The Tupelo journal., 1905-11-24
A new sense Of the immediateness

DuT1HS the weeks anu mOulUS NliCH
followed Matidia's sweet, earnest, shin
ing face was a benediction to all with
whom she came in contact. The ex.
preston of the face and the words of
her mouth were a continual and un.
ceasing testimony of thanksgiving.
When trials and prosecutions were
hardest she would smile through her
tears and, lifting her eyes toward
Heaven, say: Il will give thanks al
ways for all things" In the loneli-
ness and grief of her separation from
her home and loved one she drew
near to her Saviour, saying to Him out
of her burdened heart: Il am thank
full for the separation, for thereby will
God work His purposes with mother
and father, and my own ~Pythodorus.
Oh that they might come to know and
believe in my Saviour"
She did not know that her lover was
spying upon her and that almost daily
his secret emissaries were bringing
him reports concerning her welfare.
He marveled as he heard of her sweet
c~heerfulness. Such an attitude baf-
fled and perplexed him.
What can we do" he exclaimed to
Matidia's mother one day. where he
had gone to make report. She seems
farther than ever from yielding, and
thy month in which thou declared she
would %renounce her new faith and re-
turn to the love and comfort of her
hor,o hoe ~aNrn fIan J~,HIAI
strange power seems to brood over her
and naught that hefalls her can wiring
from her other than a glad note Of
thanksgiving"
Il have feared to do it because of
the terrible ordeal which it will be to
the child, but | see no other way than
to commit her to the power of the
priests of the temple and see if they
cannot break her cursed will and
bring her back to the gods of her
fathers" exclaimed the mother with
harsh determination.
In accordance with this suggestion
P%ythodorus arranged with the priests
to deliver into their hands that night
the young woman, who was to be
seized while on her way to the meet
ing of the disciples. The plans car
ried perfectly and P%ythodorus was
waiting with the priests at the Mag.
nesian gate, from which point a stoa
or covered way extended up for some
600 feet to the magnificent temple of
Diana, which overlooked the city from
the high ground to the east. Matilda,
borne on a covered litter by four men,
was received by the priests who were
soon moving swiftly with their cap
tive through the dimly lighted passage
way towards the temple, while
~Pythodorus followed at a safe distance,
not willing that Matilda should know
that it was by his plotting that she
had been seized. And as he proceeded
he wondered what would be the out
come. Would she yield? Oh, he
prayed the gods that she might be.
fore the priests should deliver her to
the dreadful inner dungeon. Some
how tonight he felt a strange uneasi-
ness. What gave Matilda that sweet
ness and inner calm? Why was it that
she. the gently nurtured daughter of
the rich Metras, could so courageously
meet every persecution and never
waver in her allegiance to her Lord
whom she called Jesus? Even now
he could hear the faint murmur of her
voice in prayer and he caught the
words: Il will give thanks unto
Thee, my Saviour!" What if she were
right and he were wrong? What if
the boasted gods Of the Ephesians
were nothing after all but the images
CT silver and gold and precious stones?
But they had now entered the brill
liantly-lighted anteroom of the priests,
and quickly slipping behind the rich,
heavy draperies at n side of the
room he waited breathlessly while the
| priests sought first by cajolery and
pleading, and then by threatening, to
bring the girl to renounce her faith
and again bow before the shrine Of
| Diana.
Know you not that your life is
within our hands?" at last they ex-
claimed, all patience gone. What
wilt thou do if we shut thee in the
dungeon, from whence none return
save they bow in worship before the
great goddess Diana, before whom all
other gods are as nothing?"
81 will give thanks unto God" came
the clear, sweet reply. Nothing shall
befall me but that which is according
to His gracious will"
Reconsider thy ways" cried the
priests. Thou shalt remain here this
night, but if by the light of to-mor-
rows sun thou dost not yield then
to the dungeon shalt thou CO." And
suddenly the apartment was left in
darkness as all witnurew, and the girl
was left alone.
But that night there was fierce
| struggle in other heart than that of
the fair Matilda. and long before the
first faint streaks Of day began to
break in the east the light broke into
the heart Of Pythodorus, and he had
found the God of Matilda. The strug
gle that had been going on for weeks
was ended, and as he had yielded the
peace of God had come into his heart.
And now began a new struggle. What
was to become of Matilda? She was
within the power of the priests.
| Should he wait and take his stand
with her, suffering the dungeon with
her, or should he attempt her rescue?
His head whirled with the thought.
How could he with every avenu of
| escape guarded by the priests. All, the