Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-11-24

homeward to retire to rest: but as she
reached the threshold she stayed her step!
and listened once more, gazing northwarc
whence Joshua must come. Nothing was tc
be heard but the tramp of a Wstehman and
the voice of Hur as he went the rounds oi
the camp with q company of armed men.
He, too, had found it impossible to rest
within.
The night was mild and bright with stars,
the hour meet for silent dreaming under the
sycamore. Her seat was vacant under the
ancient tree, so, with a bowed head, she
made her way to the favorite spot which on
the morrow she must quit forever. But she
had not reached the bench when she sud-
denly stopped, raised her head, and pressed
her hand to her painting bosom. She had
heard the tramp of hoofs, she was sure OF it,
and the sound came from the north. Were
the chariots of Pharaoh hurrying down to
fall upon the Hebrew camp? Should she
shout to wake the men-at-arms? Or could
il indeed be he whom she so passionately
longed tor? Yes, yes. It was the step of 8
single horse, and it must be sOtne new az
rival, for there was a stir among the tents,
ana clspping of hands and shouts of eager
talking came nearer and nearer as the horse
man approached.
1t was Joshua, she felt certain.
That be should have ridden forth through
the night and torn asunder the ties which
bound him to Pharaoh and his brethren in
arms was a proof Of his obedience, Love had
steeled his will and lent speed to his steed,
and the thanks which love alone can give,
the reward which love alone can bestow,
should no longer be withheld from him. He
should learn in her arms that though he
had given up much, it was to earn something
syeeter and fairer. She felt as though the
night about her was as bright as MONDAY,
when her ear told her that the rider was
making straight for Amdnadab's dwelling.
By that she knew that it was her call that
had brought him to seek her before geing to
his father, who had found lodging in the
empty, roomy house belonging to his grand
son Ephraim.
Joshua would gladly have flown to her
side as fast as his horse could carry him,
but il was not safe to ride at too brisk pace
through the camp. On, how long the min
utes seemed till at last she saw the horse
man, till he leaped from the saddle and his
companion flung the reins to another man
who came behindl
1t was, indeed, Joshua. But his comrade
whom she saw quite plainly, and started
few hours since had asked her to be his wife.
There they stood, side by side in the star
light, the two men her suitors, their figures
lighted up by the blazing pine torches which
were still burning by the carts and litters
where they stood ready for the next morn
ing's march.
The elder Hebrew, q splendid man, was
much taller than the younger and no less
stronglv-built warrior, and the lord of many
herds held his head no less high than the
Egyptian hero. Both spoke with grave de-
cision; but her1over's voice was the deeper
and fuller Now they were so close to her
that she could hear what they were say
ing.
Hur was telling the newcomer that Moses
had gone forth to reconnoiter, and Joshua ex-
pressed his regret, as he had a matter of i'm
portance to discuss with him.
In that case he would have to set forth
with them at daybreak, Hur observed, for
Moses thought to meet the people on the
way. Then he pointed to the house of Mi
riam's protector, Aminadab, which lay in
total darkness, unbroken by single twink
ling light, and desired Joshua to come with
him and spend the remainder of the night
under his roof, for no doubt he would fain
not rouse his father at so late an hour. At
this. Miriam saw, her friend hesitated and
looked inouiringly up at the women's rooms
and the roof, and then, knowing whom he
sought and unable any longer to resist the
impulse of her heart, she went forward from
under the shadow of the sycamore and
warmly bid Joshua welcome. He, too,
scorned to conceal the joy Of his heart, and
Hur, standing by, saw the reunited pair
clasp hands, at first in silence and then with
eager words of greeting.
hI knew that you would comel'' cried
Miriam, and Joshua replied with glad emo
ton: "That you might easily know, o
prophecies, for one of the voices that bid me
hither was your own" Then he added
more calmly: 81 hoped to fnd your brother
here with you, for am the bearer Of a mes
sage of the greatest importance to him, to
us and to the people. 1 find sll made ready
for departing, and 1 should be sorry if your
venerable protectors were reused from their
rest and hurried forward to a periious ad-
venture which it still seems possible to
avert. :"
'You mean-?" asked Hur, and he came
closer.
81 mean" replied Joshu, s'that if Moses
persists in leading the multitude forth east
ward. there will be much useless bloodshed
tomorrow, for heard at Tsnis that the gar
risons of Ethan have orders not to let q
single man pass, much less this countless
multitude, whose numbers dismayed me as
who commands the place, and the legions
who serve under him. There will be fear
ful and fruitless butchery among our un-
armed and undisciplined tribes-in short [
must speak strongly to Moses, and imme-
diately, to avert the worst, before it is too
late"
1--WE have not failed to fear all that you
can warn us Of" replied Hur, "and It is
expressly to avert 1t that Moses has set forth
on perilous journey"
''Whither?' asked Joshua.
'That is the secret of the leaders Of the
people"
Among them my father?"
''No doubt, and am ready to lead you to
him. If he thinks fit to inform you"
eff that is contrary TO his duty he will be
silent. VINO leads the marching hosts to-
morrow"
"I do"
''You?'' cried Joshua in surprise, and the
other quietly replied:
''You are amazed that a shepherd should
be 80 bold as to lead an army, but the Lord
God of Hosts, in whom we put our trust, is
indeed our captain, and look for His guild
ance."
SIT is well" replied Joshua, "but too
believe that the God Of our fathers, who
called me hither by the voice of Miriam, has
intrusted me with a message of great i'm
portsnce. / must find Moses before it is too |
late"
''You have been told that till tomorrow, |
Or even till the day after, he is beyond our
reach, even mine. VIII You meanwhile |