Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-12
parently he hesitated with himself.

parently he hesitated with himself
eyes," said Lazarus. sit is he. 1t is he
indeed. Go and tell Martha to prepare for
him. He comes to us at last"
But Mary knelt with her face pressed to
the tile railing, gazing persistently down.
She did not move to obey her brothers COM
mand.
'MaryF' cried Lazarus, rising in displeas-
ure, ''are you dreaming again, now-when
he is all but at our gates-when every
moment is precious that we may serve him
with our best? MaryP'
"Oh," mourned Mary, che cometh not.
He cometh not. See you, Lazarus. They
have deferred him. They call him back.
from us. So near us-and so worn for rest
he goeth away without it. He setteth his
face already once more toward Jerusa-
leml''
'fYou are right" announced Lazarus de-
cidedlyL"as usual" he murmured in a
lower tone. "You have the eyes which see,
Mary. But 1 cannot understand this mat
teri 1 am distressed at it. Why this hesi-
tation? Yes. He returneth. Fain would
hasten down and overtake him, and COM
pei him by my hearts force to tarry with
US"
"Nay," cried Mary hastily, "nay. nay,
nv brother. Entreat him not. He knoweth
his own will. And the will, /" she said SOL
emnly, "of him that sent him. Besides, 7"
she added with quick feminine sensitive
ness, che knoweth that he hath eternal well
come beneath thy roof and Martha's. We
would not ask him il he cometh not. Seel
Look yonderl He turneth the corner Of the
road as it windeth round the mountain.
The people shout and run and press upon
him. They bring one unto hint is an
afflicted creature. For that cause he re-
turneth."
''Verily it is so, said Lazarus sadly. "It
is one possessed, or other diseased person
whom they bring. Whatever 1t is which
has hindered him from us, my sister, thou
may know it is the call of woe or want or
sin. Yes he joineth the returning people;
he returneth-he is gone"
Mary bowed her face upon the tiles and
said nothing. The light of her life and the
hope of her soul-the hope of her people,
their master and their mEstery-had with
drawn himself from her sight; and her gentle
heart was sore within her.
"Why he will come back again when that
wretch is taken care ofI' cried Martha,
whose practical view of things was as great
a relief at some times as it was terror at
others to her family.
"Of course he will come backl L will
myself prepare the upper chamber. Do
you watch for him, Lazarus, and let me
know the first moment that you see signs of
himr'
Martha rustled away more noisily than
she had come upon the roof
"a pretty time of day |" she added
testify, Ito bring ones fits before such as hel
or,one's wits, either. Fifty people are always
half-witted in my opinion. I'll venture the
creature isn't worth curing"
But Mary watched silently with her burn.
ing cheeks upon the smooth cool tiles.
Lazarus kept her company awhile. His own
fine face wore q look of keen disappoint-
ment. Neither spoke; it darkened rapidly;
the sound of passing footsteps grew few and
faint.
tHe will not come" announced the mas
ter of the house, at last, with masculine de-
cisiveness.
, 'T 90 below. Do thou the same, Mary"
Mary did not reply. She was glad when
even lazarus was gone. She sat on alone,
half crouched, half kneeling upon the roof;
the dew fell; her bright hair grew damp
Mary had abundant beautiful hair; it
weighed upon her head like crown of wa
tiers. Her soft flesh grew cooled and chill.
Her ears quivered as fine nerves Of hearing
do from listening in vain till the auditory
sense becomes an anguish. The step for
which she waited did not come.
ITO Be Continued Neat SundGy.l