aged about the bedside a party of mourners,
having been told by the servant of the condition of Lazarus, gathered
about the door seeking information.

"A terrible and deadly evil hath lain hold of the master of the house,
a young man rich and noble," a neighbor said.

"What sayeth the physician?"

"A deep sleep hath fallen upon him from which neither the voices of his
sisters nor the skill of the physician can awaken him."

"Thou sayest he is rich?"

"He hath vineyards and olive orchards."

"His sisters love him much--much will they pay for loud mourning."

"Yea, much they love him. Listen how Mary doth entreat him to answer
her and Martha doth plead with the physician."

"Aye, aye," the mourners answered, nodding, "They will require much
wailing."

At the bedside the sisters hovered, making frequent appeals to the
physician for help. "His hands are getting cold!" Mary suddenly
exclaimed. "And the cold creepeth upon him," and she rubbed his arms.

"He groweth cold?" asked the physician. "Then did not the iron knife
cut off the way of the evil spirits. Hath there been a sign?"

"A red sky," Martha answered, fear showing on her face.

"When?" and there was eager interest in the physician's voice.

"This morning," replied Martha.

"Thou shouldst have told me," he said sternly, "that my oil I might
have saved."

"Now do I send for the Master," Mary announced with decision. Turning
to the door filled with neighbors and mourners she said, "A messenger!
Is there among you one fleet of foot?" A lithe youth pushed his way to
the front. "My blessings on thee, and a purse of gold if thou make thy
tracks like that of a roe before a beast of prey. Fly thou to Peraea.
Take thou the road by the upper ford and follow on past Bethabara. As
thou goest inquire for the Galilean Prophet and when thou hast found
him, this say, 'Him whom thou lovest lies sick unto death!' And when
he shall ask who sent thee, naught say save 'Mary.' Hasten thee! And
God give thy feet wings like the eagle!"

"Thy brother will be dead before thy messenger gets beyond the brow of
Olive," the physician announced.

Throwing herself by the couch Mary cried, "Brother--my brother! Speak
thou to me--just once more speak thou thy sister's name!"

"No more shall his lips be opened till the Judgment Day," the steady
voice of the physician replied.

"Hearest thou not my voice? I am thy sister Mary. God of my fathers!
Dost thou not he