Rocky Ford enterprise., 1900-04-13
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some day. When next thou soest on
Journey. thou mayst take ono Of my
white doves with thee. and We shall
see whether or not II will return"
so belt, maiden" he replied. There
is even now a message ] would fain
send thee by II. had the courage"
And as he spoke he. turned and left
her. before the wonderment his words
had reused found voice In speech.
What message:" she murmured
again and again. speaking In hushed
silence TO her own heart as she wan
dered alone about the garden. or sat
with her maidens at her embroidery.
They were engaged upon tho task OF
working n rich vestment for the high
priest, and no one had 30 nnc an eye
for the blending of coiors. nor such
dest hnsers In handling the brilliant
silk and golden threads with which
they wrought. ns Namarah. But as she
sat at work today her mind and senses
were prcoccupied. so that the silks got
tangled In her fingers. and the colors
were mismatched In . clumsy manner
that none had ever seen In Samarah
before.
That evening. when her father Jcph-
thah came home. there was n look up
on his face that made Namarah
anxious. When theft evening meal was
ended. he called the maiden TO him.
and fondiin. her with more than his
usual iovinsncss. he revealed to her the
care he had upon his mind.
Il have not told thee OF II. child."
he said. because that I rcfraincd to
cause tLcc uncasincss until the time
wcrc come: but OF late there hath been
great trouble aud strife In the land of
| Israel. and tho children of Ammon
have made war against It. And In con-
sequence Of this strange thing has
happened unto me. for. behold. the cl-
dcrs OF Gilcad have come to fetch mo
ou, OF the land OF Tob that I may be
their captain to fight against the child
ren OF Ammon. But I spakc unto them
and said: Did yc not hate me and ex
pei me out OF my fathers house. and
why are yc come unto me now when
sc are In distrcss?' And the elders
OF Israel said unto me: Therefore
We turn again unto thee now. tina; thou
mayst go with us and fight against the
children of Ammon. and be our head
over nil the inhabitants Of Gilead.'
Then said I unto the elders OF GIlead:
II yc bring me home again to fight
against the children OF Ammon. and
the Lord delivers them before me. shall
I be your head?' And behold they an
swered: THE Lord be witness between
us, II we do not according to thy
words"
Now. MS he spakc. the maiden Ma
marah had felt her heart within her
smitten with n great and mighty fear.
Go not. my father" she pleaded.
hanging about his neck and hiding her
face against him. Did not the elders
OF Gilead thrust thee out and disown
thee? Why goest thou then to fight
against their enemies?''
But Jephthah answered and said:
These be the enemies OF the Lord,
my daughter. who have lifted up their
hands against His people Israel. and I
must even go forth to meet them.
strong in the power Of his might"
But Namarah only wcpt and clung
| to him, and said:
Let my words find favor with thee,
o my father. and go not forth to battle.
lest thou lose thy life. and l be left
alone and comfortless."
Il would fain have thee take my It'd
ings more submissively. my little one
made answer Jephthah. as he stroked
the masses of her unbound hair. THY
! father is n soldier. and thou art a SOL
dier's child; and l would have thee
| grid my armor on. and wish me God
speed against the enemies OF the Lord
and His people, trusting in His power
to bring me back, triumphant and vic
torious into thy arms again.
But Namarah seemed to get no COM
fort from his words, and answered
| only:
/ DO not leave me. Thou art all l
have"
MY child. my little child" said
] Jephthah, with a mighty sweetness In
his voice. II often grieves thy fathers
heart that 1t is even SO. Thou never
knewest mothers care and love, and
though. God knowsth. I have tried to
let thee feel no lack of tenderness,
yet often 1t doth trouble me that thou
hast on earth no binding tie of love
/ NV ihis " me- anu ~ "ou'e
I'LL my soul with comfort to see thee
wed to one who might worthily cher
ish thy youth and protect thy tender
ness"
But Namarah. with her face still hid
against him. only shook her head, as
II in strong opposition to his words.
Child, bethink thee" Jephthah said,
when he had gently kissed and stroked
her head in silence for moment. 1T
must never be for thee to die unwed'
Tor who knows but the will and pur-
pose of the great God may be that thou
shalt be chosen among women to be
the mother Of thy peoples deliverer!
IL hath even seemed to me that In the
] eyes of the Almighty thy meekness and