The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1917-04-26

OF Jesse. bebcld on the road
from Hebron the familiar figure Of the
younger son as he moodily uudged
along the narrow, winding road which
led over the hills from the town be
yond. Hastily bidding the faithful
Rissah prepare the chamber for the
advent OF her cousin and TO lay out
fresh linen. Naomi ran lightly down
the stone steps from the roof. sprang
through the arch Of the courtyard and
met the boy almost on the threshold.
"Jether. I knew thou wouldst come
In time. Thou didst hear the trumpets
calling us all 10 the feast before the
holy dayf" she said happily. linking
her arm In his.
Jether somewhat rudely shook him
self free from her embrace. as he saw
several Of the servants. who were
about to enter the house.
Have I heard the trumpetsl Aye.
and so have they. Go within and get
ye all ready to sit ut my fathers table.
and give thanks for what ye have not"
Naomi drew back. hurt and surprised
while the servants not understanding
the spirit In which their young master
spoke. ran hastily inside. Jetbcr laugh
ed and cracked the small whip which
he carried.
And hast thou no word for me.
JetherT' Naomi spoke.
what wouldst thou hearf" demand
ed Jether. raising his voice somewhat
In excitement. How once again In
brother Gaal's culver ! have placed
an arrow he will aim against me- Ny
pious, ever Jealous elder brother
Trust Gaal to learn whatever t~ghi
count against me. and " course he
knows was not upon the hillside
with my flock. He hates me. and '
hate him"
Thou art wrong. Jether." pleaded
Naomi. lie hates thee not. only his
ways are different from thine. Gaal
cannot understand thy scorn OF tasks
In which he doth rejoice"
The boy angrily cracked his whip
again, then threw II from him
"He would he my master" he NUT
tered. "He would tell me what to do
and what to leave undone. | know my
elder brother. Always hath he hated
my coming into the world to rob him
Of that share which one day he must
surrender to me. But ! have a plan
now which my elder brother cannon
thwart."
"Jether, what meanest thour'
THAT tho1 shalt know In time.
Naomi"
"Jether, thou knowest the hour
grows late. At sunset we must sit at
table and worship"
The boy angrily and impetuously In
terrupted her. AYE. ye must, but not
I. Those trumpets called me not from
Hebron"
Thou canst not mean thou wilt not
celebrate with us. Jetherf oh. my
cousin, I fear. for last night dreamed
q dreadful dream
"And I, too. dreamed dreamr' cried
Jether as she shrank back half terri
fed ut the new note In the voice OF
the young boy. But my dream wal
not the kind that's bred from herdinl
sheep or reaplng barley In the fields
below or guiding STUPID oxen when
they tread the r.pened grapes-no, mol
the kind my pious brother dreams al
he adds up the seasons gain, thinking
all the while. 'Two-thirds Of all there
Is win some day be mine, with all my
fathers servants and this house, and
thee, perchance. Naomi for his bride. :
Naomis large blue eyes filled with
tears, and she looked appealingly e
Jether. why addest thou thatT' she
said rcproachfully.
Hath not my brother eyesr' de
handed Jether angrily. art thou no,
fair? Doth Gaal not know the meas
ures OF the land thy father left theeT"
THAT II true" admitted Naomi, dry
Ing her eyes. AYE. the fields ar,
broad and IN thy fathers care have
been rich Ia harvest Pe'cbance
shall indeed win the 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 Ia her eyes. for hs
continued. with rising voice, sand
wouldst thou then marry him afteI
allY'
Naomi cast her eyes upon the ground
and answered tenderly:
How can l say whom | would mar
~ when no one hath asked meT
Jether laughed. when Gaal u moi
so busy In the fields he may find time
to ask thee" be retorted.
Thy thought Is ever ON thy eidel
brother" protested Naomi. IL Otter
think thou wouldst he more hspp,
IT,
Jether was quick 10 sense the s.dGei
meaning OF her words aud noticed hel
abrupt pause. Resentfully he spoke:
Thou thinkest. like all here, that
should do the things Gam does-shoult
toll from morning until night In thu
hot fields like any servant. Then per
chance should all elise hcre approve 81
me-father, mother and Gaal-insteat
of noting faults IN me thou, too
wouldst find some good LA NE"