The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-12-18

and then followed dull, short, low bloWs-he heard
how the sharp nail was entering the soft
wood.
One hand. It was not too late yet
The other hand. 1t was still not too late yet
One foot the other foot-is it possible that all
was ended? He opened his eyes irresolutely and
saw how the cross was lifted and placed in a
hole He how how the hands of Jesus contracted
conyulsvely, and how they relaxed painfully and
how the wounds growing larger e.
The hands We're stretching, stretching they be-
came thin. white. disocated at the shoulders and
the wounds under the nails turned redder-it
seemed as though the hands would tear soon.
But everything stopped Only ribs were NOV
ing, lifted by quick, deep breathing.
On the top of the earth stood the cross and
upon it Jesus crucifed.
The horror and the dreams of Iscarot had been
realized-he rose and looked about him with
cold glance And suddenly Iscarot saw as clearly
as his terrible victory, also its ominous uncer-
tainty. What if the people should suddenly I'M
derstand? 1t was not too late as yet. Jesus was
still alive. There he calling with his sor-
rowful eyes.
What was it that prevented the thin covering
obstructng the eyes of the people from bursting?
And suddenly they would understand Suddenly
they would all move forward in stern mass of
men, women and Children-silently, without any
outcries, and they would wipe out the soldiers
sink them in their own blood tear out of the earth
ALc dIIuloSu CIOSS, ana the naflQS or those who
would remain among the living would lift high
over the crown of the earth the free Jesusl Ho-
sannah! Hosannah!
Hosannah? No, Judas would rather lie down
on the ground and crashing his teeth like dog
ne would watch and wait until the people would
rise. But what has happened with Time? Now
1t almost stopped, that he felt like pushing il
with his hands, striking it with his feet as law
ass; now 1t rushed madly as though from noun.
tam, taking his breath away and his hands
sought some support in vain. There Mary of
Magdala was crying. There the mother of Jesus
was crying Let her cry What mattered her
tears now, the tears of all mothers of all women
earth
Jesus was dying Is it possible? Yes. Jesps
was dying His pale hands were motonless but
quick commissions ran his face his chest
and his feet. Yes he was dying His breathing
grew fainter. Then it stopped. No there came
"Hotner ssn-Jesus was still on earth. And then
another one? No. No No. Jesus died
1t was all over Hosannah Hosannab,
Judas stopped and surveyed with cold avas rho
new, small earth 1t had become small and he
lelt as thought it was all under his feet: he looked
at the small mountains quietly reddening in the
last rays of the SUM- and he felt the mountains
were uhder his feet; he looked at the sky which
opened It's blue mouth wide; he looked at tho
round little sum- which vainly trying to scorch
and to blind-and he felt the sky and tha eup nm
der his feet. 49,
Judas had long sesected place where
ne would Kill himself after the death of Jesus II
was on a mountain, high above Jerusalem and
mere. mere Stood only one tree bent half decayed and
tossed by the wind which tore il on all sides
one OF It's crooked branches was outstretched To-
"ard Jerusalem as if blessing or threatening il
ana Judas chose that branch for fastening the
nooSe upon IT. Within two days Jesus of
Nazareth and Judas lscariot, the Traitor left the
earth. " INC
All night Judas was dangling upon tho tree lilo
some monstrous fruit over Jerusalem: and tho
"ihd turned his face now toward the city now to-
waro the desert, as though it wanted to show
JUDAS both to the city and to the desert.