ed by rolling mountains, and dotted by the
black tents of those roving hordes of whom it has been said that "their
hand is against every man, and every man's hand is against them,"--the
fierce, cruel yet generous, impulsive, courteous tribes of the desert.

For Manasseh and Kedar were both going back to the desert tribes,
braving the dangers of persecution, that they might exert an influence
in christianizing the Bedouin tribes over whom the Moslems as yet had
little power. Sherah was going back as Manasseh's wife, and this was her
wedding-day. She was willing to go, yet she could not help feeling a
little lonely on this last morning in her mother's home.

Presently the call "Sherah! Sherah!" came through the olive groves, and
the old nurse hobbled out. The woman was a thorough type of an aged
Arab, lean, wrinkled, hook-nosed, with skin like shrunken leather, and a
voice like a raven. Yet Sherah knew her goodness of heart, and loved her
dearly. She was taking the old woman back with her, for, oddly enough,
Zama had never felt at home in the new land, and often craved that her
bones might be buried in the old soil.

"Why disturb me, Zama?" said the young woman kindly. "See you not that I
am bidding farewell to this dear valley?"

"Aye, aye, child," muttered the old nurse, "but we must put the
wedding-gown upon you, and twine jasmine in your hair." She stroked the
glossy masses fondly. "Ah, to-morrow it must be braided in the plaits of
the matron, and the coins will be placed about my precious one's neck;
yet it seems only yesterday that she was a toddling baby at my feet."

The two women, the one tall and lithe as a willow, the other bent and
shrunken, took their way to the house. Mary was already there, and
assisted in adorning the bride.

The guests arrived, and the simple ceremony was soon over; then the
company sat down to the wedding feast. Lois and her sister talked in low
tones to the mother of Sherah, who grieved a little at the separation
from her daughter. Happy jests and laughter passed about among the
young people. Amzi went, with beaming face, from group to group; and
Yusuf looked quietly on.

In the midst of the entertainment some one came to the door.

"It is a peddler!" cried one. "Let us see what he has--perhaps another
gift for our fair bride."

The young people gathered about the glittering trinkets. Manasseh came
near, and, with a merry twinkle in his eyes, placed his hand on the
man's shoul