The L'Anse sentinel., 1906-04-14

enough to break the Roman seal. Thu
rock was there to stay. the dead with
In was held SECURE. Thus he reasoned
as he stood with his hand upon ths
stone. ~
Suddenly he felt the ground shaking
beneath his feet, and he was brushed
aside as though he had been bit OF
chan. Curses and terrified cries filled
the air. The soldiers were tossed
about like ships on the heaving waters
OF the ocean, and went tumbling away
from the tomb.
Then came fash of light brighter
than the sun at MONDAY, and the SOL
diers fell down as dead men. Marcus
felt his senses reeling and after the
FIRST vivid Hash In which he saw the
seals Of the Roman power burst asun-
der and the stone rolled back and the
tomb flooded with light he knew no
more.
How long he lay there he knew not.
save that when he returned to con-
sciousness the first gray streaks of day
were beginning to creep up in the
eastern sky. None of the other SOL
diers were to be seen, and, rousin3
himself, he looked towards the tomb
There was the great stone resting al
one side of the opening, while tn.
frayed ends of the tape of the imperial
Roman seal dangled towards the
ground.
Slowly he crept towards the mouth
Of the tomb and looked In.
1t was empty.
He recalled the conversation of the
night before, and his confused brain
tried to understand what rising from
the dead might mean. He felt he
wanted to get away from the dreadful
place, and as he hurried on he looked
apprehensively on either hand, fear.
full that some spirit or supernatural be-
ing might appear.
IF Jesus has risen, where is He?"
he questioned. WAS He the Son OF
God?" ''If He was the Son of God,
and had power to. rise from the
dead, could He not help his little
daughter"
These and a confusion of other like
thoughts came crowc.ng In upon him.
He had now entered the city ami
turned up the street which led to his
home. Suddenly he was reused from
his ,meditations by voice which thun-
dered in hfs ear:
by Jupiter! Is that you, Marcus?
thought we left you for dead at the
tomb"
Marcus looked into the grinning face
of one of the soldiers who had stool
guard with him at the tomb, but be-
fore he could make any response to the
greeting, the other went on with:
TOO bad you didn't get away with
the rest of us. We've made big money
this day." and he shook his leatherr
pouch from which came tie chink Of
golden coin. But it is not too late 70:
you. Come with mel"
"Where?"
ITO the high priests house."
Marcus looked at the bag OF golt
and then into the face OF the soldier
and the latter answered, by way o.
explanation, dropping his voice to 4
whisper:
''It is hush money! The priests al.
willing to pay we'll IL we will say that
the disciples came and stole the body
of Jesus"
The chink of the coin sounded, ant
the pressure of the other, hand was
upon Marcus arm. What made hin
hesitate? He scarcely knew himself
The Roman soldiers did not stop, as
| rule to make fine distinctions, ans
Marcus was no exception to the rule
He was always ready to share In the
gains which often came In irregular
ways to the soldiers of Caesar. bu.
somehow a little white face came vi
before him, now, and no heard the
pleading voice saying: "Oh, His face
was so good. want to be with Him
What would she say IL he took the
gold and lied about the one whom sh'
had seen and loved He recalled the
wonderful manifestations of The nigh
before. He knew that the disciples
had not stolen the body. Dare he say
that they had? AS these thoughts rar
rapidly through his mind the convic.
tion grew upon him that Jesus was the
Son of God, and that He had risen as
He had said He would. Would he take
the gold, or would he take Jesus?
Come, come!" impatiently ex-
claimed the waiting soldier. What l:
| the matter with you?"
The chink of the gold sounded again
and again the vision OF his little gir
came to him, and her words rane
through his heart. He said, firmly:
II will not take the gold. l will no
| lie about the Son of God"
"Ho! ho!" was the derisive laugh
Would you become one OF His ois.
| ciples? AS thou wilt AS for me, IL
take the gold" and he turned ant
walked away chinking the gold mer
rily.
But II Marcus had net the gold. hi
had lighter heart, but as he nearot
the house his steps grew slower amt
slower, for again the dread Of wha
he would find on entering seized hi!
heart. Tears blinded his eyes am
he did not see the little figure tina