Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1906-04-18

the night air. 81 like not the place or
the task which brings us thither"
Il wish were home" he added, and
his thoughts went back to the white,
listless form Of his little girl whom
he had been forced to leave that after
noon. Would he ever see her alive
AGAIN." he asked himself. and the
heart OF the great rough soldier felt
as though it would break under the
weight of its sorrow.
Little Marie was the only living
thing he had in the world. The moth
er had died years before, ere lie had
left Italy with his legion for Palestine.
and he had taken the little girl along
because she had begged so hard to
come, and because he did not feel tina.
he could leave her behind The travel
and change from place to place haG
been hard on the little one, for he was
not always able to give her the care
which she needed, but since coming
to Jerusalem, about a year before, the
lines had fallen in pleasanter places.
Circumstances had made it possible
TO perform a service for Jewish fam
l'y living there, and as n result h.
had found good home for his little
girl. And just when he was happy and
contented in the thought that she was
being well provided for and was grow
ing stronger, she had taken i'll. That
was over a week ago.
She had been out in the streets with
the other children when the throngs
from the city pressed out to meet one
named Jesus, whom they hailed as
king, and she had followed with the
rest. She had gone farther than her
strength could stand, and as a result
had been thrown into a fever which
had wasted her slight form. She had
talked almost necessarily about the
man Jesus whom she had seen ridin:.
III regal state on the ass colt, ami
had declared over and over again:
oh, His face was so good | want
to be with HIM"
Then had come the earthquake and
the darkness the day before, and the
fright had thrown her into convul-
sions, from which she had with great
difficulty rallied. And since then she
had been sinking gradually, and when
nc babe her good-by he feared he never
would see her alive again.
He knew little about this man Jesus
whom the Jews had condemned To
death, and whom the Roman soldiers
had crucified, save that he made claims
to being the long-looked-for king of
the Jews.
Why need they such guard?"
What" exclaimed a voice at his ell
bow, know you not that the high
priests fear that this mans disciples
VIII come and steal his body away?'
Why should they want to steal the
body?" asked Marcus. Did they not
bring the body here themselves? And
Is not this the tomb OF the rich Jo-
seph OF Arimathaea, one Of His dis
ciples?"
Quite true, but know you not that It
is reported that this man Jesus de-
ciared that though they killed Him He
would rise from the grave on the tnird
day."
No, who told thee that?"
The centurion OF our band was told
by one Of the guards who stood in the
presence Of PLATE when the chief
priests appeared before him and asked
for guard for the tomb. He de.
clared that he overheard them say
that this man, whom they called the
deceiver, had said that after three days
he would rise again"
Gould not one who had such pow
sr save himself from the CROSSE" asked
Marcus, with growing interest
Just the question which was asked
him while he was hanging on the
Cross replied another OF the soldiers.
for I was among those near the
cross, and heard Him declare that II
lie should ask for them His Father
would send IL legions Of angels to de-
liver Him"
Who was His Father" again
questioned Marcus.
Tie claimed TO be the son of God
but the leaders Of the Jews declare
hat lie was the son of Joseph. the
'arpenter Of Nazareth. but the centu
ion In charge OF the soldiers at the
ross declared openly after the cruel
dXion That he believed that He was
The Son Of God
men God must have sent the dark
ness and the earthquake" exclaimed
Marcus. and again his heart few back
IN anguished thought 70 his little
laughter
AS he passed md repsssed the stone
which sealed the mouth OF the
tomb. he came close enough 10 see
'-e cords passing from one side IN
be other 81 the great stone ami held
place by The large se1I OF the Cae.
'ars, and he wondered wh,t power :;
ould be that was strong Or bold