Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-23
ALONE IN THEIR LOVE.

ane, the garden Of Amos his heart was sore
and tender with remorse and with love- His
feeling toward the Nazarene rose into ardent
longing, and he made all haste at the first
possible moment to meet the generous and
forgiving friend, whose attitude toward him.
self was one of such nobility and fidelity. The
opportunity did not arrive until the evening
on the second day thereafter, when the hour
OF evening prayer found Lazarus actively
searching for Jesus in his usual haunts at
Jerusalem. The search was unsuccessful. In
the course of it Lazarus happened to come
upon John the fisherman, who informed MIN
quietly, somewhat coldly, Lazarus thought,
that his Master journeyed to Tiberias, whittier
he himself should follow with other disci-
pies of the rabbi upon the succeeding dav.
1t did, indeed, occur to Lazarus that he
might go to Tiberias himself; but at that
precise time came the order from the
High Priest to improve the villa at Caper-
naum.
Lazarus responded without q moments
| hesitation.
Thus again had fate, or that movement of
our natures to which we are apt to give the
comfortable name offate, interposed between
the young man and the teacher whom he
| idealized and neglected, reVered and
grieved. Now in this tremendous moment
in night and storm. and wreck, and in the
face of death, the two had met and yet had
met not. Lazarus had not even seen the
countenance of his friend; it was so dark,
| and his own eyes so dimmed by those tears
that come of seaward gazing and straining.
He had only felt that benignant and
wondrous presence as one might feel the
passing of an angel in the darkness. Jesus
himself had not spoken an audible word.
Lazarus fancied that his breath came quick
", either in agitation or from exhaustion;
but lie was so used to associating the Naz-
arene with the signs of power, achievement,
and self-possession that it was difficult for
him to attribute these indications of effort
and pathetic sensitiveness to that mysterious
personality.
At any rate, whether aggrieYed or rebuk-
ing, whether in tenderness or in displeas-
ure, the Nazarene had gone.
The first movement OF Lazarus, it must be
admitted, was toward Zahara. To discover
whether she still lived-this instinct domi-
mated everything. He caught her delicate,
wet hand in his; it dropped heavily at her
side. He bent above her, reverently daring
to put his ear upon her sacred breast; her
heart beat-weakly, but steadily enough,
like the heart of strong girl whom shock
and shipwreck do not easily Kill.
"She lives % murmured Lazarus. "She
is saved. Zahara lives u
Then, to his credit let US record it Of him,
before Lazarus made another effert in behalf
of Zahara he did make one to recall his
friend.
"Master p' cried Lazarus, "Lord, return
to me Return Stay with me but mo-
ment, Rabboni, that may worship thee,
thou Hope of Isreal y
But the solemn movement of the oleanders
against the dying wind was the only answer
which the young man received. Jesus did
not return.
The storm was now abated, as suddenly as
it had arisen. The wind had sunk like
whipped hound. The waves were restless
still; but that pathway of light upon which
the mystical vision OF the Nazarene had
trodden widened slowly, broadensd SOL
emnly, until it lay upon the lake like holy
oil, and quelled it. Whatever might be the
fate of Zahars's companions in the little
pleasure boat, Lazarus did not ask; it must
be owned that he had forgotten to care.
Zahara breathed. Zahara lay at his feet, a
lovely, sobbing, living woman, coming to
her senses with all sorts of pretty frights |
and signs of distress that drove every other
consciousness from his nature.
1t was night. 1t was solitude. It was
Zahara. No hand could snatch her from
him now Neither gods nor men could rob |
him of that one hour. 1t was his own.
Lazarus" moaned Zahara, ''am I !
drowned? Are we dead together, thou |
and -"
"By the shade of Abrahaml thou li7est |
and we are together" cried Lazarus. "And |
which is the greatest miracle, cannot tell |
thee, for I know not. Tell me,
Zahara, art thou hurt? Dost thou suffer }
pain? How can comfort thee?"
''I am very wet, said Zahara, "and it is
terrible, and I suffer such fright as might J
kill woman; but will be stronger than
my fright, shall arise and get me to my
father"
She struggled TO her feet and stood before
the Young man for an instant, full N the
starlight. Her superb form shone through
her wet drapery, which clung to her from
neck to ankles. Lazarus looked up at her
from the sands where he knelt at her feet.
His brain .whirled. Beautiful creaturel
y y He held up his hands to her. Zahara
tottered.
Help me, Lazarus" she said family, ''I
cannot walk alone. Help me homeward,
for would fain-"
What would Zahara fain have done? She
never told him. Lazarus never asked.
Still kneeling, he lifted his appealing arms;
and Zahara, ikes princess, stopped to them.
He caught her and drew her gently down.
She did not struggle with him. She came
right royally-a strong surrender, womanly
and wise. 1t was as il Zahara scorned to be
coy and to play with love which was great
enough to conquer her.
''Lazarusp she murmured," am alive
and love theeP'
"And we are alone, and I love theeI Come
to me, Zahara, for would shelter thee"
Zahara came. He gathered her to his
arms, to his shoulder, 70 his breast, slowly,
delicately, afraid, not Of men or of angels,
but OF his own passion and of the maiden's
holy nature. The queenly girl crept to him
as gently as the meekest woman of them all.
Dark as it was, he closed his eyes instinct
lively. that he might for the supreme
see nothing, not even the
dim outline of her yielding form and
dropping face-that he might only feel the
timid motion OF her round arm as it stole
around his neck, the approach of her velvet
cheek to his own, her fragrant breath upon
his beard, the delicate pressure Of her pure
heart-the ecstacy of her surrendered lips.
Presently he would look at her. One sense
1T time was enough; how could man bear
zoo manifold joy? To touch her that was [
Eden. That first embrace he chose in sacred
darkness.
'sNow would L behold thee,
now would 1 look upon thy face. would