The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1893-05-19
thu low gateway was opened and he

SeS 'ss1 Ao
descended the three steps and bent
down to the young head.
What wouidst thoup" he asked.
IL am a jew. | would be IA Christ
ian. would be baptized"
''Fearest thou not thy ~peoplep"
II fear not DEATH
Come with me-" Trembling. the
woman followed them 9th, and all
were lost in the gloom OF the church.
Suddenly II clear voice broke the
silence:
Ego baptizo to in nomine PATHS ct
Fill, ct Spiritus Sancti."
linen the and The boy were
standing again without the entrance
in the chilly air, and the ancient
monk was upon the threshold under
the carved arch; his thin hands.
white in the darkness, were lifted
high, and he blessed them and they
went their way.
In the moving vision the radiance
was brighter still, and Illuminated
the streets as they moved on. Then d
cloud descended over all, and certain
days and weeks passed, and again the
boy a walking swiftly toward the
church. But the woman was not with
him, and he believed he was alone,
though the messengers of evil
were upon him. Two dark figures
moved in the shadow, silent, noiseless
in their walk, muffied in their long gar
ments. He went on, no longer deign-
ing to look back, beyond fear as he had
ever been, and beyond even the ex-
~pectation of a danger. He went into
the church, and the two men made
gestures and spoke in low tones, and
hid themselves in the shade OF the
buttresses outside.
The vision grew darker, and a ter
rible stiffness was over everything for
the church was not openedto the sight
this time. There was Il horror of
long waiting with the certainty of
what was to come. The narrow street
was empty to the eye, and yet there
was the knowledge of evil presence
OF two strong men waiting in the dark
to take their victim to the place of
expiration. And the horror grew
in the silence and emptiness until it
was unbearable.
The door opened, and the boy was
with the monk under the black arch.
The old man embraced him, and
blessed him, and stood still for q
moment watching him as he went
down. Then he also turned and
went back, and the door was closed.
Swiftly the two men glided from
their hiding place and sped along the
Uneven pavement. The boy paused
and faced them, for he felt that he
was taken. They grasped him by the
arms on each side, Lazarus, his fa-
ther, and Levi, surnamed the Short
handed, the strongest and the cruel
est and the most relentless OF the
younger rabbiS. Their grip was
rough, and the older man held a
coarse woollen 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.
land what doest thou in a Chris
tan church," asked Lazarus in fierce
tones.
What Christians do, since | am
n 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." exclaimed Levi, anx-
iously looking about.
A.l 4Lo- l,.1 IL;
through dark and narrow lanes. He
opposed no resistance to Lewis rough
strength, not only suffering himself
to be dragged along, but doing his
best to keep pace with the mans long
strides, nor did he murmur at the
blows and thrusts dealt him from time
to time by his father from the other
side. During some minutes they were
still traversing the Christian part of
the city. A single loud cry for help
would nave brought a rescue, a few
words to the rescuer5 would have
reused a mob Of fierce men, and
the Jews would have paid with
their lives for the deeds they had not
yet committed. But Simon Abeles
uttered no cry and offered no resiss-
ance. He had said that he feared net
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 trav-
ersed seemed to sweep past them. 50
that they remained always in sight
though always hurrying on. The
Christian quarter was passed; before
them hung the chain of one Of those
gates which gave access to the city of
the Jews. With a 5eer and an oath the
bearded sentry watched them pass
the martyr and his torturers. One
word to him, ever then, and the butt
Of his heavy halberd would have
broken Lewis arm and laid the boys
father in the dust. The word was net
spoken. On through the filthy ways.
on and on, through narrow courts and
torturous passages to a dark low door
way. Then, again, the vision showed
but ar empty street, and there was