The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1907-04-19

people, ANA as they stood there In
the doorway In each others embrace
the last they would ever enjoy on
earth. II seemed to Jephthah ~
though the battle must all be fought
over again. and as though oil the pow,
ers OF his strong nature we're concen.
trating In effort 10 turn him from the
fuihlImeut Of his vow.
With an inefable sweetness and
tenderness the girl put up both hands
until they rested one on either grlz.
zled cheek of her father, with
gentle pressure which he did not
seek to resist she turned his ayerted
face until she could look into his
eyes How that dear face had aged
during that night Of fierce conflict,
For an instant the sharp pain which
pierced her heart as she realized
what he had suffered swept across
her fine sensitive face, but with a
mighty effort she controlled herself.
and again hid the anguish Of her "
heart behind the sweet, almost hcay.
emily, look which had rested there
since first her father had told her OF
his vow.
See father" she said. as she
pointed towards the sun which was
now bathing them both in its glorious
light. See, the sun which God has set
in the heavens comes with It's bene.
diction even as We say goOd.by
Again ! say. Think not OF me. Think
Of the victory God hath given thee
in token Of thy pledge! Should !
have been withheld II it. was to have
brought peace and success to our
land2'
She spoke this last with spirit, al,
most Of resentment, which appealed
instantly to the fathers sense of the
heroic and patriotic. and he respond
ed with something like his own bold
ness;
Spoken like a true daughter Of
Jcphthtah, little girl. II | had no
sous to give, | have given a daughter
worth many sons"
Again they stood in silence. The
precious moments, how sweet they
seemed, Soon she would be vending
her way TO the mountain retreat
where companions awaited her CON,
ing and where she was to pass In
meditation and prayer the time which
yet remained to her. Soon her ia.
Their would be sitting alone, thinking
OF her; yes, thinking Of her, and
what last message. what last word
could she speak that would help him
TO bear the loss and inspire him to
the work Of ruling the people who
had chosen him AZ their leader? 1t
should not be Of herself. 1t should
not be of the present victory and de.
liyerancc from their strong cnemy.
No, it should be of the future, toward
which every true son Of Israel looked
with e~ypectaut hope, because of tho
promises which God in times past
had spoken TO Abraham, Isaac and
Jacob.
Father she said at last God
hath spoken good concerning Israel
Yes, my daughter"
And he hath not failed US oven
now in that he hath given us the de-
sire of our hearts in the deIiverance
which he has wrought"
Yes"
and God hath given US this land
and established US as a nation for.
ever
He hath, indeed. my daughter"
How great a privilege and honor
then that We should have a part In
carrying out the purposes Of God.
We serve not time but eternity; we
give ourselves that we may continue
to live in the life and memory Of our
nation forever. Let US see the bright.
ness as We behold it streaming out
of the glorious promise of the fu-
turc."
While she was speaking she was
gently disengagInE herself from her
fathers arms. She stood for a mo-
meut pointing down the golden path,
way of light that came streaming
from the sun, and then quickly turn.
ing she threw her arms about her IA
theirs neck and drawing his face
down to hers pressed one lingering
kiss upon his bearded cheek and then
was gone. Down the pathway OF
Hight he saw the white.clad form
glide as though even then she was
bound from earth to heaven and
would step therein through the re-
splepdent gateway Of the sun.
During the Two months which fol.
lowed while his daughter kept her
vigil In the mountains with her com.
panIons. that vision never left him.
and when at times through the
months and years which followed 1t
seemed as though the anguish Of his
heart would crush him, he would hear
her words again:
Let us Sec the brightness as We
behold It streaming out Of the glorl-
Gus promise of the future"
And he would oNclalm, feryidly and
rCYercUtIy
Amen, aud Amen"
Fine Art Of sncezing.
Yesterday. spid one woman to an.