Evening star., 1926-10-28
. ! : Iaf1u(zz;z&!E!E@z = :
c1e26. by Eugene MacIAan.l

tity of small pieces Of brass. There
was a hint Of a smile beneath his full
beard as he counted the money into
I.aila's hands.
"The beast is yours" he said. with
satisfaction. And at a bargain. l
thought 1 might do well in buying 1t.
Jacob the publican purchased it a
week ago and promised to pay later.
But the animal came back to its old
master, alone, two days since. and
Jacob has not been SEEN"
The smile at the corners Of his
mouth expanded into a laugh.
Word has gone around as to what
befell Jacob" said he, land there is
hope that he will not return at all
Laila thanked him with warmth
and he turned away, his flock follow
ing after.
The patient donkey stood beside its
new owner. its halter dragging on the
ground, while she watched the kindly
shepherd depart. Then she tethered
the little beast and went into her
house to prepare for the journey.
She hid her money beneath her
tunic. Her silver mirror, which she
drew from its hiding place. went into
q bag with her Walls of kohl and odds
and ends Of garments. She jerked the
white ceiling cloth from the pegs that
held it. and lay 1t across the donkey's
back in heavy folds. tying it on with
strips Of old linen cloth.
At last she was ready. She mount
ed the donkey and. without a back
ward look, departed in the DIRECTION
that Aaron had taken.
His slowly moving charges had
made his. progress slight. She caught
Ill n< %AA ~ SN4 HA ,,
that led to the cave where she had
the Persian.
He halted at her call.
II meant to ask you what way
should take and forgot" she said.
With his STAFF he indicated the road
that wound through the valley.
Follow it to the third hillock," he
said. Then turn aside from 1t and
follow the narrow ridge directly west
ward. At the end of an hours jour
ney avoid the pit that is hidden and
turn sharply back to the road. You
will come to a point where the way is
covered with water. Turn to your
the south. You will come to the city
Of Samaria. You do not fear the
SamaritanS?"
She gave a negative sign. II fear
no people so much as my enemies in
Jezreel," she said. Then her voice
Softened. And I love none so much
as the good people who have befriend-
ed me there. The chief of them is
Aaron"
She bade him farewell and turned
back toward the village. The land
between her and the road at this
point was a swamp. It was neces-
a,~H- To t.satV 6nyN Oh - -
her own door, in order to reach the
road
She turned at the bottom of the
slope that led up into Jezreel and,
with the donkey picking his way
carefully through the mire, she set
forth on her way south.
Villagers at work among the vines
that bordered her way, looked at her
curiously, but did not greet her. She
rode with her head down, the halter
loose, guiding the beast 10y taps OF her
hand upon the side of its rough.
thickly coated neck.
The road led through two small
streams, swollen now with the water
from the hills. The donkey waded
through these. the water coming al
most 20 his shoulders.
To. her left she could see small tor
rents coming uOWN the Slue OF the
Gilboa range Of mountains.
At the third rise In the ground she
paused. Just beyond her lay a vii
lage on the ridge that Aaron had
mentioned. The ridge itself led east
ward to Gilboa. She searched the
nearby land with her eyes. seeking a
course that would not lead her into
the settlement. There was only bog
gy. uncertain footing to be found.
With a sigh she urged her beast
onward.
In the distance, to her left. soil.
tary figure moved along the bare
summit of the ridge. 1t was n man,
his shoulders bowed, his head sunk
upon his breast as II he were weary.
The paths would meet at the outer
limit OF the village.
a few minutes later. as the donkey
mounted the slope, the figure turned
and came toward her.
Iaila's hands dropped and the ami
NAL halted. The man, approaching.
had not lifted his head. but the set
of his shoulders was familiar.
Ten PAGES from her he stopped and
raised his head.