The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1915-08-27
CHAPTER X.

Leslie drove out of the Jaffa gate
Fast the ugly railway station, pas
the time-worn citadel mis-named thu
Tower of David, toward the hill
country of Judea. 1t seemed to hel
the saddest of ironies that she shoult
60 up to Bethlehem on such an errand
She selected, to the indignation ant
derision of the men, damsel of four
teen who spoke a little French
taught her, as she proudly explained
by the Franciscan Sisters. The girls
simple explanations, Leslie felt
would jar on her less than the studied
fuency of the trained guides.
The child took her by the han6
with an engaging friendliness and
hurried her across the market-place
Before them doomed a black, forbid
ding pile like a fortress, entered by
a very narrow door. This was the
Church of the Nativity, reared by the
Romans. sixteen hundred years ago
on the very spot as they believed
where the three wise men found the
Child they sought.
Following her little guide, she de
scended a short. winding flight, OF
steps. She found herself in a low
cellar which had been originally a
cave. In the dim light Of the lamps
a gilt star could be distinguished be
hind grating in niche in the rock
An inscription proclaimed that this
was the actual birthplace of the Re
deemer.
She came out on to the terrace with
a sigh Of relief. With some difficulty
she got rid of the Bethlehem girl
and stood leaning against the wall
gazing to the eastward. A single ray
of sunlight pierced through the cloudy
envelope and fell on the mountains
of Moab, rising like a rampant beyond
the Dead Sea.
She had almost forgotten what the
world from which she had sprung was
like. And now she felt trapdoor
shaking beneath her. She might
disappear: her place might know her
no more. She had not forgotten her
passionate hatred of her former life
1t would be like crawling painfully
up the side of we'll. only to slip
back again just as her fingers clutched
at the top.
Within the few hours that had
elapsed since that fateful meeting in
the Dome of the Rock she had had
no time to consider it as other than
catastrophe. She had not attempted
to analyze her feelings toward the
two men involved. lnvoluntarily she
had started on a comparison between
them when she turned and saw Victor
about to enter the church. Fortunate
ly he was alone.
She sprang toward him with a
stifed cry, and laid her hand on his
arm. He recognized her with start
of surprise. He paused and looked at
her, obviously embarrassed and
panied
II must speak to you" she said
II came here on purpose"
They both turned toward the par
apet OF the terrace and stood side by
side for few seconds in silence. Il
did not intend that we should meet
again" he said at length. his eyes
fixed on the distant mountains.
Il had to see you again" She broke
off and glanced at him timidly and
wonderingly. He seemed too much a
stranger. There, at all events, in
these foreign surroundings she could
hardly believe that this was the man
who had made love to her in the Hast.
ings gardens, whom she had married.
II thought you were dead" she said
in a husky voice.
Il knew you did. Everyone thought
SO. ! was carried off into the desert
by the dervishes and kept a prisoner
for nearly nine months"
why did you not let me know you
were alive?"
He spoke firmly. even sternly, look
ing straight before him. Because