Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1905-11-23

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 ones She drew
near TO her Saviour, saying to Him out
Of her burdeued 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
cheerfulness. Such an attitude baf-
fed and perplexed him.
What can we do" lie exclaimed TO
Matidia's mother one dag. 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 fai h and re-
turn 10 the love and comfort OF her
home. has more than doubled. A
strange power seems to brood .,ver her
and naught that hefalls her can wiring
from her other than 4 glad note Of
thanksgiving"
Il have feared to do it because II
the terrible ordeal which II will be 10
the child. but see no other way than
to commit her TO the power Of the
priests OF the temple and see IL 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
Pythodorus arranged with the priests
to deliver into their hands that night
the young woman. who was 10 Be-
seized while on her way to the meet
ing Of the disciples. The plans car
rted perfectly and Pythodorus wa
waiting with the priests At the Mag.
nesisn gate. from which point a stoa
or covered way extended up for some
eco feet 70 the MAGNIFICENT temple Of
Diana. which overlooked the city from
the high ground TO the east Matilda.
borne on covered litter BY four men.
was received By the priests who were
soon moving swiftly with their ear
tive through the tiEily lighted passage
way towards the temple. while
Pythodorus followed at safe distance
not wiling that Matilda should Know
that Il was by his plotting that she
had been seized. And As be proceeded
he wondered what would b. the out
come. Would she yieIds Oh. he
prayed the gods that she might be-
fore the priests should deliver her 70
the dreadful inner dungeon Some
Row tonight he felt a strange uneasi-
ness What gave Matilda that sweet
hess and inner calm. Why was II that
she. the gently nurtured daughter Of
the rich Metras. could so courageously
meet every persecution and never
Naver in her allegiance to her Lord
whom she called Jesus, Even now
he could hear the faint murnur of her
voice in prayer and he caught the
words; Il will give thanks unto
Thee. my Saviour What IL she were
right and he were wrong? What IL
the bcasted gods Of the Ephesians
were nothing after all but the images
OF silver and gold and precious stoness
But they had row entered the bril-
hantly-lighted anteroom Of the priests
and quickly slipping behind the rich.
heavy draPeries a. one side of the
room he waited breathlessly while the
priests sought first by caiolery and
Pleading. and then by threatening. 10
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. .Whaf
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 az
other gods are as nothingr-
! will give thanks unto Cod 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 IL by the light OF to-mor-
rows sun thou dost not yield then
to the dungeon shalt thou GO And
suddenly the apartment was left in
darkness as all Withdrew. and the girl
was left alone
But that night there was fierce
struggle in other heart than thar q.
the fair Matilda. and long before the
first faint streaks OF day began To
break In the east the light broke iuto
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 10 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 whiried with the thought
How could he with every avenue Of
escape guarded by the priests All. the
priests robing room was Just OF the
anteroom where Matilda was impris
oned- II he could gain access thereto
all would be easy.
And early in the morning when the
priests were just beginning to stir
about the temple two figures in priest.
ly garb could be seen coming from
the temple and passing down the COW
cred way towards the Magnetism gate.
They were in deep conversation
My love- one is saying. what a
night OF nights this has been. I have
not only gained thy God but have
won thee as we'll"
Yea. responded the slsghter figure
OF the two. drawing close to the side
on the OfhQr and ularfu0 q. --L..