The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-05-24
CAPTAIN RENAJAH,
CHAPTER v.


| MicaI was made intensely sad by the
| information impaired by Captain
| Benaiah. lie had high hopes OF Judith
| and Susiana. Now his suspense was
very great; but he had no heart 30
| inform his wife of his great distress.
| He was walking in the court in rear of
| his house when he saw on a distant
| hill. a small caravan of camels. As
| they came nearer he recognized Heber,
| a Hebrew merchant OF Damascus
| trading also in Tyre. He called his
| wife to welcome their guest. Heber
| left the camels in charge of THE SER
wants and reciprQcated their kind salu-
| tations. A large package was brought
| in and he proceeded to open it. He had
expected to see Susiana, but was glad
| that she did not promptly enter, as he
desired to give her a happy surprise.
A magnificent Persian shawl Of green
and gold was spread before them.
| Then came a crimson hood and a pur-
pie robe. Also an embroidered lIirtle,
| rich and beautiful, and ornaments for
| the hair. He took out a cunningly de-
yised box Of Arabian perfumes, and
| then a belt, enriched with rubies.
Rachel gazed with wonder and adj
! miration.
Then said Heber: Il met in Damas-
Gus merchant from Mesor0-amia. H.
had the goods / most desired and |
| had goods in demand on the rivers OF
| Persia. My last journey has been a
great success and | am now able to
support a family. So | have come to
ask for my bride. These presents are
| for her. Where is Susiana?' Poor
Mical could no longer conceal the facts
and told OF her visit to Tyre and how
| she was decoyed and carried away. He
also expressed the hope of her
promised rescue. Rachel could not
restan her passionate grief Heber
was disappointed, assonished, and en-
ragged. He was expecting TO meet
| Susiana. He was astonished at the
| imprudence of the heather Duke. He
was very angry at the stealing of the
girl, from a King so wise and good as
| King Solomon.
| He said to Rachel: These presents
are for Susiana Take care of them
till her return, At sunset [ will start
| for Jerusalem to assist in her rescue.
| Let us be hopeful. Captain Benaiah
| is valiant and the Kings ships are the
| swiftest on the sea-"
my forebodines of evil distress me, ="
l
am in ship in pursuit of the Dukes
yacht and just as we are ready to board
| it, a fog comes in between us and we
cannot follow. Sometimes / am on
| camel and Judith and Susiana are just
| ahead. Then a cloud of sand passes
before us and they are gone"
My dreams" said Heber, are diff
| ferent and also disappointing. Last
night / pitched under n cluster of
palm trees; after slipping my mocha,
eating my cheese and oranges, / fell
asleep and dreamed that Susiana was
| sitting near me under a palm tree. /
| handed her bunch of grapes and she
was gone. Again | dreamed that |
was in n ferry-boat crossing the Jor
| dan; the snow had melted and the
river was full. When we had reached
the bank, / spoke to Susiana, who had
| been sitting at my side and she could
not be found. The oarsmen had not
seen her, nor heard any splash in the
| water
Heber hastily transacted his bust
ness with the merchants of Nazareth.
partook of refreshments and obtained
permission to sleep.
Heber ait sunset mounted his camel.
and his caravan went quietly along
| towards Jerusalem. Early on the fol-
lowing day he arrived and sought
Captain Benaiah, who fully sympa
thized in his distress. While they
were talking, Captain Benajah was
summoned before King Solomon. The
King was on his ivory throne, sur
round by splendid array Of cour-
tiers; but be promtly suspended the
business in which he was engaged and
said Captain Benaiah. a messenger
has just arrived from JOppa. One of
the captains WHO followed the Duke
the Duke sailed to Poplios, on the
island of Cyprus, and anchored there.
At midnight he quietly sailed out of
the harbor and we followed till he
drew up his yacht in the small creek
running down from GAIA, and now he