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

A SKETCH
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
FOR 4 STORY OF
# III
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tears Of Christ himself shall cry TO
God Tor justice and reward
| II was In the midst Of this cruel
slaughter that Ezra and Miriam ar
rived In Bethlehem The cries Of par
ehtal GRIEF were ringing through the
streets OF the city and the cruel SOL
dlers were just completing their work
! or destruction. as the two approached
| the house where Ezra had reason TO
| believe the Christ-child was. Without
| hesitating they entered the house was
empty Wildly and anxIously Ezra
/ sped from room to room, hoping yet
! rearing To hnd the virgin and her babe
! They were not there
As Ezra returned 10 the entrance and
| Joined Miriam there Sylyanus and his
| 1and or murderers reached the house.
| II was the only one they had not Wis
/ tied. In all the others they had sought
! Tor the object OF Herods wrath, and
I sam without question or remorse each
/ innocent babe, Loudly their mailed
lists changed against the door over
come by her own thoughts and by the
scenes OF blood and grief she had Wit
messed, Miriam sank to the floor In
faint as the murderous hand rushed
into the room. She lay there a heap
Of white insensibiIity Ezra stood be-
fore her his drawn sword IN his hand.
Coming from the Hight into the SEMI
darkness OF the room, Sylvanus at
trst failed 20 recognize his former
friend Seeing the white figure on the
lioor he would have advanced rudely,
but Ezra opposed him. "Why CONTEST
thou hither?' he said I'm q firm yet
constrained voice, eying with grief and
contempt the bloody swords Of Syl-
vanus and his men.
Il come b. order and authority Of
Herod" SyIyNnus answered. stand
aside. fellow, that ] may do his bid
"Sylvanus" Tho tone was half OF
grief, half Of anger. but all OF reproof.
Sylvanus recognized the voice. and for
moment was disconnected. Then
summoning all his braggadocia, and |
steeling his nerves which had been
wen nigh racked by the scenes and IN |
cldents OF the day. he cried In his old |
tone OF doubt and disdaln "By Herod's /
gods Ezra, | verify believe thou hast |
behind thee thy precious Galilean vlr- /
gin and her babe, for whom we have
sought In blood and death throughout |
this day. stand aside. Ezra. that /
may interview her on the fatherhood
OF her child: for even among the plous
Gallieans a maiden may conceive, but
a virgin, never"
The taunt was more than Ezra could
endure. With a cry of eNecratlOn, he
raised his sword and hurled himself
on Sylvanus. His first thrust was
parted, but second would have Jared
III with the Judean, had not his fol-
lowers leaDed forward and oyerpow-
cred the Indignant man. with a laugh
OF triumph, Sylvanus sliced the maid
ems PROSTATE form. and unfolding her
arms looked eagerly for an infant
there. His rough touch brought her
back 10 consciousness, and seeing his
brutalized visage and blood-stained
hands, she sprang 10 her feet with a
cry OF terror. 1.-THE Judean! the evil
eyer
"Miriaml Mlrlam'" exclaimed the
lgonzed man. zone look OF pity. one
word Of love I am not what I seem"
But with another cry OF terror. the
girl covered her face with her hands
md fed to the other side Of the room.
Sylvanus. overcome by unWonted
scenes Of blood and by Miriams aver
ZION 70 him burst into a NJ Of passion
tie weeping and commanding his men
o follow, rushed into the street. and
hence toward Jerusalem.
Slowly and sorrowfully, Ezra led
Miriam from the house
"Ah. Ezra" she sobbed, has the
abe escaped"
Jehovah Is his father. He win also ]
Ne his guardian" answered Ezra de- S
outly. With bowed heads and {
nXious hearts, they took up their v
weary journey back 10 Nazareth. .