The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-29

blocked street with his Iove-mate's
breathing body in his arms.
Advertisement did not touch him,
Nor any speculation. She was not
dead-her limbs had not been
crammed INTO some dusty Granny Of
the vile Valley Of Hinnom to rot
where the city's refuse smouldered
and festered. She wat living. satin
skinned, fragrant with the fra.
GRANGE Of musk.
The numbness passed from him.
and the sense Of detachment and Of
unreaiity. The houses that sur.
rounded, him became substantial
again and endowed with ordinary
significance.
Life had . meaning though his
faith and hts aspiration had been
hurled from their pedestals IN one
common ruin. Il could still throb,
with Joy and yield delights that
were both physical and spiritual
His divinity was gathered IN his
arms-mor6 beautiful than Ill the
Jewels OF the world. He would wor.
ship her--she should be his idol OF
gold and ivory, his Holy Of Holiesj
his oasis Of lilies and pomegranst6
trees.
The God Of his fathers. In whose
teeth he had fung the terrible
laughter Of his disillusionment, had
Withdrawn from him until He
doomed only as vast. cold shadow
In the abyss. -
HIS worship. his passionate dsyo-
tion, his thirst for union with the
Ideal enveioped the unconscious girl
like garment Of soft, invisible
flame.
He stood up. holding Astarte eas.
lily. The impulse OF one who has
found great riches and hastens to
conceal them urged him to bear her
away. But there was no place that
was hts own--he was h0useless,
alone as palm tree In the desert.
His thought quested hither and
thither. The grotto in the secluded
and half-wild garden near the Da-
mascus Gate appeared before the
eyes OF his mind.
II war cool and secret-a place
where he could clasp and guard his
treasure as lioness fondles her
single cub In o covert. The current
Of mems AFFAIRS would fow past
them like water, its unrest subdued
to Q low. continual murmur.
Gathering the girl up so that her
head lay against hts shoulder, he
turned back. going purposefully, his
eyes watchfui for anything that
might thwart or hinder him, for the
reborn life In him was like the gilt
ter Of a drawn sword.
The people in the streets barely
glanced at him-a young man clad
like a Gentle carrying girl who
had been injured by tho earthquake
or who had tainted from the fright
Of Il.
They were Infinitely more con.
cerned as TO whether their cooking
utensils, shabby mattresses and
bundles of raiment should remain
on the footways or whether It would
now be safe to drag them back into
the houses.
Children we're whimpering; some
OF the sallow women looked half
dead with panic, others were queru-
lous because their Passover house
cleaning. which had been interrupt.
ed. mus be completed by sunset
under pain OF deadly sin. Si
II tell you. Rachel, must 60 In.
doors!" said one. The waters
boiling away on the FIRE at this very
minute and I've pile Of metal
ware as high as my knees to scour!"
As David gained the threshold OF
the city a stormy glare Of sunlight
struck earthward. Without con.
scious choice he followed q faint
track from which the Hill Of execu.
tions was invisible.
Entering the garden he made his
way between the myrtles and apple
trees to the grotto beneath the over.
hanging ledge, using the rough-cut
steps that led from one natural ter
race to another. ..,.
~ TIC DdCh VI thO 6iotto tuC iVSh
had been hewn away, leaving a
shelf OF the length and width of a
bier. Upon this shelf the stiif. swad-
died body OF a dead man or woman
would be laid II the grotto should
at any time be put to the use for
which Il had been followed out.
Laying Astarte for a moment in
the lap OF the grass David heaped
the burial shelf In the grotto with
the flowers OF the Spring-scarlet,
blue and white anemones, narcissi.
mrigolds and violets.
When all was ready he lifted her
to resting place that was sweeter
than the fiower-strewu bed OF q
bride. The ivy trails that hung
down before the grotto screened
them even from the man.forgotten
garden. .. &
Seating himself upon the block Of
stone David leaned forward, his
eyes on the perfect face Of Astarte,
his hand laid over one Of hers. Her
deep Inconsistencies scarcely trou!