Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-23

light filled the ghastly deatb-trar ont of
which she looked up, trembling 10 see the
naggard eountenance of the High Preist. her
sther.
Inc facts OF the situation were covered by
q le" words. Rebecca, the slave, had been
dievoured by agony and indecision. Between
distress for her mistress and terror for her.
sell, the girls tongue lad halted little too
long. Who could blame her? Death was
an easy penalty to infict upon disobedient
servant IN those dark days; power like that
OF Annas was royal. A girls life would
nave gone out at the beck of his riueed
finger, and who would have eiyen il a
thought? Rebecca, in short was afraid to
tell. 1t was not until a euardsman
brought her the terrible report that the
dlgn Prlest, for vengeance on his daughters
lover, had turned the water of the Temple
clstern loose into the shalt, that Rebscca
Ned shrieking to Annas, finging the words
into his cold ears.
Thy daughter, my mistress, the lady
Zahara, perisheth with LazarusI''
Curslng the girl with every anathema that
agony and the ecclesiastical mind suggested.
tne Wretcned father ran to the rescue of his
child. The young LeYite was dispatehed
upon the wings OF the wind to turn the
waters from the vault by the secret process
known only to the Temple and the priest
hood. But this, alas, took time-and time
tnere was none to spare. Annas flung open
the slide behind the grapevine, sick with
terror, fully prepared to find that before the
waters could De drawn off Zanara. the
Princess of the most distinguished priestly
house of that age would have been drowned
Dy the hand OF her own father like yermin
in a crack.
The discovery that the torrent had been
already drawn from the tunnel stupe6ed
Annas- For the moment, the question
Who did II? shot through his mind with q
force that deadened his emotion at the sight
OF his daughters living face. At first he
did not speak to the poor girl, who crawled
to meet him, dragging her unconscious lover
In her arms. Had Lazarus learned the
secret OF brazen screws and hidden springs.
and dark mysteries known only to the altar,
and the sacred craft? The High Priest
flung glance of scowling hate at the pros
trate man. But this one was enough. That
limp, helpless figure, that CHASTITY face,
those lifeless arms? Plainly these had
never performed the subtle and perilous
feat. Clearly 1t was almost if not altogether
drowned man who lay so piteously at the
priests feet. The countenance of Annas
now expressed the acutest confusion. Then
who did it?
Father" moaned Zahara, Father, We
perish. Save us il thou lowest me!''
The High Priest made no reply. Hs
stepped from the vault scornfully, and
slowly turned his back
Father cried Zahara, "Dear fatherP'
The girl abased herself, falling to her face
upon the clammy stone; she caught at the
hem of the priestly garment and kissed IL
Then with averted face, the High Priest
spoke:
''Thee 1 save. Thou art the dauebter of
my house, and the child Of my loins' Death
thou deserveth, for thou hast brought dis
grace upon the name Of Annas. But thee
save. Follow me from this place Of shame.
Him who hath wrought US this scandal
'ave not. Leave him to his fate, and attend
my will"
Nay, thenP' cried Zahara, proudly. "if
:hou ieavest my beloved, thou leavest me.
stir not from this living tomb without
him."
she clasped the unconscious man the
'ioser IN ner arms, and obstinatelY seated
herself on the wet limestone, as il she in
ended to remain there. Lazarus had now