The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1902-08-16


his face, which now seemed to hold
the peace of perfect contentment'
Prof. Jasper Flint was back in Chi
| cago. He had in his possession the
coin of great price, the coin which
alone was worth the combined hold
ings of all the collectors in the uni
verse. All his life Jasper Flint had
known the sting of poverty. Perhaps
it was that which made him hard and
unbelieving. In the sale of his treas
ure from the Vale of Hinnom there
were riches untold. He took the coin
from it's resting place. Though the
room was dark the two lines crossing
its face glittered like MONDAY. The
light seemed to reach the scholars
heart and give him peace that in
his whole hard life he never before
had known. He turned the coin. On
the diverse side were the image and
superscription of Caesar. He re-
placed the bit of silver in the casket
and locked it in his safe. He closed
the door almost savagely upon the
copper box and its contents. "Pos-
sessing you there is contentment, but
in parting with you there is wealth
and I'll sell you, though what fools
would call my soul goes with you,"
he said.
The next outgoing French steamer
from New York carried affidavits
from Prof. Jasper Flint, of Chicago,
and copy of the Aramic manuscript
with French translation. Ten days
later cablegram was received by
the Chicago savant. 1t read: "Of
SURPRISING interest; agent leaves at
once with offer of purchase. We beg
preference over vatican and British
museum"
The dispatch was from the author
tiles of the Louvre and in two weeks
time their representative was in Chi
cago. He sought out Prof. Joseph
Flint. ~ have come" he said, ito
make you an offer of purchase.
have seen the library authorities, and
the original manuscript. know you
have what you claim"
The professor bowed. "Come with
me-" he said.
They went into the study. The pro-
fessor unlocked the safe and took out
the casket. He raised the cover and
lifted the coin. 1t was night. He
lowered the gas. The same glorified
light came from the cross on the coin
that had carried peace to the heart
and mind of the scholar. Prof. Flint
replaced the coin and closed the lid
of the casket.
IN. Flint" said the visitor, touch
ing the casket, 1--WE live in a meterial-
istic age, but this and its story are
sufficient to make the world believe.
The Louvre directors authorized me
to pay you 100000 francs for this
treasure"
Five million francs! The profess
sor's eyes glistened. Then a picture
came before him. It was the picture
Of the scene of which he had read
in the Aramic manuscript. He saw
a mob pressing upon a man with dis
passionate lace, and whose bearing
was that of gentle dignity. He heard
the words: ''Tell us, therefore, is it
lawful to render this tribute or no."
He saw the malice of the questioners,
and he saw the righteous indigna-
tion come into the eyes of Him upon
whom the crowd was pressing. He
heard Him say: "Would We dig a
pit for me? Show me the tribute
money" Then he heard the question
as to the image and superscription,
and he heard the roaring answer:
Caesars" He saw the lofty pity in
the face of Him whom they would
have entrapped, and he heard the
words that sent the mob sinking
away. "Render therefore unto Caesar
the things which are Caesars and
unto God the things which are Gods"
With the story of the manuscript
still in his mind Jasper Flint saw
that when the crowd of tempters left
one man remained. 1t was one in
whose eyes shone the light of belief.
He who had confused the mob turned
to him who had remained and placed
the penny of Caesar in his palm.
"Thou believest, my son." He said.
Receive this penny, and may it be
to thee a coin of contentment."
As Jasper Flint carried the thread
Of the writing in his memory he
knew that the coin now had on IL a
glittering cross. He remembered that
the writing told of the hiding of the
coin in the Face of the Prophet that
It might not fall into the hands of
those who sought the writer's life,
that writer of nineteen centuries
ago.
The scholar opened the casket
again. The light from the cross on
the coin glorified the room once more
and gave greater, peace than before
TO the scholars heart. He turned
TO his visitor. go back to France"
Il have chosen the cross"
Prof. Jasper Flint started. The lit
lie room in the Oldberry library was
Hing with the shadows of evening.
The professors hand touched some
syrian manuscripts. He started
lgain. Heshad been asleep. A robin.
he first of.the spring. was singing
- vesper song in the little park out
tide. The song was echoed in Jasper
slint's heart. There was something
here from that houf that had never
'een there before. Il
Jasper Flint, atheist. had chosen
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