The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-03-21
So beloved, Tamar was yerv Lannv :

looked on ana shook their heads, for
they saw that this must end and they
feared it might end in sorrow.
The time came when Tamar also saw
and felt that the noble, counsns loved her
with more Il an btolherly love. Annette
the more impetucus, first declared his
passion.
"Tamar," he said, "beautiful Tamar, ]
love thee."
"Dear Arnette,' brcathed from the
open heart of the iDDoreut maiden.
"Wilt thou be miht?"
Her lovely face which had been radi.
ant with happiness vas clouded now with
doubt and perple&i,y. Arnette saw, and
asked again,in deep, sutdued tones, ooh!
beautiful one wilt thou be mne?'
The queehly girl covered her face With
her hands, and burst into tears.
Jsieph that moment came upon them,
holding in his hand an offering of flowers.
He stopped moment in surprise at the
dark brow of Annette, and the fearful
distress Of his beloved lamar. He grew
pale, as his Heart told him tie decisive
hour had come.
With the frankness that belonged to the
age Of heroic nocence--before centuries
Of selishness. rapacily and crime had
marred the bodies and defoImed the souls
of men--he held out one hand to his ri.
val, and the other TO The beautiful one they
both adorcd.
Il too. love you, beautiful Tamarp"
said the youth with blue eyes and golden
hair. "God of our fathers. witness my
deep love! Here we sland-choose between
us!"
A pang shot through the I.e,rt of each;
but they stood, eacL nobly iesigning to
the fate that awaited him.
Tamar looked on each. So long had
she loved both with the pure.ove of saint
ly maidcnhood, that the deeper love
now proffered only perplexed and dis
tressed her. How could she take herself
from either? How hurt one when both
so dear?
"Arnet,e! Ja!eph! why asked me to
choose? Are you NOT happy? So let us
remain.
The young men looked in each others
saddened eyes, and each one felt that it
could be So no longer. The happy time
had passed.
As the group stood, hand III hsnd, 10
the glow Of tho sunset, the mother came,
in her sweet matrunly dignity 10 greet
them.
"What is this, my children!" she asked
/ in alarm, as she saw their sorrOwful faces
and her daughters filling tears.
"Dear moher!" cried lamar, "how
can choose between these lovc?
The mother smiled, tut the smile was
not free from Sadness.
! "My daughter" she replied, Hhere
must be one whom we love above all 9th
ers."
"Mother!" said the poor girl as she
buried her face in hcr bosom, "toth have
been 80 kind. so noble. so loving to me
all my life, how can l hurt one or the
oth4r!"
Come, my daughter; you, my chill
dren go. In seven days Tamar shall No
swer you.
They kissed the mothers hand held out
to them. They looked tcnderly at the
weeping girl. and walked away, hand in
T hand. There was no rancor or jealousIy
, in their noble hearts. 1t is true that
each one felt that the happiness Of his life
was at st'ke. To fight for the possession
Of the object OF their love, however, was
a mode OF settling their rival pretensions
left 10 the drrkn, SIS aud ferocity of sue
ceedng ages, when the earth should be
, stained with blood.
Annette and Jalcph were together, at
> ever in their light abors and their man
ly pastimes. Two days had passed, and
, they were swimming in the river. Whelh
er exhausted by exercise or weakened ry
5 emotion, Jaleph could not swim with hi
usual strength. Soon his golden locks
/ we've seen to sink beneath the waves
. His sinewy arms grew power!ess. A
cry from the shore alarmed Annette. lii
, looked for his cousin and the next mo
ment plunged beneath the surface, II
: few moments he bore him To the shore
s where he soon recovered.
!; Again they were hunting the leopard
:; in the mountains. Jaleph fell and tn
r wild beast sprang upon him The lane
e Of Annette pierced the fierce animal
s heart, and saved his rival from death.
The seventh day approached. Neitho
had spoken to lamar. They had bu
d seen her ata distance. Each had refrain
d ed from offering any sign of love, Thei
IS royal hearts would not permit them t
e take advantage Of each oher.
1t On the eve of the seventh day the,
l. met in an assembly that gathered to pre-
10 pare the morrow's festival.
t; Tamar was decided. Her heart ques
e toned in solitude, declared for the golden
1t haired musician. But her love and pit
for Annette, her appreciation of his nobl
'r qualities, and her thankfulness to him fo
n twice saving the life of her chosen one
ie made her look at him with such a glor
rs of admiration and gratitude, that Jaleph'
is heart sunk within him. He went fort
ie and wept.
r 1t seemed plain to him that the quet
rs lion of life was decided. He would nc
ID wait for the morrow. Revealing his pla
h to one faithful friend, he went forth in tn
If darkness and bade Adieu to the bapp
y, valley.
ne When the morrow came, Annette RI
re paired to the lovely cottage Of Tamar.-