The Yale expositor., 1900-03-16

true and loving wife. as thou hast been
70 me a true and loving daughter.
Whether this glory above all glories
may be destined for thee or not, grieve
not thy fathers heart by refusing to be
wed, so that he may see thee with thy
children about thee before he dieth
and sleepeth with his fathers"
Namarah made no, answer, but her
fluttering breath grew calm and though
she spake no word to signify her ac-
quiescence in his desires, yet neither
did she gainsay him any more, thing
whereat her father marveled. How
ever, he spake not the thought that
was in his mind, but was thankful in
the silence of his heart.
After these weak and 'faint-hearted
words, the brave spirit of the girl came
to her again, and she went about her
household duties, and particularly
the preparations for her ia
theirs going forth to war
with a courage even greater than her
won't Her father she loaded more
and more with endearments and cares
ses, but she ever avoided speech about
his coming dangers in the field, except
that once she said TO him suddenly,
and with her head tent low over her
work:
will it be that thou takest with
thee thine rmor-bearer-the young
man, Adina?"
And Jephthah answered.:
'Ay."
Then" said she, with her head still
bent, lit is well done, for truly he hath
said to me that he would shield thy
body with his own. But go not into
danger, my father. Be careful of his
life and of thine own"
Thou speakest unwisely, maiden
and not as a soldiers daughter. Thou
knowest that in battle a brave man
must not shun the place Of danger, but
if he trusteth in the Lord no harm
can hurt him. Adina also is a man
that feareth God, and therefore will we
trust to be delivered and brought home
in safety"
"Amen!" the maiden said, full rev.
erently and bent her head more lowly
yet, as one who prayeth.
The full moon rose DER Jephthah's
garden on the eve of his going forth
to battle, and Jephthah's daughter
stood alone and held her heart to lis
| ten. Her white robe fluttered in the
cool air of evening and chung about hel
slender limbs; and standing there, hel
| pale face settled into a mute repose
she looked like a fair white statue
clad in q wind-blown raiment. Nc
sound disturbed the stiffness of the
night, except the cooling of the doves il
| their house close by. But, after lonls
waiting, there mingled with this thu
tread of approaching footsteps. The
folds of her white gown trembled OF
her breast, as if the heart beneath
them futtered. Nearer came the foot
steps through the trees, beneath the
overhanging vines, until the moonligh
revealed the tall form and noble fea
lures of the young man Adina.
"Is it thou, o maiden?" he asked
stopping a few PAGES from her. 'Tht
God of Israel bless thee that thol
heardest my prayer, and hast let m'
speak to thee, before 1 go to battle
Hast thou no thought, Namarah, O
the words have come to speak?"
The doves cooed and gabbled will
their little muttering sounds, but Ma
marah answered not They stood {
pace or two apart-the maiden Mama
rah and the young man Adina-bu
still the silence was unbroken.
Hast thou even brought me here t
break my heart, Namarah?" the young
man said. Il love thee maiden, ant
unless thou'lt love me in return, tn
God of Israel grant that 1 may fall il
battle, for my life is naught to M
without thee"
| ITO be cOntinued)