St. Tammany farmer., 1905-09-23

brightest and most delightful OF al
the day. All day long he looked for.
ward to the hour when he could diI
from the well the water for her sheep
and could talk with her.
Surely the Lord is good to have
brought me to this place." he ex.
claimed to himself as he stopped and
picked some Of the lilies growing in
profusion all over the fields. "These
will look beautiful in her dark hair, u
he thought
He found the other shepherds gath
cred at the we'll, and they greeted him
good-naturedly. They had become
used to his visits hither, and had
chafed him not little on his devo-
ton to his pretty cousin. Tonight
noticing the flowers in his hand, they
asked him II he had brought them
to feed the lambs.
"Not enough for a TASTE" said one.
NO" responded another, 'but he can
give them al smell around, and make
them believe they are still roaming the
fields" They all laughed at this sally,
and Jacob, too happy to take offense at
the crude joking, replied:
These lilies bloomed for the fairest Of
maidens. And here she comes" he add
ed as he lifted his eyes and saw Laban's
sheep coming and a girlish figure in
their midst
He halloed to her and then started
towards her, waving the blossoms above
his head and shouting:
See what have gathered for thee"
Suddenly he stopped. That was not
Rachel. It was Leah. Disappointment
and anxiety seized him. He dropped the
flowers in the grass, the flowers he had
expected to see smile forth from
Rachel's dark tresses, and then, eager to
know why she had not come, he hastened
to Leah's, side and asked:
Where is Rachel? Is she ill?"
Leah noted the disappointment In his
face. 1t sent pang to her heart, for
since the coming of her cousin there had
grown up in her heart tender regard for
him, and she had watched with jealous
eye the intimacy which had sprung up
between him and Rachel And now 1t
was plain to see that he had no welcome
for her. His whole thought was Of
Rachel. Trying to disguise her feel
ings, she looked up into Jacobs face with
her great lustrous eyes and smiled, and
then said:
Rachel is at home. She could not
come"
'eBut why?" Jacob asked, shortly,
searching the face of the woman before
him.
Mother would not let her." she re-
sponded, in confused sort of way. and
then added hastily: "But we are vast
ing time The sheep must be watered."
AS Leah moved towards the well
whittier the sheep had eagerly gone and
where they were now bleating impatient
ly, Jacob was tempted to turn away and
leave her to water the sheep alone, but
getting the better of his ill-nature he
followed and silently dipped the water
from the we'll for her. And while she
was busy giving to the thirsty animals,
he watched her. He could not help
making comparisons between her and
her sister, the contrasts were so great.
Her face was plain to almost homeliness,
and her figure lacked the rounded grace
which her more favored sister possessed,
but as she raised her eyes and looked
towards him he noticed how wonder
fully deep and expressive they were. One
looking into them became instantly con-.
scious that behind them was gentle,
tender spirit But he could not forget
or forgive her for having come in her
sisters place, and so, despite her evident
desire to be bright and cheerful, the
walk home was made almost in silence,
Jacob answering her questions in mono-
syllables, while his thoughts went out
to the absent girl.
The next day and the next he went
to the well in hopes that at last Rachel
would be there, but disappointments sue
ceeded disappointment, and during those
two days he only had feeting glimpses
Of the girl. Not so much as word or
smile. He wondered il she was avoiding
him. His heart was troubled and he
grew gloomy and homesick. Tie next
day Laban was going with the boys to
shear sheep down the valley by the river
side where the wool could be washed, and
Jacob was going along. He felt he must
see Rachel before going, and watching
his opportunity he intercepted her as
she was leaving her mothers tent, but
the only reward Of his vigilance was q
smile and q nod from her, for just as he
reached her side her mother called her
and like a frightened bird she had flown
back into the tent. The days dragged on.
The sheep were sheared, and, though his
spirits were low, Jacob had again proved
his skill, and Laban was more than ever
pleased with his sisters boy. On the
third day they returned home, and as
they came through the fields by a little
wooded strip not far from the house,
Jacob fingered behind, why he knew not
save that his heart was heavy and sad
AS he sat under one OF the trees, won
dering II he was going to see his be-
loved Rachel, he felt a gentle touch
upon his arm and looking up found her
bending over him.
And you haven't been trying to avoid
me-" he asked for the hftieth time as |
they walked slowly homeward. And for
the fiftieth time Rachel responded:
@Oh, Jacob, II you could only know how
sad and lonesome have been"