Rocky Ford enterprise., 1900-04-06
CHAPTER IL

II happened one fair morning. when
earth and sky seemed all TO nee, In n
blessed promise Of tranquility and
peace. that Nnmarah stood In the midst
Of her garden. with n small basket on
he. arm. from which she was scat
tcrinS grain TO flock of white doves.
which. futtcrins from far and near.
came TO her feet and sank down there.
n moving mass Of snowy piuinasc. from
which her slender ilsurc. clad In spot
less white. rose up like human cma-
nation from their pare iovclincas OF
hue and outline. Her face and throat
and hands were pure white. too. and
a look Of deep serenity was upon her.
The sky above seemed not more still
and placid.
She raised her hand and pu; q few
grains Of the food into her mouth. and
Mt the motion some OF the doves were
frightened and ficw up. with a whir-
rim. noise. only TO circle round and
come back again and fall TO noddink
and dipping about for the grain AT
her feet Presently ono OF tho fock
dew up and alI.hicd on her shoulder.
then another and another. Namarah
opened her rcd lips and showed tho
dark grains held iisht between her
little white teeth. at which a pcckins
and iiu,tcrins began among the three
tame doves. as she would offer her
mouth irst to one and then another.
II was evidently a familiar game
which all the participants enjoyed.
Suddenly there was y great whirrins
and futtcrins. and the whole flock few
wildly on. and were out of sight bc-
hind the trees. before Samarah. left
quite alone. perceived the cause of
their fright. A young man. taller even
than Jcphthah. her father. but with
the ruddincss of youth and dawnins
manhood upon his bcardicss face. stood
before her. all in shining armor. on
which the moving light danced and
giintcd. lie had taken on his helmet.
and sunlight Kissed sunlight In the
gold Of his thick curis. And. behold.
when Namarah turned and looked a,
him. a strange thing came TO pass.
Her white checks. which no one had
ever seen other than calm and color
lcss. were all Mt once suTused with
pink, as II a rose had been suddenly
placed beneath a piece of fair white
cambric: and in that moment she be-
came a hundred times more bcauti-
full than she had ever been before. The
young man colorcd. too. and bent his
golden head. as she sail:
III this be the maiden. Namarah. thy
father Jcphthah hath sent me to ask
Of thee some pieces OF his armor tina,
he hath need Of
''Is he going into iigs,7" the maid
en- asked. the rose disappearing from
her checks. "wiii he not see me, to
say farewcll7"
There is, in truth, some danger OF
fight" the young man answered.
for the times are troublous. and a
mighty man like Jephthah must be
ever ready: but his name is great and
terrible. and in going forth TO put
| down the enemy that hath so suddenly
arisen. I think the report that thy IA
| ther Jephlhah leadcth the host Will
he enough. and that there will be no
bioodshcd. But. maiden" he added.
more gently. seeing that her face
looked still affrightcd. Il pray thee
have no fear for the safety OF thy Ia
thcr. will even guard his body with
my own" And, as he spoke, he looked
on her and loved her.
Namarah met the look. and the
trouble Of her face grew deeper. she
felt the disturbing power Of that quiet
gaze. but all her thought was Tor her
fnthcr.
| Maiden" the young man muir
INJURED. in n voice that had softcned
cadence, ALREADY. even today. there
hath been surprise attack. and your
father hath been in danger: but IL
please God that should be near him
to protect him. as could. aud FOR this
cause Jephthah. thy father, hath
chosen me to be his armor bearer. SO
that In future my place will be beside