The Tupelo journal., 1906-04-13

the other of the great stone and held
in place by the large seal of the Cae-
sars, and he wondered what power II
could be that was strong or bold
enough to break the Roman seal. The
rock was there to stay, the dead with
in wa held secure. Thus he reasoned
as he stood with his hand upon the
stone.
Suddenly he felt the ground shaking
beneath his feet, and he was brushed
aside as though he had been a bit OF
chaff. Curses and terrified cries filed
che air. The soldiers were tossed
about like ships on the haaving waters
of the ocean, and went tumbling away
from the tomb.
Then came a flash Of light brighter
than the sun at monday, and the sol
diers fell down as dead men. Marcus
felt his senses Keeling and after the
first vivid flash in which he saw the
seals Of the Roman power burst i'll
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-
seriousness 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, rousin2
himself, he looked towards the tomb.
There was the great stone resting at
m side of the opening, while the
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
a~pprehensiyely on either hand, fear
full that some spirit or supernatural be-
ing might appear.
IF Jesus has risen, where is He?"
LO QuCoIiOICu. w 90 i ~ WI Va
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 crowding in upon him.
He had now entered the city and
turned up the street which led to his
home. He almost feared to go there,
for perhaps his Marie was dead. Nay,
she probably was dead, for when he
had left her the evening before her
little life seemed hanging by a thread,
and each faint breath came as though
it was the last. Suddenly he was
reused from his meditations by a voice,
which t%hundered In his 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 stood
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 leathern
pouch from which came the chink of
golden coin. But it is not too late for
you. Come with mel"
"Where?"
ITO the high priests house."
Marcus looked at the bag of gold
and Their into the face OF the soldier,
and the latter answered, by way OF
explanation, dropping his voice to a
whisper:
1T is hush money! The priests are
willing to pay well if we will say that
the disciples came and stole the body
of Jesus"
The chink of the coin sounded, and
the pressure of the others hand was
upon Marcus arm. What made him
hesitate? He scarcely knew himself.
The Roman soldiers did not stop, as
a rule to make fine distinctions, AMI
Marcus was 10 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 up
before him, now, and he heard the
pleading voice saying: "Oh, His face
was so good. l want to be with Him"
What would she say if he took the
gold and lied about the one whom she
wonderful manifestations of the night
before. He knew hat the disciples
had not stolen the body. Dare he say
that they had? AS these thoughts ran
rapidly through his mind the cOnvic-
ton grew upon him that Jesus wa the
He had said He would. Would he take
the gold, or would he take Jesus?
Come, comet" impatiently ex-
claimed the waiting soldier. What is
the matter with you?"
The chink of the gold sounded again.
and again the vision of his little girl
came to him, and her words rang
through his heart. lie said, firmly:
Il will not take the gold. / will NOT
lie about the Son of Cod
HO! no! was the QGflSlVe lauS1.
would you become one of His ais
ciples? AS thou wilt. AS for me, I'll
take the gold," and he turned and
walked away thinking the gold mer-
rily.
But if Marcus had not the gold, he
had a lighter heart, but as he neared
the house his steps grew slower and
slower, for again the dread of what