Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1917-06-07

but she cast longing look in the d.
rection of the distant Jether, angrily
pacing to and fro in the garden.
Keep thy sea captain until later"
she cried angrily Thou sayest this
man holds me cheap eh? Before can
bear the advances Of another sutton /
must first teach this Jether his proper
place and make him crawl in the dust
before me. Thou sayest he holds me
cheap, Ell? Wait and see."
And Tisha strolled in the direction of
Jether, while Nadina followed Sadyk
into the house.
In a distant alcove, beneath a great
fig tree, Jether was lying upon several
soft cushions, gazing at the sky. Sud-
denly a fig, deity thrown, fell by his
side. Half raising upon his arm, an
other fig just graZed his forehead. He
sprang to his feet to meet Tisha, laugh
ing and smiling
MY Jether, art thou angry?" she
cried and fell into his arms, while his
lips sought hers. Thus he held her for
few blissful moments, and then she
did release herself. Arm in arm they
strolled back toward the shrine of
Ishtar.
"In one thing thou art right, my
Jether," cooed Tisha softly, her arm
around his waist. For gold l care
not" She snapped her fingers con-
temptuously. Gould l not have the
half of Jerusalem kneel in the dust be-
fore me if cared only for gold and
precious stones? But Lam wearied of
giving what thou hast never given-a
proof of love. Thy words-what are
thy words? All men talk words when
they would have woman. These
rings-to please thee have not put
away what others gave me before thy
coming? Now I would have thee give
proofs to me-"
-,Jether stroked her hand fondly. What
could the little witch mean? Yet he
was filled with a vague foreboding that
some new scheme would be attempted
by this clever daughter of the crafty
Nadinas whom he had grown to distrust,
What proof is lacking?" he asked
modify.
THAT l will explain later. Why
didst thou refuse to buy me the neck
lace?"
"sadyk divides his profits with thy
mother. l have seen it,
and thou hast no other reason?"
"Well, know the truth them" declared
Jether curtly. II am out Of humor.
like not the way that thou didst act
when last my friends were here
What did say to them?" angrily
demanded Tislla. breaking away from
him.
say as thy overfree manner with them"
Tisha clinched her little fists with
anger at this jealous fool.
What? Thou wouldst not have me
offend the friends thou bringest to my
mothers house to feast with thee?"
But Jether hesitated. What was on
his mind he we'll knew. and now he de-
termined to speak plainly to her.
"My friends bring friends, and some
may not be true" he said, taking her
| by the hands and bringing her to a set
| tee in front of the shrine of Ishtar.
Yet thou dost smile upon them all.
Oh, Tisha, would have thee all mine
own. When thou smilest upon another
I seem to see red cloud before mine
eyes. How know but what one of
these friends-Tola himself, perhaps
may not have loved thee ere / came
and now stands mccking me behind
my back? l want thee all mine own.
| l would taste always the ripeness of
thy lips and say, 'Tisha is nine To
feel thy soft arms encilcling my neck
and think they have never done the
| like before. And when thou dost dance
| ! would think of it as a moonbeam
| falling on the water for the first time.
And yet know the truth-that thou
hast loved before-but l am a fool.
| Kiss me, Tisha, kiss me-
Her lips sought his in long and lin
gering kiss.
Thou art the wine that maddens me
Say i love thee, Jether,' as thou didst
say it when first came here.
when first thou camest,' replied
Tisha softly, 81 had but to say and
thou didst act 'Tis thou who art
changed
Nay, want thee more and more
declared ,Iether. Tisha rose quickly
and poured him out a goblet of wine, at
the same time preparing one for her
self The boy drank his wine feverish-
~, at one gulp.
Then if thou dost love maid of
Babylon whispered Tisha softly, once
more entwining her arms around the
neck of the young boy, already heavy
with the fumes of liquor upon his
brain-"if thou wouldst love maid OF
Babylon thou must be prepared to give
her the greatest proof of love thou
cahst Offer
Jether gazed at her stupidity. She
held him tighter and said in the faint
est of Whispers
rs there aught thou wouldst refuse
me, my Jether?'
The boy struggled to his feet.
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