Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-12-18

and then followed dull, short, low blows-he heard
how the sharp nail was 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-s it possible that all
was ended? He opened his eyes irresolutely and
saw how the cross lifted and placed in a
hole He how how the hands of Jesus contracted
convulsively, and how they relaxed painfully and
how the wounds growing larger. .
The hands stretching, stretching, they be-
came thin, white, dislocated at the shoulders, and
the wounds under the nails turned redder-it
seemed 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 Iscariot had been
realized-he rose and looked about him with a
cold glance. And suddenly Iscariot saw as clearly
his terrible victory, also it's omnous uncer-
tainty. What if The people should suddenly IN
derstand? 1t 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
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-silenty, 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
would remain among the living would lift high
the of the earth the free Jesus! Ho-
sannah! Hosannah!
Hosannah? No, Judas would rather lie down
on the ground and crashing his teeth like dog,
he would watch and wait until the people would
rise. But what has happened with Time? Now
it almost stopped so that he felt like pushing it
with his hands, striking it with his feet as lazy
ass; now it rushed madly as though from noun
tain taxi hiC broo
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, Jesus
was dying. His pale hands were motionless but
quick commissions over his face his chest
and his feet. Yes he was dying His breathing
grew fainter. Then it stopped. No there came
another slgh-Jesus was still earth. And then
another one? No. No. No. Jesus died
1t was all over. Hosannah! Hosannahi
Judas stopped and surveyed with cold eyes the
new, small earth. 1t had become small and he
felt as thought it 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 its blue mouth wide; he looked at the
round little sun, which vainIy trying to scorch
ana TO bhnd-and he felt the sky and the sun un.
der his feet
Judas had long selected place where
he would kill himself after the death of Jesus It
was on q mountain, high above Jerusalem and
there stood only tree, bent, half decayed and
tossed by the wind which tore it Oh all sides
One of its crooked branches was outstretched to-
ward Jerusalem, if blessing or threatening it.
ana Judas chose that branch for fastening the
moose upon it Within two DAVIS Jaene 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
"lno turned his face now toward the city now to-
ward the desert, as though it wanted to show
Judas both to the city and to the desert.