The record-union., 1897-10-24


as the sun sank further behind the
somber banks of clouds. 1t seemed as
if some power from above were pass
ing through a sieve red darkness on
the earth. Then came a hot gust of
wind-once, twice-then stopped. The
air became sitting.
Suddenly the remnants of ruddy
CLEANS darkened; clouds, dismal as
the plateau and the city. The storm
was arising The world was filled with
great unrest.
Let Us return repeated CHINA
Again and again 1 must see him, -
answered Anthea.
xI.
AS the darkness bedimmed the hang
ing bodies, CHINA commanded the lit
ter to be brought nearer the place of
suffering. They approached so near
that Cnly a few steps separated them
from the cross. On the dark tree was
seen the white body of the crucified,
which in the gathering gloom looked
as if woven from silvery moonbeams.
His breast rose and fell with quick
breaths, his head and eyes he held
turned upward.
From out the clouds there issued a
low, deep, rumbling murmur The
thunder awoke, arose, rolled with a
terrific crash from east to west, and
then, as if falling into bottomless pit,
resounded lower and lower. weaker,
then louder, and in the end the thun-
derb0lt exploded with a deafening re-
port, which shook the earth to its foun-
dations.
Blue lurd, gigantic lightning tore
through the clouds, Illuminating heaven,
earth, the crosses, the soldiers armor;
the mob huddled like a flock of sheep,
restless and frightened
After the lightning the darkness
deepened.
Near the litter could be heard the
weeping of many women, who had
striven to approach the cross. There
was something indescribably affecting
in the sound amid the silence They,
who had been separated by the crowd,
began to hail each other. Here and
there arose frightened voices.
"Oyah! Oy lanoO! Is not the just
crucifed?''
Who gave witness to the truth?
Oyah."
''Who raised the dead? Oyah"
Another cries:
Woe to thee, oh, Jerusalem!'
! Another again:
| THE earth trembleth!'
! The second lightning opened the
! depths of heaven, and showed in them
titantic. fiery figures. The voices were
silenced, or, rather, perished in the
/ whistling of the wind, which suddenly
arose with a. mighty force, tearing the
headgear and mantles from the multi
tude, and scattering them broadcast
over the plateau.
The multitude again cried forth:
The earth tremblethi"
Some started to run; others were riv-
eted to the spot with terror, and they
stood stupefied, without thought, with
the dull impression only that something
terrible had occurred.
The darkness began to redden. The
storm rolled in the clouds. turning them
/ over and tearing them into fragments.
The light gradually increased, the dark
dome OF the heavens opened. and
through the rift suddenly poured a
stream Of bright sunlight It made
everything visible-the plateau, the
! frightened faces and the crosses.
The head of the Nazarene had fallen
on his breast, pale and waxen; his eye
lids were closed and his lips were blue.
He is dead" whispered Anthea.
''He is dead repeated CHINA.
AT this moment the centurion raised
| his spear and pierced the side of the
dead one. 1t was wonderful. The re-
/ turn of light and the sight of this
death seemed to quiet the crowd. Now
| the people approached nearer to the
cross, the soldiers not hindering them.
Now there were heard voices:
Descend from the cross, Descend
! from the crossi''
! Anthea, resting her eyes once more
on this pale, reclining head, whispered.
as If to herself
WiH he arise from the dead?"
! In the presence of death, which had
! set its blue mark on his eyes and lips.
In the presence of those outstretched
arms, in the presence of this motionless
body. sagging downward with a dead
weight her voice trembled with despair
and doubt
A no less sorrow was tueeing at tho
soul Of CHINA. He also did not believe
that the Nazarene would arise from
the dead, but he did believe that If he
had lived he, with his good or evil
/ power, could have healed Anthea.
Meanwhile some of the multitude
| clamored again:
Descend from the cross! Descend
from the crossl'
Descend" repeated CHINA. in the ae-
spair of his soul. Heal her for me
/ and take for it my life
1T became Pl0aror bi1I~
in mist, but over the plateau and civ
the sky was bright. "Turris Antonio,
blazed in the sky. as if it were a sun
itself The air became fresh and
swarmed with swallows. CHINA gave
! command to return.
The hour was after the noon time
Near the house Anthea said. suddenly
| Hecate did not come to-day"
CHINA also thought of this.
XII
The haunting spectre did not appear
the next day. The patient was more
cheerful than usual, because there ar
/ rived from Caesarea Timon, who. being
anxious for his daughters life. and
alarmed by Cinna's letters, had a few
! days before left Alexandria, to behold
once more his only child before death
! claimed her To Cinna's heart again
came hope, knocking as if calling for
! admittance. He dared not open the
door to this quest; he feared to hope.
Never before had there been a cessation
Of these visions which tortured Anthea
for two days in succession, though
these visions had ceased for one day al
Alexandria, and once in the desert. The
present Improvement CHINA ascribed to
2 l.
sion of the GROSS, which so filled the
! thoughts of the natfant that ax-ap in