Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1917-06-28


WV awe at the stranger, Haggai
continued: "a servant of
Jesse babe me come hither
In the name of God Art thou he who
sent?"
"Jesse is my father" replied Gaal
sternly. "He did send for thee for
what he would no longer have-news
of his son Jether."
Haggai bowed as though in service
for the dead. Then he spoke:
Tell him, then, that Jether his son
Is dead. Gods hand smote him at Je-
rusalem''
Naomi interrupted him Indignantly
"Why sayest thou that?" she demand
ed. "Art thou his enemy to tell such a
1ie?"
Haggai bowed reverently before the
girl.
at is no lie, as l know it. But that
] am his enemy do admit, as must all
true sons of Abram. Once it was my
thought to prove his friend because he,
too, seemed one of us. But ere he died
he did what no man of the seed can,
ever forgive. I have no wish, fair
maiden, to bring cloud upon this
household. but We did send for me, and
must speak the truth. Now let me
60"
But Gaal, sensing some further ter
rible wrongdoing of the erring Jether.
detained him.
"Wait. We would learn more Of
thee" he asked "Hast heard. moth
er? Jether hath done something so
shameful that Gods hand smote him
for it. Let this man tell freely of it.
that all may know we drive him justly
from our door,"
Huldah Indignantly commanded the
stranger to speak.
Eyes, stranger, speak forth thy NAL
icew she cried. "My son hath done no
wrong to any man save to himself
Haggai turned and for the first time
recognized Jether, who half supported
himself on one arm as he gazed up at
Haggai
$50 thou still Invest" said Haggai
sternly. 81 had thought thee dead
And better far did thy kin wear sack.
cloth for thee, for living or dead thou
art accused of God"
stop, thou slanderer!' cried Huldah
NAY, woman. hear me. 1t is right
that all should know With mine owl
ears ! heard wanton tell while he
stood mute, denying naught by worG
or deed, that out Of love for her Jethel
had sacrificed unto the Babyloniar
goddess Ishtar. He hath renowned
the god Of Judea."
Huldak and the rest shrank back
with horror. Only Jesse remained un
moved, his face still covered, his body
erect as a statue
Speak! Do lie?" demanded Hag
gal.
Jether slowly struggled to his feet
faced him and said humbly, Thou
dOst not lie.'
'Then look into mine eyes," cried
Haggai roughly. ''Didst thou not stand
before the very altar of the heather
and say thing SO terrible that nc
man dare repeat it?'
Jether nodded. again thou speak
est truth. And in the awful storm
which followed" he added, speaking
tensely and with awe of the Almighty
Sin that storm saw the face of God
And but for something that spoke deeI
in my heart and babe me live and suf
fer and atone / should have persisted
there
Gaal interrupted with a triumphant
cry.
"Ah, now We know my brother as hi
is-an idolater. blasphemer, accursed
Who will now hold hand to such 6
one and face Gods wrath?"
Huldah. with piteous cry, clutchei
Jether's arm and gazed into his eyes
Thou hast done that thing?' she
cried, sobbing. and covered her face
with her cloak. Jether held out his
arms to her beseechingly.
Mother" he cried, "dost thou also
desert me? Now, when peace had just
come to me. thou leavest me-"
Huldah looked at him with supreme
mother love, grasped his hand and
sank sobbing at his. feet while he
strove to comfort her.
Gaal sought to bring the unhappy