Jephthah's Daughter.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1813, 18 July 1891, Page 1 (Supplement)

Jephthah's Daughter.

By Julia Magruder.

CHAPTER 11. -(Continued). "I was even bold and fearless, my father, against my usual wont, because that love had made me so, and in the presence of my lord, Adina, I had but one fear only, Jest I might fail of my honor to him — who knew not my ways as thou kneweßt them — and appear unloving and ungracious in his eyes." At the3e words Adina's motions grew taore gentle and he checked him in his •walk, and came and stood near by, his ■Shin sunk in his palm, as before, and his with a most mighty tenderness in them, bent upon Namarah. "But, how knewestthou, my daughter, that the victory was won and thy father's host returning, seeing I sent no messenger before me, but made haste myself to bring thee tidings ?" Then Namarah turned her fair face upward, and said : "Adina, speak. Let it be known unto Jephthah, my father, that the thing that Is come upon us was p irtly of our own iloing — thine and mine." Then Adina, softened, mayhap, by the sight of the old man's suffering, and more yet by the nobleness and submission of Namarah's Bpirit, answered, and said : "These words be true, 0 Jephthah, for it was even I that sent unto the ttiaiden tidings, by which she gained the knowledge of our approach. " "But how sentedst thou these tidfngs," said Jephthah, "seeing that I jjave thee no leave to tnke a messenger ?" " Therein the fault was mine," Narnarah said, "if fault there be — fur, "were it not (he will of God, naught that •was done or is to be were possible — seeing that 1 gave unto Adina one of my carrier birds, to send me word of thy iriumph find return, and the bird, in truth, brought me the tidings this morning. Baest thou not then therefore, oh my Father, that this thing that is befallen us «/as to be ? Surely there is a God that iruleth over all the earth, and shall He not do right? L"fc us but be true to tvhafc we owe to Him— thou and I and Adina— and be sure that no harm shall come to us. Faithful is He that hath promised, and He will deliver us. " Then Jephthah bowed his head upon his hands and uttered a mighty groan. " How sayest thou, my daughter, that •we shall be delivered. Knowest thou •not that according to my vow thou must be offered a burnt sacrifice ?" As he spake these awful words, tlie maiden's face grew whiter still, though the courage of her eyes faltered not, and through all the body of the young man Adina there ran a great shiver that again made to shake his armor that it rattled and sounded, seeing which, Namarah rose »nd ran to him, fearing lest he might even fall to the ground, ro greaily"he tottered and trembled. Taking him by the hand, she led him to a place beside her father, and gently pressed him to a Beat, while she herself sank back upon her knees before them holding a hand of each, and as she lifted up her head and looked at them, it seemed unto the father and the lover both, that her fac-3 was as the face of an angel. "Hearken to me, O thou two whom my soul best loveth," said Namarah, "for there is a voice within me that Beemeth to me to speak for God Himself, and that most dread and sacred voice saith to me what it shall comfort thee to hear. 'I will deliver thee,' the voice t-peth continually, and shall we not believo this Heavenly voice? It may bo Mhattfeliverauce, as Ihou dost think of if, is not to be, and that God will even require of thee, oh my father, the strict fulfilment of thy vow, but He hath ways we know not of, and ia He not the God that heareth prayr? Let 113 therefore be comforted, and take courage and pray unto Him continually for deliverance from the terror wherewith we are aflrighted. For what is it" that thy soul feareth 0 Adina, and U Jephtha'h my father? Is it not even the thought of parting? Surely, the most High God liveth forever, etoinal iv th". heavens, and surely our love is of God, and therefore cannot die ; the love wherewith my soul isknit to thine, my falher, and to thine Adina, the husband of my choice. Though I saw the alter made ready before my very eyeß, and though I felt the flames of its fires about me, yet would I falter not, for God, from whom I spared not to deliver my body to be burned, will surely redeem my spirit — a thing impemhable as Himself ; and neither will He withhold frou me the desire of my soul, seems that 1 wish in all things to serve Him with all my soul and mind and strength." As Namarah' spake these words, the spirits of the men who listened to her grew suddenly more calm, and the faith «ud courage with which her own heart

was animated seemed to be in some sense imparted to them, so that Jephthah turned unto Adina, and spake unto him in these words : " Let not thy soul within thee hate me, 0 Adina, for my heart is sad even unto death. Forgive me the harm that I have done unto thee through ignorance, and let it be with us both evsn according unto the wordw chat this maiden hath spoken, and let us take comfort and have hope that the God of power will indebd deliver us in this our hour of groale3t need. Let us together pray continually for the deliverance that she feeleth to be in store for us." And Adina answered, and said : " It Bhall be as thou sayest, 0 Jephthah, and the God of power hear our prayers." Then Jephthah caused him that he knelt in front of him, at the side of the maiden Namarah, and as they rested so, Jephthah lifted up his hands, and blessed them them in tlie name of the God of Israel. And as their heads were bowed together, the short golden curls of the man beside the long, dark tresses of the maiden, Jephthah rose, and softly left them ; and when they lifted up fheir heads, behold they were alone. Then the face of each turned to each, and a long time they gazed into each other's eyes, as though their very souls were bared unto each other. Then silently their arms entwined, and softly their lips met and pressed and clung ; and so rested they, still upon their knees, for the moment was sacred at once to love and to death. The thought of what was to come was in the heart of each, and cast around them a great awe that seemed to wrap them in ; but even ov^r this their pure love triumphed, and the man and the maiden were shown therein the truth of Namarah's words, that a lovo that is o* God is stronger than death, and even, also, as undying as God himself. Then Adina lifted up his voice, and prayed this prayer unto the Lord : "Almighty God, most Holy One, whose nature is love, and whose life is eternal, grant unto us, Thy servants, eternal life in love. Seeing that the love wherewith we love each other is of Thee, let it burn for ever, a most pure and holy fire, lighted by Thee on earth, to be a light forever before Thy throne in Heaven. Look into the hearts of these Thy servants, 0 most sure and searching Eye, and behold and see the love wherewith Thy servant and Thy handmaid love each other, in Thee. Thou knowest that Heaven gave it birth, in the presence of Thy glory, and lent it for a while to earth ; but earth, with all its unpureness, hath been harmless to dim the lustre of its pure, white flame, so that it shall return to Thee without spot or blemish, or any such thing. Pure fire of Godjlive ever in our hearts, binding us here below by this bright chain to Heaven above, where all is brightness, in the presence of The Light. And as the love that burns within Thy servant's heart meeteth the love that burns within the heart of Thy handmaid, and these be welded in a sacred kiss, let the bright flame of these united fires rise up to Thee, an emanation from Thy love returned to Thee, who art all love. " Behold us, O Almighty Love, and bless us, Thy servant and Ihy handmaid, and in Thy own good time and way cause to compass 113 around about the arms of Thy mighty deliverance. Amen." And Namarab, in her gentle voice, which the words of Adina's prayer made now to tremble, answered even also, "Amen." After that, they gat them to their feet and went in search of the maiden's father Jephthah, that they might speak unto him cheering words and comfort him with tlie comfort wherewith their souls within them had been comforted. And Namarah Bpake unto her father Jephthah, and said : '•Let this thing be done for me ; let me alone two months, that I may go up and down upon the mountains, and bewail my virginity, 1 and my fellows." • And he said : "Go." And after this, behold, the face of the maiden was no longer sorrowful, but ever there beamed forth from it a most calm and shining light that even comforted . the hearts of all who gazed on her. Sometimes it happened that Jephthah her father, and the young man Adina would look anxious and worn with care, but Namarah would bid them then to go and pray to God that their faith f nil not, so that they might not miss the reward prepa:edof God for those who believe and trust Him to the utmost. And even aa they prayed their hearts were comforted and their spirits much strengthened. On the evening of the return from battle of the hoßtß of Jephthah, the Gileadite, Namarah went, as was her wont, to feed her doves, and, as she >stood among them, more white than was the gown she wore, tnere 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 cheek but ihat his coming called itloack, like to a rose in bloom. Adina, who had rested from his travelling and refreshed himself, was clad this evening, like Namarah, all in white, in a Btatoly robe that swathed his stalwart body from the shoulder to the sandalsFon his feet. His beautiful strong young arms were hid beneath^ts folds, until, as he came up to where the maiden stood, he reached them out and folded her tenderly and passionately against his breast, " Hurt not the bird, Adina," Bhe said, lowly, as he held her there and knew not to distinguish between the fluttering of the dove and the beating of the maiden'sheart. "It is even thy little messenger, which did accompany 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 II 11I 1 old her still with one strong arm, while" the other hand he laid above her little one thaUgently smoothed the ruffled plumage of the frightened bird. " I knew it even by its travel-stains I and by its broken feathers. See, the birdling hath c'en suffered in our service," and, as she spake, she lifted it and kissed it, tenderly, at which Adina swiftly bent his tall head and kissed the very spot whereon her lips had lain upon the bird, saying as he did so : " Thy kisses are all mine, Naraarah, and I must even take back the one that thou hast given to the bird. It was ill done of thee to bestow it on another than him to whom it doth by right belong. Release the bird that hath too long engaged the touches of thy hands, for 'these be mine also, and to-night I long for all

thy lovo, seeing that my heart withic me is like to burst with sorrow." Then Namarah swiftly loosed the bird, which flew away and vanished from their sight, even as the maiden threw her arms about her lover's neck and yielded herself to his most sweet embrace, "?' " I pray thee sorrow not, Adina, my beloved." She spake low. "Thine am I for eternity, and Heaven's joys can never end. Wilt thou not strive to give me strength to do the thing that lies before me? Pray to God for courage isr both thee and me, for love is sweet, and death seems cruel." "Ay, death ia cruel, cruel!" made answer Adina, while that his brow grew stern, and the very hands that were about her soft young body clinched as if in anger. "Now, may God forgive me." said Namarah, "for the evil word I spake. It even passed the door of my lips without my own consent. Our God is good, Adina, and if we dishonor Him not, by doubt of His goodness and rebellion to His will, He will most likely deliver us both ; and if it pleaseth Him to take my spirit back to Him who gave it, and so leave thee here upon the earth, will it seem too hard a thing to wait with : patience until the hour of thy release j from earth and flesh shall come, when thy spirit shall again meet mine ?" " Too hard a thing, Naraarah I I could -wait till eternity were endbd sooner than I could love any other maiden than thou!" "Ah, sweet, sweet is thy love and loyalty, beloved !" saith Namarah ; "and my heart is even warmed and comforted to hear thee speak those words. Nevertheless, there is a thing I would have thee remember. If it should be, when I am dead, that thou sbouldst ever love another maiden — for thou art young, and there be others worthy of thy love, and life alone is long and sad — I would not have thee live unwed because ot me. If thou choasest to marry thou hasfc my full consent, and e\ en my blessing from Heaven." But at her words the young mail thrust her from him almost roughly, and turned on her the first ungentle look his face had ever worn to her. " Thou art unkind and cruel unto me, Namarah," he said, "and thy love is not like to mine for thee, or thoucouldst not think possible the thing whereof thou speakest. The soul of Adina slept within him until, at touch of thy soul, it waked ; and it lives but for thee alone. If thou must die, and God sees good to prolong my days in the land, whereby He will visit upon me a curse instead of a blessing, my life belongs to thee ; the desire of my heart will be still to thee alone, and my soul Bhall even wait for thy soul." Then Namarah came again into his arms, and while they clasped her close with love's true tenderness, behold the maiden began Boftly to weep. "God reward thee, dear one," she murmured, as her lips rested close against his throat, " for the comfort wherewith thou hast comforted me. I am even satisfied to die to-night, knowing a love like thine. 'If It please God that I die and thou livest, I beseech thee that thou wilt be even as a son unto my father Jephthah, fur his heart is broken within him, and by reason of his vow he giveth up his only child." "That will I, maiden," saith Adina; " and if so be that I shall live and thou diest, that will even be my work in life. Ah, Namarah, my most holy and most beauteous love, hast thou thought upon the weariness and darkness of the life that I will lead without thee, even through youth and manhood and old age ?" "Yea, beloved, I have thought of it," she answered — "be sure that 1 have thought of it — with a heart made wild with anguish, and it seemeth unto me that thy fate is even a harder one than mine. But now that we have spoken of these things, and thou knowest my thoughts and wishes concerning thy life, if thou art left to live it out without me, let us speak of it no more, and let us even, so far as in us lies, banish it from our thoughts. I would have thee give me a solemn pledge that when I depart onthe morrow, I, and the maidens tha f . be my companions, thou wilt pray continually unto God, as I shall do, this prayer — even that He will send unto us deliverance. He hath ever heard the prayers of His people who cry unto Him with faith, and I will that thou pray only this — for deliverance out of all our troubles for me and thee in His own good time and way. I feel full confidence that He will hear our prayer, but concerning the means and the time, I will not even have a wish, seeing that wisdom no lesß than power is His. Our hearts are bare before His sight, and as He readeth mine He seeth that it sorroweth far more for thee and thy sufferings than for mine own, and He can send, both unto thee and me, the rescue that our sonls most earnestly desire. Let us, therefore, spend the two months left to me of 'earth, in praying thus to the God of power and pity. Kneel with me, now, Adina, and let us pray this prayer, even in the silence of our hearts. " And side by side, upon the grass beneath the white light of the moon, they knelt together, hand in hand, and lifted up their hearts in prayer. So still and silent was the night that the little brook which ran through the garden, down at the foot of 'the hill, could be heard gurgling over its stones, and the notes of the doves in their house near by sounded mournfully and pleadingly in their ears. The soft wind of the summer night played ligHtly o-ver their bowed heads, ruffling Adina 's golden curls and blowing against his throat a long tress of Namarah's silky xkair. Cong time they knelt there, their bodies touching only in that close handclasp, but their souls fused into one, on the breath of that fervent prayer. When they rose from their knees and stood erect in the pale moonlight, both so tall and young and beautiful in their fair white raiment, they turned and wound their arms around each other in an embrace of unspeakable love. Again the night lay wrapped in silence, so that even the softness of their kisses could be heard. Snddenly there was a fluttering above them, and a white bird flew down and alighted in the soft hollow made by their two throats. There it nestled, with a little plaintive moan. As the young man and the maiden strove each to touch and soothe its ruffled feathers, their two i hands met and clasped. ' "It is the little messenger." said Namarah, as the bird crept closer to the warmth of their necks, between the arch made by their close-pressed cheeks. "It seemeth to be restless and unhappy. There was one of my doves killed by a hawk one day, while this messenger was gone with thee? Thinkest thou it could have been its mate. I saw the great hawk swoop down upon it one day, as it sat alone apart from all the rest, and before I could run to its rescue, the poor little thing had been carried off in those cruel claws. Thou knowest — dost thou not ? -r-that the dove is the image of constancy,

and that when it once loses its mate, it takes none other evermore." ( ' Even as it shall be with me," breathed forth Adina, amid the kisses that he pressed upon her hair. "If it please God that I lose the mate whereunto my soul is already wed, 00 will I live lonely like the mateless bird, until mine end shall come." "So that our faith fail not, it will please God to deliver us," Namarah made answer ; (( and He hath ways and means of meicy beyond our power to know. Henceforth be our watchword ' Trust,' Adina, and let not those saddening fears be spoken upon our lip?." Then, while the bird etill rested between them, they clasped each other closer yet, for with the rising of the sun to-morrow, Namarah an"d her maidens were to set forth unto the mountains, and this was their hour of parting. Long thae they rested there alone, after thb bird had fluttered off to its house, and ever the sound of its sad complaining came unto their ears. "It shall be my companion while thou art gone," said Adina, " and at nighi I will take it with me, so that its mourning shall bi made against the warmth of my heart, that hath no voice wherewith to utter the greatness of ite woe. " " Nevertheless, I shall hear its complaininings even with the ears of my soul," Baid Namarah, " and my heart shall answer their, in sounds inaudible that thy listening soul may hear. And now mußt I leave thee, beloved, for my father Jephthah waiteth lor our parting to be over, that he may even speak with me himself." They kissed and clasped and clung, and spake to each other with such holy words of love as pen may not record. They were even in the very presence of death, and God and His angels seemed to look down' upon them, from out the opened heavens, for their love was pure and sanctified as the loves of the angels be, and upon its very front was written : "Holiness unto the Lord."