Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-22
CHAPTER XII

A BOvE them, towering many feet high,
~ was the craven image Of the goddess
Of love OF the Babylonians A great mis-
fhapen statute Of wood and stone, with
hiueoOs contour that was but emphasized
BY the gold with which part OF the statue
Was covered. this goddess of the idolators
was not likely to inspire faith or reverence
N any but the most ignorant of human be-
ings. Yet as she poured out wine Tlsha
bowed low before the image and then
offered the wine to Jether
First a cup Of wine in honor OF our
Lady Ishtar," cried Tisha. our goddess
OF BABYLON"
What? A thing like that. Of wood and
ntone?" he jeered
Tisha flashed an angry glance of defiance
and resentment. Thou speakest of our
Sacred one?" she retorted.
Such things are the abominatlon of our
prophets" declared Jether, drawing back
from her. Whose Of us doth homage to
such an idol that one is accursed"
Then" cried Tsha angrily, as she
placed the wine before the altar. '1f thou
dost so regard whom Tisha worships then
my mother was right Thou shalt no
longer stay here with us in Jerusalem. Get
thee away Back TO the things thy God
? hath given thee-the sheep, the dreary hills
thy brother, Gaal. Ha ha-thy brother
Gaal The maid whose scarf thou wearest
always, waking or sleping"--
She quickly snatched the scarf Naomi
had given him and which he always wore
about his neck but angrily he took It
from her
Nay, give me the scarf. EVIL would
befall me were to lose this-this token"
Take It. and go back to the hills. I am
done with thee forever 90 shrieked Tisha, in
rage. But Jether hesitated.
Il cannot leave thee" he pleaded, coming
% her. Thou art part Of me. And though
thou dost rail at me now. know full well
thou dost love thy 1ether
risha smiled triumphantly What fools
these men were!
What hath my gracious Lady Ishtar
done to harm thee?" she purred. where
IN would lie the fault vert thou to drain
cup in honor of her? She is our goddess
who is kind to lovers. Shall lovers not
adore her? Yet thou dost mock her name
Were 1t not just that thou instead should
worship her?"
But Jethcr, with nameless dread Enaw.
ing at his heart, stlll hestated.
My father taught me that of all the
sins, not one compares with worshiping ar
IDOL" he said, weakly.
'Dost thou prefer a God no man hath
seen to one thy Tisha loves? Yet when
kiss tbeI thus, and thus she CRIED "dC
not sin, for as my mother said, thou ar
stranger TO our Gods. thou who has
ecoffed at Ishtar."
Jethsr's madness was now beyond con
troll. what wouldst thou, temptressT HI
whispered, hoarsely.
II would have such proof Of love tina
whel my mother chides me, I can say Il
her Jether does love me and is one o.
W.' And when 1 lie again in thine EN-
Trace, shall not dread the wrath Of Ishtal
A. thou hast sacrificed unto her."
But Jether still hesitated. "I do no
krfow thy ways of Offering" he stammered
With a triumphant cry of JOY Tisha &C
lmowledged the surrender.
speak but after me before the altar,
she cried, drawing him with her. ''Firs
of all. we throw a little incense upon TIT
fame-so." She threw a pinch of powde
into the small, blush flame which burned
in an urn before the statue. The powde
fared up quickly and diffused a subtle ant
Intoxicating perfume. Jether took pincl
of the powder and threw it also into tn
hame. Then Tisha took Off golden brace
let from her arm, and also the golden wris
band worn by Jether.
''And now upon the altar lay thy colder
bracelet, so, as a sacrifice TO the gods" di
rected Tisha. And now we drink wine ir