Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-09
CHAPTER TX.
BARUCH's LOVING PLOT.

BARUCH's LOVING PLOT.
1t was dew-fall at Bethany. In the house
of Rachel, the widow, and Baruch, the blind
man, excitement reigned. A great event had
happened. Without the porch. painting with
WEAKNESS, low upon litter, lay a little
maiden, pale and frail, but peaceful as no
we'll maiden ever is. Ariella had been
brought over to visit Rachel, her neighbor.
She was to remain until the morrow. Mala-
chi and Baruch, with the help of a slave
had borne the girl thither, and the same
hands would return her before another sun
set to her fathers house. Malachi had
grumbled over the job, which he held to be
an unnecessary tax upon mans time and
attention, but Hagaar had said:
"Verily, you will never put yourself to.a
better use. Give the girl her way" For
Baruch had dealt privately with Hsgaar,
and urged the matter. taking no denial.
And Hagaar and Malachi had returned to
their own dwelling, and Ariella lay upon
the litter without the house of Rachel, beg
glng not to be carried within, till she must
needs sleep; for Ariella drank the air of
heaven as an Arab dying of thirst in the
desert drinks from the gourd held to his stiff
fening lips.
On the way from the house Of her father
to the home of Rachel, Ariella had suffered
scutely; every step of the bearers jarring
the litter diffused agony through the poor
girls body; but she had not said So At
every glimpse of the living world she had
evinced the keenest delight. Itwas: "Oh,
father, the light! The light o: the sun on
the feldsl How broad thing is an after
noonl
"Baruch, 1 sea- hill of tulips; they run
up and down; they are red like torch bearers
at a race.
Mother, give me your hand. Lift my
head little that I may look unto Jerusa-
lem.
''The Temple shineth like the rising of the
day. In the Temple is the Ark. In the Ark
God dwelleth. The people go up; 60 up like
prayer into the heart of Jehovah! Would
that could see the Temple! The brow of
Olivet lifteth between"
ArielIa lay now upon the litter, herself as
mute as an exhausted prayer; the excite
ment Of the day had sunk into its reaction; the
thrill of JOY had fallen into the grip OF pain.
The invalid's hopeless consciousness of suf-
fering returned like the fall of night. Ari-
elias face became pinched with anguish;
the lines about her mouth deepened like
those in the face of an old woman-she was
but 26.
leave me to myself" she painted,
"Eeaye me, Rachel. Leave me, Baruch.
WEAKNESS overcomes me, for the exertion
hath been great Do not watch me-nay, 1
shall the better endure alone"
"But Baruch cannot see thee, protested
matter-of- TACT Rachel.
"Baruch watcheth the closer, for that"
murmured Ariella. Baruch's sensitive face
flushed; he rose without a word and left
their guest. Rachel soon followed him as
the sick girl bade her; and Ariella had her
will-sometimes the only one LETT to the
sick; she was alone with her agony.
The litter had been set down in a cool,
wide grass space in front of the house Of
Rachel; ''in something green" Ariella had
begged; but it was too late in the season to
find the parched grass green. Behind her
the low house looked quiet and home-like;
the faint glimmer Of RachePs single candle
shone upon the paved court and dull white
sand; Baruch stood in the doorway, a silent,
waiting figure; he seemed like a man who
expected something, and was patient and
impatient bv turns. Without, the darken-
ing country looked to the imprisoned girl as
wide as all heaven. Between the spasm of
her pain she regarded it eagerly.
Eastward of her the road to Jericho, rough,
wild, dangerous and ragged, wound among
the hills. Ariella could mark the spot
where her misfortune had befallen her, nine
years ago. A caravan was winding past the |
place slowly, the outline of the camels rising
and falling, like the outlines of ships upon |
a restless sea. The caravan was coming to-
ward Jerusalem; the travellers were singing; |
they sang the Psalms of Degrees. Beyond, |
the Desert of Judea stretched far and /
frowning.
Turning her head, the sick girl looked |
about the little hamlet of Bethany The |
Roman fortress rose, grim, firm fact against
which every Jewish heart revolted; the
houses of Ariella's people were built with
put the fortress line. Now and then, the
spear of Roman soldier caught the dying
light upon its tip.
Yonder against the mountain side sepul-
,hers showed, cut into the solid rock; these
we're owned by the wealthier families of
Bethany. Ariella gazed upon their solemn
outlines quietly.
''My life is a sepulcher," she said aloud,
What doth it matter?"
A slight sound behind the head of Ariel
as litter attracted, but did not arrest her
She could not see, or she had
lot noticed that the figure of the blind man
lad disappeared from the doorway. Barieh
tood behind an olive tree, and the olive
rec stood behind Ariella.
Now Ariella turned her head at this mo-
nent to look further downward to the south
ast, where, far beyond her gaze, the somber
urface of the Dead Sea lay. One of the
title freakish fancies OF the sick possessed
Ter. No person ever drowned in the salt
Dead Sea.
Oh, to be borne thither in her litter, and
it afoat upon the strong water, and float
er lie out on that soft bedl
''It would never hurt ones back, Z" thought
Ariella. She laughed aloud at this conceit
+ hers. and tried to move upon her pillows
D raise herself upon one arm and look along
he valley till sight should be lost in the
urpling gloom. The effort caused her
uch pain that she uttered an involuntary
roam.
Ariella seldom groaned. This was a
ownright uncomfortable cry Of agony, and
I'll piteously enough from the poor girls
ps.
"Oh, Ariellar' cried Baruch, darting for j
ard from behind the olive tree. He stood
efore her; he bent over her; he trembIed ,
nth sympathy the tenderest man or woman |
ad ever shown for Ariella.
''Ohl" moaned Baruch, "could only see
ow to comfort theel'
"You feel how" said Ariella, collecting
erself at once !
IF love could comfort, =" breathed Baruch. {
Il love could heal
Love helps" said Ariella, "love serves"
Men and women who are not afflicted of |
love as they will, and do as they 1