The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-18

ND on one side and over against them
are the hosts OF the enemy. All Is ex-
element and expectation. Horses champ
their bits. bright swords hash In the
sunlight There are the priests In their
white robes. composed and confident The
warriors eager and watchful-- what
was that? The blare Of the trumpets rends
the airi Horses rear and plunge forward!
Chariots rumble heavilyl Men shoui'
Everything sweeps forward with rush
and a roar 10 meet the great human sea
that rolls forward on the other side. They
come nearer and nearer together Ihey
closei Surely. surely, the great opposing
host has swallowd no the small army
OF Israeli No-look Wonder OF wonders
The huge army breaks. crumbles, and the
scattered fragments fee in terror The
Israeltes pursue them with wild shouts
OF victory. They have conquered the hosts
OF their enemies
Suddenly the notes Of triumph sink INTO
n low moaning monotone. The battle the
victory have passed away. There are the
deserted streets and crumbling walls OF
Jerusalem Here are a few scattered,
broken stones-an that remains Of Solo
mons glorious temple. This picture. too,
fades away. and another takes its place.
A group of captive Jews I'm a foreign land
are weeping over the fall Of Jerusalem.
The moaning chant rises higher ana
breaks into a wall Of anguish At me
same time one Of the narp strings breaks
with an almost human sound of woe, and
the voice ends in sob.
CHAPTER ".
Zada knelt beside the sparkling foun-
tain. and bending over the sculptuIed
rim Of the marble basin, she trailed her
slender fingers i'm the clear water. Her
no
long hair rippled around her. she
lifted her hand from the water
and the bright drops fell from
the pink-upped fingers. She bent
her head and two more bright drops fell
but not from her hngers-and splashed
into the water. She sighed and heard
was it an ccho2 No for soft signs have
no echo. She looked up and saw at a
little distance man standing, with ms
arms folded and head bowed. as if In
grief She quickly covered herself with
her veil and turned TO hasten away, When
a low moan from the man caused her TO
pause. Slowly she approached nm, theh
seeing his clothes rent and his dark mar
strewn with ashes. she said: why art
thou so full of heaviness? What Is thy
sorrOw?'
The man raised his head, and she saw
Chou knowcst that j am "a jew, and
yet thou askost me the cause of my
crief?'
yea. I know that all thy race has
cause TO grieve over the departed glory
Of its kingdom. but / thought thou might
est have an added grief
"Aud hast thou not heard Of the pro
clamation that the King hath sent forth
for the destruction of all Jews|'
Zada grew white and started back.
Nay nay. that cannot be. Surely our
king is not so cruel. What cause hath
be 10 hate the jews
"None. but this is done at the request
OF his favorite. who hath vowed 10 des-
troy us all"
"Who hath done this?' said Iada.
Hannah" said Sheal. between his set
teeth. Zada pressed her hands on her
head and cried out: "Oh, Ormazd, great
Ormazd have mercy on me, and on him.
Sheal stood in silent establishment for
awhile. then he said respectfully Ma
dam. why should this distress thee?'
She tore her veil away and her dark
eyes flashed as she said angrily: 'Dost
thou think / should be light of heart and
merry when I must be the wife of this
man. this plotter for the life of an OPP
pressed nation?'
"His WifeI Heaven forbu.
ellis slave then" she said with a
bitter laugh is he not rich? is he not
create Is ne not the Kings own favor
ite?" She said mockingly Il will be the
cnviod Of every woman in the land 1
will be next to Queen Esther herself"
She tossed up her arms and laughed
again. Sheal looked at her in horror
then. suddenly catching her hand, he
pressed il TO his lips and said mourn
fully: "Ah, Zada Zada. / cannot bear II.
/ love thee so. Must thou be the wife, the
slave of this cruel tyrantg' she drew her
hand away and flushed deeply. Sheal
misunderstood the action and said; For
give the presumption of thy fathers
slave. Lady. Let my pity, my approach
ing death. and my great love plead for
me-"
She stood silent for a moment, and
looked at him as he stood with
his head bent in proud humility.
Then she drew near him, and rest
ing her little hand on his arm
said gently DOst thou love me-
Sheal?" He looked into her soft eyes.
and then folding her in his arms he said.
"Yea. mine own love. far more than
life itself, next TO mine honor" and he
kissed the blushing, loving face upturned
TO his Suddenly the crimson lips grew
white and q great terror came into the
dusky eyes. Sheal turned and saw-Ha-
tach and Haman.
For a moment he was too much stunn-
ed TO speak. He stood clasping Zada to
his heart. and staring dehantly into the
faces Of the two naughty men, who gazed
at them in horror Visions of a separa-
ton followed by a terrible punishment
for the maiden and an agonizing death
for himself seemed TO paralyze him.
Thus they stood. till the cold, hard tones
of Humans voice broke the silence "Is
not this the slave that thou didst buy
of me? 1 fear me thou hast made
but an i'll bargain my friend for this
man is a jew, and the King hast this
day made proclamation that upon the
thirteenth day of the month Adar he
shall destroy and cause 10 perish all
Jews both young and old that be in
the Kings provinces"
Then Hatach turned flercely TO Sheal
and said, Accused slavel how darest
thou pollute my daughter with thy foul
touch Stand back, l sayl The messen-
gers Of the King shall not Stay thee.
Thou art mine soul and body, and thou
shalt see how Hatach, the Persian, VIII
revenge himself upon those who do him
an injury" Then striking his hands vio-
lently together he cried, Come, drag
away this base slave and cast him into the
foulest dungeon" NAY, do not So" said
Hannah. ''but deliver him unto me as
a part Of thy daughters marriage por-
ton. / would sooner have him than
five hundred pieces of silver. | will re-
ward him according to his iniQuities."
well said. most noble Haman." re-
ltd II.ta.h tolfa him, and In with him