Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-16

land of our peoplei swear that the charac-
ter of this lady shall be protected. 1 call
you to witness, ye guards of the High Priest,
that challenge to mortal combat, though l
am q man unarmed, him who has uttered
these base words against the fair name Of
Zaharai-"
With this, maddened by very helplessness
and blind with rage, Lazarus sprang, as
young blood will, desperately and hopeless
ly, upon his tormentor. A cold laugh re-
piled 10 his futile and foolish movement
There was low command. a. swift move
ment, a grating sound, and Lazarus bounded
against the solid slide, which closed violent
ly in his face. A few dull strokes followed
by resounding blows, and Lazarus realized,
to his horror, that the exit from the corridor
was iorcibly shut, and he and Zahara were
barred in.
Lazarus gave mighty push against the
inert stone. He tugged with ferocious te-
nacity at the brazen ring. He listened with
ear against the clammv slab. Footsteps
deadened to his hearing. A low jeering
laugh echoed in the distance and Lazarus
was left alone. No, not alonel
'Zaharal' he cried in anguish, "Zahara"
There was no reply.
"God of nv fathersI Where art thou, o
my love!" He groped with hands and feet
along the black shat In its steep descent
he stumbled. His fingers touched the hem
of dress. With delicate reverence his
hand sought her face.
''Zahara, my lovei I am here. I am thy
Lazarus. Thou art not dead. Would that
thou hadst never seen my facel Then
wouldst thou be safe in thy fathers house"
Never before had Lazarus reproached him.
self fo- the love he had inspired in this
regal girl. Zahara still stood. Her two
hands supported her. Their palms were
turned backward each upon the damp, un-
even stones. Lazarus took one and kissed
it and warmed it on his breast Then the
girl sighed deeply, and muttered something
in drowsy tone; it was not easy to tell
what; she looked at him stupidly; he
thought she spoke of a supper with Herod,
and called Rebecca to dress her.
Jehovah guide mel" groaned Lazarus.
"Her reason hath fed from her!'' He dared
not touch the lips OF the half delirious girl.
Zahara had a brave nature. But no woman
delicately reared in gold and purple can
bear such situation as this unmoved. The
horrible darkness, the deadly dampness, the
peril to life and lover, the terrible words OF
her father had mounted to her brain like
deadly drug. But Lazarus knew too we'll
that he had no time to lose in tenderness of
anxiety. His only hope now lay in forcing
an exit through the Temple-blinding or
bribing the priests-and coniuring Zahars
somehow to safety in the outer world. With
out delaying to restore the girl, he snatched
her and dragged her through the shaft in the
direction of the Temple, making such speed
with his precious burden as he miserably
could.
In the necessary roughuess of the mad and
desperate rush Zahara's wits began to clar-
ify. The descent had now become perilous.
She spoke confusedly.
"Where are we, Lazarus? This is not the
tomb?"
mo, sweetheart. follow me. There, take
my hand. 'Tis slippery. Take care. We
rush to the Temple. Perchanee at the horns
of the altar none dare molest US"
"But hear the rushing of waters. Is it
the river of death?"
Thou nearest naugbt," said Lazarus
''This horror ringeth in thy ears" The
descent became sleeper. The limestone
steps grew more slippery. At any time it
was e2hausting to Lazarus to run the pas
sage. He had often fallen heavily. His
hands and knees bore many scar. Just
where that hidden way was about to descend
under the Valley of the Cheesemongers (for
thus deeply was the passage excavated in
the limestone valley in order to mount to
the Temple on the other side), Zahara
stopped, clutched Lazarus, and said:
"Hearest thou not the rushing now? We
are coming upon the waters"
(To be Continued Ne1t Sunddy.)