Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-17
"wHEN COMMAND -"

| wish l could describe Eden to YOU
descendants of mine and my VIII.
caused you to lose it. caused YOU to
SIN. caused your feet to guide YOU into
the difficult way to the joyful kingdom
But l Will tell you how 1t happened.
One morning / arose from my bed of
thornless roses to gaze into two lovely
eyes They were exquisite ewes; eyes
like the azure armament that sep
arates God from you. but not from me-
Those eyes were blue and innocent
They were laughing into mine from
under tangled mass OF sunny tresses
y mouth. coral cupids- bow. smiled at
me from somewhere.
| pressed my hand to my brow In
wonder. and / heard laugh like the
ripple OF the babbling brooklet that
flowed over shining pebbles through tho
garden. and by the tree.
Suddenly felt that this graceful
Toy was mine-all mine; mine to kiss.
mine to talk to. mine 10 forbid. mine
to give leave. and mine to--lovc.
did love her. sprang up. tossing tn.
velvet rose-petals in every direction.
and threw my arms around her white
neck She laughed again. and raised
her arms TO place those lily hands OF
hers on my shoulders and then sh.
kissed me. That kiss was like the
brushing of butter1y's wing on my
HIPS lingering toucl. of soft lips on
mine. ! never knew what it was to
love and be loved till then. and row
know 1t is all in life.
Eve was the name of nv own angel
Shc battered with a coyness that was
hcr own She said ] looked like a god.
only IKE our God She said | did, but
! was not so-so-neither Of us knew
TWO. we We're young, and brave. and
strong. We loved. and that was
enough remember when twilight
came she would sit on the thornles.
rose-petals and run her fingers. her
own. tapering, lily fingers through NV
mar and OH. how cool it felt Ana
when the moon rose and watched nc
win her sweet face, then we would
Sa'her moe roses and slumber upon
them. ''
One day my Eve--I love to call her
| that-came to me- She Ind said sta
our clear water and other things. Bur
her grapevine basket was empty. and
mere was a pout on her face. and the
laugh had gone from her eyes.
Eve Eve" l said, gently kissing
She pushed me away
=, me lruit on the Tree of knowledge
is ripe and makes the bough bend Win
INC numbers of golden clusters" sbe
sala. They LOOK SO tempting"
Shc raised her blue eyes to mine
and saw question in them Evs's
eyes We're as eloquent as her mourn
No. no. | cried with fright M mo
thought Then. as she pleaded. / added.
NO: no. Eve. we must not"
sne paused. then turned II will.
100 she cried. flashing glance Mt
me over her shoulder, and Gecin~ to-
7
Fhen she ran on and disappnared he.
hind the tall lilies. know NOT wb, 7
uio ho' stop her. I could easily have
caught her and brought her back
5000 Il" II paralyzed. then turned and
SAT on tho rose petals. heard thun-
der. and saw Il sword In the skv writ.
ing in letters of flame:
When | command"
bent my head on my knees and
did not see the rest. Then ! wancd
and fell asleep.
The next morning 7 awokc with n
heating heart. and looked for Eve he.
sine me- She was not there, and
rose and walked to the orchard
vaguely expecting TO md her there.
found her fast asleep beneath the
c re "i hnow'aee, a smile on her face.
Golden apples were scattered about her
and she held one in her hand. A SER
pent was coiled around her. and T
knew that she had slnned. looked
INTO her lovely face and lonsed to kiss
her. but something restrained me.
She opened her eyes. and sat up.
on. Adam" she cried, see aren't
they pretty? They are sweet and
juicy too" She bit into one and
showed me the snowy meat, Coyiy
she raised II TO my lips saw the
serpent gliding away. and shook nv
head. With childish glee. she pressed
il to my mouth. and closed my teeth
on II. II was good: don't denv that
hut as soon as ate of the golden
apple il cried out: 1--WE had both
snned"'
And when the Master came that dav
with His retinuc of angels, We hid.
trembling. behind the rosebush We
found that it was thorny. and Eve be-
gan TO sob. The Master discovered
us--one never can hide from the Mas
tcr-and He made us confess our sin
Then an angel came with flaming
sword and drove IFS out. And never
again did we sec garden We
lived in sorrow. and all Of our sons
and daughters lived in sorrow. and
their sons and daughters. and theirs
and so on. down to you, my children
And as passed from the gate every
thing grew dark, and I saw letters In
shining white stars written across the
sky. and. instead Of hiding my face.
fell on my knees and prayed; and so
did Eve Then. as we walked on
heard Eve whisper the words
When command, must he
obevcd"
And my heart sans and was jubilant,
for I loved the Lord.
VALERIE DE MILIIAU