The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-04-29

IT ate the Passover at the house OF
Cleopas. The Master, thou knoWest,
was with his friends at the house OF
Mark. What happened all the night
knew not, until to-day John told me,
of how after supper they went out
into the garden he so loved, and there
that black traitor"
"Judas?" cried out the older sister.
"Thou sayest. The curse of God
rest on him always knew him for
traitor" The harsh words sounded
strange on Mary's gentle lips. $50 he
betrayed him." she continued, "and
all the night they dragged him from
court to court, bounding him to his
death. And II was sleeping, though
my dreams were sore troubled"
"But the twelve-the eleven-they
were with him? They stood by to
help?"
Mary's answer rang with scorn.
towards, all of them. Men have
none of woman's loyalty. Only John
was with him. He tells me he saw
Peter once, outside in the porch of
the high priet's house; but he had
disappeared with the rest. At dawn,
Mary, Cleophas' wife, wakened me;
the turmoil in the streets had startled
her from sleep. We hurried out; we
followed the crowd and found that
they were leading him in bonds to
the Roman PLATE. We pushed our
way through the crowd into the Prae-
torium. Martha, Martha, it tears my
heart to recall his face-so dear, so
beautiful, so worn and anguished. So
noble, so ethereal he looked, in his
tattered garments, his hair all matted,
his face drawn and white, beside that
sleek, well-fed Roman! And he saw
us-and in the midst of all his pain
he smiled at u.s." Her voice broke
and died away.
Keep us not on the rack, sister"
It was the voice of Lazarus, deep and
in pain. What was the outcome
Where is he now? Alas, if he had not
crowned his fame by the miracle that
brought me back to life, their jealousy
would not have been whetted to this
edge"
"The outcome? Why dost thou
ask? What could it be, but one thing
in that den of lions, that pack of
wolves, eager for his blood?"
"Then he is dead?" cried Martha.
"Crucifed! Oh, I cannot tell tit
is too hideous. l was there; John and
we few women stood by him to the
end. We buried him, and with him
the hope of Israel"
A mistaken dreamer, men we'll
say" unused Lazarus. And yet-and
yet-he had power to bring me back
from that land whittier he has trav-
eled. 1 would 1 had been there to-day
to welcome him. Maybe the power
that can fight death and hell is not OF
the sort to cope with the machina'
tions of evil men,
II know not" cried his sister, pas.
sionate at his calmness. / care not
He is dead, and l weep not for the
loss of his kingdom-I weep for him. y
She flung herself sobbing into the
arms of Martha.
Where have you laid him?" The
practical question loosened the mo.
ment's agonized tension.
I'm the new tomb of Joseph. There
is brave man. When all his avowed
friends turned towards, he dared in
the face of all the priests and scribes
to go to Plate and ask our Masters
body"
and did you bury him fittingly?'
cit could only be done in haste, the
! eve of the Sabbath was so near. Even
before I reached Bethany it was upon
us. We have agreed to meet at the
break of dawn after the Sabbath, to
anoint his body with all the care that
love can give. Thou wilt come too
sister,"
"Thou modest not to ask. Sabbath
or no, now will set about preparing
spices for the amounting" She raised
her sister from the ground lovingly
REST thy weary heart, beloved
Were the Master here, he would bic
thee be of good comfort"
"Alas, what comfort, now he i!
gomez"
Il know not" The older woman.
face was sad, but her eyes were illu
mined. "His power to help could
reach across the grave, irresistible
to Lazarus, who heard and awoke
May it not reach back across thu
grave, to thee, to heal thy broker
heart? And it may be-" She brok,
off abruptly, saying to herself as sh,
turned to enter the house, II will no
raise her hopes, less they be dashed
again. But cannot help the though
did he not say to me those strang,
words, that he was the resurrection
and the life? How could he be, i
death had power to hold him? All,
know not. will not think-my par
is to prepare the spices, as said /
they should not be needed
The Sabbath was passed. At tn,
ndCn Of tho uardor he