Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-06-01

white doves with thee. and we shall
see whether or not 1t will return
80 belt, maiden he replied. "There
is even now message I 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 murmnred
again and again, speaking in hushed
silence to her own heart as 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
deft fingers in handling the brilliant
silk and golden threads with which
they wrought, as Namarah. But as she
sat at work today her mind and senses
were preoccupied, SO that the silks got
tangled in her fingers, and the colors
were mismatched in clumsy manner
that none had ever seen 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.
Il have not told thee Of it, child"
he said, because that l refrained to
cause tLee 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 it. And in con-
sequence Of this 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 Ispake unto them
and said: Did We 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 60 with us and fight against the
children OF Ammon, and be our head
over all the inhabitants of Gilead.
Then said 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, IL we do not according to thy
words.
Now, as he spake. the maiden Ma
marah had felt her heart within her
smitten with 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 chung
to him, and said: .$s
Let my words find favor with thee,
o my father, and 60 not forth to battle,
lest thou lose thy life, and be left
alone and comfortless." :
II would fain have thee take my It'd
ings more submissively, my little one"
made answer Jephthah, as he stroked
the masses Of her unbound hair. "Thy
father Is soldier, and thou art SOL
dier's child; and l would have thee
grid my armor on, and wish me God
speed against the enemies Of the Lord
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" said
Jephthah, with mighty sweetness in
his voice, If often grieves thy fathers
heart that it is even so. Thou never
knewest mothers care and love, and
though, God knoweth, have tried to
let thee feel no lack Of tenderness,
yet often it doth trouble me that thou
hast on earth no binding tie of love
save this to me; and it would even
fill my soul with comfort to see thea
wed to one who might worthily cher
ish thy youth and protect thy tender
ness /. Is. q.
But Namarah, with her face still hid
against him, only shook her head, as
If in strong opposition to his words.
Child, bethink thee" Jephthah said
when he had gently kissed and stroked
her head In silence for moment, ut
must never be for thee to die unwed,
for who knows but. the will and pur-
pose OF the great God may be that thou
shalt be chosen among women to be
the mother Of thy peoples deliverer!
It hath even seemed to me that in the
eyes Of the Almighty thy meekness and
pureness and humility may have
found such grace. that this great HON
nr vherevith one woman In to be hon