The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-08-11

Nklt It0lkG were gEiltlkHE. AQH IN KIT
center OF which was the great image
around which the feast was TO be held
the next day.
An unusual commotion A short dis
lance from where Esau sat drew his at
tention. A large eroup of travellers had
Just arrived. and ii was evident from
the trappings of the camels and the bag
gage that they were of some rank. AT
that moment Beeri came hurting for
ward. and Esau heard him say:
Welcome, my lord chief Elon. and
thy people"
Scarcely had he spoken his hearty
greeting when there came bounding
out of one of the tents near by a fair
young With a delighted cry
she seized in her arms a damsel stand
Ing near the man lust addressed by
Beeri.
"Oh, you did come. didn't you. Bash
emath?" she exclaimed. breathlessly.
Father said your father did not think
he would bring you, and | was SO dis
appointed"
well, | had to COAX 10 come, but now
that | am here. we will have such fun.
went we. JUDITH" And the two girls
turned and walked back towards the
tent, Both were Young and beautiful.
and Esau found himself watching their
animated faces and wondering If he
would meet them on the morrow at the
feast. 1t was evident that they noted
his presence. for after casting shy
glances in his direction they lowered
their voices to almost a whisper, and
then disappeared hastily within the
tent.
DAY dreaming. or thinking of that
antelope you lost this afternoon? 7" asked
a voice at his elbow. Esau started. So
absorbed had he been with his
meditation that he had not heard the
footsteps on the soft turf. and he looked
up to see Beeri and his friend standing
before him.
"This is Chief Elon. head of one OF
the tribes of the Hittites," Beeri went
on, not noticing the embarrassment of
Esau. And then turning to the other
he continued: "Chief. this is Esau, the
son of the great Shiek Isaac"
Both bowed low.
"Ah, it is an unusual honor to hav.
the son Of Isaac at enc of our feasts,"
Elon remarked, g~raciously.
YEA" broke In Beeri. heartily, may
1t be the beginning of closer fellowship
between our people and his"
Esau's thoughts reverted to the vision
of the two young women. and he re-
sponded, with some warmth:
1T may be. Why should 1t not be cot.
That night, long after quiet had set
tied down upon the camp, Esau lay In his
tent and thought over the strange es ents
which had brought him there. AS he
followed out each detail of the days
happenings he always came back to the
incident of the two younp women
Although 40 years old. he had never
before met the woman that specially in
terested him. In fact. the wild free life
which he led in the fields and the noun
tains took him away from all thought
and inclination for female society.
But that night new currents were set.
ting in in his life. New visions were
opening up before lin. He called the
words of Beeri expressing the hone Of
closer relations betwee the Hittite
tribes and the. tribe of Isaac, and his
found the thought growing in favor with
him. He grew quite enthusiastic as he
considered the prestige and power which
would come to his people by an alliance
with the Hittite people. He would
breach the matter to Beeri in the morn
ing. Thus thinking, Esau fell asleep.
The next morning he was astir early.
Though stiff and sore from his fall, he
sauntered forth, and soon found himself
wandering along the bank of the river.
Would he meet the young women that
day, he wondered. He stood absent
mindedly watching the water as it rip
pied over the stones, when voices were
heard approaching and, turning, he be-
held the two maidens of his thoughts
coming toward the river with their
water jars on their heads and chatting
merrlly. They did not note his presence
until almost upon him. and then stopped
in an embarrassed sorto way. and half
turned, as if tempted to beat a hasty re-
treat.
And Esau, unused as he was to women
and women's WAYS felt half inclined TO