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Show TIIE DIXIE OWL Blessed are The Pure in Heart" It was evening and in the gar- den surrounding the palace of Herod every plant and tree took on a soft mellow light, the reflections of the glowing sunset. As Esther gazed upon the beauty about her she thought bow strangely out of keeping it was with tbe life in the palace. True, there was beauty but it wns different; a shallow, fickle kind that grated keenly on her tender nature. She was tired of tbe empty show; tbe pomp and splendor that was at first dazzling bad lost all its attractiveness. Shewant-t- o be free again to think and act as she pleased! Esther had been reared by cultured parents who gave every attention to the development in her of a pure, beautiful character, and she had grown up like the lily, fragile and tender, breathing purity wherever she went,. Her childhood associates had all been dear, but of those past, friends .Judah stood out most strongly, for in him she found the embodiment of all those virtues and characteristics that she so cherished. They had grown up together in a beautiful com rad-shi- p that, resulted from a perfect understanding of each other. Hut when Esthers parents had been so suddenly taken from her and she was left, alone in the world, with no one to guard and advise her, she was not, without misgiving as to the outcome. For a time she had served as a maid in a royal family, and it was small wonder that before long she attracted attention; for as the lily differs from the cactus, so she was different from the In a short, people around her. time Queen Herodias, impressed by her unusual beauty had singled her out as a fit companion for her So own fair daughter Salome. Esther had come to live in the palace of King Herod. It was these thoughts of the past that possessed her mind today as she wandered through the garden. She was arrested by footsteps approaching from behind and a dark imperious man soon neared her side. In him she recognized Philip, the latest favorite of King Herod. Fair Esther, I am come to bring good news. The court meets tonight and it hath been announced that our kind friend Salome is to perform more of her beautiful dancing. Thou wilt be there? said Yes, I will be there I Esther indifferently. have promised Salome that, and now I must make hash1 and prepare the evenings entertainment. Wait a lit le fair Esther, there is yet time enough for that, and t have that which I wish to impart to thee. I have been in consultation with the king today and he hath promised me thy hand in marriage. The quick color mounted to Esthers cheek and she said, And by what right doth he thus, I am no kin of his and will be ruled, only, when my heart speaketh the word. Know-es- t Nay, my fair maid? is thou not that it this same spirit, that maketh thy charms the more desired. The kings word is law so hope not to gainsay it. He a gentle maid, obedient to his commands and I will make thee happy. Happy? Oh thou canst not know the true meaning of that word, Philip. It is not, in thee! Thou speaketh boldly, but hope not, to change my purpose. I swear I will have thee; that wilfulness but maketh me the more determined. They had reached the steps I leading to the palace and Esther turned as she ran up them to call to Philip, Nay never! The palace was already resplendent with lights and the air was filled with a mixture of sweet perfumes. Everything bespoke indolence, and pleasure and corruption. Hut Esther paused not to note these things. She hurried to her own room and falling upon her knees uttered a prayer. 0 Father give me strength I pray Thee, that I may be able to resist temptation, and always be pure and clean. Amen. Salome, her friend and companion, came hurrying in, glowing and excited. She was dressed in a shimmering gauzy gown, that draped her fair form most becomingly. For a moment she paused before the large mirror, to admire the beautiful reflection she saw there. 'then she came over to Esther and putting her arms around her, said, have just received a strange It concerneth that peculiarly dressed man called John that was here and preached. He hath been put in prison and my mother, Queen Ilerodias, sayeth he shall not escape her. Thou knoweth how wroth she is because he hath told her that her marriage with the king was unlawful. But to me, it seem-et- h he was right and I can not but commend his frankness. She paused and Esther said. 0, I trust no harm comes to him. He is a godly man I know, else why should he have spoken as he did. And that is not all, Salome continued, There is yet another stranger come among us, preaching and gathering the people about him. I have been secretly and heard him; he seemeth to be the one to whom this John nt, |