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


for what have my people ever done for me-?
But above eli, l,tthat might dwell there
with you, whom love, and with my old
father; and You, whose cold heart knows
not love, with my kiss on your lips, you
reject the boon oiier out Of hatred for the
hand that has bestowed It on. me. All
your thoughts and deeds have become as
those OF y man, and all that other women
prize most highly you spurn from you with
your footP'
At this Miriam could bedr no more. She
clasped her hands over her quiVering face,
sobbing bitterly.
By this time the sleeping tribes we're
awakening in the growing dawn. Serving
men and women came forth from the
houses of Aminadab and Nahshon. All,
as they woke to q new day, made their way
to the well or the drinking troughs, but she
needed them not.
How her heart had leaped and rsjoiced
when her lover had declared to her that he
had come to lead them to the land which
the Lord had promised to His people She
had rested 50 gladly on his bosom, to know
for moment that highest bliss, but how
soon had it been turned to Disappointment
While the morning breeze had rustled
through the thick foliage Of the sycamore,
Pharaoh's promises to the people il had
seemed to her that the voice Of God in
His wrath was murmuring in the tree tops,
or that she heard once more the angry
speech Of old Nun. He had stormed ct Uri
like thunder and lightning, and wherein
did Joshua's proposal differ from Urls?
The people, as she had heard from Moses
himself were lost il they failed in truth to
their God and yielded to Pharaoh'B entice-
ments- To ally herself with man who had
come to undo all for which ber brothers and
his own father had lived and struggled
would be base treason. And yet she loved
Joshua, and instead Of repulsing him harsh
ly, how willingly, ah, how gladly, would
she again have lain on the heart which, as
she knew, longed for her so ardently.
But the murmur in the boughs still went
on. She could fancy il was echofng Aaron's
words OF warning, and she vowed to remain
true, strong as the impulse was that drew
her to her lover. The whispering in the
tree was OF surety the voice of God, who
had chosen her to be His handmade. When
Joshua had declared in his passionate ex-
element that the desire to possess her was
what had prompted him to action on behalf
Of the people who to him were as indifEer-
ent as to her they were dear, she had sud
denly felt her heart stand still and she
could not forbear sobbing in her mental
anguish.
Heedless Of Joshua or the awakening
multitude, she flung herself again at the
foot Of the sycamore, with arms appraised to
heaven, staring Wide-eyed at the boughs.
as though expecting some fresh rev.
elation. The morning air sighed among the
leaves, and suddenly it seemed as though
bright radiance shone, not only in her soul,
but all about her, as always happened when
q Vision was granted to her prophetic eye.
And in the midst Of the light behold
figure, whose aspect terrified her while his
name was whispered by every trembling
leaf; and the name was not Joshua, but that
of another whom her heart could not desire.
he stood in the blaze Of glory before her
minds eye, q tall, noble form, and with
solemn gesture. laid his hand on the heap
of stones he had made.
ITO be Continued