The Tupelo journal., 1905-08-11
Esau watched the busy

with the boisterous laughter and the
clatter and din of the camp wock.
An unusual commotion a short dis
lance from where Esau sat drew his at
tention. A large group of travellers had
just arrived, and it 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 enc of the tents near by q fair
young woman. With a delighted cry
she seized in her arms a damsel stand
Ing near the man just 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"
We'll, | had to oak to come, but now
that ! am here, we will have such fun,
WOIl l. VIC. JuQ1la Anu tAC tWO Sins
turned and walked back towards the
tent. Both were young and beautiful,
and Esau found himself watching their
animated faces and wondering il 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" asked
a voice at his elbow. Esau started. So
absorbed had he been with his own
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 have
the son of Isaac at one of our ~feasts,"
Elon remarked, ~graciously.
Yea" broke in Beeri, heartily, may
it be the beginning of closer fellowship
between u people and his"
Esau's thoughts reverted to the vision
of the two young women, and he re-
sponded, with some warmth:
ct may be. Why should it not be SOP"
That night, long after quiet had set
tied down upon the camp, Esau lay in his
tent and thought over the strange events
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 young women, and
he found himself eagerly recalling every
feature of face and form.
Although 40 years old, he had never
before met the woman that specially in
terested him, in fact, the wild free life
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 him. He called the
words of Beeri expressing the hope Of
closer relations between the Hittite
tribes and the tribe of Isaac, and he
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, Esaufell 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
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
merrily. They did not note his presence
until almost upon him, and then stopped
In an embarrassed sort of 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
stampede, too, but, resisting the panicky
feeling. he stammered out:
Let me fill your jars for you"
"Oh, thank you" both girls exclaimed,
forgetting their shyness in their graft
tude, and watching with admiring eyes
while the stalwart form of the great
hunter bent low over the rivers brink
and dipped up the water from the cool
depths.
How come you to be abroad so ear
Iy?" questioned Judith. did not the
guest of my father rest well?"
Eyes, my fair one," responded Esau;
"there was no lack for the comfort of
the body, but my mind and heart were
much occupied, and reused mi early"
Troubled and anxious to be back
among your own people?' she asked,
half reproachfully.
NAY. rather do | begin to dread the
thought of coming departure" and
Esau looked tenderly at the woman be-
fore him.
Evidently not noting the look, she
hastily asked:
"And why need you think of going?"
Would you be pleased to have ms re-
naain?o Fsau asked, quickly, and looking
| eagerly into her face.
A deep blush was her only answer,
and realizing that she had said more