The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-25

as well as OF thy joys?'
Sheal looked at her in mournful sill
ence. then said. Yea, thou art. and I
will tell thee all. Thou hast heard OF
Moses. the great law-giver?" Zada bent
her head. but thou hast never read his
laws he continued. Some OF them seem
Very hard and have oft times been dlsre-
garded. Before the captivity they were
all unheeded and nearly forgotten. The
people left following the true God and
followed idols. so the Lord forsook them,
N their enemies gained the dominion
over them. but they cried to Him in their
distress and lie heard them and delivered
them out or their trouble. He raised up
the prophet Ezra, who brought them back
10 the land OF their fathers. This Ezra
Is a great and good man, but he is a
ne "a man 1nd firm. He called the people
together. brought to mind their disobe-
dience and Gods mercy 10 them. and
charged them If they would escape the
wrath OF an offended God, TO keep his
commandments and to undo the evil that
they had done"
He paused, unable 10 proceed. Zada
had listened attentively 10 all that he had
said, and now she replied, Ezra speak
eth justly. We must obey the omman
OF the great God In all things. To me he
Is Ormazd, and c~ommandeth one thing
10 thee he Is Jehovah and c~ommandeth
another; but, whatever his commands are,
we must obey and lot question. What
Is this that is so hard to thee?'
Thou ssyest that we must obey. but
thou knoweth not what thou sayest. To
obey this command is beyond my
strength replied Sheal. "God said we
should not mix with strange nations.
Neither shalt thou make marriages with
them; Thy daughter thou shalt not give
unto his SON, nor his daughter shalt
thou take unto thy son. 'Ye shall be a
separate nation he said, and Ezra's
command is, Now. therefore. make con-
fession unto the Lord God Of your fathers,
and do his pleasure; and separate your
selves from the strange wives but l
cannot do this thirg. / cannot send thee
away" and he clasped her to his breast.
w will return to thy native land and
l will worship thy god" he said.
She had not spoken, but now she
lifted her pale face and said gently.
'Wouldst thou do this for meg' Yea,
l will give up all and break mine oath
for love of thee. my Zada.' Thine
oath?" she asked. yea, / once swore
that to be free and I'm my native land
again | would give up all that | held
dearest on earth, but | did not know thee
then, my beloved"
She laid her head against his breast
and stood silent for a long time. Then
she said, kiss me, my love-" and when
he had kissed her white lips she with
drew herself gently from his embrace
and went slowly into the house. When
she reached her chamber she Frustrated
herself upon the floor and burst into
violent weeping. "Oh, Ormazd, Jehovah!
whoever Thou art, give me strength
~ - ---FY - NH saGE.-I
my life. how | can / do this thing. oh, how
can L." At last she grew quiet and lay
still for a long time. Then rose slowly
and left the room. In the court she saw
her f~avorite handmade and said TO her
in a low voice, "Zeta. thou and | must go
on a long journey. Prepare quickly
MY master, will not he accompany
us?" she asked wonderingly.
NAY. We go alone and at once" said
Zada and she turned away.
80
In the twilight two figures wrapped in
long dark nantes left the house. One
Of them stood at the entrance while the
other glided AVA through the garden
to a bower which II entered cautiously
and bent over Sheal as he lay asleep upon
a marble couch. His face was pale and
as the watcher gazed upon him he moved
and murmured in his sleep. "A Jew of
noble blood. Of the tribe OF Judah. Sheal
the son Of Ramoth."
And thou wouldst give up thy country.
thy kindred and thy God for me?' she
whispered. "Ah, my beloved, that thou
shalt not. Thou must keep thine oath.
Farewell, mine " Sheal. farewell for
ever" and with a sob she pressed her
lips softly to his, and two great tears
fell on his face. He opened his eyes,
and seeing her bending over him arrayed
as If for a Journey he started up and
said. What meaneth this? Zada, where
goest thou?'
"Oh. my beloved" she sobbed. sinking
20 her knees beside him, Il had thought
to steal away whilst thou slept. l had
found strength TO leave thee so, but
Now thou shalt not leave me- he re-
piled lifting her and drawing her to a
seat beside him. said | not that l would
not let thee go? That cruel law was not
meant for such as thou. What hurt
wouldst thou do 10 me or my religion?
Where could | ind a wife among mine
own people who would ever keep before
me so noble. so pure and lofty an en-
slmple of goodness as thou dostY
She had listened with an expression or
mournful determination till now, but at
these words she raised her eyes to MS
with n look Of fear and misery in them,
and said i'm a trembling voice, III l ieaVe
thee wilt thou we'd another, a woman OF
thine own nation
He gazed at her reproachfully, ana
said. post thou doubt my love for thee?
Have | not vowed 10 thee. that come
what would, | would never a X INTO
myself any woman, be she lsraeite or
stranger. but thee only
Yea. 1 know that thou hast SAID TINS,
and I do not doubt thy love. but l feared
me that thy religion might require IT,
NAV" he replied. whether thou Invest
or diest. s.ayest with me-, or leayest me-
I will have no other wife but thee. but
tbou shalt not leave me. II thou goest, l
will 20 with thee, and thy people shal
be mine"
NAY. my husband. this must not be.
Thou art a mighty man, Of wealth and
mower and thy nation needeth thee.
I-hou must not desert thy country, or
thy God. Had known Of this law, L
would not have married thee, with all
my love. Why didst thou not tell me,
dear one?" she said with gentle reproach,
and she laid her hand caressingly upon
his arm. 81 knew of IL. even then ne
replied. m%ournfully, but IL had not been
observed for so long a time that l thought
II was no more binding, and l loved
thee So
"But. Sheal. dearest. thy love for me
muet not make thee forget thy duty.
Rather as IL is noble, let 1t erroole rs; as
n Is strong. LEI IL lift US out or our
selves. and enable us 10 do cur duty.
Since | have been thy happy wife nave
grown 10 love thy nation for thy sake