Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-25

the poor woman enjoyed was suddenly
and rudely altered. For the first time she
looked at the reptile, from which until
then she had always shrunk with horror
and experienced a strange emotion, some
thing that burned in her breast.
Thou liestY she exclaimed. with IN
dignation God gave me to Adam as MS
only companion, and do not DOUBT MS
love-
81 can show thee thy rivalI but thou
must first eat of the forbidden fruit
THE trembling woman. fearful OF the
Divine anger, resisted this allurement,
saying to the serpent:
Thou art trying TO deceive me, but II
Is useless. Get thee behind me!
"I tell thee the truth. When my COM
nanlon separates himself from thee he
goes TO join tn other woman that have
given him To prove that / am not de-
ceiving thee l will ask nothing Of thee
until thou hast seen her with tnine own
eyes. Follow me and l will show her
to thee
1.-THE weak creature had rejected the
first proposition because il involved dis
obedience; but in this offer 1t did not ap-
pear that she was required 10 commit
, any sin. and she allowed herself 10 be
persuaded.
They arrived at the foot OF a little
rocky hill, in the side OF which appeared
a large open grotto, from which a small
stream emerged.
"'Now, approach cautiously. in order
not to make a noise" the serpent said
! 10 her, in a low voice. When thou hast
arrived at yonder stones. kneel thee
down, supporting thy hands upon them.
and with great caution incline thyself
forward. little by little. In the bottom OF
4, r-tff oh,
panion Of him thou hast trusted as thy
/ loyal and faithful Adam
1.-THE woman more and more distressed
/ by the mysterious fire burning in her
breast, kneeled down, tremblingly, on the
stones and. more through fear OF being
! convinced OF a cruel truth than through
n sense OF prudence, slowly thrust the
upper part OF her person forward over
( the margin OF the pellucid pool which
was sheltered by the overhanging grotto.
and saw, sure enough, a lovely woman,
who was looking up from below with the
/ same expression Of terror and panied sur
! prise that was reflected in her own sweet
I face.
"Kneellng, a. she was, she covered
I her face with her pretty hands, and, be-
/, tween choking sobs, shed then and
/ there her first tears.
'In that pure and innocent soul in that
moment was born. true child OF falsehood
and of the Devil. the germ OF the most
cruel OF all human passions
The evil one. sure Of his triumph, said
to his poor victim. now the very picture OF
despair:
DO not thou weep: that woman Is my
work. / gave her TO Adam and can
take her away Eat, both OF YOU of ths
forbidden fruit and thou shalt see thy.
self free from her.
THE unhappy Eve accepted the condi.
ton and dried her tears. Goaded by
jealousy and assisted by the counsels OF
the Devil she employed every resource IN
her power and succeeded in inducing
Adam 10 commit the sin OF discbedlencc
"IIe became Immediately the victim Of
the greatest remorse all the greater be-
cause he had sinned openly. merely e
please his companion and without Other
inducement.
Eve tried TO console him. encouraging
him by all the arts and arguments shs
could command; and. far from feeling any
remorse herself. overfiowed with JOY Al
the thought that her rival had ceased e
exist
Notwithstanding this feeling OF salts
faction. she was not happy; she douotec
the serpent's good faith and the promise