Gilpin observer., 1913-12-18


and then followed dull short, low blows-he heard
how the sharp nail entering the soft
wood.
One hand. 1t was not too late yet.
The other hand 1t was still not too late yet.
One foot, the other foot-is 1t possible that all
ended? He opened his eyes irresolutey and
saw how the CROSS was lifted and placed in a
hole He how how the hands Of Jesus contracted
convulsively, and how they relaxed painfully and
how the wounds were growing larger. .
The hands were stretching, stretching, they be-
came thin white, dislocated 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 1t Jesus, crucifed.
The horror and the dreams of Iscariot had been
realized-he rose and looked about him with a
cold glance And suddenly Iscarot saw as clearly
as his terrible victory, also its omnous uncer.
tainty. What If the people should suddenly un.
derstand? 1t was not too late yet. Jesus was
still alive There he calling with his sor.
rowful eyes.
What was 1t that prevented the thin covering
obstructing the eyes of the people from bursting?
And suddenly they would understand Suddenly
they would all move forward in a 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
the accursed cross, and the hands of those who
over the crown of the earth the free Jesus! Ho.
sannah! Hosannah!
Hosannah? No. Judas would rather lie down
on the ground and gnashing his teeth like dog.
he would watch and wait until the people would
rise. But what has happened with Time? Now
1t almost stopped, SO that he felt like pushing it
with his hands, striking it with his feet, as a lazy
ass; now 1t rushed madly as though from noun.
tain, taking his breath away and, his hands
in vain Thara ~
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 1t possible? Yes, Jesus
was dying. His pale hands were motionless but
quick convusions his face, his chest
and his feet. Yes, he dying. His breathing
grew fainter. Then 1t stopped. No. there came
another sgh-Jesus was still on earth. And then
another one? No. No. No Jesus died.
1t was all over. Hosannah! Hosannah!
Judas stopped and surveyed with cold eyes the
new, small earth. 1t had become small and he
felt as thought 1t was all under his feet he looked
at the small mountains. quietly reddening In the
last rays OF the sun. and he felt the mountains
were under his feet; he looked at the sky, which
opened it's blue mouth wide he looked at the
round little sun. which vainly trying to scorch
and to blind-and he felt the sky end the sun un.
der his feet.
Judas had long sel--.-. , place where
he would kill himself after the death of Jesus II
was on mountain. high above Jerusalem and
there stood only one tree. bent half decayed and
tossed by the wind which tore 1t on all Sides
One OF Its crooked branches was outstretched to-
ward Jerusalem, II blessing or threatening It.,
and Judas chose that branch for fastening the
moose upon 1t. Within two days Jesus Of
Nazareth and Judas Iscariot. the Traitor, left the
earth.
All night Judas was dangling upon the tree like
some monstrous fruit over Jerusalem; and the
wind turned his face now toward the city now to.
ward the desert, as though 1t wanted to show
Judas both to the city and to the desert. !,