Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-09


thy father and say that strangers did
rob thee in Jerusalem. And bid thy
mother plead for thce-rerchanec he
may then forgive thee and give thee
more gold to squander in'thc city. thou
fool"
IF go home" said Jether simply.
1T will be to see my mother from afar.
So far she may not guess her worthless
son Is near. To look down from some
] high hill and sec all In the distance,
But If 90 from here it will be most Of
all to be far away from such IS tAoH
and thy daughter Tisha and from this
/ city where all things are false even as
thy dice came with health on,,
strength and With plenty IN my purse,
lost with all else that had. 0 city.
curse thec--I curse thee, ethyl!
Jolher raised his arms On high In de-
nunciation of the fair beautiful city
which could be seen in the distance
the proud and stately mansions, the
great dome of the temple rising near.
by, the splendid avenues of date and
palm trees and the distant lights,
which already were beginning to indi-
cate the coming of the gay night life
Of that fair and wondrous city where
King Solomon reigned in all his glory.
Nadina sncered. "And curse thee
for all my misfortune.' she cried an
grily "Thinkest thou that thou art the
first young fool to lose all in the big
city? No. nor wilt thou be the last,
for sooner or later the city doth at
tract all who seek fame and fortune.
But what hast thou lost compared with
me?'
Carried away by her emotions and her
outraged feelings, Nadina continued:
II had a daughter that brought me
much wealth. Now Pharis, the sea
captain. hath carried her away and
paid me not single shckcl On thee |
have lost the price of much good wine.
Already ! have thy golden chain, but
now thou wilt pay me with thy robe
thy golden sandals everything. They'll
sell for something. Give me this and
this-and this"
With one strong grasp she pulled the
rich embroidered garment from his
shoulders With push she sent the
young boy headlong upon Il mass of
soft silkcn cushions. With another
grasp she pulled the boys tunic from
him. Another talon like grasp took off
first one sandal and then another, and
there Jcther lay in his nakedness, will
scarcely more than half garment tt
protect him.
Take them, thou heart of stone,
murmured the boy as one after another
the garments were taken from him.
THY ring" demanded Na1ina.
But Jether clinchcd his fist firmly.
NAY; that thou shalt not have. II
. was my mothers and she placed Il
; there"
Nadina leaned over the PROSTATE
figure and jeered
"I'hc ring il worn so thin care not
Now get out Of my house. Go forth {
bcggar and beg thy way back to til.
, fathers home, thou fool she cried
taking the bundle Of garments into til,
house and leaving the young boy nj
most naked lying upon the cushions
And Jether, his heart filed to over
flowing with remorse and penitence
ANAL at,t tn q MI far D1nrfV
/, Almost MS an answer to his praye
came tho dull rumbllng Of thunder.
, tropic storm, gathering force and in
tensity, had come upon Jerusalem al
: most without warning. A binding ilas
, Of lightning, terrific crash of thunder
! brought Jether to his feet. Vainly h
looked around him, as though not know
o ing which way to turn. Another cras
! Of thunder and another binding has
: came with the rain, terrific downpoll
> and deugc which beat with fur
against his bare skin. He sought 70
0 shelter, but there was none except til
house OF Nadina. He staggered blindl
/, toward the house. only to have his wa
barred imperiously by a giant Nubia
slave, who stood within the doorwa
aud who motioned him lack into th
storm. lie staggered toward the idt
, Of Ishtar as though to seek sheltc