St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1907-05-18

with some heat. nettled by the incredu.
! lous smile which played over DeIilah's
handsome face, "for Just the other
/ day at GAIA when a company OF
! picked men, the bravest of the Philis
/ tine army, lay in wait for him expect
ing certainly to kill him, he arose in
! the night and carried off not only the
i great massive iron gates of the city
but the posts thereof as well, and the
next day they were found at the very
top of the hill that is before Hebron"
Surely, he must be a WONDER" De-
lilah exclaimed, with growing admira-
ton, Il should like to see this mighty
man-and I WILL" she added with de
cision after moments pause.
Samson had Travelled far that day,
and as he rested from the heat of the
day under the shade of an olive tree
by the brink of the trickling stream
he fell asleep. How long he slept he
| knew not, save that as he aWoke with
a start he noted that the sun was
nearing the western horizon and the
heat in the atmosphere had given
place to that cool current of air which
always came down into the valley as
the evening approached. He arose
slowly and stretched his great form,
and then, throwing his mantle over
his broad shoulders and adjusting the
girdle at the loins, he prepared to
| orI 4oJ-
a dozen steps when he became aware
that pair Of eyes were observing
him closely from behind a bit of
shrubbery. He stopped short. Was
this a lurking enemy? Was this some
cowardly Philistine seeking to take
him unawares and to kill him? His
brow darkened and his eyes flashed
A half dozen quick strides brought
him to the side Of the bushes, and
hastily thrusting them aside he saw
not burly Philistine with bow and
spear seeking his life, but the beauti
full face and form of a woman.
Half abashed that she had been
caught spying upon him she let hel
eyes droop and half turned as though
she would flee. And Samson, surprised
beyond measure by the vision which
met his eyes, stood in awkward
silence, while his eyes drank in the
grace and beauty of the woman before
| him.
She was the first to speak, asking
with eager interest:
cart thou Samson?"
"How knowest thou my name, thou
fair one?" Samson replied, curiosity
mingling with his admiration.
"Ah! hath not the fame of thy valor
spread throughout all the land?" she
exclaimed, gracefully readjusting the
folds of her robe and smoothing some
of the stray locks Of hair which the
boisterous breeze had snatched from
the wealth of black hair that clus-
tered about her head and was sending
| in bewitching spray across the fair
cheek.
Samson moved uneasily in his en-
barrassment, for he did not enjoy the
words of praise or fattery, great,
simple fellow that he was, and to
change the subject be asked, in turn:
"And who are thou, my fair one?
and why art thou out alone in this
placer"
Il am Delilah, and to see thee am
come" she confessed, with a frank
ness that was charming. And she
quickly added, in appealing voice;
''And you will tell me all cbout the
wonderful things have heard con.
corning thee, will you not?"
NAY, but the story of thyself
would be a fairer tale" Samson ex-
claimed. where dwellest thou, that
may visit thee?"
Thou shalt come and see," she re-
piled, tripping off before him, while
Samson eagerly followed
That was the beginning of a love
which took complete possession of his
heart and life, so that he utterly for.
got the obligations that rested upon
him as judge in Israel.
And when it became known unto
the lords of the Philistines that Sam
son was enamored of Delilah, they
came up unto her and said:
"Entice him, and see wherein his
great strength lieth, and by what
means we may prevail against him,
that we may bind him to aff1ict him;
and we will give thee every one of US
eleven hundred pieces of silver"
And as they spoke they spread out
before her eyes the great shining piles
of silver coin. All! how much finery
that would buy for her dainty FORM
The more she thought of it the more
she was tempted to strive to make it
her own, and during the days which
followed she piled Samson with ques-
lions, using all the winning arts of
which her clever nature was capable,
until at last one day she knew that
Samson had revealed all his heart to
her and that the silver treasure was
within her grasp. And did ever sor-
row or regret fill her heart after her
lover had been bound and dragged
| from her side, one never knew, for
there were other admirers to take his
place and the wealth she possessed
gave her all her vain heart could
wish.