Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1908-01-09

upon which the other woman ceased
not for a moment to keep her eyes.
The humorous side Of the situation
appealed to the official, and after lin
gering a few moments and falling to
obtain anything save a superficial I'M
Outstanding OF the matter, he turned,
and with an amused expression on his
face he again entered the palace
courtyard and was soon mingling
with the groups Of men who had as.
sembled in the kings audience hall.
The king had not yet assembled his
throne, and the buzz of conversation
filled the great hail as the officials
talked of the various matters which
were to be brought before the king.
AS the last conner entered and
Joined himself to a group standing
not far from the throne he was greet.
ed with the inquiry:
And what errand brings you
thither?"
And then one Of the group, noticing
the half.amused expression which had
not yet left his face, spoke up and
said:
Surely 1t is a pleasant message
which Nahshon hath for the king this
| day"
And thus challenged, the man ad.
dressed went on with great gusto to
relate the incident which had Just
tTanspired at the outer gate.
1T was not quite clear to me
whether or not the women purposed
to present the king with the babe,
and each vas contending for the
honor Of so doing"
And to think that they should sup.
pose that the king had time or thought
for such as they or for matters such
as might come between them"
The words of the last speaker were
spoken with a rising infection, show.
ing the contempt which he felt at so
absurd a proposition, and during the
momentary hush which had fallen
they rang out clear and distinct, so
that the king, entering at that mo.
ment, overheard what wac said.
Instantly upon the appearance of
the king there was a hush, and every.
thing else was forgotten in the for.
malities of receiving and paying hom
age to their lord.
For some moments after the formal
ceremonies were over the young king
remained silent. thoughtfully contem-
plating the assembly of the chief men
before him.
What think you" he asked at
length, lis the most important mat.
ter to come before us? Is the king.
dom greater than the rights of the in.
dividual?"
Puzzled by the words Of the king,
the officials before him remained 81.
lent. And again the king spoke.
Should not the king have time for
any who desire judgment rendered.
Again there was silence. Then,
turning his eyes upon the official who
was speaking when he entered, he
asked;
And who is It that is beneath the
thought of the king?"
In great confusion and trepidation
the man mumbled something, and
then Nahshon, grasping the trend of
the kings mind and heart, boldly
stepped forward and recounted with
no spirit of ridicule, now, the story Of
the two women who had been waiting
at the gate that morning.
I'VE shall do nothing this day I'M.
I'll the ease of these two women is
heard calculated the king.
Instantly one of the kings close
advisers stepped to h.J side and whis.
pered in his ear something at which
the king impatiently shook his head
and exclaimed, so that all in the room
heard:
What If they are? Have not even
the harlots need of the righteous judg.
ment of the king?"
And then turning to n of the mes,
sengers sanding near he commanded
the to be sought out and
brought in forthwith.
Had ever such a thing come to pass
before in Israel, the chief men asked
themselves that day as they left the
audience chamber and departed FOL
the different portions Of the king
dom? Surely the wisdom and justice
of God rested on their king that eveI
the lowest and most despised shout,
} be able to come to him and find help
And everywhere throughout tn,
kingdom the story spread Of the tw'
women and the disputed babe, an,
the judgment which the king ha
judged; and all Israel feared tn
king; for they saw that the wisdom G
T God was in him to do judgment.