Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-05-01


may not have loved thee ere came
+ and now stands knocking me behind
my back? | want thee ail mine own
| would taste always 1he r.rcneSs of
thy lips and say. ''rishn is mine. To
feel thy soft arms cncircliug my nec,;
and think they have never done the
like before. And when thou do't dance
| would think of it as Il m0onheam
falling on the water for the first time.
And yet know the truth that thou
hast loved before-but | nm fool.
Kiss me. Tishl. kiss me-"
Her lips sought his in Il long and lin
gering kiss
"rhou art tie wine that maddcns me
Say L love thee, Jether.' as thou dldst
say it when first came here.
when first thou camest." replied
Tisha softly. II had but to say and
thou ddst act. lis thou who art
changed
Nay, want thee more and more, "
declared ,Ietlcr. TiSha rose quickly
and poured him out u goblet OF wine. at
the same time preparing one for her
self The boy drank his wine fcverish-
~, Ut one gulp.
''Then If thou dest love Il maid Of
Babylon" whispered T,sha softly. once
more entwining her arms around the
neck Of the young boy. already heavy
hn -
brain-"if thou wculdSt love maid of
Babylon thou must be prepared TO give
her the greatest proof of love thou
canst offer"
Jetlcr gazed at her stupidity. She
held him tightY and said in the faint
est Of whispers:
rs there aught thou wouldst refuse
me. my Jether?"
The boy struggled to his feet
what meanest thou?' he said, duly.
II would have the greatest proof OF
thy love" she insisted, tcusely, 1T
will be the supreme proof. my Jether.
Art thou willIngT'
Dimly comprehending that a great
test was expected of him. Jether said
blankly. Aye"
Then" cried Tishn triumphantly,
thou who dost love a maid Of Babylon
! shall also worship the gods of Baby
ION See. the shrine Of lshtar, our god
dess Of love. stands before you in this
shrine. Say now with me- as | speak
first, and make sacrifice upon the altar
Of Ishtar. For love of Tislla. my be-
loved. thou shalt change thy god this
day. Then will know how much my
Jether loves Tisha. Come. beloved, to
the shrine Of the Lady Ishtar."
TiSha led Iether to the very foot of
the shrine and poured out another COB
let of Wine
Above them. towering many feet
high. was the great craven image Of
the goddess Of love If The Babyloniang
A great misShapen statue Of wood and
stone with hideous contour that was
but emphasized Ly the thin gold with
which part of the statue was covered
this goddess Of the idolatofs seemed
scarcely like 10 inspire faith or rcter.
cnce in any but the most ignorant Of
human beings. Yet as she poured out
the wine Tisha bowed low before the
image ana then offered the wine to
Jcther.
First a cup Of wine in honor of our
Lady Ishtar" cried Tisha, 'our god.
dess Of Babylon"
Jether even though intoxicated by
wine and maddened by the beauty Of
the siren he loved, could not refrain
from contemptuous laugh.
"What--a thing like that of wood and
stone" he jcered.
1isha flashed an angry glance Of dc.
llanoe and resentment. Thou speak
est OF Our sacred one" she retortcd.
"Snch things are the abomination OF
our prophets" declared Jether. draw
Ing back from her. "WhO SO OF US
doth homage to such an idol that one Is
accursed."
Then cried Tsha ungrily rs she
placed the wine before the altar, IF
thou dost so regard whom Tlsha wor-
ships then my mother was right. Thou
shalt no LONGER stay here with US in
Jerusalem. Get thee away back to Tia
So -~ss..s,~rs