The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1903-08-14
CHAPTER VIII


On the evening of the return from
battle of the hosts of Jephthah, the
'Gfleadite, Namarah went, as was her
wont, to feed her doves, and as she
stood among them, more white than
was the gown she wore, there came
to her, down the garden walk, through
the parted branches of the trees, the
young man Adina
Now, Namarah knew that he would
come. even at this time and place, but
her heart within her trembled, and the
color was not so far gone from out her
check but that his coming called it
back, like to rose in bloom
Adina, who had rested from his
travelling and refreshed himself, was
clad this evening, like Namarah, all in
white, in stately robe that swathed
his stalwart body from the shoulder to
the sandals on his feet His beautiful
strong young arms were hid beneath
its folds, until, as he came up to where
the maiden stood, he reached them
out and folded her tenderly and
strongly against his breast.
Hurt not the bird, Adina," she said,
slowly, as he held her there and knew
not to distinguish between the f1utter-
dng of the dove and the beating of the
1maiden's heart. "It is even thy little
messenger, which did company thee
upon thy dangerous wanderings and
bring me the message of thy heart to
mine."
How knowest thou it is the same,
Namarah," he made answer, Seeing
that these snow-white birds of thine
are like as be garden-lilies And as
he spake, he held her still with one
strong arm, while the other hand he
laid above her little one that gently
;smoothed the ruff1ed plumage of the
frightened bird
1 knew it even by it's travel-stains
and by its broken feathers See, the
birding hath cen suffered in our SER
vice." and, as she spake, she lifted it
and kissed it tenderly, at which Adina
swiftly bent his tall head and kissed
the very spot wherein her lips had
lain upon the bird, saying as he did so
Thy kisses are all mine, Namarah h.
andt must even take back the one that
Z thou hast given to the bird. 1t was
/. Ill done of thee to besow it on another
fhap him to whom it doth by right be-
dong. Release the bird that hath too
long engaged the touches of thy hands
for these be mine also, and tonight
long Tor all thy love, seeing that my
heart within me is like to burst with
ssorrOw''' = s--gSFs s
Then Namarah swiftly loosed the
bird, which flew away and vanished
from their sight, even as the maiden
threw her arms about her lov~r's neck
and yielded herself to his most swee,
embrace es
T pray thee sorrow not, Adina, my
4 beloved" She spake low. Chine am
~ for eternity, and Heavens joys car
never end. Wilt thou not strive to give
me strength to do the thing that lies
before me? Pray for courage for both
thee and me- for love is sweet. and
Neath seems cruel S. 4. S IS IL 81.
{ Ay, death ID cruel, cruel 3 made an.
Eswer dina. with that his brow grew
STERN and the very hands that Wert
about her soft Young body clinched a
III n angsg 81 ss 3ssS "A
Now, may God forgiveS Il1e n said
gsnnaralI 80 r the eyil asRsord I spake'
ssslIt even passed the door az nv lfDiIs
SssN 1thOut mine own consent. Our Godd,
asgood; Adtpas and if ~ dishonDr Hin
I mot, III doubt cf His goodness Ana re,
/ fIis MI, ne xill mort llksss