ard she could bestow, should be withheld no longer.
In her arms he should blissfully perceive that he had resigned great
possessions to obtain something still fairer and sweeter! She felt as
though the darkness around had suddenly brightened into broad day,
as her ear told her that the approaching horseman was riding straight
toward the house of her host Amminadab. She now knew that he was obeying
her summons, that he had come to find her. Hosea was seeking her ere he
went to his own father, who had found shelter in the big empty house of
his grandson, Ephraim.

He would gladly have dashed toward her at the swiftest pace of his
steed, but it would not do to ride rapidly through the camp. Ah, how
long the time seemed ere she at last saw the horseman, ere he swung
himself to the ground, and his companion flung the reins of the horse to
a man who followed him.

It was he, it was Hosea!

But his companion--she had recognized him distinctly and shrank a
little--his companion was Hur, the man who a few hours before had sought
her for his wife.

There stood her two suitors side by side in the starlight, illumined by
the glare of the pitch torches blazing beside the carts and household
utensils which had been packed for the morrow's journey.

The tall figure of the elder Hebrew towered over the sinewy form of the
warrior, and the shepherd prince bore himself no whit less erect than
the Egyptian hero. Both voices sounded earnest and manly, yet her
lover's seemed to Miriam stronger and deeper. They had now advanced so
near that she could understand their conversation.

Hur was telling the newcomer that Moses had gone on a reconnoitring
expedition, and Hosea was expressing his regret, because he had
important matters to discuss with him.

Then he must set out with the tribes the next morning, Hur replied, for
Moses intended to join them on the way.

Then he pointed to Amminadab's house, from which no ray of light gleamed
through the darkness, and asked Hosea to spend the remainder of the
night beneath his roof, as he probably would not wish to disturb his
aged father at so late an hour.

Miriam saw her friend hesitate and gaze intently up to the women's
apartments and the roof of her host's house. Knowing what he sought, she
could no longer resist the impulse of her heart, but stepped forth from
the shadow of the sycamore and gave Hosea a cordial and tender welcome.

He, too, disdained to conceal the joy of his heart,