Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-04-17

SucpueTu WIS uTlusihS III part VI HIS
flock. Eagerly the girl, watching from
the roof. ran down the great flight Of
stone steps which led to the courtyard
and approached the newcomer.
"Shelah." cried the girl anxiously.
Hast thou seen Jether?'
The shepherd, an aged man with a
young lamb Struggled tenderly In his
arms. shook his head sadly.
Nay. Mistress Naomi" responded
Shelah. laying the lambkin upon the
grass by the well and signifylng that
Rissah should wash its hurt. NAY.
,Iether was not upon the hills last
night. found his flock INTENDED. For
the second day Jether hath not led
them to water, and none knows where
the lad may be. Some Of the sheep the
wolves have slain and others, like this
poor lambkin. hath suffered because Vt
his neglect"
The girl clasped her hands together
nervous!y.
But what Of Jethcr?" she inquired
tensely. "Can he be i'll OF sick!
HE should not have left the flock
INTENDED" said Shelst sternly. NAY.
he was not Ill.
But can aught have happened to
him? Oh, Shelah, last night dreamed
he was in fearful peril, but Of what !
know not" Naomi, with an agonizcd
sob which she vainly sought to sup
press, seated herself OH the stone edge
OF the well and watched Rissah us she
bound up the broken leg Of the lamb.
kin.
Shelnh chuckled significantly.
Have no fear, good mistress Mao
NIL he commented wisely. His
worst danger lies in his fathers
wrath
"What meanest thou?' cried Naomi
quickly.
"On the road hither met Oxen of
( Hebron, he who keeps an inn there,
and Oxen told me Jether was there all
night with companion, lola. an evil
man whom all know well and far too
well to think. well of him." chuckled
the elderly shepherd, pleased with his
= own heavy wit.
The young girl came to him anxious
4 " and touched his arm.
"Sheah." she said softly, so thai
none might hear, "thou wilt not say
aught to mine uncle against Jethery
The shepherd lifted his hand as Il
In protest
NAY. he did great wrong to leave
the flock alone while he drank throug.
the night with Tola and his friends.
lie answered For young man lik'
Master Jether to neglect home. hi
flock, his duties to his father and K
his elder brother, Gaal, who some da.
will be master here, Is not right.
know full well the lad Is headstrong
impetuous. but he should fear tn
wrath Of his father If he continues y
his evil ways"
} The girl glanced about her ncrvousl.
rs one by one the laborers from TIL
. field. the tilers Of the soil. the shel
herds and their tiocks passed into III
COURTYARD aud the sun sank lower upo
the horizon.
'plcase. Shelah, thou will aid me
DO thou hasten to Hebron and nm
Jether. He has forgotten That AZ sun
. down we celebrate the hallowed Gay
Hasten, beg of thee
The stolid shepherd shook his hea
stcrnly. A trumpet blew In the dl'
lance.
40 not the trumpets sound on ever
hill? DO they not bid all cease frol
Toll antl~llasten home to cleanse tncn
selves before they partake or the hol
meal! Listen. DO not the truInpe'
sound iD-5Iebrcn? II Master Jeth'
wills to come he'll come. Nay na'
good mistress Naomi. cannot spea
to .Iethcr louder with mine own vi'
than can these trumpcts which sour
> from every hillside Give me the lam
Kin. good Rlssah. u will care for
slicnccforth"
| The shepherd tendcrly took the Ian
q In his arms ind, followed by the doe
which Ind hung about his heels 10
! ously, went into the sheepfold. Riss'