The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1900-04-27
CHAPTER V.

1t was many weary udy thdI IVA
marah waited for tidings which came
not. 1t was her habit to sit at work
with her maidens upon the roof, or else
high up in the top chamber OF the
house, and always she would place
herself near to the window whlch
looked toward the field of battle, ana
none knew why it was that she
strained her eyes so wistfully into the
air. as if she looked for and expected
some token in the heavens. Often
her work would fall from her fingers,
and she would rest a long time idle,
with no sound escaping her, except the
deep drawn signs which none knew
how to interpret. The maidens that
were her companions looked on at
this and marveled. They knew that
Namarah was ever loving and solicit
tous daughter, but it was not uncom-
mon for her father to be away ana
in danger, and this was something
more than her usual concern for him.
She had lost heart in her work, also,
and cared no longer for the amuse-
ments and pastimes with which 1t mad
formerly been her wont to occupy her.
self. But, in spite of this, her inter-
est was more tender than ever before
in those who were sick or in trouble,
and she spent much time in prayer.
Her chief amusement and diversion
during this time were her doves, and
sometimes, after feeding them she
would place herself on the garden seat
and let them climb and flutter all about
her, and take their food from her
mouth and fingers, and even from the
meshes of her hair. She had told to
no one the secret of her heart, and
these silent witnesses of her meetings
with Adina seemed now the nearest
thing to him that there remained to
her.
At length, one morning, when Ma
marah had grown paler than was her
wont. with long waiting and watching,
she stood at the easement of her cham-
Der, and her listless gaze that had been
long fixed YEARLY upon the distant
scene, became in a moment alert ana
animated. Far up in the blue she had
seen a flying bird, and at that slght
| her heart within her always trembled.
Perhaps it was a skylark, or even one
| of her own pets, wandered farther
than its custom away from home. yes,
1t was dove-a snowwhite carrier
and surely, one of her own, as there
| tho, In hof rQUiOn ShC
had never known one of hers to ny
so high as that before, and the throD-
bling of her heart grew violent, as she
looked up and saw it pausing and cir
cling above her head. Surely she
caught sight of tiny object, not a
feather, between it's wing and breast
as the bird swooped downward and
flew into the pigeon house.
With limbs that shook with hope anC
fear, Namarah stole softly through the
silent halls and chambers, down the
garden path and into the place where
all her birds were together. They
were cooling and muttering and CAB
bling as if something out of the com
mon had happened to them, and wher
she paused in the doorway and called
they all came fluttering to her. one
by one she touched them with hel
hands and felt beneath their wings
They were too exactly each like eacf
to distinguish among them, but all o
them came tamely to her call, it be
ing her habit to stroke and smooth
| Il. Tue nc hnr hn0
began to sink with disappointment, sh'
noticed one with broken feathers, ant
her fingers touched something smootl
and hard, and 10, there was, indeed, tn
thing she sought-a tightly folded pa
per. tied with a small cord under tn
birds wing. Her hands trembled a
she loosed it, and she hid it hurried,
in her bosom. Then she ran swift.
through the garden paths and bacl
to her own room, where she shut her
self in, and taking out the preciou
paper, pressed it to her lips and the
fell upon her knees in prayer. Sh
entreated God most earnestly that tn
tidings might be good; her hear
swelled with praises to His holy name
and her faith was strong in the answe
to her prayers, as she opened the pa
per and read. These were the words
Most Dear Maiden-It hath please
the God of Israel to send the hosts G
Jephthah, thy father. a complete an
mighty victory, and We be, even nov
upon our way to thee, returning i
triumph and great thankfulness @
heart. Thou will greet me as tn
chosen and sanctioned husband, Ma
marah. for thy father hath so com
mended my bearing in the fight, where
in was able to render him good serv
ice. that he hath promised me that
shall choose my own reward. and
have chosen even the maiden Namara
to be my wife. have even so spoke
to thy father. feeling sure that at tha
moment he would not say me nay, an
? he hath even given me his blessinl