The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-15

pCutAuct WhooS opOdT Hdu uuitOu
him, felled the nearest scourger,
and grappled In unclaimed fury
with the other. The urge to do this
stiffened him until he strained
against inaction like a leashed
hunting leopard.
But TO yield to the lunge of this
instinct would destroy the very
foundation of his tormented faith
satisfy his tense muscles, but e.
tinguish the light Of his soul like
q scattering Of fire-embers to the
four winds from desecrated altar.
II the man dashed by his wrists
to the scourging-pillar was the
Messiah of God he could deliver
himself from his enemies at will.
Rescue would be therefore o denial
Of belief, And II It were not
But David's thought reeled back
ward from this gulf.
81 believe, I believe repeat.
ed the dry lips Of his mind.
Sparrows twittered overhead.
Beyond a low wall crowned with
a marble balustrade were the laur-
els, Expresses, and tree-oleanders
of the Governor gardens.
Snow white classic statues
cleaned, and on the steps of a
summer-house built like a Greek
temple a slave-girl. agile as q
fawn, played at ball with a child,
and their mingled laughter came
sweetly across the air.
Back there! Back"
The soldiers OF the guard were
rsing their spear-butts again
crowding the mob away from the
steps and forming a double Gordon
before the tribunal.
David gave ground with the rest.
was swept backward, caught IN an
eddy OF the crowd, and wedged in
q crush Of bodies.
A long. empty interval super.
Vened The faint. silver laughter
of the young slave-giri was sir
enced. The restless crowd NUT.
tered hike the presage Of thunder
on o heavy night. Tremors OF
vague movement shook II.
Now there was . stir about the
tribunal. Figures assembled the
steps-soldiers. David could see
their steel helmets and shoulder.
pieces above the heads Of the
crowd.
There was the Governor again,
coming forward to the edge Of the
raised pavement. The knot OF sol.
diers parted, opening out
A step below the Governor a man
stood. A torn cloak of military
scarlet covered him. His brows
were encircled by Q fillet Of
thorny twigs. Large drops Of
blood like globular rubies jewelled
his temples.
The guard-room had had its joke
ct the expense Of the Jewish mir.
acle-man who was accused Of
treason against Caesar-the ragged
cloak and the thorn fillet were o
rough-and-ready parody Of the I'm.
perial purple and the laurel wreath.
David's face strained upward.
His lips, on which the salt taste Of
blood smarted, formed the words
II believe"
Now-now surely the transfis.
uration. the power and glory,
would blaze out before them al
like the pillar Of fire. o, God!
now.
Indicating the scourged man with
q gesture. the Governor said some
thing which was inaudible save TO
those nearest the foot Of the four
steps.
With q unanimous impulse the
mob surged forward against the
restraining Gordon OF the Roman
guard
Cruelty him!"
They had seen blood. Il was the
howl OF the pack closing IN on the
quarry. crazy to rend him to red
tafters.
II any unit Of the crowd-dove-
seller, good.for. nothing. or Levite's
servant-had been led aside and
questioned temporarily he could
no more have offered o rational
basis for his rage than the Wild
dog yelping in concert with his
pack-brothers, his jaws aslaver for
destruction. Il was instructive.
simple, joyfully savage.
Blackjack, all Of you! Out Of
here! Clear the COURT"
Again the spear-butts were In
use. The crowd jostled, gave
ground, yielded.
He'll have to be crucified at
once. It's the Great Sabbath to-
morrow. ! must get home-I have
relatives from Emmaus stopping
with me for the festival"
Hes a Galilaean-they're all
rogues. There's nothing to choose