The Red Cloud chief., 1900-03-30

for It was even | that sent unto the
maiden tidiugs. by which she gained
the knowledge of our approach
But how sendest thou these It'd
ings," said Jephthah, seeing that l
gave thee no leave to take a mes
scnger?"
Therein the fault was mine Ma
marah said, III fault there be-,for.
were It not the will Of God, naught
that was lone or is to be were pos
slble-seeing that | gave unto Adina
one of my carrier birds, to e me
word of thy triumph and return, and
the bird, in truth. brought me the It'd
ings this morning. Seest thou not
then therefore, oh. my father, that this
thing that is befallen us was to be2'
Then Jephthah bowed his head upon
his hands and uttered n mighty groan.
How sayst thou. my daughter. that
we shall be delivered? Knowest thou
not that according to my vow thou
must be offered a burnt sacriiceY'
As he spake these awful words. the
maiden's face grew whittier still. though
the courage of her eyes faltered not
and through all the body of the young
man Adina there ran a great shiver
that again made to shake his armor
that II ratified and sounded, seeing
which, Namarah rose and ran to him,
fearing lest he might even fall to the
ground. so greatly he tottered ana
trembled. Taking him by the hand'
she led him to n place beside her faith
err and gently pressed him to n seat,
while she herself sank back upon her
knees before them, holding a hand OF
each, and as she lifted up her head ana
looked at them, 1t seemed unto the
father and the lover both that her face
was as the face Of an angel.
"Hearken to me. O thou to whom my
soul best loveth," said Namarah, FOR
there is a voice within me that seem
eth to me to speak, and tina most
dread and sacred voice saith to me
what il shall comfort thee to hear. i
will deliver thee the voice crieth con-
tinually, and shall we not believe this
Heavenly voice? Let us. therefore, be
comforted. and take courage and pray
continually for deliverance from the
terror wherewith w are a~firighted
For what Is It that thy soul feareth {
Adina, and o Jephthah my father? Is
it not even the thought Of parting?'
As Namarah spake these words th'
spirits of the men who listened to he'
grew suddenly more calm, II the
faith and courage with which her owl
heart was animated seemed To be II
some sense impaired to them. so tina
Jephthah turned unto Adina, and spak'
unto him in these words;
LET not thy soul within thee hat
me, o Adina. for my heart is sad ever
unto death. Forgive me the harm tina
| have done unto thee through ignor
ance, and let 1t be with us both evei
according unto the words that thl
maiden hath spoken, and let us tax
comfort and have hope. lie us togethe
pray continually for the deliveranc
that she feeleth to be in store for us.
And Adina answered, and said:
at shall be as thou sayest, o Jeph
thah, and the God of power hear OH
prayers"
Then Jephthah caused him that h
knelt i'm front of him, at the side G
the maiden Namarah. and as the
rested so, Jephthah lifted up his hands
and blessed them. And as their head
were bowed together, the short golde
curls OF the man beside the long dar
tresses of the maiden, Jephthah ROSE
and softly left them; and when the
lifted up their heads, behold they wer
alone.
ITO be continued.)