News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1917-05-09

ing girls would put in an appearance.
| AS soft music was played in the house
| BY slaves who strummed their harps
| and gently clashed the cymbals, and
| the light became less as the setting sun
disappeared behind the tops Of the fig
trees, Jether took Tisha in his arms
and started to lead his guests into the
house for the feast. But touch on
the arm made him pause. 1t was Mer-
bel, an exquisitely dressed fop. with
blond hair and "a high shrill voice.
Good Jether,' he Pleaded, for our
friendships sake, lend me hundred
shekels. To come to thy feast in better
raiment had to promise payment for
this mantle"
Jether, with a careless laugh, handed
him hundred shekes in gold, where
at Tisha frowned. Merbel, with a low
obeisance, took the money and cried,
MAY Jether's children reign as kings
of Israeli
Parsodias, the Mede, a fierce, full
bearded man, who wore a jeweled
sword which never left his side, strobe
up to Jether: "Of thee, prince, 1 would
loaxn something. have heard thine lis
land where wild beasts roam. Dost
kill thy lions with bow or javelin,
mounted or on foot?"
Jether, unused to city ways and
speaking only the truth as he knew it
in Judea, replied simply, "On foot, with
knife alone, l have killed lion"
"a mighty lon?" cried Hadramut,
the Arabian. Il shall reward thee
Prince Jether. Thou shalt have my
mare, the queen of the desert. Naught
cares Hadramut for thy riches, but
since thou art his friend and hath
slain a lion single handed, thou shalt
have my mare. Between me and thee"
he added inSinuatingly, as he held out
his hand SUCCESSFULLY, What is a thou
sand shekels?'
Jether smiled and instinctiyely reach
ed into his purse. He drew out
handful of ceins and was about to
count out the money to Hadramut
when the ever watchful lola inter
fered.
With one quick grasp he took the
money from Jether's hands and swept
it into his own capaciOus purse.
Keep thy tottering nag for one who
hath done thee wrong, for l have seen
it," he cried. shall Jether waste on
thee a thousand shekels, when his best
friend is needy? Nay, good Jether,
let Tola advise thee when thou dOst
wish to purchase horse"
Jether, with laugh, turned again to
Tisha. The men, with madness in their
brains, were thinking little Of the prom
Used feast and much of the wine served
them by the Nubians, and of the beau
tfful women who lolled so languidly
about the garden upon the divans and
cushions. Within the house the strum-
ming of the harps and the beating of
the cymbals made rough, weird music,
and as The darkness descended score
Of lamps were lighted in the gardens
to cast a strange and rosy light over
the picture of oriental magnifcence.
As Tisha. clasped in the arms of
Jether, toycd with the scarf he wore,
Ahab, the servant Of Put, who had been
waiting without the gate, approached
him.
Thy pardon, good MASTER" bowed
Ahab, prostrating himself before Je-
Their. "A maiden at the gate asks It'd
ings of Master Jether."
"A maiden asks for me? Who is
sheY' demanded Jether curiOusly.
81 know not"
aIIo,,. doth eha Iook ?"
"As one a stranger to the city, all
clad in simple white. with leathern san
dals. She draws her veil before her
face and says, 'Canst tell me. my good
man. how fareth Master JetherT"
As Tisha started to rise as if to see
the stranger, Jether held her by the
arm. Tisha paused and smiled. Wears /
she many jewels?" she demanded.
NAY. good mistress, none
Then bid her come in ordered |
Tisha triumphantli No need to fear /
this rival if she were indeed 50 plain |
and unadorned. Struck by a sudden 4
thought. she laughed and tore the /
scarf from Jether's neck Then as he /
tried to recover it she ran round and |
round the garden, laughing hilariously |