Part 53 (2/2)

”Then will I go with thee,” she said.

”To far-off lands, dear heart, to speak the Word of G.o.d to those who heard it not.”

”I will go with thee,” she reiterated simply.

”To far-off lands whence I came, a sea-girt land which once was mine own. My fathers lived there. I would go back and tell my people of all that I saw here on Calvary seven years ago.”

”Then thither will I go with thee,” she replied, ”thy home will be my home, thy people my people and thy G.o.d shall be my G.o.d, for thine am I now and always. I am ignorant yet but this I do know, that thy G.o.d must be the great, the true and only G.o.d. None other G.o.d but He could have put in thy heart the strength of sacrifice which hath brought thee--who had Rome at thy feet--a lonely wanderer to the foot of this Cross.”

She knelt beside him and he no longer cowered, limitless joy was in his heart and immeasurable grat.i.tude.

”For the Son of Man shall come in the glory of the Father with His angels, and then He shall reward every man according to his works.”

The wings of the wind brought the sacred words to his ears. He kissed the rough wooden Cross there where the Divine feet had rested, and Dea Flavia pressed her lips on it too, and the peace that pa.s.seth all understanding descended upon them both.

Overhead the clouds had parted, their silver lining showed clearly against the dull blue sky, and in the midst of that rent in the firmament, far away in the limitless beyond, a star shone out bright and clear.

Then they both rose, and hand in hand they walked slowly down the hill.

THE END

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