The Fort Worth gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-189?, 1891-04-09

and spoke in low tones and hid Themselves
in the shade of the buttresses outside.
| The vision grew darker and terrible still
| ness was over everything, for the chUrrl
| was not opened 10 the sight this time Their
| was horror of long waiting with the Ger
| talnty Of what was 10 come. The narrow
| street was cmpoy 10 the eye. and yet there
| was the knowledge OF eyi, presence. of two
| strong men waiting il the dark to TAXI
! their victim 10 the place OF expiration AnC
the horror grew in The silence and empty
! ness until ii was mbcarablc
I The door opened and the boy was with
| the monk under the black arch The old
| rIan embraced him and blessed him aud
| stood still for moment watching him a
| he Went down Then he. also, turned anG
| went back, and the door was closed.
| Swiftly the two men glided from thei1
! hiding place and sped along the uneven
pavement. The boy paused and faced
! them. ior ne felt that lie WAS taken They
I SraSped him BY the arms on each side,
Lazarus, his father. ard Levi, suruaued
the Shart-handed. the strongest and the
cruelest and the most relentless Of The
younger rabbits. Their grip was rough.
and the older man held course wooden
cloth in his hand, with which to smother
the boys cries, if he should cry out for
help. But he was very calm and did not
resist them
What would you'- he asked
And what dOest thou i'll u Christian
church, asked Lazarus in fierce tones
VIVA, Christians do. since ! am one OF
them answered the youth. unmOved
Lazarus said nothing, but he struck the
boy on the mouth with his hard hand so
that the blood ran down. Not here eX-
claimed Levi, anXiOuSly looking about
And they hurried him away Though dark
and narrow lanes. He opposed no resist
ance TO Lewis rough strength. not only
suffering himself 10 be dragged along. but
doing his best TO keep pace with the man
long strides. nor did he murmur ut the
blows and thrUsts dealt him from time to
time by his father from the other side
During some minutes they We're still
traverSing the Christian part of the city \
single loud cry for help would have brought
Il rescue, few words to the reScuerS would
have reused Il mob u fierce men and the
two Jews would have paid with their lives
Tor the deeds they had not yet committed
But Simon Abcles uttered no cry and
offered no resistance. He had said that he
feared not death, and he had spoken the
truth, not knowing what manner OF death
was to be his. Onward they sped, and IN
the vision the way they traVersed
seemed 10 sweep past them, 50
that they remained always in sight
though always huITying on The Chris
the chain Of one OF those gates which gave
access TO the city of the Jews With d ieer
and an oath the bearded sentry watched
them paSS-the MARTYR and his torturelS
One word to him, even then, and tie butt
of his heavy halberd would have broken
Lewis arm and laid the boys father III he
dust. The word was not spoken On
through the filthy ways, on and on. through
marrow courts and tortuous passages to
dark, low doorway. Then, again. the vision
showed but an empty street. and there was
silence for space, and a horror OF long
waiting in the falling night
Lights moved within the house and then
one window after another was bOted and
barred from within. Still the silence en-
dured until the ear was grown used 10 ii
and could hear sounds very far off, from
deep down below the house itself, but the
walls did not open and the scene did not
change. n dull noise, bad 10 hear. re
sounded as from beneath u vault, and then
another and another-the sounds of cruel
blows upon human body. Then q pause
wilt thou TenOunce it," asked the voice
of Lazarus.
''kyrie eleison, Christie eleison = came
the answer, brave and clear
Lay On, Levi, and let thy arm be
strong;
And again the sounds of blows. regular.
merciless, came up from the bowels of the
earth.
''Dost thou repent? Dost thou renounce?
DOSt thou deny!
Il repent of my Sins-I renounce YOUR
ways believe in the Lord"
The sacred maine was not heard. \ smoth-
cred grOan as of one losing consciousness
in extreme torture was all that came up
from below.
Lay on, Levi. lay on"
MAY" answered the strong rabbi. Sthe
h Nyrilt ftT ~ l. -
night. Perchance cold and hunger will be
more potent than stripes, when he shall
come to HIMSELF
AS thou sayeSt" answered the father
in angry reluctance.
Again there was silence Soon the rays
of light ceased TO shine through the Crevices
of the outer shutters. aud sleep descended
upon the quarter of the Jews Still the
scene in the vision changed not After
long stiffness clear young voice was heard
speaking.
Lord, If it be Thy will that / die, grant
that may bear ali in Thy name grant that
/, unworthy, may endure in this body the
puishments due to me in spirit for my sins
And if it be Thy Will that live, let my life
be used also for Thy glory
The voice ceased and the cloud of passing
time descended upon the vision aud was
lifted again and again. And each time the
turing blows, but the voice of the boy was
weaker every night, though it was not less
brave.
Il believe" it said, always. 'sDo what
YOU will, you have power over the body,
but have the Faith over which You have
no power
So the days and the nights passed. and
though the prayer came up in feeble tones.
1t was born of a mighty spirit and it rang
in the ears of the tormentors as the voice of
an angel which they had no power to 81
ence, appealing from them to the tribunal
Of the throne of God most high
Day by day, also, the rabbis and the
elders began to congregate together ut
evening before the house of Lazarus and to |
talk with MIN and each other, debating how |
hey might break the endurance OF his son |
and bring him again into the synagogue as
lne of themselves. Chief among them in |
heir councils was Levi, the short-handed. !
ievising new fortunes for the frail body to |
pear. and boasting how he would conquer |
he stubborn boy by the might of his hands |!
% hurt. Some of the rabbis shook their !
heads.
He is possessed of a devil they said |
He will die and repent not
But others nodded approvingly and |
vagged their filthy boards and said that |
when the fool had been chastised the evil |
pirit would depart from him. IL
TO BE CONTINUED. ..,.<Sess
Subscribe for taaR GAZETTE. |