The Holly chieftain., 1900-04-27

Il was evsa bold and fearless, m,
father, against my usual wont, because
happy case. Namsr1h slipped from her
that love had made me 70. and In the
presence of my lord, Adiua, had but
one fear only, lest / might fail Of my
honor to him-who knew not my ways
a. thou knewest them-and appear un-
loving and unsracious In his eyes.
II At these words AdlnA's motions
grew more gentle and he checked him
In his walk, and came and stood near
by. his chin sunk In his palm, as bs-
fore, and his eyes, with q most mighty
tenderness in them, bent upon Ma
marah.
"But, how knewest thou, my daugh-
ter. that the victory was won and thy
fathers host returning, seeing sent
no messenger before me, but made
haste myself to bring thee tidings?7
Then Namarah turned her fair face
upward, and said:
"Adina, speak. Let 1t be known
unto Jephthah, my father, that the
thing that is come upon US was partly
of our own doing--thine and mine"
Then Adina, softened. mayhap. by
the sight of the old mans suffering,
and more yet by the nobleness and
submission of Namarahs spirit, an
swered. and said:
These words be true, o Jephthah.
for 1t was even that sent unto the
maiden tidings. by which she gained
the knowledge Of our approach"
But how sendest thou these It'd
ings." said Jephthah. seeing that I
gave thee no leave to take a mes
senger?'
Therein the fault was mine," Ma
marah said, "if fault there be-for.
were 1t not the will of God, naught
that was done or is to be were pos
sible-seeing that gave unto Adina
one OF my carrier birds. to send me
word of thy triumph and return, and
the bird. In truth, brought me the It'd
ings this morning. Seest thou not
then therefore. oh, my father, that this
thing that is befallen us was to be?'
Then Jephthah bowed his head upon
his hands and uttered mighty groan.
How sayst thou, my daughter, that
we shall be delivered? Knowest thou
not that according to my VOW thou
must be offered burnt sacrifice?"
As he spake these awful words, the
maiden's face grew whittier still, though
the courage of her eyes faltered not,
and through all the body of the young
man AdinA there ran great shiver
that again made to shake his armor
that 1t ratified and sounded, seeing
which, Namarah rose and ran to him,
fearing lest he might even fall to the
ground, so greatly he tottered and
trembled. Taking him by the hand.
she led him to place beside her faith
er and gently pressed him to seat.
while she herself sank back upon her
knees before them, holding a hand OF
each, and as she lifted UP her head and
looked at them, 1t seemed unto the
father and the lover both that her face
was as the face Of an angel.
"Hearken to me, o thou to whom my
soul best loveth," said Namarah, for
there is a voice within me that seem
eth to me to speak. and that most
dread and sacred voice saith to me
what 1t shall comfort thee to hear. i
will deliver thee,' the voice crieth con-
tinually, and shall we not believe this
Heavenly voice? Let us, therefore, be
comforted, and take courage and pray
continually for deliverance from the
terror wherewith we are afirighted.
For what is it that thy soul feareth o
Adina, and Jephthah my father? Is
1t not even the thought of parting?"
AS Namarah spake these words, the
spirits of the men who listened to her
grew suddenly more calm, and the
faith and courage with which her own
heart was animated seemed to be in
some sense impaired to them. so that
Jephthah turned unto Adina. and spake
unto him in these words:
LET not thy soul within thee hate
me, o Adina, for my heart is sad even
unto death. Forgive me the harm that
l have done unto thee through ignor-
ance, and let 1t be with us both even
according unto the words that this
maiden hath spoken. and let us take
comfort and have hope. Let US together
pray continually for the deliverance
that she feeleth to be in store for us."
And Adina answered, and said:
at shall be as thou sayest. o Jeph-
thah, and the God of power hear our
prayers
Then Jephthah caused him that he
knelt in front of him. at the side of
the maiden Namarah, and as they
rested so, Jephthah lifted up his hands,
and blessed them. And as their heads
.,.a.o howad tauafhar the short 9nldan