The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-04-08


seemed to fill the wavelike undula-
tions of the hills under the arch
of the ineffable dawn.
"Poor little devils! No wonder
they're bleating! I'm wager they
know they're going to have their
Threats cut-Zeus! It's devilish
early. Oh-h-p'
Cypros yawned unashamedly.
cts devilish chilly, too" she
added.
"But the air is beautiful" said
Cassandra. Sometimes I think
can smell the sea"
They were upon the heights of
the land and any wind blowing in
from the west might bear that
raw, fresh smell that is unlike all
others, for as the crow flies the sea
coast was scarcely more than forty
miles away.
Cypros was wrapped to the chin
in a cloak of white wooden stuff.
She and the girl were mounted
upon tall white asses, of hand
some appearance, with red-tas-
selled housings. She had aban-
doned her riding camel after the
first days journey, saying that it's
lurching motion gave her collie
pains. She had been eating green
figs, she explained to Cassandra,
but the truth of the matter was
that her liver had been affected by
too much spiced and sweetened
wine. Behind them came her
slaves and baggage mules, all fol-
lowing a faint sheep path that
skirted the road of the pilgrimage.
ct couldn't travel wedged in the
middle of that horde!'
One pale, capable hand, as hard
palmed as a mans, held the wooden
cloak clutched up to her throat as
she sat sideways upon the ambllng
ass. Every finger of it, including
the thumb, was packed with rings.
During the two days that had
elapsed since they started south
from Capernaum she had talked
much-bluntly, genially; swearing
like camel driver at every small
misadventure and relating humor-
ously indecent anecdotes, of which
she seemed to have an inexhausti-
BILE supply. She had asked no ques-
tions, appearing to take the girl
e. nHLn EoAf xxync fho
from the moment she first laid eyes
on her her mind had been made
up with regard to Cassandra. But
she said nothing of her plans.
From behind the mountains of
Moab-hidden from them by
long hillside sown with springing
wheat-the sun leapt into the sky.
A food of gold was outpoured
across the Judean hilltops from
east to west. Larks rose twitter-
ing silverly. At the edges of the
growing wheat were scarlet ane-
mones and pimpernels. The wild
geranium lowered, like the rock
roses along the stones and in the
sheltered places grew the purple
iris--the, lily of the field, and the
white narcissus - the rose of
Sharon.
Cassandra, sitting erect upon the
easy-paced, docile beast that car
ried her, turned her face to the
fresh and simple rapture of the
morning. ALI about her happiness
Powered like the milk and honey
of the spirit. Spring was upon the
face of the land and the wind that
agitated the hill fields of wheat
and sesame bore with it whisper
of the ageless sea. Spring and
morning and the sea-three lovely
immortals clothed in undying ra-
dance and bearing joy. Her heart
lifted like a bird that quits the
earth for the heavens. It was inn
possible to be otherwise than happy
and filled with winged hope, tire
less in flight. The gods were smil-
ing and nothing was impossible.
Ones hearts desire bloomed at
ones feet like the white and scar
let anil yellow flowers that starred
the grass.
When Cypros spoke to her she
laughed without knowing why.
"You must be pleased with
things" said Cypros. 81 would be,
only I'm saddle-sore. hate trav-
cling"
Sweet! Sweet! Sweet! twit-
tered the rising larks. The lambs
bleated, stopping to crop the
young growth as they were driven
forward. Children in bright,
scanty clothing ran out from the
broad and struggling column of
men, women, asses, mules and
camels. They picked anemones and
marigolds, holding up their little
hands full of flowers as though
offering them to some invisible
deity enthroned above the beauti-
full world.
Growing a hill slope was the
earth-colored huddle of a village
An acrid smell mingled with the
keen yet faint scents Of the morn
ing, whose dew was not yet dry.
"They ought to cruelty people
who use dung cakes for fuel? sale
Cypros, looking toward the howell!
whose sides and fiat roofs were Of
mud.
Ahead - rose-White like thu