The Red Cloud chief., 1900-04-13

io'Nu fNtihB thht y eve ioNt thN', bolh
In this life and that which is to come.
Thine, NAMARAH."
And underneath she had written the
word "Mizpeh."
In reading these lines, the soul of
Adina was greatly comforted. so that
he felt a new courage come to him. and
ever thereafter, until the two months
were come to an end, he bore himself
patiently and submissively and muir
INJURED no more. Each day that dawned
saw him beside the old man Jephthah,
sustaining, comforting and cherishing
him, though, mayhap. his w heart
was even at that same time sunk down
with WEAKNESS.
And after he had brought the white
dove home that night. IL ever came to
him afterward Of its own accord, flying
at sunset into his window and perch
ing there, II he was absent, until he
returned, and often he would take IL
in his hands and talk to It. such words
as his frozen heart refused to utter
unto human ears, and ever II seemed
to give him greater comfort than any
human friend.
AS the two months Of absence OF the
maiden Namarah began to draw to .
close. the soul of Adina grew each hour
more exceedingly sorIowful. and Jeph-
than also went heavily from morn till
evening and took no comfort save In
the presence and companionship of
Adina. who was become to him even a.
his own son.
And when the eve OF the return OF
Namarah and her maidens was come.
all the people of Mizpeh were aware of
II. but so great was their sorrow for
the maiden. that they feared to look
upon her face, and as at set OF sun the
children playing in the streets
brought news that the maidens were
returning. behold, the people gat them
to their houses, they and their chill
dren, that none might look upon Ma
marah in her misery and her affection.
And as Namarah and her maldens
made their way along the streets OF
Mizpeh, behold, they made a picture
sad to see, for their garments of sack
cloth were torn and stained with their
'oJo"ih ~ Nv y itDS vi IL llouh-
tains, and their feet were sore and
weary. and as Namarah walked first
among them, her companions uttered a
low wailing Of distress. But the maid
en- herself vas silent and made no
sound, either with hsr voice or with
the WORKOUT sandals Of her feet, but
eve moved noiselessly as a shadow,
with hpnt hand and handc nlaonaI
YEARLY.
No human creature did they see.
The streets Of Mizpeh were as unin-
habited as were the mountain forests
they had left, and a vast and solemn
silence, more awful in this place OF
many habitations than in the open
country, brooded over everything.
AS they moved along in slow process
sion, suddenly above their heads there
was the sound of wings, and a flock OF
snow-white doves came downward
from high in the air, and, flying low,
preceded them with slow and steady
motions all up the empty streets. And
as men or women here or there
watched furtively from behind the
~ 'nttiS vi lti y Ills
most strange sight-the maidens In
their mourning garments preceded by
the flock Of white doves struck awe
unto their hearts. And added to the
sight there was a strange and awful
sound, for even as the maidens crooned
their low, sad walls, the doves from
their flight in the air joined to the
sound their p~laintive cooling and COM
planning.
To the other maidcns 1t seemed as
but an accident that the birds should
meet and join themselves TO the pro-
cession; but Namarah believed IL not.
Her heart told her that her tenderly
loved birds had recognized her, and be-
fore she reached the door OF her fathers
house one of them had even separated
from It's companions, and circling a
moment. as IL in doubt. above her head,
presently few downward and alighted
on her shoulder. Then did Namarah
unclasp her hands and take It under
her cloak and press 1t against the
warmth OF her heart: and although
the feathers OF its wings had grown
out again, and II was even smooth and
shapely and snow-white as the rest,
she knew it to be the messenger be-
tween Adina and herself. Howbeit,
she knew not that it had earned Il
stronger claim to her affection yet, in
that II had been the chief companion
and comfort of her lover during the
long days and nights Of her absence.
ITO be continued.)
New Artificial Paving stone