The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1903-07-24

true and loving WILD, O. thou hast besA
70 me : true and loving daughter.
Whether this glory aboys I'll gloriss
may be destined tor thee ~ not. srteve
not thy father = heart ~ refusing to be
wed, so that he may see thee with thy
children about thee before he dieth
and sleepeth with his fathers" III
Namarah made no answer. but her
fiuttering breath grew calm and though
she spake no word to signify Her ac-
quiescence in his desires, yet neither
did she gainsay him any more; q thing
whereat Yer father tmiarveled. How
ever. he spake not the thought that
was In his mind, but was thankful in
the silence Of his heart.
After these weak and faint-hearted
words, the brave spirit Of the girl came
to her again, and she went about her
household duties. and particularly
the preparations for her ia
theirs going forth to war
with courage even greater than her
wont. Her father she loaded more
and more with endearments and cares
SEES, but she ever avoided speech about
his coming dangers in the field, except
that once she said to him suddenly,
and with her head bent, low over her
work: M
will it be that thou takest with
thee thine armor-bearer-the young
man, Adina?"
And Ienhthoh answorad.
'Ay."
Then" said she, with her head still
benz, lit is we'll done, for truly he hath
said to me that he would shield thy
body with his own. But 60 not into
danger, my father. Be careful of his
life, and of thine own"
Thou. speakest unwisely,. maiden.
and not as soldiers daughter. Thou
knowest that in battle q brave man
must not shun the place of danger, but
if he trusteth in the Lord no harm
can hurt him. Adina also is a man
that feareth God, and therefore will we
trust to be delivered and brought homo
in safety" "a
Amen" the maiden said, full rev.
erently, and bent her head more lowly
yet, al one who prayeth.
The:-f moon rose DER Jephthah's
garden on the eve of his going forth
to battle. and Jephthah's daughter
stood alone and held her heart to lis
ten. Her white robe futtered in the
cool air of evening and chung about her
slender limbs; and standing there, her
pale face settled into a mute repose,
she looked like a fair white statue,
clad in a wind-blown raiment. No
sound disturbed the stiffness of the
night, except the cooling Of the doves in
their house close by. But, after lonlg
waiting, there mingled with this the
tread OF approaching footsteps. The
folds of her white gown trembled on
her breast, as if the. heart beneath
them fluttered. Nearer came the foot
steps through the trees, beneath the
overhanging vines. until the moonlight
revealed the tall form and noble fea-
lures of the young man Adina.
us it thou, o maiden?" he asked,
stopping few PAGES from her. The
God of Israel bless thee that thou,
heardest my prayer, and hast let me
speak to thee, before go to. battle.
Hast thou no thought, Namarah, of
the words have come to speak?"
The doves cooed and gabbled with
their little muttering sounds, but Ma
marah answered not. They stood a
pace or two apart-the maiden Mama
rah and the young man Adina-but
still the silence was unbroken.
Hast thou even brought me here to
break my heart, Namarah?" the young
man said. Il love thee maiden. and
unless thou'lt love me In return, the
God Of Israel grant that I may fall in
battle, for my life is naught to me
without thee"
(To be continued.)