Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-24
CHAPTER XIII


IETHER, appalled, at the magnitude Of
- OF his crime drank feverishly as though
to forget the memory Of his deed. And
Tisha, curling up in his arms in the great
divan OF the courtyard Of the house of
Nadina, few minutes later. half extrl-
Gated herself from his embrace, looked up
at him seductvely. and said with soft
and gentle voice;
And now. my beloved thou wilt not
let another have the necklace Tisha longs
for?"
Nay, thou shalt have thy necklace
swear it," answered Jether. She eluded
his grasp, slid from the couch, and shouted
triumphantly.
"Sadyk-Sadyk- necklace He says
| may have &C. QulclS--the necklace"
But ere Sadyk. the crafty jeweler, wait
Ing within for this very summons could
respond, a merry throug came In the gate
way with much laughter and loud talking.
Hadramut. the Arabian horse dealer led
the throng. and with him were MadaL
Merbal and Porsodas the Mede all OF
whom had girls Of Jerusalem with them
young women of easy morals who sang ana
danced for all who would pay the piper
Behind them, in more dignity and alone,
walked Haggai, the Judean: he who had
sought to befriend Jether And with them
all was Tola, the gay and festive Tola, in
joyous mood. lie came to Tisha, bowed
low and kissed her hand, at the same time
whispering some secret message which
made her eyes flash fire. The others. eN-
cept the Judeau HaggaL filed before the
altar Of lshtar, cast incense upon the flame,
placed sacrifices before the craven image,
and then regaled themselves with wine.
Tisha clapped her hands thrice where
upon four dusky slaves brought baskets Of
| fruit and cushions for the ladies' Re
freshmeuts were served wine flowed freely
! a al
Now. here's q fortunate youth" cried
| Tola. raising his goblet on high and drink
| ing a health to Jethcr. Behold our Jether.
king at Nadina's palace, and for hand
maiden. the falrest of the city-Tlsha!"
Jether sprang upon n table to acknowl-
| edge the cheer that GREETED him.
MY friends" he called. "a feast Is spread
| within We viii make this night one long
| 70 remember But where Is my friend Put,
| the son of wealthy Absalom?'
Even at this moment Pur arrived, some-
| what scant of breath to say that ere the
| feast was DER his boasted dancing girls
would put In an appearance, As soft music
| was played in the house by slaves and the
| light became less as the setting sun dis
| appeared behind the fig trees Jether took
| Tisha i'm hts arms ana started TO lead his
| guests into the house for tho feast But
| a touch ON the arm made him pause. II
| was Merbal. an eXquisitely dressed fop, with
| blond hair and a shin voice
Good Jether," he pleaded "for our friend
| ships sake. lend me a hundred shekels. TO
| come TO thy feast in fitting raiment had to
| promise payment for this MANTLE
! Jether with careless laugh, handed him
! a hundred shellels in gold, whereat Tisha
frowned. Merbal with a low obeisanCe,
| took the money and cried. May Jether $
children reign as kings Of Israel"
ParsOdias the Mede, fierce, full-
| bearded man, who wore a jeweed sword
| which never left his side, STROBE up 10
| Jether "Of three. Prince. | would learn
| something. | have heard thine Is. land
where wild beast roam. Dost kill the lions
| with bow or javeliu mounted or on foot"'
| Jether, unused TO city ways and speaking
| only the truth as he knew it in Judea, re-
| piled simply. 'Dn foot, with knife alone I
| have killed lion"
"A mighty lion?" cried Hadramut. the
Arabian. Il shall reward thee, Prince
| Jether. Thou shalt have my mare. the
| queen OF all the desert. Naught cares
| Hadramut for thy riches, but since thou art
| his friend and has hast slain a lion single
handed. thou shalt have my mare BE
! tween me and thee" he added insinuat-
ingy as he held out his hand suggestively
| what is a thousand shekels?"
Jether smiled and instinctively reached
| into his purse. lie drew out a handful Of
| coins and was about TO count out the money
to Hadramut, when the ever-watchful Toia
Interfered,
with one quick grasp he took the money
from Jethers hands and swept It into his
own capacious purse.
Keep thy totterinE nag for one who hath
done thee wrong, for / have seen IT," he
cried shall Jether waste on thee thou
sand shekes when his best friend is needy,
| Nay good Jether. let Tola advise thee when
thou dost wish TO purchase n horse"
Jether, laughing, turned again TO Tisha
The men with the wine in their brains were
| thinking little Of the promised feast and
| much Of the wine. within the house the
| strumming Of the harps and the beating OF
| cvmbals made weird music, and as dark
ness descended a score Of lamps were lighted
| in the gardens, casting strange and rosy
light over the picture Of oriental magnlh'
| Cence
As Tisha, clasped in the arms Of Jether
toyed with the scarf he wore, Ahab, the
| servant of Put, who had been waiting with
out the gate. approached
"'Thy pardon. good master" said Ahab
"a maiden at the gate asks tidngs of Mas
ter Jether."
"A maiden asks for me? Who Is she"
demanded Jether. curiously
| "I know not"
| How doth she look?'
|