The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1900-06-28
CHAPTER X.-(Continued.)

Now, the young man Adina, having
spent the night in ceaseless vigil also,
was at the easement Of his window, be-
tore the earliest streak of dawn, his
life-blood throbbing to the thought
that he was to see once more the form
OF her whom his soul so greatly loved,
albeit speech and touch would be de-
MED him. 1t had been the maiden's
wish that she might not see him on
this Hateful morning, less that the sight
Of his unhappiness might cause her
courage to give way. Still it was
known to her the house wherein he
dwelt, and he waited with his soul
athirst, to see her make to him some
sign of parting as she passed beneath
the easement of his window. The blood
flew surging to his heart as the group
of maidens came in sight, their mourn
ing garments rosied DER by the glory
of the rising sun, and their approach
heralded by the wailings of the people
who lined the streets on either side.
His face went deadly white, and he was
fain to clutch with both his hands at
the easement of the window to keep
from falling back.
Onward she moved toward him, the
form that he was wont to fondle in his
arms, screened from his loving eyes by
those harsh draperies from which the
ashes fell, as the morning breezes
played about her He was screened
from view behind curtain, but the
resolution rushed upon him. that if she
turned and looked, for even one instant
upward, he would throw the curtain
back and look at her, that shekmight
see the mighty love-light in his face,
and the compassion wherewith he pit
led her. Strong man as he was it was
a bitter thing to bear that she should
go onward to suffering and death, and
he stand by, in bodily safety, and see
it.
But Namayah looked not up, and as
she passed beneath his window, her
head was bent forward, and she walked
on calmly and as if in total uncon-
seriousness of the dying heart that beat
so near her. 1t seemed to him to be a
cruel thing, untender and unthought-
full, and Adina rent his clothes, and
turned away from the window with
great groans Of anguish that made one
with the wailings of the people in the
streets. 1t almost seemed to him as
though he were nothing to her-as
though she loved him not, and thought
no more of him and of his love and
woe. He paced the room, with the long
strides of an angry beast, and ever and
anon great sobs, that brought with
them no soothing tears, shook nightly
his strong young breast All the day
he spent alone, in the anguish of his
stricken heart, fearing to go even unto
Jephthah, knowing that his presence
could be no comfort while that his
grief so mastered him; but when even
ing was come he crept from the house,
unseen of any, and went silently to the
garden of Jephthah's house, that he
might once more be in the place that
had seen him so happy in the presence
of his SOULS love. Still and deserted
was the garden, and the wan moon
looked down tonight with the same
cold face that she had turned upon the
far different scene of last night.
Adina wandered here and there among
the trees, but ever he came back to the
dear spot where lately he had stood
with Namarah in his arms. The brook
still babbled on, and the cooling of the
doves came ever to his ears, as if to
remind him that all was the same as
before, save that Namarah was gone.