cious, and with the wealth that I can
give her, may fill some high place in the world. Also--and this is more
to me--I am old and draw near my end and she alone has my blood in her
veins. Therefore I will agree to all your terms, and take her home with
me to Tyre, trusting that she may learn to love me."

"Good," said the President. "To-morrow the papers shall be prepared and
signed. Meanwhile we pray you to be our guest."

Next evening signed they were accordingly, Benoni agreeing without demur
to all that the Essenes asked on behalf of her who had been their
ward, and even assigning to her a separate revenue during his lifetime.
Indeed, now that he had seen her, so loth was he to part with this
new-found daughter, that he would have done still more had it been asked
of him, lest she should be spirited from his sight, as, did he refuse,
might well happen.

Three days later Miriam bade farewell to her protectors, who accompanied
her by hundreds to the ridge above the village. Here they stopped, and
seeing that the moment of separation was at hand, Miriam's tears began
to flow.

"Weep not, beloved child," said Ithiel, "for though we part with you in
body, yet shall we always be with you in the spirit, now in this life,
and as we think, after this life. Moreover, by night and day, we shall
watch over you, and if any attempt to harm you--" here he glanced at
Benoni, that brother-in-law to whom he bore but little love--"the very
winds will bear us tidings, and in this way or that, help will come."

"Have no fear, Ithiel," broke in Benoni, "my bond, which you hold, is
good and it will be backed by love."

"That I believe also," said Miriam; "and if it be so, grandsire, I will
repay love for love." Then she turned to the Essenes and thanked them in
broken words.

"Be not downhearted," said Ithiel in a thick voice, "for I hope that
even in this life we shall meet again."

"May it be so," answered Miriam, and they parted, the Essenes returning
sadly to their home, and Benoni taking the road through Jericho to
Jerusalem.

Travelling slowly, at the evening of the second day they set their camp
on open ground not far from the Damascus gate of the Holy City, but
within the new north wall that had been built by Agrippa. Into the city
itself Benoni would not enter, fearing lest the Roman soldiers should
plunder them. At moonrise Nehushta took Miriam by the hand and led her
through the resting camels to a spot a few yards f