The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1906-06-15

Jne present free from the fascination
Of the brilliant scene. and with eyes
to observe ne would readily have de
Tected underneath the kings gay eX-
teriOr a nervous apprehension, and
noted that in the depths Of the spark
ling eyes which looked upon the
scene there Mrked an expression of
fear and terror. And il one had
watched him he would soon have no
fiCed that not for an instant did he
lose sight of his first born son in
whose honor the brilliant function had
been arranged. With an eagerneSS
and intensity almost painful his eyes
followed the young mans every move,
and if for an instant he was lost sight
OF amidst the thrCng he would start
up uneasily and shift his position I'M
iii he had again brought him within
Tange of his vision.
Two weeks had passed since his last
interview with Moses, but try as he
would he could not forget his solemn
warning. He had made light of it. He
bad persuaded himself that he in
whom the spirit of the Egyptian gods
Eested had nothing to fear. Day by
day lie mad kept his son near him,
quite confident that thus he could
ward off any evil thing which might
seek to overtake him. But as the
days came and went the fear and ap-
prehension wore on his nerves and on
the day before he had sought diversion
for himself and entertainment for his
son in the present functi~n.
But there was no thought or inClina-
zion on his part of listening to Moses
or of needing his warning, for his
naughty. proud, unyielding spirit
turned his heart hard as flint and in
great anger 1 had driven Moses from
his presence vOwing if he should again
show his face he would lose his life.
But try as he would he could not for
yet Moses word of judgment against
the first born of Egypt and against
his own son He did not believe it,
and yet he could not dismiss the
thought from his mind. He had con-
suited the astrologers of the temple
and his wise men who had assured
him that the stars and all signs were
RaspiciouS for a long life and success
gul reign for his son. But nOtwith-
standing these reasSuring words he
felt apprehensive and whether asleep
or awake the vision of Moses was
ever before him and the words he had
spoken kept ringing in his ears:
about midnight will Jehovah go
out in the midst of Egypt and all the
ifrst-born in the land shall die. from
the first born of Pharaoh even unto
the first born of the hand maiden
Midnight" The first born, even the
son of Pharaoh" How eagerly and
intensely he had watched his son since
thenl How anxiously he had counted
the time at the midnight hour. Thus
the days had passed.
But he was not content to let thu
matter rest there, for he sent his mes
ssengers secretly to Goshen to spy OF
Moses and find out what was tranSpir
ing there. And when he had learned
OF the singular preparations unde
way he felt more than ever uneasy ant
troubled.
The last information he had re
ceiyed had been obtained the day be
fore when his messenger told him o
the preparations which the Hebrew
we're making for the sacrifice of
lamb, the blood of which was to
sprinkled upon the Intel and sid
posts of the doorways of the people
sor, said they solemnly, The Lord i
50 pass through the land"
Said they that" exclaimed Phar
soh. as Moses words came with neV
force to him.
Yes" responded the messenger
Who had been deeply impressed wit
what he had seen and heard. .'Ye:
she Hebrews seem desperately in earn
est. and they evidently believe tina
their God is about to do some wonder
Jul thing. And as near as could dis
cover from their conversation, the
expect the visitation at midnight, an
have all been told to shut themselve
Il in their homes. lest death should Over
q take them"
Pharaoh paled viSibIy, and silent
and sullenly dismissed his messenge
and then moved by a reckless spirit {
defiance he had planned for the bri
Slant court affair of that evenin
thinking 70 so surround himself an
his son with the thrill and throb
court life as to defy even death.
but as the evening wore on Pharac
grew more and more FESTIVE. The MI
mentS as they passed seemed lii
hours, and time and time again |
sent his attendant TO find whether Il
midnight watch had yet been s.
The last time the attendant had r
zurned saying that it still lacked son
time of the hour his son bad be-
standing at his side. and had aske
|okingly. why he was so 81 scern