The City of Delight

"How is he favored?" she asked with the first maiden hesitation

showing in the question.

"He was slender and dark and promised to be tall. He was quick in

movement, quick in temper, resourceful, aye, even shifty, I should

say; stubborn, cold in heart, hard to please."

"Fit attributes for a king," she said, half to herself, "yet he will

be no soft husband."

Costobarus looked away from her and was silent for a time.

"Daughter," he said finally, "thou hast learned indeed that thine is

to be no luxurious life. In thy restrained heart there are no dreams.

Let not thy youth, when thou seest him, put obstacle in the way of thy

duty. Whether thou lovest him or lovest him not, he is thy husband,

thy fellow in a great labor for God and for Israel. Remember the times

and the portents and shut thine ears against selfish desire. Thou

seest Judea. That which the Lord hath uttered against it through the

prophets has come to pass. Abandon thy hopes in all save the Son of

God; forget thyself; prepare to give all and expect nothing but the

coming of the King! For verily thou lookest over the edge of the world

past the very end of time!"

The solemn announcement of the Advent by this white-bearded prophet

should have discovered in her a very human and terrified girl. But it

was no new tidings to her. Since her earliest recollection she had

heard it, expected it, contemplated it, till the magnitude and terror

of it had been lost in its familiarity. She clasped her hands and

dropped her eyes and her lips moved in a silent prayer.

Costobarus remained for a space sunk in glorified meditation. But

presently he raised himself, with signs of his recent feeling showing

on his face.

"Send hither thy mother; bid Aquila and our servants stand here before

me a little later."

She bowed and withdrew. As she passed out a servant stepped aside to

give her room and at a sign from his master approached.

"A messenger from Philip of Tyre," he said.

A moment later an old courier carrying a sheepskin wallet came into

the chamber. He salaamed and produced a tablet which he handed to

Costobarus.

Herewith, O my brother, I send thee one hundred talents. May it

prove part of the corner-stone of a new Israel. Peace to thee and

thine!

PHILIP OF TYRE.

Costobarus looked up at the old courier.

"Take my blessings to thy master. May he come to a high seat in that

new Israel which he hath helped to build! Farewell."