Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1901-09-26

Hcnt upoT let gracerul, supple figure,
but from that moment he was hers by
that divine right which knows neither
command nor obedience. Her presence
filled his soul by day, and by night the
thought Of her controlled and possessed
him.
One day Zamtra summoned him and
announced. that henceforth he should
be one of her personal slaves. He
gazed upon the lovely creature as she
rested luxuriously against the silken
cushions. Truly she was fair to look
upon. Her long Persian cloak, studded
In silver and lined with ermine. re-
vealed the graceful outlines of her fig
ure, and her unhappy servant felt his
whole body thrill as with an electric
shock as he listened in respectful
silence to her command
Letting her dark. piercing eyes linger
upon him for an instant, Zamira Or
dered him to put on her slippers. and
then babe him bring her coffee
Naome obeyed, but in his trepidation
he stumbled upon the rug and upset
the precious mocha.
Stupid" cried Zamira, in a rage. II
shall have to give you lesson!'
She rose, seized the whip which was
always near at hand for such emer-
gencies, and despite Naome's falling on
his knees before her and crossing his
arms in submission she let the lash
whistle through the air and gave him
several cuts across the back. then
throwing her instrument of torture
behind her she ordered the culprit to
quit the room.
When he had gone she threw herself
upon the diyan. bit her nails in the
wild heat of her anger, and finally,
yielding to the feeling of shame that
overwhelmed her, reproached herself
bitterly and burst into flood of tears.
But Naome was kissing the stripe
upon his arm where his mistress lash
had fallen.
That same evening the new moon
hung like a glorious jewel in the sky.
the night, had thrown her veil about
her and wandered in the garden unat-
tended. The soft, consoling light of
the moon shone for our poor captive as
well. and. unconsciously almost. he
found himself seated under a large
olive tree near the house. The green
sward about him was decked with
flowers. grove Of orange and lemon
trees stretched down toward the sea,
whose waves were silvered in the
moonlight. and the sweet breath of the
night laden with heavy fragrance.
soothed and comforted him.
Suddenly one of the myths of the
Talmud required to him
"When God created the two celes-
tial lights and assigned them their
places in the heavens, the moon ap-
preached him and said:
40 Lord. it isn't well that two of
thy servants should be Of the same
rank. Make me. l pray thee. larger
and more brilliant than the SUM-
"And the Lord was angered and said:
Thou art right. but because thou hast
desired to be raised above thy COM
panion therefore shalt thou be set be-
meath him. and from this time forth
shalt thou be smaller than he and thy
light less powerful
THE moon grew pale and sorrow
fully departed from the presence of the
Creator.
"Then God pitied her and gave her
the stars for companions"
The blessing Of the new moon is q
religious observance which the pious
Jew never neglects. and here, far from
his home and kindred, captive and
stranger in strange land. Naome felt
more imperatively than ever the need
of performing this ceremony.
Crossing the garden Zamira was
struck with amazement at seeing her
slave standing q few PAGES before her,
his face turned toward the moon. She
stepped back noiselessly and. standing
In the shadow of some cypress trees,
listened to him as he pronounced a
benediction which fell upon her ears
with sweet and tender association:
Blessed be thou. o God. who renew