h
difficulty for years! Do you object to my age?"

Miriam shook her head a second time, but Hur went on:

"That was the source of my anxiety, though I can still vie with many a
younger man in vigor. But, if you can overlook your lover's grey hairs,
perhaps you may be induced to weigh the words he now utters. Of the
faith and devotion of my soul I will say nothing. No man of my years
woos a woman, unless his heart's strong impulse urges him on. But there
is something else which, meseems, is of equal import. I said that
I would lead you to my house. Yonder it stands, a building firm and
spacious enough; but from to-morrow a tent will be our home, the camp
our dwelling-place, and there will be wild work enough within its
bounds. No one is secure, not even of life, least of all a woman,
however strong she may be, who has made common cause with those against
whom thousands murmur. Your parents are dead, your brothers might
protect you, but should the people lay hands on them, the same stones
on which you cross the stream would drag you down into the depths with
them."

"And were I your wife, you also," replied Miriam, her thick eye-brows
contracting in a heavy frown.

"I will take the risk," Hur answered. "The destinies of all are in God's
hands, my faith is as firm as yours, and behind me stands the tribe of
Judah, who follow me and Naashon as the sheep follow the shepherds.
Old Nun and the Ephraimites are with us, and should matters come to the
worst, it would mean perishing according to God's will, or in faithful
union, power, and prosperity, awaiting old age in the Promised Land."

Miriam fearlessly gazed full into his stern eyes, laid her hand on
his arm, and answered: "Those words are worthy of the man whom I have
honored from childhood, and who has reared such sons; but I cannot be
your wife."

"You cannot?"

"No, my lord, I cannot."

"A hard sentence, but it must suffice," replied the other, his head
drooping in sorrow; but Miriam exclaimed:

"Nay, Hur, you have a right to ask the cause of my refusal, and because
I honor you, I owe you the truth. Another man of our race reigns in my
heart. He met me for the first time when I was still a child. Like your
son and grandson, he has lived among the Egyptians, but the summons of
our God and of his father reached him as did the message to your sons,
and like Uri and Bezaleel, he showed himself obedient. If he still
desires to wed me, I shall become his wife, if