Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-25
CHAPTER XIV.
TlsHA climbed upon a divan, raised a
l. goblet Of wine far above her head ere

TlSHA climbed upon divan, raised a
l. goblet Of wine far above her head ere
she drank and cried:
The night is ours
An answering chorus Of approval gave a
mighty echo.
Put" called Tisha where are thy
hoasted dancing girls? We would have
entertainment, music. wine and dance"
Put clapped his hands thrice and gave a
signal to Ahab. who motioned to one Of
the Nubians Within the house the sound
Of music grew louder and louder. as the
musicians thrummed their harps and
clashed their cymbals Within tho gate
glidod half hundred or more dancing
houris, fair Of face, barefoot. clad in soft
and flowing garments Round and round
they whirled, while Put and the wealthy
young men Of Jerusalem spplauded
Faster and faster grew the dance, as with
one accord the young women faced the
statue Of the Babylouian 1shtar, and finally
in an ecstasy Of alteration. cast themselves
PROSTATE upon the ground before the image.
Then the music changed. weird, mystic.
barbaric note swept through the air. The
leader Of the dancers rose and clapped her
hands. one by one. the others followed.
as with many strange and fantastic step
they CirCsd round and round the fountain
The leader clapped her hands again, and
through the gateway came a group of Arab
boys. On their hands with feet in the
air they prauced around through the maze
Of the dancers. \ gaunt Arab boy beating
Il drum added fierce and Oriental touch
to the strange dance.
al, Of 10
and tho voices Of the lovers and the cries
of TN dancers rose q shrill, penetrating
commanding voice. II came from without
the garden luyoluntarily the dancers
ceased. The revelers paused wine still un-
tasted in the goblets. All shrank instinc-
lively, a Is from nameless dread.
Again the voice cried out, and this time
one could hear the words:
"A doom upon this house and all within
it, cried the voice.
Panic seized the roysterers
"A prophet
The word was passed from one to another
In whisper.
\ tall, gaunt, whte-bearded man. lean
ing upon staff suddenly appeared
"a doom upon this house." thundered
the holy man, raising his staff as though
stO smite all present, Woe unto ye who
revel here. Harlots and idoators, laden
with iniquity, the sword of the Lord is
turned against you"
Tisha broke the spell with laugh OF
1erision.
~ prophet" she cried. "Ye fools. TO
listen to such madnan. I know this man
"a mender of nets gone mad from starva-
tion. Bring him wine, slaves, and lie will
not curse us then"
But the holy man went on:
The sword of the Lord is filled with
blood, for il is the day OF his vengeance
Your idols shall not save you, neither shall
your denominations avail YOU For the Lord
God hath turned his wrath upon you. and
ye are all doomed a doom upon the house.
\ doom upon this house. Woe unto We all
woe unto ye ALL"
And while all present sat stricken with
awe and fear, the holy man slowly with
drew from the startled gathering, his koice
growing fainter and fainter as he disap-
peared in the distance, shouting his curse
upon the house Of Nadina.
CHAPTER XIV
For perhaps half minute silence
reigned. The revelers ceased their rotous
behavior Then as if by one accord, all
broke into an outburst Of hilarious laugh
ter, as If to drown out remembrance Of the
unexpected visitation.
"Lights-lghts :" cried Tisha breaking
away from father and clapping her hands
10 the slaves. Bring more wine and let
there be music"
Nadina made her way through the throug
and whispered aside to Tisha, while Tola
and Jether drank together
"Pharis. the sea captain, has come"
whispered Nadina to Tisha, in great excite
treasure chests he is now waiting within,