rom
work, or to complain of poverty, if shared with one who was to her as a
mother; nay, her cheerfulness at labour was wont to gush forth in song.
It was not a personal trial that now made the tears flow from Zarah's
lustrous eyes, as she slowly turned round the millstone; no selfish
sorrow drew heavy sighs from her bosom, as she murmured to herself,
"Oh, cruel--cruel!"

"Peace be unto you, my child. You are early, and it was late ere you
could retire to rest," said the voice of Hadassah, as, pale and sad in
aspect, the widow lady entered the apartment.

Zarah arose from her humble posture, approached her grandmother, first
meekly kissed the hem of her garment, and then received her tender
embrace.

"I could not sleep," faltered the maiden; "I dared not close my eyes
lest I should dream some dream of horror. Oh, ruthless Abishai, most
cruel of men! will not the All-merciful, who cares for the stranger,
require that young Greek's blood at his hand?"--Zarah covered her face
and wept.

"His was an unrighteous and wicked deed," said Hadassah.

"And it was I who betrayed the stranger," sobbed Zarah. "It was my
start and exclamation which directed the murderer's eyes to his place
of concealment! I shall never be happy again!"

"Nay, you did no wrong, my white dove," said Hadassah, tenderly drawing
the maiden closer to her bosom; "the guilt lies on the head of Abishai,
and on his head alone. Had he not been the beloved of my dead Miriam,
my only daughter, never more should that man of blood cross the
threshold of Hadassah."

"I never wish to look on Abishai again!" cried Zarah, with as much of
anger as her gentle nature was capable of feeling, flashing from under
her long dark lashes. "He might have trusted one whom Judas could
trust; the face of that Greek was a face which could not deceive;" and
the maiden added, but not aloud, "the stranger--when he stood with
folded arms, so calm, so beauteous, so noble, and bowed his head, and
said 'Content' when his life was trembling in the balance--looked to me
as one of the goodly angels that came to Sodom at eve! Better, if he
must needs die, that the Greek should have fallen by the javelin of my
brave kinsman Judas, than by the dagger of Abishai. Mother," cried
Zarah, suddenly raising her head, and looking into the face of Hadassah
with an earnest, pleading gaze, "may we not hope that the stranger's
soul has found mercy with God? How could the young Gentile worshi