The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-15
(Continued from Page I'D

his absolute faith his lifted eyes
did not swerye from the Prophet
Of Nazareth-the unprecedented
Messiah whose glory might break
forth at any moment like the day
spring from q silver cloud.
The tall figure, sandal-shed, and
wearing the plain robe OF white
woollen stuff, made no sign. He
might have been q king standing
quite quietly on an acropolis that
commanded a view OF subject
lands, coasts and cities, glittering.
ly vistaed until they vanished IN
an aureate mist. His hsnds-which
In Dayid's sight had opened the
ara - the blind, caressed totter-
fnY children, and restored hall.
rvtted lepers-were bound behind
him with cord.
Az the shout that demanded cru
cifixion broke out again and again
the shadow Of q smile deepened
on David's lips. To couple the
name OF the God-ordained Messiah
with the gibbet OF ignominy. the
gym Dol Of outlawed crime, was
surely laughable-like the mon
strous blssphemies Of ignorsntly
babbling children. His shining
eyes never wavered from the DC.
ure In which his faith and vision
were incarnate.
From the doorway behind the Gov.
ernor's ivory chair came q pretty
Syrian slave. boy, his ears decofat-
ed with big golden rings. He car
ried q brass bowl filled with water,
and came very carefully. fear Of
spilling II investing him with an
anxious gravity. ..-
Again the Governor held mp his
ringod hand for silence.
The dropping fire Of cries tailed
off.
Coming right MP to him the
slave-boy went aDwn on one knee.
Half turning, the Roman dipped
his fingers In the water. rinsing
them perfunctorily.
"As you see, my hands are clean
before you-I repudiste all respon-
sibility for the death Of this man.
In my Judgment he is innocent. II
you insist on hts condemnation
you must answer for his blood
yourselves. Look to II"
He snapped these sentences at
them in the manner OF q man who
has been pestered with business
before ne has broken his fast--fof
1t was not yet nine In the morning
and forced to concede q point to
avoid the more considerable an
noyance Of O riot. And there was
something uneasy about the pris-
oner's personality.
The man was certainly innocent
and as harmless as any crack.
Drained enthusiast wandering on
the skirts OF the Judaean desert
with his head full Of nebulous
dreams and a handful Of butter
boiled locusts In his stomach. The
whole affair had been nothing but
worry and irritation from start to
finish. But a riot would be even
worse.
His blood be upon US and upon
our children II he is condemned
unjustly!"
The High.Priest's violent an
swer trod almost on the heels OF
the Governors utterance.
"Yes! His blood be upon US and
upon our children!"
Il was a howl from the mob.
They were as blood-hungry now
a. q rabble OF dogs leaping ct .
bleeding trophy OF the hunt.
The Governor spoke to the cap
tain OF his guard.
Let him be beaten. he said
shortly Men condemned to cruct-
fixion were always scourged hrst
as a matter Of course Then ne
turned his back on the crowd and
went into the palace to . light
meal. for his liver forbade much
IN the forenoon.
Those about David gave ground
before the butt-ends OF soldiers
spears There was q brief con.
fusion. Men were jabberins ex-
citedly, elated, avid. their eyes gilt
tering. Body-odors ana me smell
OF sweat and effeminate perfumes
were almost suffocating In the
crush.
The raised pavement was vacant,
but on the steps the High-Priest,
the basket-maker. and two or three
others had gathered In a voluble
cluster The whetted mob, restless
for further satisfaction, licked It's
chops. Voices were harsh from ex.
citement and husky from shouting.
and each man paid scarcely any
attention to what his neighbor
said.
David, his brain on fire, elbowed
his way blindly forward. A levelled
spear barred him. Beyond, through
an archway. lay a barrack court.
An Intermittent flicker was visible
the lift and fall Of pair OF many
thonged scourges.
The young mans heart seemed to
contract In his breast. His spirit
WINGED as though the leather strips
loaded with pellets OF lead had
curled about his own body.
81 believed" he cried within
himself as a witness to q pro
scribed god confesses his faith
A.