The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-27

proving over the stony starlit hills. In
the mans breast swelled an exaltation
beyond all words; IL lifted him up so
that his feet seemed flying over the rug
ged ground without touching it. The
night wind filled his veins with fire; his
brain seemed alight and glowing. For
years past the bare stone walls of his
monks cell had given him pictures
painted by his fevered fancy OF such q
walk as this-through starlit open
spaces-a walk to life and freedom For
years his hot Gagged feet had paced the
stone cell floor. aching TO pass the
threshold; and for the last month ever
since. from among the olive trees, he
had seen the fair Jewish girl pass by a
new vision had come upon those white
washed walls to add its torture 10 the
rest.
Evening after evening he had stolen
out at sunset. TO see her pass. as she
came and went from the little cluster
of Jewish houses on the ridge beyond
the monastery, and watched the sun
light play upon her brow and hair
Could this thing, 50 divinely beautiful
be the creation of the devil 70 destroy
mems souls? His reason revolted
against it, If SO, the warm sunlight
and the radiant sky and air. the flowers
and The purple hills his weary eyes
strained out TO must be also the devil s
work, for all these things were akin.
and the woman passing among them
was but the masterpiece made by the
same hand.
Say" he had said. YEARLY, one night
to a monk passing him ike a silent
shadow ON his way TO his cell. lis all
the world the work Of the devif?"
Nay. brother. what blasphemyr re-
turned the other. startled beyond meas.
ure; 1T is all the work Of Code And
Nicolas had passed into his cell well
pleased. And the next evening he had
called softly TO the masterpiece Of the
Creator, as she went by. and the girl
startled and fearful at first had spoken
a few words out Of sheer pity for thia
hungry. lonely soul, looking out so'wist,
fully at her. and then how soon had
come other meetings, the plan to escape
that final vision which had seemed to
justify him. and now this flight
win the boat be there? VIII they
wait for us?" he asked eagerly, as they
walked swiftly on.
Yes. / heard the boat was coming
over from the Jewish colony beyond the
Dead Sea, and i sent word down that fl
was 10 take me back in Il. when It left
again the girl replied. I'VE shall get
down there tomorrow evening. We win
go TO old SOlomons house: ne will let
US stay with him one night, and IN the
morning we must get down to the shore
and the boat"
Nicolas pressed her hand as they
walked on. How wise she was. this lit
tie Jewish girl; she had lived her short
life in the world. and knew her way
about I'm it so wei, and he, so much
older, felt like a child beside her, after
all those long. deadenine. numbine
years in the monastery.
Rive miles more OF the white, stony
road were traversed, winding I'm and out.
but always descending between the bar
ren. desolate hills Of the wilderness. and
then Esther said. with little sob in
her voice:
we must stop here Nicolas, and rest.
/ am so tired; ! cannot go any farther
TONIGHT.
"Tired?" he echoed. xonderinely.
Could ne ever feel tired now? His feet
seemed borne on wings.
But he stopped. and. bending over her,