Evening star., 1926-12-07
CHAPTER IVII.
Continued from Yesterdays Starr

There is no happiness" Laila
said, unless those who surround
you are happy. Did you love the
girl Maryam?"
why. no." Antonius answered,
cheerfully. "She merely attracted
my eye-and | was bored with lying
STILL
He lay and thought, his thick fingers
over Laila's hand.
"Laila," he said. when ] receive
my discharge from the army Caesar
will grant me money and portion
Of land where l may choose, and
the right to marry a wife under the
laws of Rome. 1t is a custom Of the
empire"
He pointed across the mountains.
"On the borders OF Arabia are lands
that are the Emperor's. If the Ara bia
chief goes free | shall have friends
there whom | love and honor"
Raising himself. and resting on his
hand so he could face her. he went on:
IF | choose a fertile spot, where
there are figs and date palms, and
olive trees: whore the breeZes from
the mountain blow cool at evening to
sweep away the heat. will you come
and dwell with me there. Laila-dwell
there among your kinsmen, with your
hushand?"
Her fingers closed around his. and
her dark eyes veiled themselves be-
meath their long lashes.
"AntoniuS," she said at last, Il
remained In that house In Jezreel to
attend YOU, when l might easily have
tied. | returned TO you at the inn,
pretending to myself I came for your
foid-yet knowing in my heart that
| came TO be With YOU"
h.A Vi hoy nd ny knit aH
her fingers about her knees, gazing
far into the distance as she spoke.
Il was bred In the ways OF hate and
fear. The good man whom / loved
was slain. and | found myself an
allen and an outcast. The evil being
whom we know AS Omar crossed my
path. and my life became a thing Of
horror.
"Once"-she reached out and took
his hand again--"I knelt beside your
pallet, n dagger in my hand making
myself hate YOU. But my arm relaxed.
and I rose and turned away. | could
not strike. Your ways We're the ways
Of a soldier with a woman. and your
speech was rough and ribald-but
living before me was the same man
who offered his life to save these
poor folk of Jezreel, generously, care
lessly."
Her eyes were glowing And II
befell me that / could see and hear
the Son OF God. and knowledge came
to me. Antonius, all that counts In
this world is love. and with love comes
understanding. So Jesus teaches, as
He goes among the poor, Love, and
kindness, and humiity-that Is His
message. and l have listened and
kissed the hem of His robe, My
heart is light, and ] have sought and
am seeking to undo the wrongs that
I have done.
She turned her face toward his. 81
was going to my own people. Antonius
10 carry to them the Word. III YOU
wish also to go there. go first and
kneel at the feet OF Jesus. who re
ceives all men-then call me, and
shall come with YOU.
I.aila arose Pointing to his pouch,
she said: But yon purse holds gold
and silver that is not yours"
He CROPPED for the leather sack. and
turned it upside down. Nothing fel
from IT.
THE money is stolen" he exclaimed
"Or turned to dust" she said. softly
for the wage of sin Is not enduring
and crumbles. and is gone
She walked from him. and ne
watched after her until she passed
out of sight. into a clump of trees.
It was five days before word came
from the general at Antioch.
Antonius' centurion came to the sol
der, wearing broad smile. an open
scroll in his hand
"You are no longer prisoner, but
ara free" he said. And the Arabian
chief and his attendant"-he rubbed
his chin. crinning are allotted T.
YOU as your slaves. won In battle. II
was my recomme endation-the only
way out of the difficulty that | could
think Of. The three wounded Arabians
who were carried before Herod. also
are adjudged to be YOUR prisoners
and presently will be sent back tt
YOU where you lie. Do with all OF
them as YOU choose"
I'm set them free" Antonius an
swered. promptly. But what befails
the men and women from Jezreel?"
THE general himself has spoken
with Herod." he said. land persuaded
him 10 turn them over to the San
hedrin for trial. That also means
their freedom. for the judges OF the
low WI understand"
lie looked further down tho parch