The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-07-05

shall I GOT"
Nadlna laughed. n hoarse, raucou,
laugh OF scorn.
"Yca. thou art worthless here. &c,
thee home 90 thy country farm. lie q
thy father and say that strangers did
rob thee In Jerusalem. And bid thy
mother plead for thee-pcrchance he
may then forgive thee and give thee
more gold TO squander IN the city. thou
fool"
"If go home" said Jether simply
at will be 20 see my mother from afar
SO far she may not guess her worthless
son Is near. To look down from some
high hill and see all In the distance
But II go from here IL will he most OF
all TO be far away from such as thou
ana thy daughter Tlsha aud from this
city where all things are false even rs
thy dice. came with health and
strength and with plenty in my purse,
and In my heart dream that have
lost with all else that | had. o city.
I curse tbee--I curse thee, cityv
Jether raised his arms on high I'm 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 I'm all his glory.
Nadina sneered. "And I curse thee
for all my misfortune!' she cried an
grily. "Thinkest thou that thou art the
first young fool to lose all I'm 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?"
I 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 a single shekel. On thee I
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 a push she sent the
young boy headlong upon a mass OF
soft silken cushions. With another
grasp she pulled the boys tunic from
him. Another talon like grasp took or
first one sandal and then another, and
there Jether lay In his nakedness, with
scarcely more than half a garment to
protect him.
Take them, thou heart OF stone"
murmured the boy as one after another
the garments were taken from him.
Thy ring" demanded Nadina.
But Jether clinched his fist firmly.
Nay; that thou shalt not have 1t
was my mothers and she placed 1t
there"
Nadina leaned over the PROSTATE
figure and jeered.
The ring Is worn so thin care not.
Now get out OF my house. Go forth a
beggar and beg thy way back to thy
ae'h'' n hohhNs thou ioois Sht
taking the bundle OF garments into the
house and leaving the young boy al.
most naked lying upon the cushions.
And Jether. his heart filed to over
flowing with remorse and penitence,
cried out to God for mercy.
Almost as an answer to his prayer
came the dull rumbling Of thunder. A
tropic storm, gathering force and in
tensity. had come upon Jerusalem al
most without warning. A binding fash
OF lightning, terrific crash Of thunder,
brought Jether to his feet. vainly he
looked around him. as though not know
ing which way to turn. Another crash
Of thunder and another binding fash
came with the rain, terrific downpour
and a deluge which beat with fury
against his bare skin. He sought for
shelter. but there was none except the
house OF Nadina. He staggered blindly
toward the house. only to have his way
barred imperiously by giant Nubian
slave. who stood within the doorway
and who motioned him back into the
storm. He staggered toward the idol
Of Ishtar as though to seek shelter
from the storm beneath the altar, but
drew back instinctively. Meanwhile
the rain aud the storm increased in In
tensity. and binding fash of light
ming revealed to Jether the impressive
figure Of the prophet, as he stood be-
meath the shelter Of the arched gate
way OF Nadinas house.
The prophets long hair was wet with
rain. His long white beard was swept
by the wind, and he seemed a gaunt,
wild, half starved figure. He raised his
STAFF into the air.
Fare thee forth, my son." he said
commandingly. yet kindly. NAKED thy
mother brought thee into the world.
Yet the Lord God watched over thee.
Naked this woman sends thee into the
storm. VIII not the Lord God save
theeT
Jether shivered In the storm and
shrank back before the holy man.
His sword hangs over me. for ] have
sinned. and this Is my punishment" he
faltered.
what hast thou done to invite his
wrathr cried the prophet. as the storm
increa sad I'm yiolence and another fash