The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-04-12
CAPTAIN BENAJAH.
BY j. Il. Mills
CHAPTER L

CHAPTER l.
"J-nele Mical," said Judith, you
have lost your usual appetite and you
look serious and trouble shades your
face.
This stewed fish is very fat while
olives and little sardines are floating
in the gravy Aunt Rachel has given
us a delightful supper. Let us all en-
JOY it.
You ought to be the happiest man
in Nazareth"
Dear judith" answered the father
OF the family; i am sad for your
sake: YOU have now been with US
three months, and must soon go home
to your grandmother, Bathsheba, IN
Jerusalem. Your parents are dead and
your grandmother is too old to give
YOU the instruction and protection al
WAYS needed by a beautiful young girl
fifteen wears old. But / have news to
fell One hour ago King Hiram died in
Tyre. Expecting this event, King Solo
mon has had for ten days men with
fa0s and torches on the highest peaks
Of the hundred miles intervening be-
tween Tyre and Jerusalem. Our wise
King was thus quickly informed of the
death of his royal brother. His Ara
bian horses were standing ready; the
Grand Lodge of Jerusalem, forty
chariots, Captain Benajah with the
Cherethites and Pelethites are now on
the road with King Solomon to bury
King Hiram with Solomon to bury
About sunrise the forty is expected to
lunch at the great spring near the
foot of the hill on which Nazareth
stands"
Tomorrow, said Susiana, the first
born of the family, will be great day
for our town But why did cousin
Judith blush when father mentioned
Captain Benajah?"
Aunt Rachel" said Judith, ''let Us
finish our grapes, put the house IN
order, and yretire to rest, so as TO rise
early and be at the spring before the
| arrival of the King"
Judith had been rooming with her
| cousin Susiana and had told her that
| she would return to Jerusalem and
prepare to become the wife of Captain
| Benaiah. So when Susiana called at
| tantion to her bushes, it was needful
/ to change the subject of conversation.
| Her suggestion was accepted and the
| house of Mical was soon at rest for the
night. When the girls reached their
/ little bedroom Judith threw her arms
around the neck of Susiana and said,
s'My dear cousin, must seal your lips
| with kiss, and you must not betray
| my secret"
please forgive me, said Susiana,
''but the temptation to tease you a
little was very strong"
safd Jf4Ii1h ~ fnroaYp Won
| instantly because YOU have made my
visit so pleasant; but now good night.
Az the morning dawned, a large part
| of Nazareth was at the spring. JIM
| fith combed and Amounted the hair OF
her uncle, and kissed him. Then she
and Susiana sat on a grassy mound
under palm tree and each Amounted
the hair of the other.
"And now" said Susiana, Il hear
| horses and wheels"
"And - added Judith. scan see the
| glittering spears of the Kings body
| guard
Very soon the horses were painting
| near the spring and baskets of food
| were spread on snowy table cloths
where the grass grew along the branch
/ King Solomon stepped from his char
i lot and refreshed himself at the spring
| Abishag rode in a chariot behind him
and soon had breakfast spread on the
rear of his chariot.
Then Zadok, the Grand Chaplain
said, 20 God of our fathers, we beseech
| Thee to be the God of their children
also. Make us grateful to Thee fog
| cutting us in land of milk and
honey and for all Thy wayside mer-
cies. Help us to be faithful in the
/ performance of all our duties and TO
be ready when Thou shalt call us into
| Thy presence" And King Solomon
responded: $50 mote it be, Amen. y
While the King was eating, Captain
Benajah, the Grand Marshal, presented
| Mical and other prominent men of
| Nazareth, and Solomon treated them
kindly and had them to breakfast with
him.
Then Captain Benaiah said to Abs
bag. do you see that girl with rich
auburn hair, fair skin and perfect fig.
ure sitting under the palm tree?
She is the Kings niece"
/ 20 that is Judith" exclaimed Abs
bag; but who is that with black glossy
hair, sitting by her side and looking
so healthy and handsome?"
"That," said Captain Benaiah, is her
cousin, Susiana, whom she is visiting
ITO be continued.)