Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-01-26
CHAPTER VI.
THE CONFESSION TO ANNAs.

The morning rose like a princess. The
sun was resplendent The trumpet-call
to early prayer rang through the bright air
with long, quivering cry. Lazarus at the
summons stood at his window-at the win
dow looking toward Jerusalem, as the Gus
tom demande6-aad bowed his face in silent
petition. His soul was lifted; his nerve
was calmed; the fever of last night-where
was it? Laid by the cool pure morning
breath? Or healed BY the diviner art that
comes of holy thought? Lazarus felt like
convalescent; he wondered at yesterdays
attack OF ofieeling; he thought ofthe daughter
of Annas with curious sense of humilla-
ton; she seemed to elude him as a dream
when one awaketh; he reproached himself
that his emotion had pursued her. As he
stood at prayer he had the heart of penitent.
1.-THE morning meal his sister served him
more silently than usual; perhaps this was
the reflection OF his own mood; or perhaps the
soothing influence OF the guest OF yesterday
fingered vet upon the household. Even
Martha was subdued. Her face wore its best
look. And Lazarus had said:
Forgive me, Martha" when he came
forth in the morning.
Now Martha was so used to being the one
to be forgiven that the reversal OF position
kdNG AOA ooAASAdSbAOAs ~ PAb hSI III GACCl-
lent humor when another member of the
family fTetted ard had to acknowledge it.
Lazarus parted from his sister pleasantly,
and went to his work with quiet, thought
full mien.
II shall arrange it soon, 4" he had said to
Mary, 81 shall make it my duty to search
Tor him in Jerusalem until find him.
Lazarus fully intended to do SO. He
made his way to the palace with a brisk
IL, L. Al
ready astir. Fine carving upon the renewed
cedar pillars was the order of the day; it re-
quired the closest supervision; Lazarus sur
rendered himself to the work. He had an
artists nature, rudely cultivated as it was,
and crudely expressed in such limited ways
as his avocatiOn permitted. He directed
with conscience and enthusiasm the carving
of pattern of zines and pomegranates from
which all outline of the human or animal
figure was religiously excluded; bas relief
of little pillars supporting miniature por-
Iico peered between the vines. Lazarus be-
came closely interested in the execution Of
this design. His days work set in prosper
ously. The entrances to the women's por-
tion of the palace were carefully curtained.
No one but the officers OF the household ap-
peared.
"Annas, the high priest, is gratifed with
the handiwork of Lazarus, the builder"
said one OF these men with a pompous gra-
ciousness. Lazarus bowed.
''This is as it should be- q" he replied, with
q slight hauteur. He returned to his task
with renewed absorption. Not we'll pleased,
as the day wore on, with the execution of
certain details the master builder rebuked
his artists with some emphasis. One of
them, restless under the criticism, threw
. down his BURN, or the tool which then cor
responded to that name, and irritably said:
"If 1 cannot please you will try no
longer. Finish the work yourself, Lazarus.
''Nay, then, 1 will" T" cried Lazarus; and
forthwith did proceed to make good his
word.
Now, as he worked in this impressive
manner, carving after the Imagination of
his own heart upon the cedar pillar, and
scarcely knowing what manner of thought
his hand executed, Lazarus let his soul Tree;
it took wings and fed from him and bore
him whitherSoever he would not 1t was
high, hot noon. His artists and workmen
had betaken themselves without the palace
Tor resting space and meal The palace
was quiet Lazarus, adream before the
pillar, stood alone, carving assiduously.
Suddenly his hand fell like the hand Of
palsy at his side. Through the stiffness of
the warm, soft air low laugh rang like a
mufled silver bell. The tool dropped from
the hand of Lazarus. The blood rushed to
his face.
'ZaharaI' he murmured.
She stood indeed behind him-a blazing,
scowling beauty; her eyes Knocked him; her
full lips pouted; with one hand she pointed
to the carving on the pillar.
Verify for devout Jew, thou hast done
fine deed, sir builder"
Done? What had he done? Behind the
carven vines, behind the trellised portico,
behind the miniature pillars of the designs
the cedar wood gave the faint outline Of
fgure-a girls figure, hiding modestly, with
flowing robes, between the leaves.
1.-The SanhedrIn would be i'll pleased &"
teased Zahara. "What an ecclesiastical
crime thou hast commIttedp'
SIS it a crime in thine eyes?" demanded
the builder hotly. His own regarded her
manfully. His urgent tenderness looked
out OF them. A wave of daring love rolled
over him. He would be as he wasl He felt
a sudden, sacred right to the impetuosity OF
his own nature.
Zanara returned his ardent gaze with a
oueenly lsok; then-for she could not help
it-her own eyes dropped before his, less
like q queen than like woman, and more
like a sensitive girl than either.
NAY, then" she said softly, 81 wrote
not the law, but Moses. Thou hast broken
no stone table of mine
81 could not help it," said Lazarus i'm
pulsively, II can not forget thee. Thou art
IN the thought OF my heart and the dream
of my mind, and thou controllest the deed
of my hand as the wind controllest boat
upon the sea"
my iather," observed Zahara demurelv.
''might not find the carving agreeable" Z" She
had veiled herself as she spoke, and stood
sheltered, lovely, swaying figure, half re-
treating as she spoke.
Thou warnest me wisely" said Lazarus;
"Annas the High Priest shall not be dis
turbed by the weakness of a moment in
Lazarus the builder. The carving shall be
righted according to the letter of the law.
Fear not, Zahara, have done no error past
a remedy"
As he spoke he smote the figure with a
passionate gesture The cedar wood gave
out rich perfume like the protest of Q
creature wounded.
"Ah mer' cried Zahars, wincing pref
tily, ''you hurt the poor grip
The face of Lazarus became very pale.
Zahara could not know the emotion she
aroused by her little feminine play. If she
had known would she have spared him?
Lazarus thought not. His manhood reused
itself to sudden self-defense. His eyes gave
ZahEra one binding look. But his lips re-
Saained obstinately mute. With quick.