The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-05-17

surprise OF her frieud1, 1he decided
that she would not 50 to the festiv.
tiles. 1t was then that they besieged
her with their pleadings until at last
she consented to go.
What is the matter with me any
way?" she exclaimed. irritatedly as she
busted herself with the preparations.
Why shouldn't l go, and why
shouldn't ! have a good time? Why
should / feel as | dor But even
while she impatiently argued with her.
self there kept recurring to her mind
the memory of her motherinlaw's
words, as repeatedly she had heard her
/ say, when asked to attend the feasts:
NO, ! have left my land, but I
!. did not leave my God behind, and I
! could not go up to the services that
! would do honor to those which are no
! gods at ALL"
She had felt a glow Of admiration
for Naomi at that time for her brave
words, and down deep in her heart she
knew that the gods which her people
worshiped were false gods and not
like the God whom the Hebrews wor.
SHIPPED. But now that she had gone
back to her people once more and
was away from the strong, uplifting
influence of that cody woman, she
had felt the old desire to enjoy the old
life as she had formerly done, but
somehow she could not.
But | will, | will, ! will" she ax-
claimed, as she made her final prep
arations and started forth with the
merry group of friends who had
come to accompany her to the
place of the celebration. AS they
moved on they chatted and laugh.
ed gayly, and 1t was not long ere
the old spirit of gayety had complete
possession Of her, and she forgot all
about the struggle she had had and
the questions which had kept her In
so unhappy a state since her return to
the old home.
Thus the day sped swiftly on. The
festivities were at their height, and
the great throngs of people awaited
the coming of the solemn procession
of the priests, who In the presence OF
all the people were to make their Of
ferings to the gods and invoke their
blessings upon the people, following
which the damsels were to dance the
s%inuous, dreamy figures which were
part of the religious ceremonies. Or.
pha, arrayed in her filmy, festal robes,
had taken her place with the other
dancers ready to play her part, when
the time should come, as she had
been wont to do in former years.
Are you not glad that you are here
and not in the land of Israeli" asked
one of her companions standing next
to her.
YES" answered Orpha enthusias.
tically, 'and | wish Ruth were here
to share in the festivities with u.s.
Foolish she was, indeed" was the
reply of the other. What can she
find there but poverty and hardship?
Have you had tidings from her since
she went away"
At the mention of the land of Israel,
WIN AN ia Va NUN q StIdlSGE Il
standing near had started and then
listened eagerly to the conversation
which followed, but so occupied were
Orpha and her friends with their con-
versation that they did not note this.
But suddenly they were aroused by an
abrupt inquiry addressed to Orpha:
did you know Ruth" he asked.
Bring you word from herr" Orpha
asked, eagerly. rs she well? How
fares she?" and she continued to pour
out a rapid fire of questions. piling up
her inquiries concerning Ruth.
The stranger lifted up his hand In
helpless protest to stem the flood Of
questions, saying, as he did so:
Listen, for l have just come from
Bethlehem and bring tiding of won
derful things which have come to
pass. Call her no longer poor, unfor-
tunate Ruth, for she has become the
wife of n of the principal men OF
the CITY,"
What's that you say?" cried Or
pha, ~incredulously, believing that her
ears ndu misunderstood.
And thus importuned the stranger
went on to explain and to give fur
Their details of her sister-inlaw's life
since going to Bethlehem.
At this point the conversation was
interrupted by the passing OF the
priests, mumbling their incantations,
while the people shouted the names
of their gods, crying:
Great are the gods of the Moabites.
Where are there gods like unto them,
and who can bestow blessing such as
they give to their faithful children"
Who, indeed?" thought Ohpha, bit.
terly, as her thoughts sped back to
that day when she had stood in the
roadway with Ruth and Naomi and
had finally turned back and left the
two to go on alone. Her gala attire
seemed as though mocking her In her
distress. She thought Of the abhor.
renee which Noami had had of the
feast days of the Moabites. What
would she think of her now in the
midst of that gayety? She knew that
the God whom Naomi had worshiped
and about whom she had spoken to
her two daughtersin-law, was the true
God. She might have had him for her
God, but she had turned back. Thus
harrassed by the workings of her con.
science, she turned and fled from the
place, crying out as she vent:
1T might have been, but now 1t ID
too late! Too late!"