Evening star., 1926-12-07
. e Gaf1a[s5|ks;, = =,
t@l926. By E.iraae MacYeaa. }

ment. 1.-THE tetrarch also has or
dered slave, a Samaritan, restored
to his master-the one who was hurt,
called Jared" Smiling more broadly.
he added: "It was fortunate for the
slave, and the Jezreelites, and the
Arabians, that a Roman soldier
chanced to be among them"
A few minutes later the soldiers
and the villagers began their march
down the mountain Herod's troops
| were drawn up, and saluted the stand
| ard OF Rome as it was carried past.
After the soldiers. Antonius was car
| ried first, between two OF his COM
rades. After him the wounded Arabian,
borne by his tribesman and one OF
Jared's servants, and Jared himself,
on the shoulders Of two Of his men.
preceded the townspeople who trudged
on foot scrambling over the rocks
and warily sliding into the gullies.
As they stopped to rest Maryam
came forward. her face bright and
happy, and sat on a stone beside An
| tonius.
You have not talked with me for
several days" he accused
Laila. too, had come up. and he
took her hand as she stood beside him.
He continued, still addressing Maryam:
You cannot become my slave now
| Laila will engage the members Of my
household, for she is to be my wife +"
He looked affectionately at the older
woman.
Laila stroked his head. when you
| have made the pilgrimage l men
toned she corrected. land have re-
ceived your honorable discharge"
He laughed. I'm the army things
are much like civil life. Much can
be accomplished that Is not written
in the Law. The centurion has prom
ised to procure my discharge, with
full honor. on the ground that I am
disabled" He pointed to his ban
daged leg. Though l shall not be
disabled more than three weeks
| longer"
Maryam had been listening intently,
you," she said, for 1 have myself
found happiness. The comely youth
Of whom 1 spoke has sent to ask
my hand in marriage"
But where has he been?" demand
ed the soldier.
"On his fathers land, at the border
Of Samaria, scarce 20 miles away"
she said. THE strange man who calls
himself the Persian had told him /
had gone as slave to gentile-a
soldier"
But why should he do that" An.
tonius inquired, in astonishment.
Because he needed you in his
plans L4aila interrupted, land the
girl was offered to you as bait-as
your slave. He wanted the youth to
stay away.
Maryam sighed. 80 much unhap.
! piness. so much misery, so much pain
because Omar was evil"
He will be in the world ALWAYS.
whispering to men and women" IIaila
said sadly. ''If they pay heed, trou-
BILE falls upon them, and grief and
shame
At Laila's house the centurion halt.
ed his men, and Antonius was car
ried inside. Thick pallets lay upon
! the floor and nangings were on the
wall. and the furniture that Jared's 8
family had brought many days be.
fore was still in place.
Antonius glanced around. my hurt
| will heal in luxury" he said
| The Jezreelites were filing past the
door.
First stalked the Pharisee, his
fringed mantle cleansed, his eyes fixed
straight before him.
After him walked Aaron. the shep.
herd. with his staff. He called a
| friendly word to Antonius as he
4 l.
Then Jared, on his stretcher, and his
neighbors. their families clamorous
with JOY around them.
They We're gone. Antonius. the cen
turion and Laila beside him. was gaz
/ ing down toward the plain.
Look he cried.
Not far below a familiar figure
moved. a squad Of armed men behind
him. 1t was Omar. his breastplate te
shining under the Winter sun. his
sword swinging from his shoulder
He turned his head toward them and
they could see the flash Of the EN-.
erald in his headdress. and his white
teeth as he smiled his bitter smile.
| Forward" cried the centurion.
With his men following. running
at the top of their speed. he set forth
| in pursuit I.aila and Antonius, watch
ing, could see Omar smile again. as
he moved to the south. toward Judaea
They remained, wordless and motion
less. until the Persian and his pur
suers all had vanished.
"They seek an enemy who never
can be destroyed" IAila said, her
hand on Antonius' head. But" she
added. tenderly. ''he will not return
to whisper In your ear or mine"
The end.l