The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-05-10

~. Ine eluer man SPOKE urbt-
Thy mother hath told me-" he
said sternly.
AYE. I would have my portion" 10
sponded Jether bravely.
And one day thou shalt have Il.
when thou art at to use II wisely"
Jether determined TO put on q bold
front with his father.
Il am about to 60 forth into the big
world" he said. with determinsti ton.
II shall need II now where ! 60"
Jesse came to him, less stern, with
more affection In his voice than he
had hitherto disclosed.
MY son." he said tenderly. I'VE need
thee here-not only for the work there
% to do. but for the Joy thy presence
brings to our hearts. I have already
said how dear thou art to US. One day
thou. too. wilt yield thy strength to age.
Think how thou wouldst feel to see q
well beloved son OF thine leave thee
In thine old age for strangersv'
Jether turned away from him mood
lily.
Thou hast Gaal; he works hard" he
retorted.
AYE, that he doth, but thou-thoa
art so young, 30 inexperienced In the
ways OF the world. Almost thou SEEM
est dearer Ia us because thou hast need
Of us. How could we be sure that
among strangers thou wouldst remain
faithful to all the teachings OF thy
childhood?'
'IIave I no understanding Of mine
ownT' demanded Jether.
But thou dost not know the world"
Then give me my portion, for !
would learn II for myselfr' cried Je-
Their
The aged patriarch drew himself up
nrmly.
NAY. my son." he said sternly.
Jether came TO him Indignantly.
"Have no rightsT' he demanded.
Thou thinkest only OF thy wealth. to
save II. and not Of my rights"
Hath not thy mother rightsf" thun-
dered Jesse In reply. when thou
vert sent 20 u.s." he continued. con-
trolling himself with an effort and
speaking with great emotion-"when
thou vert born she was no longer
young. had great fear that might
lose her for thy sake. In my distress
cried out TO the Lord, and I'm his mer-
cy she was spared Then as thou didst
grow we saw our Joy reflected In thy
face. Thou vert a fair. unblemished
child. ut for the service Of the temple.
but We begrudgcd It. Ii this now our
punishment Our one thought was
but to hold thee In our sight. When
thou didst kill thy first wolf In the
mountains rejoiced. proud Of thy
courage. and thy mother wept and re-
joiced with me How can We now
let thee 20 away to face a hundred
perils Of which thou Knowest naughtT'
Jether clinched his fists angrily.
"Thou thinkest only of myself and
mother" he protested. But what OF
met Have I no rights7 All that ye
offer here is naught to what ] shall
win elsewhere. The more thou sayest
the more I know how much want my
freedom. Give me my share and let
me 60"
Jesse shook his head again.
1T Ii my wealth. to give or keep,
until I yield my ghost We wish time
to weigh this matter carefully. After
tomorrow. when thou hast told US
more. perhaps
"Nay, would have II now" insisted
Jether.
Naomi, who had listened with quick
ening pulse as she chung to the patient
Huldah, came to her uncle and kneeled
before him.
II pray thee. uncle" she said softly.
let him depart"
Jesse turned TO her In amazement
and motioned her to rise.
"What! Thee. too. Naomif Thou
wouldst have him goY'
LET him behold Jerusalem. uncle"
pleaded the young girl. glance Of low
ing affection cast toward Jether. He
will return. Not to the hour. perhaps.
the day. the month. but he will return.
! know It. Let him see Jerusalem. Let
him see the world with thy permission.
or else perhaps
Enough cried Jesse sternly. as he
babe her return TO Huldah. This
friend OF thine. Jether. with whom
thou wouldst 20 TO Jerusalem-I would
see him. Call him"
Jether strove to appear unembar-
raised. but he hesitated rs he walked
TO the corner of the house and called.
my friend. come herer'
Tola. careless. Indifferent. almost I'm
pudent. swsggered into view. He came
straight to the aged patriarch. bowed
before him and smiled
Huldah. clasping the frightened
Naomi In her arms, drew back in hor-
ror as she beheld the lines Of dissipa-
ton which threaded the countenance
Of Tola.
"0h. my son. II is an evil facet she
cried And Jesse. dimly comprehend
ing with failing eyesight the identity Of
the Sinking and smiling yisage before
him. suddenly raised his stan as though