The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-09-01

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His wife made nc response, and
nothing more was said on the sub
iect, but her mind was busy with a
plan to help her daughter Leah.
The next day as Rachel was pre-
pairing TO drive the focks to the we'll,
as usual, her mother said.
Leah will water the sheep tonight,
for ! want you to help me with tne
work at home"
Rachcl's face fell.
But why can't | go with the sheep.
mother?" she asked, p~etulantly.
Leah can help you better than l."
yes, but it is time you were learn
ing to do more. Leah shall CO."
And that settled it, and Rachel
watched her sister depart with INK
ious heart. Would Jacob be there?
OF course he would, for had he not
so whispered TO her as he had left
in the morning to go with her father
and brothers TO the fields? she Won
dered whether he would miss her.
Would he tell her sister ali the in
teresting stories he had related to her?
Would he be as gentle and kind to
Leah as he had been to her?
That day. as on other days, Jacob
fastened from the fields when the
days work was done and went towards
the we'll.
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"
he thought.
He found the other shepherds gath
cred at the well, and they greeted him
good-naturedly. They had become
used to his visits hither, and had
chafed him not a little on his devo-
ton to his pretty cousin. Tonight,
noticing the flowers in his hand, they
asked him If he had brought them
to feed the lambs.
Mot enough for a TASTE said one.
NO" responded another, but he can
give them all a 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 fer the fairest OF
maidens. And hereshe 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. 1t 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 FASTENED
to Leah's side and asked:
Where is Rachel? Is she ill?"
Leah noted the disappointment in his
face. 1t sent a pang to her heart, for
since the coming Of her cousin there had
grown UP in her heart a tender regard for
him, and she had watched with jealous
eye the intimacy which had sprung up
between him and Rachel
Rachel is at home. She could not
come"
But why?" Jacob asked, shortly,
searching the face of the woman before
him.
Mother would not let her." she re-
sponded, in a 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
1y, Jacob was tempted to turn away and
leave her to water the sheep alone, but
getting the better of his Immature he
followed and silently dipped the water
from the well for her. And while she
was busy giving to the thirsty animals,
he watched her. He could not hell
making comparisons between her and
her sister, the contrasts were so great.
Her face was plain to almost LONELINESS,
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 a gentle,
tender spirit.
The next day and the next he went
to the well in hopes that at last Rachel
would be there, but disappointmentsu sue
ceeded disappointment. and during those
two days he only had fieeting glimpses
of the girl. Not so much as a word or a
smile. He wondered If 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 mus
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 a
smile and a 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 we're sheared. and, though his
spirits we're low, Jacob had again proved
dis skill. and Laban was more than ever |