king understood, turned aside, and said: "Horror, thy name is
woman!"

Then she wept and murmured between her sobs: "I knew it. A woman is
nothing to you but a flower of the field. You cut it down so that it
turns to hay. And hay is for asses. You care more for the man who has
mortally insulted yourself and my mother than you do for me."

"Indeed, I do not! If he deserves death, you shall have your desire."

"When does he whom the king loves deserve death?" groaned the girl, and
sank into a swoon. He lifted her up, drew her to his breast, and what
her words could not accomplish the embrace did--it cost the Baptist his
life.

The banquet was most sumptuous. The most delicious viands, gathered
from every quarter, and sparkling wines graced the table. Harp players
stood by the marble pillars, and sang praises to the king. Herod, a
garland of red roses round his head, sat between the two women. He
drank freely of the wine, and so hurriedly that the liquid dripped from
his long, thin beard. Was he afraid of the last course? It appeared
at midnight. It was covered with a white cloth, and only the
beautifully-chased edge of the charger was visible. Herod shuddered
and signed that the dish should be placed before the young woman who
sat on his left. She hastily pulled off the cloth, and behold! a man's
head; the black hair and beard, steeped in the blood that ran from the
neck, lay in the charger. It stared with open eyes at the woman who,
filled with voluptuous horror, leaned closely against the prince. Then
the mouth of the head opened and spoke the words: "The Kingdom of God
is near at hand!"

Horror and confusion filled the banqueting hall. "Who dared to say
that?" shouted several voices. "'Twas the head of the prophet who
prophesies even in death!"

Then a tumult arose in the palace, for this was the most terrible
horror that the golden halls had ever seen. Long-restrained fury
suddenly burst forth--the town was in flames, the men of Jerusalem
rioted. The women were torn from Herod's side, and flung into the
streets to the mercy of the mob. The prince was forced to fly. The
story goes that in his flight he fell into the hands of the Arab king,
who avenged his despised daughter in a terrible manner. Thus were
godless hands stretched forth from Herod's house against him who bore
witness to the coming One.

* * * * * *

After the act of baptism was accomplished,