The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-25
IN DAYS OF OLD
Che Oath Of Sheal.
By Mary Wallace Conway. OF Richmond)
Continued from last Sunday.
rr-y 4

CONTINUED from last sunday.
CHAPTER v
The house OF Hafach. the Persian. vas
a scene Of splendor seliom equalled, even
in that luxurious age and country. STRIPS
OF the richest stunts from oriental looms
were spread over the tessalated pave
ments and iniaii floors, and cloth of
gold. and jewel II listed fabrics from
Tyre hung on the walls. and swayed in
the scented breezes. The rarest flowers
bloomed in great golden vases. Jeweled
fountains sent up their sprays Of cos.fy
perfumes. Trained ringiig-blrds OF anl
liant plumage Gu.ts-ci ABOUT among 'ae
flowers and waving pans, and filed the
air with melody swes.sr than that n ade
" the great musicians who were hidden
among the nowecs. Many slaves In Cor
geous raIment glidad about amvag the
guests. bearing ieweled vessels, laden
with daintiest gianis, luscious fruits. snd
rlrest wines. The master CT this great
feast was radiant with pride and Joy;
for was not his OILY child, N, apple Of
his eye" 10 we'd lilm1n' the lnighi,cst
prince in the land, only second TO the king
himself?
And his fair bride, wl'e-s was Size?
Surely the stars in their courses moved
together to work out h'r happy destiny.
For many LAYS fnis enVlei maiden rad
remained in her apartment, refusing TO
sep anv one exccrt h.r at.slltnis. Cob
ed I'm the unsightly garments Of woe with
their dark hair streyn ~ ashes. all
lav they cat with their unhappy mis-
tress. who Law on her couch and moaned
and wept. and would not be comforted.
Madam" said yeil. How lorg wit
thou weep and mourn for that which is
una~lterahle?"
"Ah, Zeta. how can | help but weep,
when my love is torn from me, and
given over 10 a cruel tyrant, VINO VIII
torture him."
Madam" said Zeta, gently, THY tears
will not bring him again TO thee. Arise,
and let us array thee In thy wedding
garments. The feast Is prepared, the
guests are come, and the bridegroom will
soon be here" But Zada only wept the
more.
Madam. wilt thou let thine enemies
see thy grief, and triumph over thee?"
Then Zada stood upon her feet, and
said, Thou dOest well 10 speak thus TO
me. Zeta. None shall guess my grief"
In her priceless wedding robes, Iada was
like some beautiful white marble statue,
as lovely and as calm, and no one dream
cd Of her anguish. No one but her father,
ard her maidens. Why did not the bride
groom come? What could keep hin? Per-
haps he had been summoned to attend
the king. Hatach was restless and I'M
easy, but the bride was still. One hour
passed. Two. Three. Anxious and doubt
full whisperings filled the air. Suddenly
fh.re ysar confusion at fhp grand en-
trance. n two men, richly dressed in
princely garments. entered and stood in
the midst Of the spacious hall. Hatach
arose TO meet his guestS-then, Thou
slave" he cried in anger. how darest
thou TO come hither. Where is thy mas
ter?'
And Sheal. for it was he. said. "Ha-
tach. call NE not slave | am a prince
In Israel. Hainan is my master no long
er. The plots OF that wicked man against
my unhappy race. end especially against
this most noble Mordecai are discovered.
and he has been hanged on the gallows
that he had prepared for Mordecai."
The Mortified silence that followed was
broken by a cry, and tearing aside the
curtains that divided the women's por-
ton Of the hall from that OF the men,
Iada bounded forward, and stood before
Sheol. "Oh, is Il true, is II truc2" she
cried.
Yea. my child said Mordecai, "it is
true" Then turning TO Hatach. he con-
tinued, This wicked man. whom thy
daughter hated. is dead. and this NJ bile
yOrGg rian. whom she loves. is restored
to his true position. He IS. as he says. a
prince in Israel. The king. at the good
queens desire, hath punished our enemy
and restored us to our homes. We will
return 10 Judta. and be again a great
nation. This company is assembled, the
feast is prepared: / pray thee let the
nuptials proceed. with Prince Sheal for
the bridegroom" And he laid his hand
on his young friends shoulder.
Hatach covered his face with his hands.
Then raising his head he looked round on
the faces OF his friends, who bowed agree
ment TO the proposal Of Mordecai; then in
10 the anxious faces Of Sheal and Zada,
and, taking their hands. he said, as he
joined them: My child. be It so. l only
desired what | thought was for thy great
est happiness" She withdrew her hand
from her lovers. and clasping her arms
tenderly round her fathers neck, said
softly. Il know it. dear father. 1t was
all a mistake. and | thank thee, oh, /
thank thee for this"
CHAPTER VI.
In a chamber in one of the lordliest
mansions OF the restored Jerusalem, sat
Zada, the wife of Sheal. n her hand
maid Ieta. They were embroidering some
tine linen that Sheal would present at
the Temple. "Zeta, art thou content 10
remain here. so far from thy native
land?' asked her mistress; and the maid
replied, Il am more than content to be
with thee wherever thou art"
An, my Zeta. thy love is great" said
the lady gently. Then after a silence
she rose, and going TO the door stood
looking toward the East. A cold rain had
been falling drearily for days. but it had
ceased and as she stood there the rays
OF The setting sun pierced the dark clouds
and bathed the scene in glory. In the dis
tance she saw the Jewish Temple. The
white marble from the outermOst court
TO the high dome. was flushed TO a soft
rose color and the plates OF gold glittered
like lesser suns. a dark column OF smoke
from the sacrifices that were being Of
fered in the Temple court rose straight
up 10 a great height, then spread out
Ike a canopy over the multitude below.
Zada stood for a long time gazing on this
scene, until the throng Of worshipers
melted away 10 their homes. She saw her
husband approaching and went out to
meet him.
lie dld not hurry TO her with springing
step and joyous greeting as was his won't.
put came slowly and with bowed head.
w non he drau. Nam che C1us fhof hlc