Motion Picture Story Magazine (Feb-Jul 1911)

HEROD AND THE NEW BORN KING 83 "It is well/'* said the king, "until they return." "Until they return/' echoed Miriam. But, as they gazed, Herod uttered a cry of terror. "Look," he gasped, "the star !" Low over the plain of Ephraim hung a blazing, refulgent light, moving steadily before the white, silent travelers, toward Bethlehem. Over the kahn at Bethlehem brooded peace and silence. In her sleep the dark-eyed maiden smiled, dreaming of the beloved Mary and her babe, resting peacefully in their manger bed. Suddenly the maiden's eyes opened wide; again the lustrous starlight was pouring into her room. "The star has come again," she cried, rapturously; "what strange visitants will it bring tonight ?" Peering forth, she beheld indeed the star, hanging above the cave, its pure, warm, pulsing light filling the court with a dazzling splendor. The midnight bells were tolling, as the maid ran to the outer gate and gazed eagerly down the steep road winding up over the plain. Approaching the gate were three tall, silent figures, ghostly in the starlight. The camels knelt, and with stately dignity the riders dismounted and bowed low in salutation. "Peace be unto you, maiden, and unto this house. From the far East have we come, led by a wondrous light, which is a sign to us that the Christ is born. Over desert and plain, mountain and valley have we ridden, and lo, the star hangs now above yon stable door. Is there a new-born babe in this kahn?" The faces of the three were tense with eagerness as they bent for the maid's' reply. "Aye/J she said softly, "come and see." And as they passed thru the door into the cave the star dissolved into a golden, shimmering mist, floating far upward into the skies. Stately, gorgeously clothed with all the trappings of Oriental splendor, they fell down before the infant with reverent awe. "The Saviour!" they cried; "the King who shall rule Israel !" From their camels they brought rich treasures, gold, frankincense and myrrh, which they heaped around the babe, now awake in Mary's arms. "We will return to Jerusalem tonight," they said. "Let us hasten to Herod that he may come and worship him also." But the maiden spoke shyly. "Xay, rest in the inn ; the great Herod sleeps ; tarry you here until the dawn.*' "The maiden speaks wisely," said one, "let us rest in the kahn." In the early dawn they sought the keeper. "At your daughter's behest, we tarried in your kahn. It was well. In a dream the angel of the Lord spake, commanding that we return not unto Herod, but go into our own country by another way." Forth toward the rising sun they rode, saying joyously one to another, "Xow is the scripture fulfilled. Xow is the time at hand. The Saviour is born." As the keeper fastened the gates again, his daughter came running with tears and lamentations. "She is gone," she sobbed, "my gracious, radiant lady ! The gentle Joseph and the little babe are gone — all gone !" "Grieve not so, child," said the father. "The mother was strong again ; doubtless the Nazarene was impatient to return to his home, though I understand not their going secretlv, by night." "To go without one word to me," sobbed the maiden, "when I loved her so." "Something strange was there about them," said the keeper. "Twice did the star appear, guiding strange visitors to the babe. We shall hear of them again." But the maiden would not be comforted. Daily she mourned for the mother and babe. Nightly she lay gazing into the darkness seeing in fancy tin1 star, the shepherds, the wise men with their rich gifts, the young mother witli the rapt, exalted look, holding the babe.