The record-union., 1897-10-24

With IeITOIs ana III the emu Oh tlel lAA~
became SO friglltful a torture that she
implored CHINA to hold his sword 50
that she might kill herself, or that he
would let her partake of poison.
This he knew he could not do. lie
was willing with his sword to let out
his own life's blood, but kill her he
could not. When he imagined her dead
face, with closed eyelids, pale with the
cold quietude Of death, and her breast
torn with his sword, he felt that to do
so he must first become mad.
A certain Greek physician said TO him
that it was Hecate who appeared to
Anthea. and that those invisible beings
whose rustlings terrified the patient be-
longed to the band of the baneful di-
vinity. According to him there was
no help for Anthea, since all those who
saw Hecate must die
Then Cinna, who not long ago would
have sneered at a belief in Hecate, of
fered sacrifices to this goddess of q
hecatomb. But the offering availed
not, and the next day the spectral eyes
gazed at Anthea.
At this time there arrived in Alex
andIfa from Caesarea a famous Jewish
of Khuza. CHINA brought him at once
to his wife, and for moment hope re-
turned to his heart Joseph, who did
not believe in the Greek and Roman
gods, discarded with derision every
thought of Hecate. He contended that
it was demons that possessed the pa
tient and advised them to leave Egypt,
where, besides demons, the miasma of
the swampy Delta impaired her health
He advised also, perhaps for the rea-
son that he was a Jew, that they should
go to Jerusalem as a city to which de-
mons have no access, and where the air
is dry and healthy.
Cinna still more willingly followed
this advice first, because he had no
other advice to follow, and, secondly,
that over Jerusalem ruled a Procurator
who was known TO him. and whose an
cestors in the olden times had been
clients of the house of CHINA.
When they arrived in Jerusalem Pro-
curator Pontius Plate received them
with great hospitality, presented them
his summer villa, near the walls of the
City, in which to reside. Even before
his arrival the hope of CHINA was shat
tered. The corpseIike face looked on
Anthea even on the deck of the ship,
and after their arrival at their desti-
nation the patient awaited the noon
hour with the same deadly fear as pre-
viously in Alexandria.
Thus their days were passed with
feelings of oppression, fear, despair and
expectation of death.
"
r ,4~,S~
near by, the shady portico and the
early hour it was intensely hot; the
marble radiated the heat of the vernal
sun, ard close by the house grew an
old and large pistachfo tree, which
threw its shade over a great space. The
breeze played in the open space, and
CHINA commanded a chair, decked with
hyacinths and apple blossoms, to be
placed under the tree for Anthea. Then
seating himself by her side, he placed
his palm on her white and wasted
hand and said:
rs it good for thee here, carissima?"
"It is good,'' answered she, in faint
voice.
She closed her eyes. as if sleeping
gently. Silence ensued; the breeze
sighed through the branches of the
pistachio tree and on the ground
around the chair played golden circlets
of light falling through the leaves, and
the locusts chirped in the crevices of
the stones.
Shortly the patient opened her eyes.
"Caius." she said, lis it true that in
this land appeared a philosopher who
healed the sick?''
Here they call this one a prophet"
answered CHINA. II have heard of
him ard intended to call him to thee,
but it appears that he was a false mir
acle worker. Besides he blasphemed
against the temple and the law of the
land, therefore PLATE gave him up to
death, and to-day he will be crucifed"
Anthea bowed her head.
''Time will heal thee" said CHINA,
seeing her sorrow, which was reflected
on his face.
Time is in the service of death, not
life answered she, slowly.
Again silence ensued. Around her
constantly played the golden circlets,
the locusts chirped still louder, and
from the crevices of the rocks glided
small lizards and chamelions seeking
sunny spots.
Anthea, and for the thousandth time
despairing thoughts passed through his
mind that all means of help We're ex-
haustcd, that not spark of hope re-
mained, and that soon this loved form
would become only a feeting shadow
and a handful of dust inurned in a CO.
lumbarium.
Reclining there in the blossom be-
decked chair, she looked as if death had
called her his own.
Il viii follow thee, too,' thought
CHINA.
Suddenly was heard the sound of ap-
preaching footsteps. Anthea's face be-
came at once deadly white her half
parted lips breathed convulsively. her
breast heaYed quickly-the unhappy
martyr felt that it was the band of
hef invisible tormentors which always
hefalded the appearance of the hid
eous corpse with the horrible gIaring
eyes. But CHINA, taking her hand. re-
assured her, saying:
Anthea, fear not. I also hear the
footsteps"
Shortly he added:
rms IS Pontius, coming to visit u.s.
And truly there appeared in a bend
of the path the Procurator. .accompan-
led by two slaves. He was not a
young man. He had a round. care
fully shaven face. which showed an
assumption of authority co1nmingled
with an air of WEAKNESS.
I salute thee, noble CHINA, and thee,
dlvlne Anthea!" said he, entering un-
der the shade of the pistachio "After
the cool night the day is so warm. Oh,
that it would be fortunate to you both
that the health of Anthea would bios