The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-18
IN DAYS OF OLD
Ghe OdtI, Of SheaI.
OR
0}y Mary Wallace Conway. OF Richmond)
CHAPTER !.

city OF shushan. 10 painted with rich
o.,ors the habliailons OF the poor and low
i, and seemed TO matcriaiize IN the un-
rivaicd splcndor OF "shushan the Palace
one eoldlng ray passed over the dwell
.rrs of king and paupcr, and gliding
through the marble columns and crimson
hanglnes of a princely mansion, fell softly
on "a lovely picture within. Five or six
girls were grouped about divan. on the
soft cushions Of which reclined most
beautiful maiden.
Her dainty form was drapcd In purple
SILK. richly embroidered. Her throat, arms
and hands sparkled with Jewels. A cloud
off soft black hair fel like a shadow
around her.
rherc was silence save for the soft rus
de OF % fan OF gorgeous peacock's feathers
that one of the hand-maidens swayed
gently 60 and fro 20 cool the periumed
air around her young mistress.
'.Zeta." said the lady in slow voice OF
peculiar sweetness. "has my father re-
turned from the palace
"Nay. madam, Il is yet too early. 1t IS
not his wont TO return TN nightfall,' SAID
the maid who famed her
"Ah. true. ] did not think she repileu
'Zcia' she said again, mast tnou So
the young jew my father purchaseu "i
Hamang ,.a. ,o
is "a gOodIy youih. ,..,.. COL,
..If in please thee madam nave sec"
hin, SAID another Of the maidens snyiy.
..Irov, eirig Where dldst thou see him!
repiied her mistress smihngly.
II WAS passing through the court IN
l,fer When 30 reached the gate the bear
q 81 ID
arsry voices. / peepcl through the cur
tairs and saw two men. Persian ana
Jew. who seemed go dispute the right OF
v.r / heard the Persian say. Thou dog
OBJ ~ Jew' dost think ] viii make way for
sreh as thou? Thou slave. make way
..g- And the jew replied, II thou hadst
DIX spoken kindly 20 me / would have
given thee all of the way but now thou
hast said harsh words to me and hast
abused me, and ] VIII not make way Tor
fn..' The Persian sprang at his throat
rIrn the bearers of my litter cried out
go.di hold how dare ye block the way
.l The Lady Zada's hand-maidenE Inc
nan fen arart and the Persian hurried
away. but the jew paused 20 look curl
...y at the litter.
III drew the curtains close. ana the
bearers moved on. 1 heard one OF tHeh
.y to the other, who is that Jew ana
f.H second ftViltlt llf l1 tli' ''''
rntlch bought of Haman.
l.la had listened with the greatest IN
+.r.s, to- this recital and when the dam
cd ceased she lay for time ID deep
Thought.
knocking came from without one Of
... ,..fIrnr arose and went TO see whence
l, ..me Returning 20 her mistress she
bowed her head and said. Madam
Innrh hath returned and would SPEAK
utl aee.
u ,.u see him here" she replied. Iada
4.,. ..I AN of her attendants save the
ar Iaa. and Hatach entered the 'ndl"-
Ila arose and bowed low before him.
Oh. raised her and pressed his Ups 90 her
f......l What udings from the palace,
fherg" She inquired
..Varrht afrcsh." he replied. "Ilaman
fn. tlarIte er0weth daily more pl on"
and hnu.hty. lie hath moved the KING
o. command that all mon shah DOW u'"m
anal io him reverence when ne pdss''''
If.f.rn's brow darkencd as Inc spoke.
."Emt" cried the girl, 'and DO 'hey
Weld 0bsd'cncet' ,.,
.Avho may disobey the hng-and iiVet
"qmen / would die" she exclaimed
proudly. .....,.,.
motley crowd was collected In one
az the public squares of the city Men
and youths of many natonanues passeu
and re-passcd. or gathered INTO groups
t0 discuss the questions of the DAY -
young man of apparently Two OF ''i,
and twenty. passed slowly alons' VIII"
h.s eyes bent upon the efouhu a"u "
looiS of sadness upon his face. lie was
areosted and raising his eyes quickly
he saw n jew of middle age tan, state
d. and richly dressed i'm his natNe cos
..,fv SON" said the elder man, Chou
art heavy and of a sad countenance'
be- Is not meet that the young ana stfons
should be $50 doNncast.
"Of what profit is my youth ana
strength 81 30 Doe not mine.' replleu the
roimg man bitterly.
Thou are then 20" but he paused.
seeing a deep flush Of shame rise 10
the brow of the youth. YEA SAID me-
aI am" There was "a pause and they
walked ON boz silence Then the older
man said "Thou art habited as Per
aan but thy face is the face Of
dew"
"Yea. I am jew" he replied. Then
De continued. 81 am a jew of noble
blood. Of the tribe of Judah. l am
fhoal the son of Ramoth.' lie had
raised his head and his dark eyes flash
cd. "Nhy, oh why are we slaves IN
foreign landl We who should be the
rulers of the earth.
aWhy. indeed" said the other, sadly.
"Nerny. 10 Is that We are suu-neck-
eli disobedient nation. If st were not
ss we would bc this day In our dear
.If we were again in Judea." said
Sheal eve would of q surety obey the
Divine will. AS for me- l would with
cladnoss do an things. I would give up
AN else that ] hold dearest on earth 10
De free and I'm our own land again
The elder man looked long and earnest
ly into his face. and said, "Would'st
thou vcrly?'
Yea, yea. ] swear it, replied Sheal.
My son. thou mayst be called upon 10
fulfil thine oath; take heed that thou
d0st not forget 10 then"
THAT 1 never VIII" he replied. A
chariot dashed by: the crowd fell apart
and in the confusion Sheal was separated
from bis companion and could not ind
him again. The elder man went his
way. tiil he came 10 the gate of Shu-
shan the Palace. There We're assembled
together many OF the Kings servants
Who. when they saw the newcomer said
one 90 another Behold Mordecai, the
Jew who refuseth to make obeisance 10
iiiman. the son Of Hammcdatha. the
Aeae.te."
CHAPTER Ill
In the heat OF the day. Hatach. the
itihian his daughter and her favorite
handmade sat I'm small Davilion I'm "A