Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-06-08

CHAPTER w,

CHAPTER ".
But Namarah raised her hands and
hid hor face from sight, and Adina' s
voice began to tremble as he spake to
her again, and said. full tenderly:
"Didst thou not know, Namarah,
when told thee / would send thee a
message by thy bird, but that lacked
4 the courage, that that message was my
love for thee? AS God beholds me,
1 maiden, my heart hath even been knit
70 thine since first my eyes fell on
thee: and if thou love me not, my life
IS all over for me-"
Still was silent the maiden Namarah.
4 so that Adina's heart grew cold with
4 fear within him, and his voice brake
! as he spake once more:
IT 60 forth to battle, O maiden, to
fight against the enemies Of the Lord
4 and to shield thy father. It may be
that death awaits me, and il thou
hast in thy heart aught Of tenderness
toward me, pray thee speak, or let me
go to death and silence and forgetful-
ness" Y.
Then did Namarah turn to him, a
sudden trembling passing over her
whole cody, and dropping her hands
from before her face, she stretched
them out toward him. Whereat
Adina fell upon his knees and bowed
his head, thinking it was her to be-
stow her blessing upon him in token
Of eternal farewell. But with swift
Y and silent motion, Namarah was at his
Y side, and before he could lift his bend
ed head, her soft arms chung around
his neck.
Maiden" he muttered in voice
deep with passion, while he reached
! upward his strong arms, and held her
( in a close and gentle clasp, though he
rose not from his lowly posture, "tell
me, pray thee. what thou meanest. Is
/ It for pity thou dost clasp me? If
4 So
But Namarah bent her head above
I him, and made answer:
4 mo, not pity-love. ..a.
Then did he spring to his feet, and
stand erect in all the comely beauty
Mof his goodly youth, and drawing her
sslclose against his breast; he bent his
mead and kissed her. 1t was to Ma
lrah the first time she had ever felt
Ier heart respond to any sign Of love,
ID Adina's heart was even as virgin
" her own. 1t was this in the heart
each that made that moments rap
re. It was a long, long time that
4 Sither spake. Their arms were fold
INA close about each other, and once
snnd again their lips NETS and chung
Ito those sweet and sacred kisses which
are the precious fruit of purity of life.
IN hen spake the young man Adina:
wilt thou have me tell thy father,
I5amarah, that we may have his bles-
cling on our betrothal for think he
will not turn him from me, seeing he
hath but lately told me that he oweth
unto me his life. =
But Namarah answered:
may, I would have him go forth to
,lhe fight, as hath been his wont of
yore, believing himself my only object
Of care and love and prayer. He
hath told me that he wills that shall
marry, and when thou contest back
with him victorious, then will tell
him all, and ask his blessing But,
ali, Adina, my most loved one, my
new-found Joy and hope, how If the
Il enemies Of the Lord should Stay thee,
that thou returnest to me no more!"
And at these words she fell to weep
ing, and sobbed upon his breast. But
Adina comforted her strongly, and
babe her pray to God with faith, tell
ing her he felt within himself that
God would prosper the army of her
father Jephthah, and bring then back
victorious.
Then will l claim thee for my
bride, Namarah, thou fairest Of women
and maidens, and Joy will be ours as
long as life shall last"
Namarah clasped him closer vet, and
turned her face upward to receive his
kiss; and behold, as his lips rested
upon hers, they heard the doves near
/ by cooling and calling
Chou shalt give me one of thy
u birds, Namarah," .Adina said; "and I
will make for it little cage, and carry
1t with me; and when the enemies Of
the Lord. shall have been vanquished,
+ then will send thee the tidings on
4 che wings of thy bird"
And the idea pleased Namarah, and
side by side they went together to
4 where the doves slept, and Namarah
opened the door and called them
H to her with the little call they knew
50 we'll; and, although the time was
Il late and strange, they circled round
i her head, and one of them settled on
y her shoulder. Namarah took 1t gently
q in her hand, and ere she gave 1t over
4 to Adfna, she kissed the crest OF its
snow-white head.
.E5 .'Come back to me in peace and tri-
umph," she said.
And then, when Adina had taken
/ the dove from her, she realized that
4 the moment Of parting was come, and,
with great wave Of love and tender
ness and longing sweeping over her,
q. S..S Ia