Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1917-04-19

And /, too, dreamed dream!' cried
Jether as she shrank back half terri
fed at the new note in the voice OF
the young boy. But my dream was
not the kind that's bred from herding
sheep or reaping barley in the fields
below or guiding stupid oxen when
they tread the ripened grapes-no, MOI
the kind my pious brother dreams as
he adds up the seasons gain, thinking
all the while, 'Two-thirds of all there
is will some day be mine, with all my
fathers servants and this house, and
thee, perchance. Naomi. for his BRIDE
Naomi's large blue eyes filed will
tears, and she looked appealingly to
Jether. why addest thou that?" she
said reproachfully.
Hath not my brother eyesY de-
manded Jether angrily. art thou not
fair? Doth Gaal not know the meas.
ures of the land thy father left theeY
THAT is true" admitted Naomi, dry.
ing her eyes. AYE the fields are
broad and in thy fathers care have
been rich in harvest. Perchance
shall indeed win tie favor of thy elder
brother" she added, with irony.
Only the blind anger of the head
strong boy prevented him from read
ing the love light in her eyes, for he
continued, with rising voice, "And
wouldst thou then marry him after
alp
Naomi cast her eyes upon the ground
and answered tenderly:
"How can say whom would mar
ry when no one hath asked me?'
Jether laughed. when Gaal is not
so busy in the fields he may find time
to ask thee" he retorted.
Thy thought is ever on thy elder
brother" protested Naomi 81 often
think thou wouldst be more happy
if
Jether was quick to sense the hidden
meaning of her words and noticed her
abrupt pause. Resentfully he spoke:
Thou thinkest, like all here, that l
should do the things Gaal does-should
toll from morning until night in the
hot fields like any servant Then per-
chance should oil else here approve Of
me-father, mother and Gaal-instead
of noting faults in me thou, too,
wouldst find some good in me-"
Nay, Jether, thou art bitter" pro-
tested Naomi, coming to him and TAX
ing him again by the arm. Thou art
unjust, Jether. would see thee IN
thine old age respected as is thy ia
ther."
Jether broke from her angrily and
turned scornfully upon the young girl.
Glow little thou knowest me, Mao
mir he cried boastfully, with vague
sense of that future greatness which
some day he hoped to attain. "Yet
one day thou shalt behold me different
ly. One day shall stand before thee
and thou shalt know how much
He started toward her, his voice
breaking with real and genuine affec-
ton, as if to embrace her, but hest
tated
NAY, I shall not tell thee now," he
added. Some day perhaps, but not
now
Thou wilt tell me-what?' she in.
quired eagerly.
NAY, not now. Get thee into the
house, and perchance will join thee
presently. Come, Naomi"
Together, hand in hand, they started
up the steps into the house of Jesse.
Suddenly the drapery Of the door was
pulled aside. A man, tall. heavy, full
bearded, rough and strong. stood be-
fore them. Naomi, with frightened
cry, drew back to let him pass, as he
came down the steps directly toward
Jether.
$50 there thou art!' he cried grufay.
Jether laughed moclingly at him.
My brother Gaal." he said, bowling
in pretended obeisance. go thor
within, Naomi / fear storm
CALLS face was cold and hard as he
stood before Jether. Surely no one
Would ever have suspected that these
TWO men who faced each other will
anger in their hearts and grim inten
sity in their faces were really broth
ers. The one. not less than forty
strongly built and rough visaged, will
brawny arms bare to the shoulder
showing muscles of steel, clad in rough
but serviceable cloth garments fal
more expensive than the simple shep