Evening star., 1926-10-26

TIME bondsman looked to the
SOrth. The rain had slack
ened, and in the far distance
Il the sun broken through the
clouds and lighted a range of
hills.
MY wife is there" he said slowly.
''and my children. But | may not re-
turn. | must work out the time of
bondage
''Who is there to complaint" Omar
suggested.
A bitter smile crossed the face of
the slave. THE beggar to whom !
give aims: the neighbor whom / see
daily; the passerby upon the road. All
Of them viii complain. The very trees
have tongues to tell of the man who
is in misfortune"
His head was thrown back and his
arms were outstretched. His voice
mounted into a wall when I fell into
debt, and could not pay, l fled from
my home and hid in the depths OF tn"
hills. ! saw no man---until file o.
armed men came and took me from
the th;ckct where | lay. Who told
them 'vhere ] was? The winds, per-
chance. eo~ surely they knew my hid
ing place and they dragged me
across the border in Galilee, and sold
me to The agents of the tetrarch, /
fear 20 return home until my bondage
is done -
Omar listened gravely Then he
pointed to his right, where the Ara
bians and their capt!ves had lately
gone thei" way.
"If I give you token, you may
t0in the party of warriors, and be
with Antonius again" Re said.
The slave hesitated
There are horse. awaiting the
party in the farther valley" Omar
went on. Your former master is
now himself captive. and the Roman
to whom he lent you will be a great
leader
He waited for the suggestion to
take root At last the slave assented
Give me the token he said
Omar dipped his hand into a fold
Of his ,obc and drew forth tiny
figure carved in bronze-the body of
a man surmounted by the head of
calf
SHOW this to the leader of the
fighting men, he said. but on no aC-
count surrender it to him. 1t shall be
your ia Is'nan where you are going
When IN Danger show it secretly to
the chief OF those who threaten you
and all viii bs we'll"
He svurg upon his heel. and
strolled in+c the recesses of the cave.
The slave again prostrated himself
and then tucllinG the image into his
tunic took his way around the shoul-
der OF 'hs mountain.
Afte' moments indeCision, Laila
followed him. She glanced at Omar
as she eft the cavern, but he was
standing. his back toward her, ap-
parently lost in thought
AS she reached the sharp curve in
the path she could see the Samaritan
running up the hill. leaping from
stone to stone. The ArabianS were no
where in sight.
The rain was falling again as she
reached her home. Struggling parties
Of villagers came past. chattering eXs
citedly of the raid, and stopping to
look with fear behind each house they
approached.
In the center of the road was the
Pharisce, bending low and praying
The villagers Circled around him, in
differently, but Laila stopped to watch
at the entrance of her dwelling.
There she was joined by Ezra. the
village elder, who had come painting
UP the slope from the plain. alone.
"Is 1t true. woman, that the soldier
has been borne away?" he asked in a
loud voice.
A party Of women and children was
passing.
Her eyes lighted with the mocking
gleam they had showed when she
spoke with him before
1T is true, father" she said, as
Justify as he. Then she added drop
ping her tone almost to a whisper.
why do YOU speak 50 loudly?"
His answer was equally low. 80
the people may know | am speaking
of important affairs. He raised his
voice again. And was the maiden
Maryam SeiZcd?'
Laila laughed. and he took her by
the arm. turning her around. Il do
not wish the people to see you smile"
he said "But listen--have YOU any
gossip? Why was this raid? The men
were Arahians from your own land"
The women and children had paused
70 listen Alas, I do not know why
they came" Laila said, clearly enough
so their little audience could hear.
They found me on the mountain side,
and bound me. and threw me beside
the way The Samaritan, Jared's
slave, came and set me free But
they have carried him away also
Jared. the slave and Jared's wife and
daughter
She bowed her head. and stood In an
attitude of humility.
Now my protector is gone. too
the Roman soldier. | fear the pub
ncan will seize me and cast me into
prison"
Ezra looked behind him. and made
sure the group of villagers was listen
ing Only the Pharisee. busy with his
prayers. paid no heed.
1t may be our good fortune that
the pubhran was seized also" the !
elder said But if not--there is none
in Jezreel who will tell him that you
Roman