Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-03

Tisha climbed upon cushioned di-
van. raised Il goblet of wine far above
/ her head. ere she drank. and cried.
This night is dedicated to love"
An answering chorus of approval
gave mighty echo. and Tisla leaned
over Jethcr and kissed him.
Put" she suddenly called, "wherc
art thy boasted dancing girls? We
would have entertainment music.
I wine and dance"
Pat clapped his hanus thrice and
gave signal 10 Abab who motioned
to one OF The Nubians. Within the
house the sound Of music now grew
louder and io-dcr. as the musicians
thrummed their harps and cashcd the
cymbals. The soft voices OF lovers
were drowned in the crash Of the
musical instruments and the thrum
ming OF the harp strings. Then with
in the gate glded half Il hundred or
more dancing hours. fair of face. bare
foot. clad in soft and flowing garments
which were .scant, yet picturesque. dis
playing many bare limbs and ivory
shoulders. Round and round they
whirled while Put and the wealthy
young men of Jerusalem gazed admir-
ingly and applauded at intervals, Fast
er and faster grew the dance rs With
one accord the young women faced
the statue of the Babyonian lShtar,
and finally in an ecstasy of alteration
all cast themselves PROSTATE upon the
ground before the image. Then the
music changed. weird. mystic. bar
barrie note swept through the air The
leader of the dancers rose and clapped
her hands. Through the gateway came
a group Of fantastic Arab boys, moth
ing but skin or bit of tunic cover
ing their dark. swarthy bodies. On
hands, with feet in air. they pranced
around through the maze Of the dan
GERS. A gaunt Arab boy beating 4
drum added fierce and oriental touch
to the strange dance
Suddenly above the babel Of the mu.
sic and the voices Of the lovers and the
cries of the dancers rose a shrill. pene-
trating. commanding voice. 1t came
from without the garden Inyolunta-
rily all the dancers ceased The reyel-
crs paused. wine still untasted in the
goblets. All shrank instnctively as
fran Il nameless dread.
"A doom upon this house and all
within IT. cried the voice.
A panic seized the superstitious wor-
shippers OF idols.
"A prophet
A tall, gaunt, white bearded man,
leaning upon Il staff, suddenly appeared
among the half maddened throng:
"A doom upon this housed" Numbered
the holy man. raising his staff as
though to smitc all present. Woe
unto ye who revel here! ldolaters.
laden with iniquity, the sword Of the
Lord IL turned against YOU"
Tisha broke the spell with coarse,
hard laugh of dcrison.
a prophet" she cried. "Ye fools, to
listen to such mailman, know this
; man. a member Of nets gone mad from
starvation. Bring him wine. slaves,
and he will not curse Us then"
But the holy man frowncd MS he fair.
, ~ pronounced their doom.
1.-THE sword Of the Lord il filed with
blood. for 1t is the day Of his venge-
ance. Your idols shall not save you.
neither shall your abonlinations avail
you. for the Lord God hath turned his
wrath upon you. and We are all doomed.
A doom upon the house! A doom upon
this house. Woe unto ye all, woe unto
We all!'
And while all present sat stricken
with awe ana fear the holy man slow
~ Withdrew. still shouting his curse
upon the house Of Nudina.
For perhaps half minute silence
reigned The jewellers ceased their riot.
: BUS behavior Lovers hcsltntcd and
spoke not. Then. rs II by one accord
all broke into IN ontDurst Of hilarious
J and uncomfortable hystcrcal laughter
as II to drown out all remembrance Of
the unexpected visitation.
Lights. lights" cried 1'lshn. break
Ing away from ,lctler and clappng hel
hands TO the slaves. Bring more wine