The pioneer express., 1903-08-07
CHAPTER vI.-(Continued.) J

Now, as the host Of Jephthah
marched down the streets of MiZper,
while all along the people cheered and
shouted as they passed. behold al Jeph-
thah's side, in front of them. there rode
the young man Adina, and not behind
as was his won't And by this token
all the people knew that he had won
glory for himself in battle, and that
Jephthah strove thus to show the favor
which he had toward him, and With
the noise of their shoutings, Long
live Jephthah. the Gileadite!" were
mingled cries of Long live Adina!"
And as these sounds came even to
the ears of Namarah, behold the flush
upon her cheeks grew deeper and her
eyes yet more glorious And ever the
soldiery pressed onward, followed by
the shouts of triumph from the crowd.
And Jephthah, the mighty captain,
rode night-black charger, while that
of Adina was white as milk. Both
men were clad in cleaning armor, on
which the rays of the setting sun made
blazes of vivid fire, gliding the silver
of the old mans beard, and burnish-
ing the gold of Adina's thick curls,
which seemed part of his shining
helmet. And ever, as they rode, the
eyes of both were turned toward the
house of Jephthah, for Jephthah had
vowed VOW unto the Lord, and had
said: IF Thou shalt without fail de-
liver the children of Ammon into my
hands, then it shall be that whatsoever
cometh forth of the doors of my house
to meet me. when I return in peace
from the children of Ammon, shall
surely be the Lords, and l will offer it
up for burnt Offering" And he
looked to see what it should be.
But the young man Adina, who knew
not of Jephthah's VOW, and had said
naught of the tidings sent to Mama
rah by the carrier bird-that being
secret between the maiden and himself
knew that Namarah would be pre-
pared for their coming, and rightly
thought that she would come to meet
them
And now, as they began to come nigh
were thrown open, and forth there
came the maiden Namarah, clad all in
white and gold and after her her maid
ems. with timbrels and dances. But
Namarah came first, with her head
erect and all her face made glorious
with joy. The childish timidity she
was wont TO show had vanished now,
and she faced the band of sodiery a
royal princess in her bearing. She
felt herself queen, indeed, for happy
love had crowned her.
And as she came, behold the two
men who were at the head of the great
host drew rein and suddenly checked
their horses, and all the soldiery halt
cd. All eyes were on the beauteous
face of the majestic maiden, hers only
ceeing the faces of the two men who
led the host. ~
Her gaze sought first the face of
.Adina, with treacherous fealty which
she could not control, and as their
looks met thus, behold the joyousness
of his heart CLEANED forth into his
eyes, which met hers, with look that
thrilled her soul with: RAPTURE. For
"a moment she was blinded with ec-
stasy. and saw naught before her but
light, supreme, bewildering; and then;
with the reflection of that light upon
her face, she turned her raptured gaze
upon her father, and suddenly the
great light became great darkness,
which likewise cast it's reflection upon
her; for the face of Jephthah her faith
er was as the face of a man in mortal
throes, and behold the hand that held
the bride shook and fell, and his body
swerved in the saddle, so that he would
have fallen but that the young man
sAdina, seeing the maiden's sudden
change of countenance had looked to-
ward its source, and was just in time
to put out his hand and stay Jephthah
in mis- place.
Then Adina dismounted and ran to
Jephthah's side, and while the maiden
'Namarah herself laid hold. on the
bride Of his horse, the young man as
sisted him to the ground, and with
Namarah's help led him into the house.
The eyes which had but lately looked
such joy into each other, exchanged
now looks of pain and horror, for it
was quickly passed from mouth to
mouth that the great captain had been
seized with mortal illness, and that the
Joy Of his victorious return and meet
ing with his daughter was like to cost
him his life.
But Jephthah, when he heard these
words. denied and said:
It is not as ye say, O men of Israel;
nevertheless the hand of the Lord ia
heavy upon me this day. Cause to go
out from me all save the maiden Ma
marah and the young man SAdina.Dy q
And when they had so done, behold
$Jephthah rent his clothes, and said:
Aias!S my daughter; thou hast
brought me very low; ana thou IA
one of them that trouble me boYs.l
iasye opened my mouth INTO me Lord,
sAnd 4 cannot 10 back!s'
And Namarah said unto HIM
father II thou hast oD4ned thy
mouth unto the Lord do t0 asascord-
Ing to that which hath pf edsd o,it
~ thy mouth; I; forasmnch as ths Lord
.hafh taken Yenxeance Tor theA AZ thine