Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-24

Have no rights?' he demanded.
Thou thinkest only Of thy wealth. to
save 1t, and not Of my rights
Hath not thy mother rights?" thun.
dered Jesse In reply. when thou
vert sent to u.s." be continued. con-
trolling himself with an effort and
speaking with great emotion
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 In bis mer-
cy she was spared. Then us thou didst
grow we saw our Joy reflected in thy
face Thou vert fair, unblcmished
child, At for the service Of the temple,
but we begrudgcd 1t. ls 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 rcjoiced, proud OF thy
courage, and thy mother wept and re-
jOiced with me. How can we now
let thee 60 away to face hundred
perils Of which thou knowest naught?'
Jether clinched his fists angrily.
"Thou thinkcst only Of thyself and
mother" he protested. But what Of
me? Have no rights? All that ye
offer here Is naught TO what shall
win elsewhere. The more thou sayest
the more know how much want my
freedom. Give me my share and let
me CO."
Jesse shook luis head again.
1T is my wealth, to give or keep.
until yield my gh> st. We wish time
to weigh this matter carefully. After
tomorrow, when thou hast told Us
more, perhaps
NAY, l would have 1t now" insisted
Jether.
Naomi, who had listened with quick
ening pulse as she chung to the patient
Huldah. came to her uncle and kneeied
before him.
II pray thee, uncle" she said softly
'let him depart"
Jesse turned to her in amazeice
and motioned her to rise.
what! Thee, too, Naomi? Thou
wouldst have him go?"
/ "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 1t. 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 90 to jerusalem would
see him. Call him."
Jcther strove to appear unembar-
raised, but he hesitated as he walked
to the corner Of the house and called.
my friend. come here!" @s& ~
Tola, careless, Indifferent, almost i'm
pudent, staggered into view. He
straight to the aged patriarch. bowed
before him and smiled
Huldnh, clasping the frightened
Naomi in her arms. drew back In hor-
ror us she behcld the lines OF disslpa-
ton which threaded the counteilance
Of Tola.
"Oh, my son, 1t is an evil faee" she
cried. And Jesse. dimly comprehend-
ing with failing cyeslght the identity OF
the Sinking and smiling vlsase before
linn, suddenly raised his STAFF as though
to strike the intruder. He had recoG-
nized him.
$50, then, 1t Is thou, thou cheat. thou
,gambler. thou liar" he Numbered with
rage. ..And It Is thou who wouldst cor
rupt my boy? Out Of my house. thou
lying, disllonornblc cheat-besone be.
fore ! strike thee. old as | nm
TolQ laughed, q hooking. snecring
laugh, as he faced the aged Jesse, who
half raised his STAFF as though to
strike down the man who would tempt
! Jetller to leave home lola cautiously
reiterated out Of the range OK the stan
Thou hast some memory for all
thine old age, friend jesse" he sneercd
but why look upon me with such a
hostile eye. IN all these years c0uldst
not forget the fruit a boy stole from
! thy hurdeped trses5''.
$4,000 80 - h.~x~nsO<sm~