The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1900-04-06
CHAPTER VIII.

On the evening of the return from
battle of the hosts of Jephthah, the
Gileadite, Namarah went, as was her
wont, to feed her doves, and as she
stood among them, more white than
was the gown she wore, there came
to her. down the garden-walk, through
the parted branches of the trees, the
young man Adina.
Now, Namarah knew that he would
come, even at this time and place, but
her heart within her trembled, and the
color was not so far gone from out her
cheek but that his coming called it
back, like to a rose in bloom.
Adina, who had rested from his
travelling and refreshed himself, was
clad this evening, like Namarah all in
white, in stately robe that swathed
his stalwart body from the shoulder to
the sandals on his feet His beautiful
strong young arms were hid beneath
its folds, until, as he came up to where
the maiden stood, he reached them
out and folded her tenderly and
strongly against his breast.
Hurt not the bird, Adina," she said,
slowly, as he held her there and knew
not to distinguish between the flutter-
ing of the dove and the beating Of the
maidens heart. 1T is even thy little
messenger, which did company thee
upon thy dangerous wanderings and
bring me the message of thy heart to
mine"
How knowest thou it is the same,
Namarah," he made answer, seeing
that these snow-white birds of thine
are like as be garden-lilies?" And as
he spake, he held her still with one
strong arm, while the other hand he
laid above her little one that gently
smoothed the rufIled plumage of the
frightened bird.
Il knew it even by it's travel-stains
and by its broken feathers. See, the
birding hath cen suffered in our SER
vice." and, as she spake, she lifted il
and kissed it tenderly, at which Adina
swiftly bent his tail head and kissed
the very spot wherein her lips had
lain upon the bird, saying as he did so:
Thy kisses are all mine, Namarah
and must even take back the one that
thou hast given to the bird. 1t was
III done of thee to besow it on another
than him to whom it doth by right be.
long Release the bird that hath toe
long engaged the touches Of thy hands
Cor these be mine also, and tonight
long for all thy love, seeing that my
heart within me is like to burst with
sorrow"
Then Namarah swiftly loosed the
bird, which flew away and vanished
from their sight, even as the maiden
threw her arms about her lovers necl
and yielded herself to his most sweet
embrace.
81 pray thee sorrow not, Adina, my
beloved" She spake low. Thine an
for eternity, and Heavens joys car
never end Wilt thou not strive to Civ,
me strength to do the thing that lies
before me? Pray for courage for boti
thee and me, for love is sweet, and
death seems cruel"
"Ay, death is cruel, cruel!" made an
swer Adina. with that his brow grew
stern, and the very hands that wer,
about her soft young body clinched al
II in anger.
Now, may God forgive me-, sait
Namarah, "for the evil word l spake
1t even passed the door of my lips
without mine own consent. Our God Il
good, Adna, and IL we dishonor Hin
not. by doubt of His goodness and re
bellion to His WILL He will most likely
deliver us both; and II II pleaseth Hin