Part 19 (1/2)

Often, very often had Zarah turned over the subject of her peculiar position in her mind, and considered whether she ought not to leave the precincts of Jerusalem, and secretly depart for Bethsura. There the orphan could claim the hospitality of her aged relative Rachel, should she be living yet, or the protection of the Asmonean brothers, who, being her next of kin, were, according to Jewish customs, the maiden's natural guardians. But Zarah shrank from taking this difficult step.

Very formidable to her was the idea of undertaking a journey even of but twenty miles' length, through a country where she would be liable to meet enemies at every step of the way. Zarah had no means of travelling save on foot, unless she disposed of some of the few jewels which she had inherited from her parents; and this she was not only unwilling to do, but she feared to do it lest, through the sale of these gems in Jerusalem, she should be tracked to her place of retreat.

Anna was faithful as a servant, but could never be leaned upon as an adviser--she would obey, but she could not counsel; and her young mistress, timid and gentle, with no one to guide and protect her, felt her strength and courage alike insufficient for an adventurous journey from Jerusalem to Bethsura.

The possible necessity which might arise of her having to place herself under the protection of Maccabeus, should Rachel be no longer living at Bethsura, greatly increased Zarah's reluctance to leave her present abode. The maiden remembered too well what Hada.s.sah had disclosed of a proposed union between herself and Judas, not to feel that it would be peculiarly painful to have to throw herself upon the kindness of her brave kinsman. Zarah could not, as she thought, tell him why the idea of such a union was hateful to her soul--why she was averse to fulfilling the wishes of Mattathias and Hada.s.sah. While Maccabeus often experienced an almost irrepressible yearning once more to look upon Zarah, whom he believed to be still with Hada.s.sah, of whose death he never had heard, Zarah shrank with emotions of fear from meeting the Hebrew chieftain.

Tender affection also made the orphan girl cling to her parents' grave and the home of her youth. Dear a.s.sociations were linked with almost every object on which her eyes rested. Those to whom the present is a th.o.r.n.y waste, and the future a prospect darkened by gloomy mists, are wont to dwell more than others on the green spots which memory yet can survey in the past. It is natural to youth to look forward. Zarah, as regarded this world, dared only look back. It was well for her that she could do so with so little of remorse or regret.

”Not to have known a treasure's worth Till time hath stolen away the slighted boon, Is cause of half the misery we feel, And makes this world the wilderness it is.”

When winter was drawing near, when the bursting cotton-pods had been gathered, and the vintage season was over, when the leaves were beginning to fall fast, and the cold grew sharp after sunset, circ.u.mstances occurred which compelled a change in Zarah's quiet routine of existence. She could no longer be left to indulge her lonely sorrow; the current of life was about to take a sudden turn which must of necessity bring her amongst new scenes, and expose her to fresh trials.

CHAPTER x.x.x.

CHANGES.

One evening, towards the hour of sunset, Zarah sat alone at her wheel awaiting the return of Anna from the city, she was startled by the sound of a hand rapping hastily upon the panel of the door. The hand was a.s.suredly not that of Anna, who, from precaution, had adopted a peculiar way of tapping to announce her return. As no visitor ever came to Zarah's dwelling, it was no marvel that she felt alarm at the unexpected sound, especially as she was aware that she had neglected her usual precaution of barring the door during the absence of Anna.

As Zarah hastily rose to repair her omission, the door was opened from without, and Lycidas stood before her. The countenance of the Greek expressed anxiety and alarm.

”Lady, forgive the intrusion,” said Lycidas, bending in lowly salutation before the startled girl; ”but regard for your safety compels me to seek this interview. I was to-day in company with Lysimachus, the Syrian courtier--how we chanced to be together, or wherefore he mentioned to me what I am about to disclose, matters little, and I would be brief. Lysimachus told me that, from information which he had received--how, I know not--he had cause to suspect that the maiden who some half-year back had been sentenced by the king to death if she refused to apostatize from her faith, was living secluded in a dwelling amongst the hills to the east of the city. The Syrian declared that he was resolved to-morrow morn to explore thoroughly every spot which could possibly afford a place of concealment to the maiden--whom he intends to seize and send as a prisoner into Persia, to the merciless tyrant whom he serves.”

Zarah turned very pale at the tidings, and leaned on her wheel for support.

”You must fly to-night, dearest lady,” said Lycidas; ”this dwelling is no longer a safe asylum for you.”

”Whither can I fly, and how?” murmured the orphan girl. ”I have no friend here except”--Zarah hesitated, and Lycidas completed the sentence.

”Except one to whom your lightest wish is a command; to whom every hair of your head is dearer than life!” exclaimed the Athenian.

”Speak not thus to me, Lycidas,” said Zarah, in a tone of entreaty; ”you know too well the impa.s.sable barrier which divides us.”

”Not impa.s.sable, Zarah,” cried the Greek; ”it has been thrown down, I have trampled over it, and it separates us no longer. Hear me, O daughter of Abraham! Much have I learned since last I stood on this threshold; deeply have I studied your Scriptures; long have I secretly conversed with the wise and learned who could instruct me in your faith. I am now persuaded that there is no G.o.d but one G.o.d--He who revealed Himself to Abraham: I have renounced every heathen superst.i.tion; I have in all things conformed to the law of Moses; I have been formally received as a proselyte into the Jewish Church; and am now, like Achor the Ammonite, in everything save name and birth, a Hebrew.”

Zarah could not refrain from uttering an exclamation of delight. Her whole countenance suddenly lighted up with an expression of happiness, which was reflected on that of him who stood before her--for in that blissful moment Lycidas felt that he must be beloved.

”Oh, joy!” cried Zarah, clasping her hands. ”Then have you also embraced the Holy Covenant, and you are numbered amongst the children of Abraham! Then may I look upon you as a brother indeed!”

”Can you not look upon me as something more than a brother, Zarah?”

exclaimed the Athenian. ”Why should you not fly--since you needs must fly from this dangerous spot--under the protection, the loving, devoted care, of an affianced husband?”

Zarah flushed, trembled, covered her face with her hands, and sank, rather than seated herself, upon the divan from which she had risen on hearing the knock of the Greek. Lycidas ventured to seat himself beside the young maiden, take one of her unresisting hands and press it first to his heart, then to his lips--for he read consent in the silence of Zarah.

But the maiden had none of the calm tranquillity of happiness; she felt bewildered, doubtful of herself; again she covered her face and murmured, ”Oh, that my mother were here to guide me!”

”Hada.s.sah would not have spurned a proselyte whom the elders have received; she was too large-minded, too just,” said Lycidas, disappointed and somewhat mortified at the doubts which evidently disturbed the mind of the maiden. ”Listen to the plan which I have formed for your escape, my Zarah. I have already made arrangements with the trusty Joab. He will bring a horse-litter an hour after dark to bear you and your handmaid hence; I will accompany you as your armed and mounted attendant. We will direct our course to the coast. At Joppa we shall, I hope, find a vessel, borne forward by whose white wings we shall soon reach my own beautiful and glorious land, where love, freedom, and happiness, shall await my fair Hebrew bride!”

For some moments Zarah made no reply; how tempting was the vista thus suddenly opened before her--radiant with rosy light, like those seen in the clouds at sunrise! Then Zarah uncovered her face, but without raising it, or venturing to look at Lycidas, she said, in a voice that trembled with emotion, ”Hada.s.sah, my mother, would have deemed it unseemly for a maiden thus to flee from her country to a land where her G.o.d is not known and wors.h.i.+pped, and under the protection of one who is none of her kindred.”

”I thought that you had no kindred, Zarah,” said Lycidas, with uneasiness; ”that you had none left of your family whose guardians.h.i.+p you could seek.”