The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-07-26
carrsse1 him loYIngly.


the world hath done to himl"
caressed him lovingly.
Gaal fiercely swept both women
aside and stepped toward the boy as
he lay upon the grass.
That ye shall not do. Know this OF
Jether. Before he went away he Of
Tended the law OF God by Offering in
suit to our aged father. The Almighty
hath brought him TO this. Let him be
taken elsewhere. but not into thy mas
ter's house. Touch him not at thy
peril"
Huldah turned to Jesse, who had
never once stirred. but stood. silent as
an image, with his back toward the
PROSTATE Jether.
"My husband" she pleaded, bid thy
servants obey thy wife, In these many.
many years that have been even as
part Of thee never before have been
made to speak twice to thy servants.
who now hesitate because they have
heard the command OF Gaal For now
In thy silence Gaal would play the mas
ter. Our boy Is i'll. SO very i'll that my
heart Is trembling. Shall he be kept
thus waiting? Speak to thy servants
and command them to obey me-"
Naomi added her pleadings to those
Of the mother.
Speak, uncle" she cried. Uncover
! thy face. Our Jether is not dead. Why
dost thou still cover thy face"
Suddenly she realized that the act Of
covering the face meant that In the
eyes OF Jesse the boy was as dead to
him. She cried out In horror and sob
bed In Huldah's arms. But the mother
was not to be thus cheated Of her boy,
and when she realized that appeals to
Jesse were I'm vain she knelt again by
the PROSTATE figure, SO silent and so
weak upon the sward.
"Jether, canst thou not speak?" she
wept. Thy voice alone can reach thy
fathers heart. Mine is no longer music
to him. Open thine eyes, and he will
read in them full repentance, though to
thy mother he would show only
mantle that hides his wounded pride.
Jether-Jether-hear thy mother"
Jether slowly opened his eyes and
half raised himself upon his elbow. He
looked at his mother and smiled. He
turned toward the stern figure Of the
silent Jesse, and then sadly reached out
his hand to his mother.
This Is what l have wanted, moth
err" he said weakly. ITO hold thy
hand. Mother-at last"
Huldah held him convulsively In her
arms and wept, while Gaal sneered at
this display Of affection.
BEG from thy mother-bah!" ne said.
"Nay, GaaI wrongs me, mother" said
Jether softly. II would beg naught
save thy forgiveness. Father was just.
/ TOOK my portion and ! wasted It ]
srnned. too-oh, In so many ways. And
once l saw Gods lightning hurled
against me-"
He turned once more toward the ia
Their.
Father, thou standest there and will
not look at me. But let me say to thee
l did not come to be welcomed as thy
son. threw that right away when
Jared forth and would not listen to
thee. But In the lands where l have
been there Is no call for helpers, least
for a stranger. Nor have | strength.
l cannot walk to kneel before thee.
But couldst thou not let some one care
for me until l am strong and can
work? For l would work, father.
gladly II could for any one In any
way. And when l am but strong
enough TO 90 l shall go on. And
promise thee that until l have wiped
out my sins by labor and good deeds
no man shall know that l am Jether.
son OF jesse"
Huldah exultantly turned once more
to Jesse, full Of hope.
"Thou nearest, lesser This Is our
own boy, and he Is sorry and repent
ant. He is flesh OF our flesh. Thou
wouldst not turn even a beggar from
thy door. Shall our son plead In vain
to thee? Naomi. kneel before thy un-
Gle and add thy prayers to ours so that
our Jether may stay"
But ere Naomi could do more than
move step a strange voice was heard
among the gathering. and a stranger
pushed his way through the throng.
He was rugged and travel stained.
81 come at the bidding of Jesse.
Which Is hep demanded the stranger.
"Who art thouT' cried Gaal.
81 am Haggai. the son OF Manassah,
newly come from Jerusalem
Jether looked up In surprise and dis
may. II was the Judean he had known
In the house Of Nadina who now spoke.