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

cried aloud her curse:
who hath done this to him? BE
they accursed! o Lord God, | call thy
vengeance upon them! Cursed be the
fruit of their bodies and the fruit Of
their lands! Cursed may they be when
they go in sni when they come out.
D God. leave me my boy. my beauti-
full boy!' she svbbed, with one last
heartbreaking cry OF anguish, as she
fell forward PROSTATE across the body
Of her son and sobbed.
A sudden glimmer Of returning con
seriousness reused Jetner. He moved,
he half attempted to rise, and then
naturally and unconsciously his arm
went around the neck Of his mother.
and he whispered, as IL he were but a
child again. Mother"
"My boy-my beautiful boy" she sob
bed.
Gaal, attracted by the outburst, came
from the house and surveyed the scene
just as Jether embraced his mother.
$50, then" he said contemptuously
to the boy, For all thy promises to
me, thou hast revealed myself, after
all, to thy mother"
Huldah, slowly comprehending the
fearful knowledge that Gaal all the
time had known Of Jether's presence,
drew herself up Indignantly.
Thou knewest?' she cried, In pain
and sorrow.
AYE, and for thine own sake l kept
silence" replied Gaal surlily.
Thou knewest and yet told me
not?" shrieked the mother.
He scorned to take food Of me-" re-
torted Gasl CURLY. Besides, he hath
deserved naught else. He went away
of his own accord. He should have
stayed away, then"
Huldah shook her head bitterly.
Thou hast a hard heart, Gaal," she
said. where didst thou get 1t? i
shall not soon forgive thee this. Now
help me to carry Jether in"
"What? Touch him? Hast seen his
soresT' demanded Gaal.
II have kissed his Sores" replied the
mother, a wonderful light shining In
her eyes through her tears.
HE shall not come into the house."
declared Gnnl sternly, taking heart
from the fact that the aged Jesse had
neither spoken nor uncovered his face.
This IL thy fathers house. not
thine" she said proudly.
my fathers silence speaks" cried
Gaal angrily. mo more than | would
he have this disgrace thrust upon us.
We have told all that Jether is an hon
ored man among the high ones of the
city, and now shall this thing give us
the lie? No; no shall not enter my ia
theirs house,
Thou speakest only for myself" she
said.
my father hears, yet speaks not"
declared GaI. "A man must judge
what best belts the honor of his house.
and since my father will not speak ]
will give orders here But Jether must
not die here. nor need he die at all.
though better could scarcely happen to
him. II thou wilt go within quietly
shall have him carried to some neigh
boris house and pay for his care until
he can move On."
And as Gaal reached over and looked
closer at the PROSTATE form Of the
younger son and sneered contemptu-
ously the mother sprang between them
and thrust him back.
II have asked the wrath Of God on
those who have brought Jether to this
plight" she cried passiOnately. "Shall
thy mothers tongue now call down a
curse ON thee also Stand back, Gaal.
Thou shalt not touch thy brother. His
mother will protect him. Naomi, Ris-
sah-cOme we all"
The mother, frantic at the prospect
that Gaal might yet be able to send
Jether from her and not comprehend
ing the reason for the silence Of Jesse
In refusing to speak to her son or to
uncover his face SO that he might look
upon the boy, cried out aloud so that
all might hear.
ut is our Jether," she called to Ma
omi. as the maiden quickly responded.
The young girl gazed In amazement
as she saw before her the beggar whom
she had left but few moments ago.
She leaned over him. A single garment
wrapped about his neck was the only
thing not Of rags upon his body.
my scarf" she cried. "He wears II
yet, the token l gave him"
Hear, all OF ye," pleaded Huldah
TO the servants. "Jether, our son, hath
returned 10 us. IL Is not as we all ex-
pected when the city called him from
US. But he comes back very Ill and In
great misery. Though he now looks so
wretched. ye remember how fair he
was and how his smile was like the
sunshine. He has been greatly
wronged, as men are in the city who
come as trusting ones. l am old and
cannot lift my child alone. but ye who
love him. too, shall help me TO bear
him to bis own room, careful OF his
wounds"
Naomi knelt tenderly by his side and