The Washington times., 1923-04-15

Cling with his, one sanguine and
emphatic, one low-pitched.
The vapor of visions vanished.
The girls heart. began to beat as
though it were spurred by fear.
She made a half movement as if
to go to the doorway and look out
and down, but checked herself.
Her hands went to the white dra-
perry that covered her head, pulling
it little further forward. They
trembled. Her dark eyes watched
the place of entrance with look
of almost terrified expectancy.
T. The doorway was darkened.
/. Joel entered with Joseph and after
them, more slowly, Evan.
I "Quiet as a sepulchre," Joel was
saying. There's been nothing to
s,report absolutely nothing"
That's good sas far as it goes.
It's dark in here. We had no sleep
last night and I'm stiff from rid
ing"
Joseph CROPPED for a moment and
then sat down. His movements
had a mechanical quality like those
of a person who is very tired. He
leaned forward as he. sat. His
hands were locked. together be-.
tween his knees and he seemed to
be looking steadily at them.
"Oh, Godl the roads" said Jo-
seph with kind of groan. eve
came by bride paths goat paths.
The Roman highways were chOked
with the Passover crowds, and any
way we couldn't have risked them.
premature attempt at a rising.
The Zealot's work-hot-headed,
holy idiots! They think they've
only got to shout 'Jehovahv and
the Kingdom of God will be estab-
lished. | was one Of the trouble
myself, but they had Evan in a
fairly tight corner-the cause OF
liberty nearly lost himY'
"Oh, why wasn't / there! 1t
was an exclamation of anguish
from Joel. Don't say any more
you make my mouth water. When
did this happen-when did you
leave Capernaum?
1.-TWO days ago. We should
have been here twelve hours earlier
if we hadn't had to avoid the main
roads, for we had good horses.
We came in on foot by the Damas-
Gus Gate with about a score OF
country pilgrims. Behind was a
caravan from Galilee. We were
not noticed-the city's too full just
now"
"I'll bet you're hungry" said
Joel, and was going to say some
thing further when he stopped ale
most in mid utterance.
There was the gurgling sound of
poured water. Adah, kneeling
upon the floor, was filling metal
basin from the earthen vessel.
Then, without looking up, she be-
gan to unfasten Evans dusty san
dals.
You're right. I'm starving
we're both starving. Have you
any wine ?"
What was to be done? It was
monstrous, this foot-washing, but
what could he-Joel-do? There
was no time in which to take
thought-he must answer Joseph. :
YES" he mumbled, and went
out, quickly, not even looking at
the kneeling girl.
Joseph extended himself upon
the divan with heavy sigh. He
closed his eyes, locking his hands
behind his head.
AS Joel climbed the stair carry
ing a wine jar, bread, dates and
cheese, Adah passed him, coming
down. Her face was averted and
in the crook of her arm was the
empty water vessel. With all his
soul he desired to speak, but could
not. Something in the droOp of
the girl suggested figure depicted
upon a funeral urn. His heart
burned like a fire of Goals and
chilled like a hearth upon which
water had been poured, but he
continued to mount the fight of
steps, carrying the wine, the bread,
the dates and the cheese. 1t was
as inevitable that he should do so
as that the sun should rise and set,
or death terminate life.
Adah crossed the pavement to
the well-wheel. The court was in
greyish shadow still, though over
head the level gold of the morning
smote wall and parapet.
81 am nothing to him! He did
not speak-he did not know if it
was | who washed his feet or some
slave girl whose face was strange
to him as the face of death ~
1t was the inaudible cry of her
heart.
81 am nothing to him-I will
serve Israel as Judith did, and
die!'
She was assailed by an over
whelming desire to sob passion
ately. Putting her hands upon the
well-wheel she leaned her head on
her arm and the slight body of her
shook from head to foot.
my God! Adahr'
1t was Joel's voice, husky with
concern.
The girls lowered head lifted.
Taking her hands from the we'll
wheel she put them over her face.