The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-04

with thy linen. and thy jewels from Egypt
and Babylon"
Yea. they are come"
Hast thou wrought the anger Of thy
father Beeri?'
Nay; he is not angered."
How then? Are thine eyes grown less
bright? Is the wisdom of the seers fallen
out against thee? Dost thou love a man Of
the Amorites?'
And the spirit of Judith was vexed and
she answered: Nay, nay; 1 think not of
all these things"
Then thou art ILL.,
Verify art thou a plague. Bashemath.
Nay. but am awearied of song and dance
and the music OF the sacrifice and daugh-
tiers OF Heth, and / would be alone
But Bashemath. the daughter of Elon the
Hittite. besought her. saying: Am L not
thy friend?" And Judith answered and
said:
Even so. Yet would 1 be alone
Let me but follow thee afar off. as thou
goest 1 will keep silence. promise thee"
BE 1t as thou wilt. Yet approach me
not nearly. lest thou meet mine anger, the
which be upon thine own head
Now, 1t was the month of Adar. and the
valleys beyond Kirjath-Arba to the south
were full in blossom-olive and almond and
citron and aloe and the flower of the
pomegranate. And their perfume was as
the perfume of the valley of Paradise But
Judith went her way. And she came unto
the hills that look towards the plain of
Gerar- And she hearkened, and 10, there
was 10 sound save the cry of the quail
among the vines and the echo of the sing
ing maidens of the Hittites which sacrificed
Judith heard these things and her spirit
was troubled and she went her way. And
when she was come TO the olive thicket
and the oak. she found peace. And she
tarried here for Bashemath. who followed
her afar off. and she called unto Bashe-
math and said:
Come hither. pray thee. friend of my
childhood and forgive me that 1 left thee.
For was aweary. but now am at rest.
But verify. in Kirjath-Arba Baal himself
seems weary-shan not ~"
And Bashemath answered and said:
Speak not the name lightly o my friend.
Do, not the great gods hear idle words of
the children of men? Thou art forgiven.
But pray thee tarry not long In this lone
iy place Though wolves be few, there be
some In the wilderness as i'll to meet"
And Judith lifted UP her head and said
who should harm the daughter of Beeri?"
And her head was small and fine I'm
shape. like to the perfect pear fruit of the
gardens Of Esdraelon: and her face was as
the flower Of the orange tree for fairness;
and her eyes more blue than sapphires of
Egypt And there were Jewels upon her
arms and upon her breast, and a white
caul upon her head after the manner of
the Hittite women. And 1t came to pass
that when she lifted up her head the caul
thereon was loosened, and IL fell away so
that her head was bare. And the hair
thereof was long and fine. reaching even
to the knee, and as beautiful as spun gold,
and the glory Of 1t fell about Judith as she
stood. and covered her. And Bashemath
lifted up her eyes and saw Judith that she
was beautiful. and she said: 20 wonderful
art thou, best loved Of my soul. and truly
and well art thou called Judith the praised
ono Tor verify thou shalt be praised by
the princes of the nation and thy fame
shall be great within the gates. But the
children of the desert are to be feared and
y we are far from Kirjath-Arba."
And Judith said: ct fear not the children
OF the desert. Hearken unto me. Bashe-
math. and 1 will tell thee somewhat thou
mayst not tell again-that l. Judith, would
be OF the desert also. Nay, speak not, but
hear me. The merchants from the south.
who come unto Beeri. my father. have
tales-of the winds OF Shur and the palm
trees. and the long line of camels creeping
on the sand. OF calm nights in the tent with
music OF the lutes. of the heat of noon, OF
danger, OF the rush OF the enemy. the flash
or bow and spear. of DEATH of wisdom, of
victory of love. And 1. Judith, heard these
things. and my heart answered to then,
every one. Wherefore? Have 1 the blood
OF Ishmael. think you? But o the little
village Of Kirjath-Arba. and all the long
slow nights and days. each like unto the
last. and the thronging and the noise. and
the barter and the sacrifice, Even Baal Is
weary. And II am weary OF the time
anu my soul longs for the desert to be free
Thinkest thou fear the children of Shur?
would I were fleeing to their tents this
day.
And Judith ceased and spread her palms
toward the plain; and it came to pass that
as she ceased. straightway the thicket
opened, and great man clad In skins
hairy and powerful to behold came from
the thicket. And in his hand he carried a
bow and spear, and on his shoulders the
carcass OF an antelope newly slain. And
Bashemath was sore afraid, and she
turned and fed, crying. THE Retain. Tic
Refaimr' Now the Retain were tue people
OF the hills, tall cedars and strong as
oaks. warlike nation and greatly to be
feared. And Bashemath fled. but Judith
moved not, neither opened her mouth. And
the stranger approached slowly. smiling In
bis beard. And he said:
Fear not. daughter OF Heth for I come
alone. and am not from among the giant:
or the Amorites. being son OF Isaac, the
son OF Abraham, who had from thy father:
the cave OF Macpelah in fair exchange
and the friendship Of thy princes"
And she answered with scorn: Judith
the daughter OF Beeri fears no man. AnC
surely the sons OF Heth avenge a wron., {,
the daughter Of their house in the land O.
their possession"
And he came yet nearer to Judith, ant
he found her exceeding fair to see, and n,
said:
Speak not OF wrong. fair Judith To-
verify not the jewellers OF Akrabbim, tn,
'scorpion-steps.' themselves could harm
thee. beautiful as the day. And tn,
giants OF the Palm rows are try neigh
10