The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-10-11

hiHS 'pDh aV llBJhil'hh 'bi
around the roof terrace and thei
threw himself with a Disseminated
sigh upon one of the soft dlyan'
which furnished the sumptuous apart
ment. IT was a delightful place tt
be, he thought, as he looked abouI
him. and then mp at the blue sky
which was deepening with the even
Ing shadows. The thought of leav-
Ing the ease and comfort Of his splen
did palace filled him with impatient
regret,
why should he go?' he asked him,
self. Why not let Joab 90 alone
Yes, no would lose the glory OF the
victory, bat was he not as king en-.
titled TO seek his own ease and con.
fo5t|" thus he reasoned, and at last
The resolve was made and he dis,
patched n Of his servants with a
note to Joab telling him that he would
larry at jerusalem and commanding
joab 10 lead the army against the
A~mmonit"a a. had been planned.
So it came to pass that the next
day the army departed leaving King
David behind to enjoy the Ease and
comfort Of his palace.
i Will join Joab later" he prom,
ised himself, as he watched the long
dcflc Of soldiers pass down the val,
ley He was In his f~aYorite place on
the terrace, and when the last divt.
sion had passed out of sight, he threw
himself back upon the couch and gave
himself mp TO dreamy speculation OF
the probable development in the
campaign against the A%mmonites. He
had not the least shadow of doubt as
to the outcome. Had he, IT Is doubt
fui whether he would have been con.
tent TO have remained behind. But
with the absolute certainty Of victory,
he gave himself up 10 the enjoyment
OF the luxury about him.
SO the days passed. II had been al,
most a week now since tidings had
come from the army, and while he
did not feel uneasy as TO the progress
OF the campaign, the lack of news
served to again raise the question in
his " mind as TO his place of duty
Why should he tarry there in ease
while the men Of Israel endured the
hardships and the dangers OF bat
tie? He felt half ashamed of himself,
and was almost on The point of order.
ing the servants to prepare for the
journey, when the impulse was check
ed by the inner prompting to delay
starting for a day,
Perhaps" he said by way of apollo.
gy, to his better impulses, they are
on the way home even now, and delay
sending word that the whole army
may share in the JOY of bringing lid
ings of victory"
In this spirit Of self.complacency he
himself for his midday rest,
promising himself by way of compro.
mise to start surely on the morrow II
tidings had not by that time reached
him. Little did he think what his
procrastination was to cost him. But
the promise TO start on the morrow
served TO still the troubled conscience
within, and he gave himself up to the
and pleasures about him with n
relish.
NO. he said when the servant
invoke him from his afternoon slum-
,er. NO, ! will not attend the even
ne sacrifice" and he stretched him,
languidly and took a turn around
he room. Ease and %indulgences in
he Injuries of tho table are not con.
lucive to ptety, and be 1t said for
that of tate he had grown cold
n his religious life. As he looked
bout him he could not help think
II the contrast there was between
What he now enjoyed and his simple
lie as a shepherd boy years be,
ore.
Il guess that | did live nearer to
'od then than | do now" he confess.
d to himself as the thought came to
i'm OF his harp and the joy he used
get out of it as he sang praises :
o God on the sides of the Judear
Ills while his sheep grazed con
about him.
And why not get the old harp out T.,
nd sing some of the old songs here ,
nd now2" urged the inner voice, ,
Not tonight" he said, half impa. ,
emily, else | will miss the delight. +
ii erentide IN my fayorite nook on =,
le roof terrace" and he started to. :
ard the stairway leading TO the love. 6
: spot. +,
Not even the better promptings /,
ould hold him. He had become so a
ecustomed of late TO yielding to he c
iere physical desires that the :
bought of denying himself was an I'm. y
clcomo one. &,
Tomorrow" he promised himself. I,
5 he reached the roof, u will get out Il
y harp and worship God in the old g
)ngs. :
Tomorrow" All, fatal mistake. +
.sastrous delay, for that night there 9
the temptation which swept him y
I his feet, and forever linked his =
with his companion in sin, the
'inglorious and beautiful Bathsheba