The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-16


 practically no part in the plot of the story He is introduced in a vision at the beginning and the end and aside from that Is only alluded to. Sue merely used him to typify the artisan and give a motif for the peculiar philosophy of communism which he introduced into his novel.
 ~ N the confines of Poland the last
 rays of the setting sun shine on O a desolate hill. As the darkness hymns walls up from the valley where funeral torches glow in the deepening gloom. The dread scourge of the cholera is over the stricken land, advancing day by day at a pace such as a man would make in a days Journey.
 Down the rocky declvity comes a strange, weird figure His countenance is noble, gentle and sad; his jet black eye brows, united in one, extend in curve from one temple to the other over his high forehead and give to his face one ray of sinister aspect Wherever he pass es the cholera accompanies his footsteps. There are seven large nails in his shoes and when he walks they imprint the figure of a cross in the soil
 As he passes on he is absorbed in these thoughts: 'rhe 18th of February ap- proaches-they come, those days when the descendants of my sister. those last branches of our race will assemble in Paris One hundred and fifty years ago persecution scattered over the earth for the third time that family over which l have watched fo. eighteen centuries. When they are in danger instinct tells me and I would go to them; but too often an invisible power hurries me on and I cannot save them."
 Then he hears a voice: Onward! On ward." and caught in a sudden blackness of storm the weird figure is hurried down the slope.
 It IS the Wandering Jew, that artisan of Jerusalem who smote Christ and bade Him "Go on!' Condemned to wander un- dying over the face of the earth, he is journo ying now with his face set toward Paris
 From the furthest wilds of America journeys another undying creature. wo- man, with her face likewise toward Paris. About 25 years of age in appearance, with face of great beauty and great sadness, she is impelled Onward Onward! by the same mysterious power that drives, as with a tempest the steps of t4le Wandering Jew. It is Herodias, con demned for demanding John the Baptist s
 
 ment as Ahasuerus, the artisan of Jeru- salen.
 Strong in the heart of both these strangely accursed beings is the desire tc protect the heirs of Marius Rennepont the seven surviving representatives of the scattered race of the sister of the Wan dering Jew; but also strong in them Is the agony which tells them that little will be permitted them to achieve.
 Shortly before, In far Siberia, the mys- lie being whom we have seen descend ing a hill on the confines of Poland had appeared to Francois Badouin, called pagobert. a faithful old soldier of the empire and warned him that it was time for him to take to the French capital the daughters of General Simon, Rose and Rlancbe. twins of 15 years, whose mother Polish lady. had just died In exile there. and whose father was far off in lava. where he had fled upon the over throw of an Indian king whose army he commanded-f1ed with the kings son Prince Djalma. who had also been mys- teriously warned that he should De In Paris on 18th of February.
 "Once before" Dagobert was saying to his charges as they journeyed along s'has this strange man with the black ercbed brow crossed the path Of your family. It was on the field of battle A gunner was aiming cannon point-olanR at your father, my beloved general ouu denly appeared this strange man and threw himself between my general and the gun The gun was fired; but wher the smoke had cleared away the strange man stood there unharmed-and then with look of sorrow and resignation he went on."
 And this medal; this strange medal? asked Rose. What, my Dagobert. do you imagine this to mean?'
 What it says" answered Dagobert shortly.
 Rose raised the medal that she wore attached to a chain around her neck ano read "In century and a half you vii be in Paris. on February 13 1892, at No. Rue St. Francois. Pray for me-
 Far. far away from the northern wilds under the tropic sun a beautiful Indian youth, the Prince Djalma, was reading the same inscription on a similar meda as he took ship for France from Ba' tavia. grieving at the same time thai his fathers faithful friend, Genera Simon, who had gone to a neighborine island. was not to accompany him or his mysterious Journey. but comforted py the Generals assurance that he woulc follow him soon. Another traveller to whom had descend ed a like medal, was also sailing across the waves to keep the tryst made by his ancestor, Marius Rennepont. the ex' fled Hugonat. at the old walled-up house +ba Rue St Francois. It was Gabriel