News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1917-05-23
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Wantle
NoveIized by William A. Page
From Maurice V. SamueIs'
Great Biblical Drama Of the
Prodigal Son, Presented
at the Manhattan Opera
House, New York
Copyright, 1871 by William Elliott,
f. Ray Comstock and Morris Gest.
. ~ - -. - -. - - - = -
CONTINUED
SYNOPSIS
Copyright, lv1L by William Elliott,
F. Ray Comstock and Morris Gest.

On the eve of a Jewish festival, about tc
be celebrated by the house of Jesse
Naomi in love with Jether, expresses
anxious fears to Rissah over Jether's alb
sence. He has been disspating with his
friend, lola.
Tola urges Jether to demand his portion
from his father. Jesse. and visit Jerusalem
with him. Returning home Jether talks
with Naomi and almost confesses his love
for her.
Jether quarrels with his brother Gaal,
and Jesse parts them. Jether tells his
father that he desires freedom and a sight
of the world.
Jether appeals to his mother. Huldah to
aid his desires. She tries to dissuade him,
but promises. Toa appears, impatient for
the journey. Jether demands his portion
from Jesse, who threatens lola.
Huldah bids Toa begone and beseeches
Jether to remain. He is obdurate re-
ceives his portion and departs with lola
for Jerusalem. Tola introduces Jether to
Nadina, a Babylonian woman, and he
lodges in her luxurious household.
Nadina presents her beautiful daugh-
ter, TiSha. Jether wastes his paGrirnony
Tisha asks him to buy for her j9weled
necklace.
Jether hesitates at the price. Tisha
fore Babylonian idol, the goddess Ishtar
Jether again hesitates but, overcome by
his passion, sacrifices and TenounceS the
God of Israel Overcome with remorse,
he drinks deeply and makes merry with
guests of Nadina. Naomi, seeking Je-
Their looks upon the scene and withdraws
in sorrow.
Jether felt his fingers close over the
two small squares of ivory. He clutch
ed them nervously. He pushed his way
through the throng. This time Hadra-
nut and Put threw again, and once
more Hadramut won a thousand she
kels.
The game seemed SO easy. Jether
hesitated, overcome by a nameless
fear. He shook and trembled as
though chilled. Suddenly a laughing
cry from TiSha as she returned to the
arms of the sea captain made him in
toxicated with jealousy. He pushed
his way through the throng
81 will cast dice with thee" he said
unsteadily Tola and Nadina exchang-
ed glances and nodded, while Merbel,
who but moment ago had refused to
lend Jether single shekel, looked at
the boy in surprise, wondering where
he had secured money with which to
gamble.
"Ah, Jether, throw thou" cried Put
gladly, for he liked Jether, "for a thou
sand shekels.'
For a thousand shekels, aye But
throw thou first" replied Jether. II
have drunk much, and my hand is I'M
steady"
Put laughed, picked up the dice and
threw them. The two squares of ivory
rolled over and over and settled on
their sides.
"Seven," he cried, annoyed.
Jether picked up the two dice. He
drew back as if to adjust his robe.
He held his hands out of sight behind
the cloth for moment and changed
the dice. He threw.
Twelve"
A cry of surprise at Jether's lucky !
throw came from all.
"Thy money" demanded Jether nerv-
ously.
NAY thou shalt not quit a winner !
Two thousand sAekels," insisted Put |
Jether picked up the two dice, quick
ly exchanged them for the honest ones |
and tossed the ivory squares to his
friend Put.
1.-TWO thousand shekels. Throw thou" |
he said huskily.
Put tossed the dice upon the table. |
"Nine," lie cried.
Jether again picked up the dice, made |
the same substitution and threw the
false dice upon the board Once more
there was a murmur of surprise over
the result
Twelve" spoke Jether exultantly. !,
"Thy money"
NAY, let us again double the stakes"
cried Put, half angrily at the turn of
fortune. -Four thousand shekels will I
make it,
Agreed" replied Jether. -Four thou
sand shekels.'
He was about to throw with the false
dice when he felt his arm gripped as
in a wise. He turned. Merbel. the
false friend who had intended to Dor
rev and had put it off until too late.
hea bis arm and seized the dice from
his nerveless fingers.
zone moment, friends" he cried.
wait and see. Look -
He tossed the dice upon the table.
Twelve" he said sternly, looking at
Jother. who hung his head in shame as
he felt the inevitable exposure. Again 1
It is twelEe-once more twelve. Thou
wilt find it is always twelve"
Slowly Put reached across the table.
He picked up the false dice and threw.
Twelve" he whispered in surprise.
Again he tried. Twelve, always
twelve"
The men drew aside from Jether,
leaving him as one stricken with the
plague.
"a cheatw cried Merbel. Thou
wouldst cheat my good friend Putt
spit upon thee" he added cOntemptu-
oHsly.
Put leaned across the table in amaze
ment, unable to realize that Jether, the