Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1909-02-10

tnat thou shouldst go IN unto tina kin,
ana plead with him for the lives of thy
people, yea, and for thine own life
too" nv
Leave me to think" cried the
queen. wringing her hands. "Ob. this
is terrible"
When alone she threw herself upon
ner couch and. burying her face in the
SOFT cushions that her voice might bs
suned' she gave way to the food OF
sriet which overcame het. rNar ana
sorrow, superstitious dread and a,.xrv
resentment filled her heart and sven,
her IN nerce passion like a helpless
snip In the grasp OF terrible storm.
On, IL cannot, 1t must not be-" shs
| orieu at last, her womanhood asserting
'tseif and checking the sobs which had
shaken her frame. TT cannot. it can.
not be!"
She sat up and looked about her
was she not queen? What had she
70 Tear? The thought flashed across
her mind to take her chance of escap.
ing the effect Of the decree of the king
NO one knew she was a Jew. And WHY
should not her exalted station "a ouesn
shelter her?
But scarcely had the thought flashed
into her mind than she turned from II
in disgust.
What though my life were spared
she demanded OF her self fiercely, Il,
all my people should perish and above
all, my Mordecai oh, Mordecai. Nor.
| has
us! But what can l do? l cannot go
In unto the king unless he bid me, and
why should perish before him bef,p.
l mad mad chance to aid my peoplel
Surely. am perplexed."
Then, calling Hatach, she babe him
carry word back to Mordecai and say
to him:
All the kings servants, and all The
people Oh the kings provinces know
that whosoever, whether man or WON.
an snail come unto the king into the
inner court, who is not called. there in
one law OF his to put him to death. az.
cept SUCH to whom the king shall hold
out the golden sceptre, that be may
i've; but | have not been called To
come In unto the king these 80 days."
lhat night little sleep came to
queen Esther, and she was ready wait.
ing early in the morning for the return
or Hatach, whom she knew would
orlng her word as soon as possible.
ana ne did not keep her long waiting.
tor the message of Mordecai was ur
gent and full of ominous meaning:
Think not" was the message Nor.
gnnt 70 he,
cape In the kings house, more than all
the Jews"
nush overspread the pallid face of
the queen, and she spoke up hastily.
interrupting the words of Hatach:
Nay, nay, Mordecai did misunder-
sCand the import of my words. I
thought not of myself, but of my PEG.
pie and of Mordecai. What shall il
profit them if 1 perish miserably be-
fore the wrath of the king? Then in.
deed l could not serve them. MAY
there not be some more sure way O:
bringing deliverance?"
Without replying to Queen Esther's
question, Hatach continued:
For If thou altogether holdest thy
peace at this time, then shall there en-.
largement and deliverance arise to the
Jews from another place"
Yea" fervidly responded Esther
catching the inspiration OF Mordecai's
faith. Yea, God will give deliverancs
to his people"
a new light Of hope broke over the
face of Hatach at Queen Esther's
words, and he continued, confidently:
Who knoweth whether thou art
come to the kingdom for such a time
as this?'
Her heart gave q great bound as II
responded to the sublime thought.
How 1t dignifled her present position.
Here was glory and honor far exceed.
ing any which the mere possession OF
royal honors and power could ever be.
stow. The memory OF her eventful life
swept over her like a flood. How she
had been left a helpless, defenseless
orphan, and in that dark hour had been
claimed by her fathers nephew. How
he had nurtured and cared for her as
he might have done for a daughter.
and how his place in the official life of
the palace had given him opportunity
or preparing her for the place which
had so woudrously opened up for her
az queen.
Perhaps, indeed, It was for Just
such time as this that I have come
hither," she repeated softly to herself.
She lifted her proud head. her graceful
form felt the thrill of the dignity OF
the new thought, and every curve grew
firm with the resolve which had been
formed within, and with voice from
which all trace of fear and doubt had
now vanished she said: