Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-12-15

ward the babe. As they arose the mex
morning, they gazei az one anothe
| win serious, questioning eyes. Eacl
OWNED the thought of am the rest, an,
the eldest said with all D0rnrstness ant
solemnity Let us go back by another
! way for Herod seeks Go 90 the chile
harm. He must not know its resting
| place. His voice was the voice oil
! an, and with souls satisfied as the
souls OF none of the mast OF the east
had been satisfied before. they took an
other route TO their homes.
Herod awaited their return Il
| jerusalem at FIRST patiently. then i'm
patiently then furious with suspense
The hot irons Of remorse and fear were
thrust into his soul and the dread OF
approaching death was strong within
him. Would he die before he could ind
this king and Stay him? Would he
leave 90 weaker and less unscrupulous
hands. the fate Of the infant rival to his
line and thus endanger the thrones OF
his sons' The thought was unbear-
able TO him. lie could not help know
ing that every day his breath was be-
coming fouler and more difficult. his
flesh more loathsome. his pain more in
tense.
Syvanus, who was now his constant
attendant and closest conndant.
watched the working of these emotions
with mingled pleasure and anxiety:
pleasure because he saw the oppOrtuni-
~ OF testing the Mcssianic hope Of
Ezra and QuIetlng or confirming his own
fears. anxiety because he feared Her
DDS death before plans for the final test
could be perfected
The new king OF the Jews must be de-
stroyed, and with Him the Mes
slanic hope, and all rivalry %
Roman rule. these objects attained.
Sylvanus knew that he would be in
the line Of preferment IN the kingdom
or HerOd and his successors, and his
ambition might even look forward to
position IN the court Of Caesar And
a deeper, dearer desire prompted him
and urged him forward. Since the
night when he met the beautiful and
Nirtuous Miriam his thoughts had con-
stanty reverted 10 her To possess her
was desire as strong as his ambi-
ton. indeed he intended to use his DO
litical advancement as a means Of Sc
curing her favor He doubted not that
his superior birth and education, added
20 the splendor Of a position az the
court Of a king, would be sufficiently
dazzling TO win her from any peasant
OF Galilee Besides, II Ezra was dear
or than a friend TO her. there was an
easy means Of removing him, through
his unmistakable faith in the coming
Messiah, and his opposition to the rule
Of Rome. In fact, IL seemed TO him
that the destruction OF the alleged !
Ihrist-child would be the key 10 open |
10 him the doors OF ambition and love. |
The young officer came into Herods |
chamber Just after the king had had !
more than ordinarily severe paroxysm /
II pain. As usual his fear had arisen |
with his pain and weakness, as also his
anxiety 70 urge forward his ambitious |
plans. Diminishing the other attend
ants, he and Sylvanus remained to-
gether for a time, In earnest conversa-
Ion. When sylyanus arose and turned
his face toward the door there was a
;leam In his eye and a firmness in his
manner which showed that he was pre-
jared for the supreme event of his life
the casting OF die on which would
.epenl fame and fortune, or disgrace
nd death.
Three hours later, he was in Bethle-
lem at the head OF cohort Of men.
Three days after Ezra's conversation
With Sylvanus, the Galilean was walk
ne with Miriam on the road south
Yard from Nazareth Apparently they
'ere prepared for a long journey, for
hey were In travelling garb, and Ezra
arried a bag Of provisions, and q bot
.e OF water. They walked In silence |
Or few miles. and for a time Ezra
vaded her questioning glaucts But
hen they had reached the open coun-
~, where no pedestrian might meet !
nd overhear them, Ezra turned TO her |
nd said
Miriam, thou wonderest, no doubt.
ny / have asked thee to go with me |
D Bethlehem, / have not dared 10 tell /
ice until now, for fear the secret
light escape and evil consequences
'llow. Thou must not ask me whence
had the knowledge which | am
bout TO impart 20 thee. Let me tell
lee all, and thou canst decide II my
,tlon Is wise. When Sylvanus was In
azareth | repeated 10 him the story
1r friends told us OF the birth Of the
rgin's babe hoping that he. a Jew.
ould believe the story and confess the
iracle. To my surprise. he turned on
e with disdaln and with an evil ex-
'ession on his face, which showed not p,
erely unbelief, but violent opposition. ,,
e told me. In effect, that Wishing for
new king was treason against Rome.
rom his manner more than from his ,
ords, / judged that he would do all J.
his power 20 falslfy our Megsianlc
'pe. The evil thou sawest IN his eve J
as not evil against thee or me: stll :
lrse, II was evil against the Lords
lrist." y
He paused a moment, while Miriam q
zed upon him with anxious interest. | !
This morning he continued. 81 re- =
wed from q traveller this message.
or thy sake, for the sake OF syl- I,
nus, for the sake OF the infant king. u
at once 10 Bethlehem. What the X
assage means know not; but fear e
Il and violence 10 the son OF the o
gin, and fain would / shield him. u
take thee with me, Miriam, because Is
danger threatens the babe, sorrow v
reatens the mother, and comfort b
'm a countrywoman would be sweet u
her" al
What thlnkest thou sylvanus will
p inquired the anxious Miriam. ri
All Is conjecture. II SylVanus Is m
der the influence OF Herod, no evil fc
u be too great for him TO desire al
linst the babe. fear everything. q
know nothing" n
'hus fearing and talking OF their 10
rs. they took their way 10 Bethle-
N. hi
m
he City OF David was beautiful IN IN
May sun Peaceful and quiet were AZ
walls and roofs, quiet the hills 10
ere the shepherds watched their hi
ks. But fear and dlsmay filed the he
.rts Of the people; for an edict OF nj
lighter had gone forth. and this was pa
hour for It's execution. In vain an
milling wild-eyed mothers folded ha
ir Infants In their arms and barred no
In own breasts 20 the sword In | W,
n strong fathers opposed the shep- In
as staff and the ploughman's goad Ne
the axes and spears of the Roman de
iiers. Sylvanus and his men were frc
I TO all appeals for mercy. ana VA
~ child In the village less than m.
years old was slaughtered ana mn
nty mothers were bereaved The IA,
ID OF innocent Infancy stained the sei
cts Of Bethlehem. Just as. three do. Ter
es later, the blood Of Innocent man. mo
q stained Calyary's cross rho, m
ID was shed 20 save the infant ~,
list; this, 10 save the world Rlees tro
infant martyrs; thrice blessed mar.
ID manhood II the crown Of great val