Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/163

Rh chatted with the maidens at eventide by the well of Samaria.

"Thou art too ugly," she had ofttimes cried to him before them all, "and thou hast a priestly face." And the maidens would shriek with laughter, for they knew full well that he was Caiaphas. But that was in the days gone by, before the Magdalene had become a follower of Christ. She had almost hoped that they would not bring her before Caiaphas, and, but for her affection for the Virgin, she would have asked to remain in the outer chamber.

While they were being ushered into the presence of the High Priest she drew her veil closer over her face; but Caiaphas, fearful always of treachery, bade her lower it. When she did so, her long, golden tresses fell about her, and, changed though her face was with grief and weeping, he knew that there was but one woman in Jerusalem with tresses such as those.

"Thou art in questionable company, Mary of Nazareth," said Caiaphas, laughing coarsely. "Methinks that, for one reported so immaculate, thou choosest strange associates."

Both women were silent.

"Hast naught to say, woman? Dost thou fully understand that the life or death of this Nazarene doth lie with me?"

Then, raising her pure eyes steadily to Caiaphas, the Virgin answered: "Thou couldst do naught at all were it not that power were given thee from above. He hath escaped thee many times, for His hour was not yet come; but He knoweth that He must die to save the world from sin."