Page:Lazarus, a tale of the world's great miracle.djvu/387

Rh heaven-sent glory? Accustomed as she had been to miracles and incomprehensible events, made believable only by the assurance of a great faith and the daily presence of Divinity, little wonder that she strove to still the beatings of her heart, to hear whether voice of angel spoke. Her soul and heart seemed to grow hollow and vaulted and expectant, as if emptying themselves to make room for some great presence to hold the voice of God; and yet she sped on, fearful of she knew not what. Why did the words of the Crucified Saviour haunt her? The words He had murmured through His dying agony to the thief that suffered too: "This day shalt thou be with Me in paradise! "Why in the darkness did she see, as it had stood before her on the darkening mount of Calvary, the beauteous divine face looking upward?

For an instant she doubted whether she had sinned in loving Lazarus. Then all her terrors and her doubts were brought to a sudden ending at the sound of a voice close by.

"Woman!" it said. 'T was a voice she knew, but not a voice divine, nor of a friend, nor yet of man. A woman's voice, deep with set purpose, wrung with hate, and hoarse with loathing. "Woman, I would speak with thee!"

Then all the fearlessness of a noble nature dependent on divine support returned.

"What wouldst thou? Who art thou?" asked the Magdalene.

"I am the daughter of Caiaphas; and thou, thou art the affianced wife of Lazarus. Is not that so?"

" 'T is even so," said the Magdalene, in a sweet,