The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1867-08-20

! ISllllll y 1ON w tlt nNSHlll1~ 1clO hds
n frown upon the brow of her mother.
Is it fitting that a child Of Dram, my
daughter, Iilleh, the beautiful, should
wed an unknown strangcr-a refugee from
dcfcat-cscaped, perhaps, from slavery
| /llah, princess, wed an unknown wan
dcrer! o my child, venture not to speal,
Of Elm TO your father"
" My mother, love him !"
Such love is madness, my child. Go
to your couch and forget this stranger" "
But when did a maiden obey wise
commanl, which told her to forget one
she had already cnthroncd in her heart ;
First, she sank into fit of passionate
tears. Then she thought over every act,
look and word Of the handsome stranger.
Then she thought of his speedy departure,
and that she should see hm no more for
ever. All was still and buried in deep
sleep around her. There was no noise
bat the lowing of the herds, the nclghing
Of stccds, the murmuring waters of the
river, the siahinT Of the breeze. And the
won rous s,ars shone down upon the quiet
scene
Iilah, fevcrsh with her thoughts and
her feelings, wrapped n dark mantle abont
her graceful form, and went forth into the
cool night. Looking around to see if she
was observed, she stole softly TO the flow
ering shruJbery, upon the banks of the
river, She would have bathed her feet
in the cooling stream.
Just as she entered little embowcrcd
path, she saw a man before her, and she
had scarcely uttered Il stihed exclamation,
when he was knecling at her feet. and
had pressed his lips to her unresi,,ing
fingers.
"Oh, Zillah ! my beautiful! my be-
loved y he said "of surety, God has
brought you here. Zi!lal., my life, l love
you !"
Oh, what joy! 1t seemed that the
stars sang in heaven. But the blood that
gathered in the loving heart of Zillah, as
it swellcd with the rapture of feeling that
she was loved left her face pale as marble
and her lips were spcechlcss.
"Speak, rose of my garden! Speak,
star of my life !" said the lover, in voice
whose low tones were full Of sweetest
music TO the heart of Iillah.
The maiden did not speak, but she
passed ON to little arbor, and sat down
upon Il seat of tmf Her lover stood
beside her. She mentioned him TO seat
lie sank upon thc ground at her feet.
"Slrangcr, said Iillah, 81 cannot bid
thee leave me but am not ia The hands
of my father! VIII he give me TO a
stranger, whom he has refused to the sons
of his friends and his powerful kinsmcn ?"
"Iillah," said the youth, his voice
trembling with his emotions, "thou must
be mine. honor thy father; but love
assers Il holier claim than paternity. -
Thou shalt be my bride -
" will ask him." said Zillah, quickly;
he loves mc-he has never refused me
any thing | asked"
lie woulI refuse thee this" said the
young man; "and he would refuse thee
rightly. IillAh, beloved, listen Three
days jpurncy toward the South, the stars
are shining ON the tents OF Barak"
My fathers enemy! :" said Xillah.
"Thy fathers enemy, beloved and
the father of him who loves the more than
life. | am Koran, son of Barali"
" Barak thou the son of Baral !
What dost thou in the tents of Dram
Fly-hy for thy life! Fly from my
fathers vengeance ~
"Korah viii not fly from vcngeance--
he will not fly from love. Listen: was
Taught TO hate the name of Dram. |
came here spy-a minister of relribu-
ton. have seen the noble Old man, and
all my hatred has fled. have seen thee,
AMI am thine forever. |, son of Bara!..
will return in peace to the tents of my
father. ! will lead back my warriors,
who wait but my word to sweep down
the camp OF Dram, if thou wilt grant me
one request. >
" Korah -
"Thy beauty, which has made me
thine, with n love which makes thee
forever mne-thy beauty lone can soften
the heart of Barak. Thou canst make
peace; save thy father; make our fathers
friends make Us one. Wilt thou do it,
The maiden rose from her seat; pale IN
the starlight, trembling like the leaves I;
but the voice of Korah had given strength
to her heart. She laid her hand-her
little white, jcwelel hand--in the hand
OF her lover, and said:
"Zllah. daughter of Dram, trusts her
honor to the son of her fathers deadly
foe. Twill 20 to the tents of Barak -
KOrah folded her in his arms, and kiss
cd her on the forehead. lie was her
guardian now, as well as lover, Ihey
stole along the shrubberv, hy the rivers :
brink. A low neighing Of the steed
saluted them. A black horse, feet and
powerful, paved the turf. A moment
more and they were IN the saddle-Kor h
with /illah before him-and the horse
bounded across the plain, under the stars,
guided toward IA southcrn constellation,
But they did not escape unobserved
A sentinel who was laying on his back,
watching the stars, heard the irampling
of the steed as he flew past, and marked
the course he was going-then, as was his
duty, rode hastily in, and reported to his
chief; and the chief sought quickly the
tent of Dram.
ga horscman flying from our camp p
said he. "Go thee TO the tent OF our