Custer County Republican. (Broken Bow, Neb.) 1882-1921, 1907-08-01

Israel would destroy the uncircum.
cised Philistine, seeing he had defied
the armies of the living God.
Jonathan listened to the story with
intense and growing interest, of how
! this youth had been at last taken to
the presence of his father, the king;
of how he had laid aside at last the
armor which had been provided for
him with the simple remark that he
had not proved them and had better
trust to his shepherds sling, which,
said he, never has failed me yet"
80 1t came to pass to-day, that
when the giant came out as was his
daily practice to hurl defiance at the
army of Israel, that this youth in his
simple shepherd garb and with sling
in hand went out to meet him."
What" exclaimed Jonathan, in
credulously. you do not mean to tell
me that his only weapon was a
sling? That he killed Goliath with a
stone?"
That was all the weapon which he
had" responded the armor bearer,
evidently enjoying the astonisliment
of his leader. "Oh but that was a
wonderful sight-the 1.-THE young fell
low going fearlessly to meet the great
| giant. 1t seemed as though there
could be but one outcome to the bat
tie. But as the young man ran for
ward he picked a stone from his bag
and with marvellous swiftness and
| chill ho . ipor i,,tr thn 10,
! pie of Goliath, finding the only open
| ing there was between the joints Of
| the heavy iron helmet. With an aw-
full groan, audible even at the point
where l stood in the ranks of our
army, the giant pitched headlong and
| struck the ground with such force
that the earth fairly trembled, while
his armor made an awful din, and his
sword and spear fell Gathering from
his now limp and powerless hands"
But surely the stone did not kill
him. He was only stunned by the
blow" calculated Jonathan.
True, no doubt" responded the
armor bearer, with the self-possessed
reinsurance of one who still has the
best part of his story to tell, "but our
young champion was not slow to fol-
low up his advantage. With the quick
ness Of a mountain lion he sprang for
ward, seized the great sword of the
giant in both hands and with sturdy
blows he sent it's keen blade down
deep between the joints of the
helmet and the shoulder plates, and
was soon holding the grim, CHASTITY
head of the giant up in full view Of
both armies. Speeches. the soldiers
stood scarcely able to realize that it
was all real. But as the true situation
dawned upon them a mighty shout of
exultant triumph broke forth from the
army of Israel and selling their
weapons they rushed down the hill
into the valley and up towards the
Philistines who stood on the side of
the hill opposite. And when the Phil
istines saw their champion was dead
and that the army of Israel was upon
then they turned and fled in the mad
frenzy of fear and calling on their
gods to save them
jonathan was silent when the story
was finished, and as he fastened for
ward his mind was busy with the de-
tails of the wonderful story and he
formed the resolve that he would
know the young man who had
wrought such deliverance for Israel.
All~that day and night the pursuit
of the Philstines continued, and
tired and footsore, but with elated
spirits the soldiers of Israel returned
the next day. Jonathan stopped only
long enough to refresh himself with
a bath and to remove his soiled and
torn garments before seeking the
presence of his father, for he had
made up his mind that he would ask
of him the favor Of the presence at
court of the young hero who had
killed the giant. He found an I'M
usual commotion about the courtway
Of the palace and learned from one Of
the attendants that Abner, the cap
tain of all the hosts of Israel had just
that moment arrived bringing David
} with him. Quickly Jonathan passed
within and stood at the rear of the
great audience room, quite spell
bound by the sight before him. There
was lne youti, Sldt"dit Vi iIdine anu
rudy and fair Of couIeenance, clear
of eye, and with dignity of bearing
which made him striking figure
, even in the midst of that courtly
company In his hand he was carry
ing the CHASTITY trophy of his heroism,
Jonathan listened with growing ad.
, miration to his modest answers as he
talked with his father, and when the
latter had dismissed him Jonathan
quickly sent his faithful armor bearer
to fetch him to his apartments.
l And as they talked together the soul
of Jonathan was knit with the soul OF
| David, and he loved him as his own
soul. Never before had he found one
, who could sympathize with him in his
| 10. aI,r.I:cninta l.