The Red Cloud chief., 1900-03-16

some day. Wnen next tnOu gOeSt on 4
journey, thou mayst take n Of my
white doves with thee, and we shall
see whether or not 1t will return"
80 belt, maiden" he replied. There
Is even now q message | would fain
send thee by It, had | the courage"
And as he spoke he turned and left
her, before the wonderment his words
had reused found voice in speech.
What message?" she murmured
again and again, speaking in hushed
silence to her own heart az she wan
dered alone about the garden, or sat
with her maidens at her embroidery.
They were engaged upon the task Of
working a rich vestment for the high
priest, and no one had so fine an eye
for the blending of colors, nor such
def fingers in handling the brilliant
silk and golden threads with which
they wrought, as Namarah. Blu as she
sat at work today her mind and senses
were preoccupied, 50 that the silks got
tangled in her fingers, and the colors
were mismatched in a clumsy n
that none had ever seer in Namarah
before.
That evening, when her father Jeph-
than came home, there was a look up
on his face that made Namarah
anxious. When their evening meal was
ended, he called the maiden to him,
and fondling her with more than his
usual lovingness, he revealed to her the
care he had upon his mind.
II have not told thee Of 1t, child"
he said, because hat | refrainod to
cause tl.ee uneasiness until the time
were come; but of late there hath been
great trouble and strife in the land of
Israel, and the children of Ammon
have made war against 1t. And in con-
sequence Of this a strange thing has
happened unto me, for, behold, the ell
ders OF Gilead have come to fetch me
out of the land of Tob that | may be
their captain to fight against the child
rem OF Ammon. But I spake unto them
and said: Did ye not hate me and ex-
pei me out Of my fathers house, and
why are we come unto me now when
We are in distress?' And the elders
Of Israel said unto me: Therefore
we turn again unto thee now. that thou
mayst go with us and fight against the
children of Ammon, and be our head
over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
Then said I unto the elders of Gilead:
II We bring me home again to fight
against the children of Ammon, and
the Lord delivers them before me. shall
| be your head' And behold they an
swered: THE Lord be witness between
us, II we do not according to thy
words"
Now, as he spake, the maiden Ma
marah had felt her heart within her
smitten with a great and mighty fear.
go not, my father" she pleaded,
hanging about his neck and hiding her
face against him. Did not the elders
OF Gilead thrust thee out and disown
thee? Why goest thou then to fight
against their enemies?"
But Jephthah answered and said:
These be the enemies Of the Lord,
my daughter. who have lifted up their
hands against His people Israel, and
must even go forth to meet them
strong In the power Of his might"
But Namarah only wept and clune
to him. and said:
Let my words find favor with thee
o my father, and go not forth to battle
lest thou lose thy life, and / be lef,
alone and comfortless."
II would fain have thee take nv It'd.
ings more submissively, my little one,'
made answer J%ephthah, as he stroket
the masses Of her unbound hair. 9TH,
father is a soldier, and thou art a sol,
dier's child; and ! would have thee
grid my m on. and wish me God.
speed against the enemies Of the Lore
and His people. trusting in His power
to bring me back, triumphant and vic,
torious into thy arms again.
But Namarah seemed to get no com
fort from his words, and answered
only:
do not leave me. Thou art all
have"
"My child. my little child" sale
J%ephthah, with a mighty sweetness IL
his voice, If often grieves thy father
heart that II is even so. Thou neve
knewest a mothers care and love, an(
though, God knoweth, l have tried I,
let thee feel 10 lack of tenderness
yet often 1t doth trouble me that tho,
hast on earth no binding tie OF low
save this to me; and 1t would eveI
fill my soul with comfort to see the,
wed to n who might worthily cher
ish thy youth and protect thy tender
, ness"
But Namarah, with her face still hi,
against him, only shook her head, a
II In strong opposition to his words.
Child, bethink thee" Jephthah said
!, when he had gently kissed and stroke,
her head in silence for a moment, 81
|, must never be for thee to die unwed
for who knows but the will and pur
pose of the great God may be that tho,
. shalt be chosen among women to b
. the mother Of thy peoples deliverer
II hath even seemed to me that In tn