Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-12-24

SHE LEAPED FROM THE PRECIPICE.
gun anew after the floods subsided,
for Armenia is one of the Oldest lands
and its people trace their lineage direct
to that Biblical emigrant ship which
colonized it when the world was young.
From many quaint, fat-roofed dwell
ing arose Christmas carols to which
soft-voiced echoes sang responsive
choruses among the cliffs, and at least
one church bell tried bravely, singly
and alone, to supply an imitation of
Christmas chimes. 1t was a peaceful
picture, upon which the stars twinkled
approvingly as they bespangled the
slopes with frost-diamonds and coated
countless sparkles from the palid snow.
The Armenians are deyout people, and
make much of the Christmas festival.
This little hamlet was in many respects
not unlike Bethlehem, and near it were
many shepherds who guarded their
flocks by night, as did those of Judea
when tine angels sang of peace on earth,
good will to men.
At the home of Abanazar, the head
man of the village, there were quiet
festivities, decorations of holly and
other eyergreens, songs of praise and
stories which for generations had hand
ed down cherished traditions and
legends of Armenia. There were the
aged grandfather and grandmother,
Abanazer and his good wife, three little
girls ranging from six to twelve years
old, and Zilldh, the 16-year-old daugh-
ter, with her atlianced lover Akthar,
the stalwart young herdsman. She
was beautiful maiden, with regular
features, large eyes aglow with love,
the small but symmetrical form char
acteristic of so many women of her
race. In her picturesque costume she
was marvellously handsome, and her
tones were as musical as the tinlilc
of silvery bells or the low notes of Ak
thar's flute, to which she sometimes
sang soft accompaniment. The pleas
ant scene in this home was duplicated
in many others that starlit Christmas
eve.
Suddenly the scene changed. The
church bell rang in sharp, short strokes,
spirited alarm, confusion succeeded
calm, and there were excited exclamr
tions and hurrying in hot haste as a
rider dashed madly down the one central
street, shouting: Save yourselves,
Christians, the Kurds are coming!"
But there was no time. Close upon
his tracks came hundreds of swathy
hOrsemen, turbaned and fierce, with
1ar, Af,1, 4 / :
shouted in deep-voiced hate, and eyes
which cleaned like live Goals from be
meath beetling brows. In a moment
pandemonium seemed to have broken
loose, the guns spoke sharply, seine
tars flashed in silver and turned Grim
son, and soon the flames from burning
buildings cast their lurid glare over an
earthly hell wherein fiends held high
carnival in shedding innocent blood.
Abanazar and his family, with others,
gained the church which stood on The
edge of precipice, and there made Il
brave stand, but it was useless
Breaches were made in the walls, the
place carried by storm, and hundreds
slain before the altar dedicated to peace
and decorated with Christmas symbols
in readiness for the morrow. The i'oor
literally ran in blood, and Zillah H..
speechess anguish beheld the men of
her family and her lover cut down, and
women subjected to tortures which
chilled her to the soul. With other
women and girls she fought heroicaily,
but finally found herself breathless and
disarmed in the embrace of Rustcm,
the huge leader of the Kurds, who had
often in days of peace paid her atten-
tions rs often repelled
Suddenly she drew the steel bodkn
from her hair, plunged it with unerrirg
aim and the strength born of despera-
tion into the giants heart, and as he
sank to the floor she bounded to the
side Of the church, seized lighted
taper, opened a trap door in the Hoor,
hurled the light into supply of powder
stored there, and springing through a
side door leaped from the precipice as
scores Of other women had done within
! the horrible half hour preceding. There
was a flash, thunderous roar. and the
solid church seemed TO be heavcd high
in air, while in the lurd light of the cx-
plosion dead bodies Of men and women