Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1905-06-09

there 10 engage III Iethit5s sport anu rev |
elry.
1t WIS no new sight TO Lot, but to-day
he watched with increased interest the
groups OF pleasure seekers as they
passed. for were not the festivities in
honor OF the prince who was 10 wed his
daughter? lie felt proud and lattered at
the deferential mods and bows that
were bestowed upon him as people
passed. His neighbors and acquant
ances counted him fortunate, for il was.
no slight honor that the prince OF Sodom
was TO become his sOn-in-law Many
were the jovial words of greeting as peo-
pie paused TO offer congratulations.
What is fairer than yon garden
spot and. like the sun in his strength
as he avishes his wealth OF light and
warmth upon ito" asked a pompous
well fed individual. after the bowings
and greetings were over. He was one
OF the chief merchants Of the city, and
because of Lots official position they
came much in contact with each other,
and hence were on more than friendly
terms. AS he propounded the above
riddle he chuckled good-naturedly and
slapped Lot Familiarity on the back,
and then. before Lot could respond 10
the complimentary allusion to his
daughter and the prince, he continued
in a patronizing sort of way:
why is the father of the bride not
sharing in the festivities? All the city
has given itself over TO the merry
making! Why sit here when pleasures
may be had? Come away TO the grove
with me!
Lot sought TO make excuse and avoid
going, for he knew the eXcesses Of the
sports and revelry and was loath TO
share in them. Although n dweller in
Sodom, and willing partaker of the
luxury and ease and certain Of its
pleasures. be it said for Lot that he
held himself apart from the grosser
sins and friyolities of the Sodomites.
Such wickedness was repulslve TO his
better nature. and his conscience was
troubled at times but no word Of con
demnation was spoken, He feared to
denounce the sins of the place. Bet
ter be on good terms Of friendship with
the people, he thought, than gain their
enmity by preaching.
But the more Lot demurred, the
more determined seemed his friend
that he should 20 with him, and at
last Lot consented.
Wild was the fun. long was the feast
ing and deep was the drinking, and
now the dancing girls began their sim
nous. sensuous dancing, while the
coarse, profane testing Of the young
men and their boisterous laughter filled
the air.
Lot, inhamed by the wine, and half
insensible 10 the revolving scene before
him followed the movements of the
dancers. Something familiar in the
form and face of one of the damsels
caught his eye as she fitted past. The
next instant she was lost to view in
the maze Of the dance, but that glance
was enough He had seen his daugh-
ter! He was sober in an instant, and
revulsion OF feeling overcame him.
In confusion and shame he withdrew,
unobserved by his friend and the rest
Of the gay company, and returned TO
the city.
Who can know the troubled thoughts
that filed that fathers heart? Who
IAN understand the remorse he felt as
he began 10 realize that the wickedness
If Sodom was laying its cursed hand
upon his home? Only those who have
seen their loved ones going headlong
90 10 nj haUa raQliVQH
that they have opened the way OF
temptation to them. He had prided
himself on his own virtues, and he had
battered himself that he could dwell
in Sodom and keep his family from It's
corrupting influences, but he was only
beginning to learn that day what fear
full cost he was paying for its fieetine
riches. honor and power.
Adah, the daughter whom Lot had
seen in the giddy whirl of the sensuous
dance. did not return home that night
and the next morning the household
was thrown into CONSERVATION, ano
the servants dispatched In search Of
her.
The older sister, the bride-to- be. wal
impatient over the ulmCully, anu pctu
lantly exclaimed that she supposed Il
would spoil the plans Of the day. Thu
mother, who was thoroughly given vi
TO the gay life OF the city, and wh'
had encouraged her daughter In he
reckless freedom. dismissed the who'll
matter with a careless shake OF he
head. and the remark: "Oh. she Is al
right and will come home when sh
gets ready" The younger girls. flle'
with happy anticipations OF the ga.
festivities OF the day, wondered hov
she could stay away and miss sucl
a rare good time. But Lot. with un
easy conscience and anxious forebod
ings filling his heart. waited.
The pomp and ceremony are over
the feasting ended. and the bridal pre-
cession is forming for the triumpha
return to the palace. The waitin
crowds in gay dress and gayer spirit
shower flowers in the pathway OF tn
bridal couple as they appear, and wit
music and dancing and much merry
talking and laughter the processio