The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1907-05-14

Lord. do To me according 70 tha
which hath proceeded out Cf fhl
mouth, and The steiner sense of dutI
and loyalty 10 God would drive ths
weaker SELF back ard again bold hin
% the obligation be bad taken
And with the coming Of the day
light had come bis daughter 70 say
good-by. She had chosen that time
Tor leaving for her solitude in ths
mountains. Tor. eaid she. II is nor
. time of darkness but light. II is not
4 time Of sorrow but of giadness. FOR
God hath done great things for his
peopie," And as they stood there in
the doorway In each others embrace.
the last they would ever enjoy on
earth. II seemed to Jephthah as
though the battle must all be fought
over again, and as though all the pow
ers Of his strong nature we're concen-
tratlng In effort 10 turn him from the
fulhllment Of his VOW.
With an lnenable sweetness and
tenderness the girl put up both hands
until they rested one on either gffz-
zied cheek df hw father With
gentle pressure Whicht be did rot
seek to resist she tarried his aTerted
face until she could look into bis
eyes. How that dear face had aged
during thar night Of fierce conflict.
For an instant the sharp pain which
pierced her heart as she realized
what be had suffered swept across
her hne sensitive face. but with a
mighty effort she controlled herself.
and again hid the anguish Of her own
heart behind the sweet. almost heav~
enly. look which had rested there
since first her father had told her OF
bis 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 ret
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
landg1
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 Ike his own bold
ness.
Spoken like true daughter OF
Jephthtah, little girl II ! had no
sons 70 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 com
ing and where she was to pass in
meditation and prayer the time which
yet remained TO her Soon. her fas
ther 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 as their leader? II
should not be OF herself II should
not be Of the present victory and de-
liverance from their strong enemy.
No, it should be OF the future, toward
which every true son Of Israel looked
with expectant hope. because Of the
promises which God In times past
had spoken 10 Abraham. Isaac and
Jacob.
Father she said at last. God
hath spoken good concerning Israel"
Yes. my daughter"
And he hath not failed us even
now in that he hath given us the de-
sire Of our hearts in the deliverance
which he has wrought"
Yes"
And God hath given us this land
and established us as 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
10 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-
ture."
While she was speaking she was
gently disengaging herself from her
fathers arms She stood for a mo-
ment 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
TIERS neck and drawing his face
down TO hers pressed one lingering
kiss upon his bearded cheek and then
was gone Down the pathway OF
light he saw the white-clad form
glide as though even then she was
bound from earth 10 heaven and
would step therein through the re
splendent gateway Of the sun.
During the two months which fol-
lowed while his daughter kept her