voluminous, heavily fringed ^and of such silky texture of linen that they Sowed in the light wind. His head was covered with a wide ker? chief, which was bound with a cord and hid the forehead. He was of good stature and upright bet his &rapings were so ample that the stricture* of his frame was not dis? cernible. His eyes were brack, bright and young in their alertness, but the beard that rippled over his breast to Bis girf? ie was as white as the foam of the M kid ie sea. The fiebrevr walked in the grass by rix roadside and '.ame on, his face ex ^^pectant At sight of the prince he ' stepped into the midway. Se ti drew up. Thou art Set>Meneptah ?" the an dent wayfarer asked, "Even so," the prince answered. The Hebrew put back his kerchief and stood uncovered. ~~ "Dost thou know me, my son?" he asked. "Thou art that Aaron of the able tongue, brother to Moses. Where is thy brother?" "Moses has departed for Tanis.'-' "And named thee in his stead. But Lis mission to my father's capital bodes \ V^o good. He might ha ve^ stayed until " I eouid have persuaded him into friend? ships." *Not with ail thy gold,** said Aaron gravety. **25ay, I had not meant that" Seti re? joined, with some resentment "If Egypt's plight cannot win mercy from him by its own piteousness, *the treas ..Aure I bring is not enough." : The Hebrew waved his hand as if to dismiss the subject Thon hast put faith in thine enemy. A woman hath deceived thee." .What dost thou tell me?" Seti cried, leaping to the ground and angrily con * . fronting Aaron. "A truth," the Hebrew ar>ov/er*c? ~. i caJrnly. "The Princess Ta user is a fugitive charged with treason." SeG turned cold and smote bis j forehead. "Undone through me"' he j groaned. "Not so, my son. Thou art undone through ber. Thy blind trust hath al wrought havoc with thee. Let lt not bring heavy punishment upor thy bead. Thou hast dealt kindly with me, and I am beholden to thee. Give me leave to discharge my debt" "Say on," said the prince. The Hebrew began at once. **^Vbat I tell thee, O my son, will ?^ooc be talked abroad over the land. ^*But if thou hast a doubt in thy heart and art like to question my truth speaking there are witnesses I may summon such as no wise man will deny. .'Last night I ray under the tent of a son of Israel at Pith om. When I [ ciaros*., rwo hours before dawn, borse rr-en began to gallop through ?be city toward the south. The inbabliauts -were aroused. There was much run? ning to and fro, and the inn was full of lights. _ itaiMBtJL, ."T?i,n'its4iau3Baaesx: ? i A R0m2r.ce of thc Days When ths Lord Redeemed the Children c f Israel Frc m the Bondage of Egypt By Elizabeth Miller Bobbs-Merrill Company *^Te approached, and when the tu? mult had died and the Egyptians were so full of the tidings that they were glad to relieve themselves even to an Israelite; I asked and learned their sto? ry. Many times afterward on my way hither I beard it from the lips of men whom I passed, so I am not deceived. "Seven days agone, under an evil star, a veiled woman came to the tem? ple of Bast, in the village of image makers, and made offerings to the idol She remained in the shrine, praying, for a time without reason, as though she pretended to worship, until a cer? tain space should elapse. At the end of the hour in which she came another woman, closely covered, her mouth hidden, entered and knelt near her. In a little they arose and went forth to? gether, and Jambres, who is priest at the little temple, grown suspicious by reason of their behavior, looked after them. The wind swayed the garments of the second stranger and showed the foot and ankle of a man. Filled with wonderment, Jambres laid aside his priest's robes and, garbing himself like a wayfarer, followed. They left the village, going east where the road ieadeth along the canal, which is hid? den by the sprouts of young trees. Farther up the way were servitors who waited for the man and woman, but the two stepped out of earshot and sat by the road to talk. "Jambres, hidden in the fringe of bushes behind, heard them. "They laid a snare And thou, O prince, wast to be trapped therein." Seri's eyes were veiled and his face showed a heightening of color. 4*Thou wast to come to the temple in the village of image makers with treas? ure to give, into the hands of Moses. Thy message to my brother was to be delivered hy the Princess Ta-user. She delivered it not The word she. should have brought came to Moses by a son of BeHaL a godless Hebrew, sent by Jambres, for the brotherhood of priests would have had Moses come to the temple for their own ends. But the servants of the Lord God of Israel are keen eyed and they know a jackal from a hare. However, these matters I did not hear from the people. All j that I beard tu Pithom may be talked | openly o"er Egypt "The man and the woman laid their ; plans, artd they were these: Last night \ the man and his servants were to lie ai Pithom and today they were to meet thee at the temple of Bast overpower thee, take thy treasure and, with the woman, fly to some secure place. With the treasure they were to hire them soldiers-mercenaries-and take arms against the king, thy father." TLie speaker paused again. Sett's breast labored, and his gaze was fixed upon the Hebrew. "The ire of Jambres was kindled against the plotters, and he called an assembly of the priests within short distance from the village of image makers and laid his discoveries before them They pledged themselves to pro? ceed to ?ithom last night which was the night they came together in coun? cil, and take the traitors. But one among their number, a young pri^t who knew the woman, played them I false, entered the city before his fe! I lows and warned the plotters. They i had fled, with the priests in pursuit. j. "My son, the man was Siptah, son ; of Arnon-meses; the woman, the Prin ! cess Ta-user." j The prince's face took on an insane j beauty. In each cheek was a scarlet ? stain-his lips ' smiled without parting, ; and his eyes glittered. He did not question the Hebrew's story. Some : thing within him corroborated every ! word. He sprang to bis feet and with j an unnatural laugh flung his hand I above his head. "Now, by Horus," he cried, "I must get back to Tanis. ? would ask the pardon of Barneses." Aaron arose and laid detaining hands upon him. "I did not tell thee this that I might be a bearer of evil tidings. I came forth to meet thee that thou mayest save thyself. Far be it from me to bring misfortune upon Israel's one friend in Egypt's high places. Return to Tanis with all speed and take the j treasure with thee. Then only will the Intent rest against thee." I "Not so," Set! interrupted harshly. ? "Wilt thou rob me of the one balm to i my humiliation? Wilt thou defeat me j also in the one good deed I would do? ? Take thou the treasure and be glad it ! Tell ne t into The Hands ol the wanton. Let me depart." But Aaron was planted in his way. "Knowest thou not what they will do with thee? Thou wouldst have given aid to the enemy of Egypt Thou knowest the penalty. Sooner would Israel make lt a garment of sackcloth and feed upon alms than yield thee up to thine enemies for thy gold's sake" But Set! would not bear him. "I care not what they do with me," he said. "The gods grant they lay upon me the extreme weight of the law. I go back to TarJs as one returneth to his be? loved." He shook off the Israelite's h^nds. or? dered the black to give the treasure over to the Hebrew and, flinging him? self uiKm his horse, galloped furiously toward Tanis, The pickets on the outer wail of Tanis baited h rm, but when they beheld bis face their pikes fell, and, with hands on knees, they bede him pass. The palace sentries started and gave him room. The great palace hall wns crowded and full of excitement Meneptah had summoned the court to the royal pres? ence In bis loft above the throng stood the king, purple with rage. The queer., in her place at his side, was staying his outstretched hand. Below at his right stood Rames es, the kingliest presence that ever graced a royal sit? ting. At the left of Meneptah was Har-hat, complacent and serene. Out in the center of a generous space stood Moses, Every eye, wide and ex? pectant, was fixed upon the Israelite. The pale and troubled Queen strove in vain, Meneptah thrust her aside j and., shaking his clinched hand at the solitary figure before him, ended the audience in a voice violent with fwy. ! "Get thee from mei Take heed to j thyself. See nay face no more, for in that day thou eeest my face thou shalt j dier After the speech the silence felk deep? ened, grew ominous. None breathed, and the overwrought nerves of the court reached the limit of endurance. Then Moses answered. His tones were quiet, his voice full of a calm more terri fy lng than an outburst had been, 'Thou hast spoken well," he said, "I will see thy face no more." Another breathless silence, and he turned, the courtiers shrinking from his way, and passed oat of the balk At the doors his eyes fell upon Seri. He made no sign of surprise. Indeed, his glance seemed to indicate that he He raised his hand over u*c boy's head. expected the prince. He raised his hand and extended it for a moment over the boy's head and went forth. The strength went from Seri's limbs, the passion from his brain, and when Ram eses, with grim purpose in bis I face, beckoned him he obeyed meekly j I and prostrated himself before the an- j \ gry kins. - ! CHAPTER XXV. BEFOKE E?l'FTS THBONE. fJrmr\ HE distance by highway be? tween Memphis and Tanis was eighty miles, a little more than ' ' two days' ride by horseback. Masanath had required tvro weeks to accomplish that distance. She refused ? to travel except in the cool of the morn- j ing and o? the afternoon. If she fer the fatigue of an hour's journey, she rested a day at the next town. She consulted astrologers and moved for? ward only under propitious signs. She insisted on following the Nile until she was opposite Tanis, instead of taking the highway at On and continuing across the delta. She was now within ten miles of Ta: nis, fourteei. days after her departure from Memphis.' It was near sunset when a company of royal guards, under Menes, rode up from the north. The captain flung himself from his horse and hurried to Masanath's lit? ter. "Holy Isis! Lady Masanath," he ex? claimed, "where in all Egypt hast thou hidden thyself these fourteen days? The whole army of the north hath been searching after thee, and Rameses hath raved like a madman since that day long past on which thou shouldst have arrved In Tanis." "I have been on the way,** she an? swered loftily. ""The haste of the prince is unseemly. I would not fa? tigue myself nor court disaster by in? cautiousness these perilous days.** "Perchance thou hast been famished these fourteen days in the matter of court gossip," the captain said. "Wherefore I am come as thy inform? ant with such news as thou shouldst know. For, being ignorant of the in? felicities in the household of the king. It may be that thou wouldst ask after the little prance, Set!, and wherefore the queen appears no more at the side of the Pharaoh nor speaks with thy lord nor sees thy noble father, and, furthermore, where Ta-user hath taken herself and other things which would embarrass thee to hear answered open? ly." Masanath roused herself and pre? pared to listen. Serious words from he lips of the light hearted captain were not common, and when be spoke in that manner it was time to take heed. "I had heard of the little prince's misfortune and of the treason of Ta user and her party and the placing of a price upon her head, but nothing more hath come to mine ears. Is ! there more of a truth?" ..Remember, I pray thee," the cap? tain replied, riding near to her, "that I bring thee this ft n sake, not for the lore o . -.g. On the counsel of Tiac lay the Pharaoh senten<*ed . sh ment for a year to the ml i." "To the mines?" 1 - ried in horror. "Not as a laborer sntence was not so harsh-ri'oe to the governor over t "It matters littler she declared In dignantly. "The boy prince-the pool misguided yoong brother-sent to i year of banishment, a lifelong humilia tion? Libya, the death country I Now wos anything mow brutal? Nay, it ii like Rameses!" She sank back in the shadows of hes litter, covered her face with her handi ao? shuddered because of the immi? nence of her trial So they :ourneyed on till at lasi Masanath fell asleep, not from mdiffer ence, for her fears exhausted her, bul because her mind still retained baby hold's way of comforting itself whet too roughly beset. She was aroused m the middle of th? first watch by the passage of her litter between bewildering stretches of lights. She was within t>e palace. The sol? diers that bore her were tramping over a Damascene carpet and between long lines of groveling attendants, through an atmosphere of overwhelming per? fume. The messenger had been swift and the court bad had time to prepare to greet the coming crown princess with propriety. After the first spasms of terror Masa? nath set her teeth and prepared to en? dure. She was borne to the doors of the throne room, and two nobles, gor? geously habited, set the carved steps beside the litter for her feet ^Without hesitation she descended. The great hall was ablaze with light ?nd lined with courtiers. The Pharaoh, with the queen by his side again, was in his place under the canopy. Har-h&t, glittering with gems and rustling in snow white robes, approach? ed with triumph in his face to embrace hei\ But within three steps he paused a's suddenly as "Slough Tie liad "been commanded. He bent his knee and kissed the proffered hand. He had become the subject of bis daughter. She suffered him to lead her to the royal dais, where she knelt The queen descended, raised her and led her to the throne. Meneptah met them, kissed Masanatlr*s forehead and blessed her. The queen embraced her and returned to her place beside the Pharaoh. Masanath turned to the right of the royal dais and faced the prince. Thus far her greetings had not been hard. Now was the supreme test Har-hai conducted her within a few paces of the prince and stepped aside. What followed was to prove Masanath's will? ingness. Rameses stood in the center of a slightly raised platform, which was carpeted with gold edged purple. Be? hind i him was his great chair. But for the badge o? prtacehood, the fringed ribbon dependent from a gem crusted amulet over" each temple, bis habiliments were the same as the Pha? raoh's. Masanath's face fell and she ap? proached the prince with slow steps. Within three paces of the platform she paused and sank to her knees. It was den<\ She ha3 ac^jiow?edeed the be? trothal and knelt to her lord. Rai e ses raised her. He tufted the '^-.cge of prmcehood from his foivbead. short? ened tb?' fillet from which ix hung, so that it would lit ! -r small head, and set it on her brow. The great palace shook with the ac? claim of the courtiers. Taking Masa n?fth's hand, Rameses led her down the hall through the bending ranks of purple wearing Egyptians to the great -poitals of the halL There he gave her into the hands of a troop of court ladies, lithe as leopards and gorgeous as butterflies, who led her with many sinuous obeisances to her apartments. After a -sumptuous meal Masanath surveyed herself with a swift glance in a plate of polished' silver, which was her mirror, and then, darting out of her door, ran down tho corridor as though she would outstrip repentance before it overtook her. Slie came up;>n him whom she sought He was on the point of entering his apartments. He paused with his hands on the curtains and waited for her. "A boon, my lord," she panted, chief? ly from trepidation. "A boon.' Thou wouldst ask a boon of me? Nay, I will not promise, for it may be thou comest to ask thy free? dom, and that I viii not grant for spleen." Still she curbed herself. "Nay, O prince. I am come to ask naught of thee which-a wife-may not justly ask of- her-lord." % ' "What is the boon that thou mayest justly ask of mer** "My father" **I am no longer in debt to thy fa? ther." "I ask no favor for my father at thy hands. Rather am I come to crave a boon for myself. My father asked an Israelite maiden at the hands of the Pharaoh a year agone, and she was be? loved by my friend and thine. She lied from my father and was hidden by the man she loved." "Aye, I know the story. Hotep brought it to mine ears months ago. The man was Kenken es, and thy fa? ther overtook him and threw him into prison in Tape. What more?" "The Israelite ls gone, and my fa? ther's servants are still seeking for her, and I would not have her taken." "Thou art a queen. What is she, a slave to thee?" "A sister, my comforter, my ene friend !" "Thou canst find sisters and comfort? ers and friends among highborn wom? en of Egypt I had laid Kenkenes' fol? ly concerning this Israelite to the ?moonshine genius hi him. But the slave Ls a sorceress, for the madness touches whosoever looks up tr. her." "It Ls lier goodness and her grace that win, Rameses. If that be sorcery, let it prevail the world over. Give ber freedom and save her spotlessness." "Har-hat shah not take ber, I prom? ise thee. I -hall send her back to her place in the brick fields." Masanath recoiled in. horror. "To the brick fields r she cried. "Rachel to the brick fields.'" **I have said. Her Isra^.litish spot? lessness will be secure there, and the reduction of her charms will be the saving of Kenkenes." "Turn not away, my lord," she begged. "See what havoc I have wrought for Rachel when I sought to hel?> her, and behold tile honesty of thy boast of love for me-my first boon and thou dost deny j tr He laughed, and, slipping an arm about her, pressed her to him. "First am I a king-next a lover," he said, "Thy prayer seeketh to come be? tween me and my rule over the Israel? ites. Ask for something which hath naught to do with my scepter." Crushed and stunned with despair .and horror. Masana th made her way tc her apartments in a mist of tears. ?TO KS ' COATS H OBk] BRYAN ON PUBLIC OWNERSHIP. Lincoln. Neb.. July 2..-William Jennings Bryan today issued this statement: "Government ownership is not an immediate issue. A large majority of the people still hope for effective reg? ulation. While they so hope they will not consider government ownership. While many Democrats believe, and Mr. Bryan is one of them, that public ownership of railroads is the ultimate solution of the problem, still those who believe that the public will final? ly in self-defense be driven to owner? ship, recognize that regulation must be tried under the most favorable cir? cumstances before the masses will be ready to try a more radical remedy. "Regulation cannot be sufficiently tried within the next year. There is no desire anywhere to make govern? ment ownership an issue in 19OS. Mr. Bryan fully agrees with those who be? lieve that it would be unwise to turn attention from regulation, on which the people are ready to act, to gov? ernment ownership, on which the people are not ready to act. To in? ject the government ownership ques? tion into the next campaign would simply give representatives of the railroads a chance to dodge the is? sue of regulation and deceive the pub? lic. "So far the railroads have been successful in preventing effective fed? eral regulation, and State regulation has as a rule been restrained by the United States courts. It is about 20 years since the interstate commerce commission was created. It required about 10 years for the courts to find out that the powers conferred were insufficient, and then it took about 10 years to procure an amendment. The rai!roads fought the amendment at every step, and the president was finally forced to compromise with the railroad Republicans in the senate in order to procure their support. "Even ?hat amendment, obtained with tremendous effort falls short of what it should be. It aims to stop passes and rebates. The railroads profit pecuniarily by both the stop ; pago of rebates and the prohibition of ! j pusses, but extortionate rates still ex- | I ist. Slate legislation for the reduc- j rion ot rares has resulted in an ag?- j talion on th*-- part of the ..."?roads for! legislation which will aeprive the State of authority and centralize all rate legislation in congress. "The Democratic party must meet, the issues presented: it must resist the encro?chments on the authority of the States. It must insist on the exercise of federal power for the reg? ulation of interstate commerce, and it must insist upon the exercise of State authority for the exercise of all the power vested in the State. This question has grown in importance during the past year, and its promi? nence will be increased if any at? tempt is made to impair State author? ity. The Republican party is as impotent to regulate the railroads as it is t<? exterminate the trusts and to reform the tariff. "The Democratic party has in three national campaigns demanded ef? fective railroad regulation, while the Republican national platforms have been silent on the subject. The pres? ident has partly adopted the Demo? cratic view on this subject, but so far the Republican leaders have resolute? ly oopposed it. The president is help? ing to educate the people up to the need of railroad regulation, but his party, under its present leadership, is powerless to accomplish this or any other important reform. "If the Democratic party will cloar y and unequivocally demand: First, j th" ascertaining of the value of all railroads: second, the preventing of overcapitalization, and, third. the i reduction of rates to a point where they will yield only a reasonable re? turn on the real value of the roads, it ?viii commend itself, not only to Dem? ocrats, but . o those Republicans who have ben led to study the railroad question. The railroad situation pre- ; sents a vital issue, and the issue j should be so stated that every one can understand the party's position." is a soothing, healing balm containing no drugs having a narcotic effect. 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