The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-12-25
CHAPTER LII.

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It was the sixth hour in fair Judea, and
in Jerusalem and the country round all
were fastening with their labor to finish
ere the setting of the sun. Some were
leading their beasts of burden laden with
all manner of fruit The vine-gatherers of
the morning were treading the wiDe-press;
the fishermen were hauling in their nets for
the night. In the city merchants were
showing their silken goods ; tradesmen
were driving bargains; man was iostline
against man, and each trying to Guido his
neighbor in the market. Suddenly a pro
longed note from one of the western watch
towers Of Zion caused all labor to cease,
and over the land rested the silence of deep
expectancy. The sacrifice made each day
to the God of Israel began incense
mounted above the walls of the temple,
bearing the prayers of the people on its
outspread wings.
Then, too, from a villa near by, passed
away the soul of Esias; then, too, mounted
with the incense prayer and wall from
Paulus' heart as he pressed his poor dead
fathers hand, that father towards whom
he always bore the deepest respect and
reverence, if not the same degree of love
and tenderness.
Esias had long been troubled with heart
affections. He arose comparatively well
the morning after the interview with
Aram Dat towards evening a violent pain
| in the ZION of the heart caused serious
alarm he sent for Paulus, who was soon
at his side. but none ever knew whether
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or not, for if so, deprived of speech as he
was, he was incapable of making it known.
Thus s5-S 7ied-cold, stern, silent, as he
had Ii TuUs most of US may expect to
die-a ave lived. That last moment
cannot be so very different from previous
years and years Of habit.
The old mans death produced that ex-
citemen+ in the house which death knows
so wei leave in its tracks. Ser
wants t hing hither and thither,
while '--l.~ 81 eemained gaziI g on the
cold, deaf fo Ia MS father. Little Ruth,
who h;- c,. rH1He, curled herself in
a large ... casis ana was soon fast asleep,
uncons heavy hearts and mis-
! cry arc CONSCIOUS, too, of any
| impendi
| The sun Low well gone down behind
the pun Hills, leaving nothing but SOM
Der GU oes to be seen. The evening
gloom ana rising stars beheld a stealthy
figure lurking behind the lofty columns
which led to the entrance of Esias' home
Quietly it entered, taking refuge behind
an Oriental curtain. Faithless servants
had deserted their posts, and the hiding
figure knew naught of the excitement or
its cause which reigned within the house.
He only saw an opportunity of vengeance
extended, and regarded it as his right to
seize it Thus he stole from corridor to
staircas' rrase to room, crouch
ing in cor -r- t,. approach of each foot
step, real or jneiuary, till it had well
died away At last he reached the room
where little Ruth was asleep. Where
were then the thoughts of his own Re
becca? Why did not conscience depict the
mad despair that would seize him if de-
prive1 of his treasure! But Aram knew
and cit but the one black thought of re-
venge lie took cloak, threw it around
the child AID gently raised her in his arms,
sc as not to awaken her. Hurriedly he re-
traced his steps, and soon was again in the
| open air, having escaped all vigilance,
hurrying on, he knew not whittier. Still
his precious burden slept on quietly in
that peaceful, heavy slumber that children
alone know.
1t is natural, yet seems sad, that when
our dear ones are dead we cannot longer
cling to them, but instinctively turn to
those who are sharing our exile with us;
and so it was with Paulus. After having
spent mary hours with the dead with
more tenderness than ever he thought of
his darling sister, of his promise made to
his dying mother, ever to shield and
protect her; his heart went out to
her: he longed to press her to it,
or at least to gaze upon her dear
coun en- me- as she lay sleeping. The
night was well advanced as he stole to the
little ones room, only to find it empty.
Hurredly he called old Esther to him to
know why Ruth was not in bed. The old
woman eXcitedly came, telling him that
only moment before she herself had come
to seek the child and could not find her.
Angrily Paulus asked why she had left
Ger, but old Esther's eyes filed with tears
as she said that the dead master had driven
her from her md. She had fastened to
look upon Lin once again, leaving little
Ruth playing by herself, and had forgotten
t. return
But she must have fallen asleep some
place!' exclaimed Paulus, as he rushed
from room 10 room, calling "Ruth, Ruth''
only to have his agony and despair intensi-
! fed with each step. No one had seen the
c lI. No one knew what to do, and all
stood back aghast as they looked upon the
| frightened, fixed stare of the heart-broken
youth. Mad y he rushed forth, his hair
blown back Dy the cool, night breeze;
madly he dashed through the streets of
Jerusalem, asking each lonely wanderer
had he not seen his little sister, his darling
Ruth, with the dark, laughing, brown eyes,
and soft. curly hair; and rs each aston
ished Hebrew said no, he dashed on again
hoping AGAINST hope and calling upon the
Most High to pity, pity his despair
AS the irsJ morning rays crept over the
hills they fell upon Paulus as he staggered
to his cherries home. haggard and weary
and worn as though he had lived a whole
life in that one bitter night.
CHAPTER ".
Aram fastened forward, choosing the
darkest and narrowest alleys till without
the gates of Jerusalem, nor did he slacken
his speed then, but continued to hurry, as
his one object was to leave the city as far
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