The L'Anse sentinel., 1908-01-18

when the other broke In with her
story and he soon saw that It wa
some sort of q controversy between the
two over the little babe which one
woman carried upon her bosom. and
upon which the other womaN cessed
not for moment to keep her eyes
The. humorous side Of the situation
appealed to the oflicial. and after iin'
gering few moments and falling to
obtain anything save superficial un-
derstanding OF the matter, he turned.
and with an amused expression on h,S
face he again entered the palace
courtyard and was soon mingiing
with the groups Of men who had a.
sembled In the kings audience hall.
The king had not yet ascended his
| throne, and the buzz Of conversation
filled the great hall as the ofacials
talked of the various matters which
were to be brought before the king.
As the last conner entered and
joined himself to . group standing
not far from the throne he was yreet-
ed with the inquiry:
!. "And what errand brings you
thither7"
And then one Of the group. noticing
the half-amused expression which had
not yet left his face, spoke up and
said:
Surely It 10 . 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
transpired 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 was contending for the
honor Of 80 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 rising infection, show.
Ing the contempt which he felt at 50
absurd q 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 was said.
| Instantly upon the appearance OF
the king there was hush, and every.
thing else was forgotten in the for
] malities of receiving and paying HON.
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 al
length, ''is 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 fol
any who desire judgment rendered.
Again there was silence Then
turning his eyes upon the oficial who
was speaking when he entered. hs
| asked:
And who is It that is beneath the
thought of the king?"
In great confusion and trepidatior
the man mumbled something, and
then Nahshon, grasping the trend oi
the kings mind and heart, boldly
stepped forward and recounted with
no spirit Of ridicule. now, the story ol
the two women who had been waiting
at the gate that morning.
I'VE shall do nothing this day un
til the case Of these two women II
heard" calculated the king.
Instantly one of the kings close
advisers stepped to his side and whis
pered In his ear something at which
the king impatiently shook his heat
and exclaimed, 30 that all in the room
heard:
] What II they are? Have not ever
the harlots need of the righteous jude
ment of the king?"
And then turning to one of the mes
sengers standing near he commanded
the women to be sought out ans
brought In forthwith.
Had ever such q thing come to pas,
before In Israel, the chief men askes
themselves that day AZ they left tn,
audience chamber and departed TO
the different portions Of the king
domf Surely the wisdom and justice
Of God rested on their king that evel
the lowest and most despised shoult
to abla IN couna IN him and ma hahn