The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1870-08-04
STORIES FROM THE
OPERA.
The rragie LoTe Of Rachel. tie Jevess

The Tragtc L0Te 0f RacHel, tae JeEsss-
II + sad story Of deception and
pezeeatlon a. time Ebeu 10 deceive
sud persecUte the JeEhsI race W1s
FeglrIied ~ a Christian virtue. Lsza-
rJis. tse ieseseT, With his daughter
I{aeiei, had taken up bis residence n
the city 81 COustaEee stleT he had
been driven olt q ZONE, and lived
there a. pezcsfuIiy AID qJsietly' - enc
d his Tsce CJEid boFe 20 N = Catholic
county during the ez-iy part of the
f0arteeuth century. His little shOp
and home frJusel On de gEaud 81 sDsre,
and directly OpF.Oeite - ebe e4thedrzL
B1f tsIfs circumstances, which you'll
ordinarily - EeGzryIcd - particularly
49, ant, really Ied 70 the nrst pOp1izr
OutiHeak against him.
Tie occasion wa that Of . holiday,
not only IN The modem sense Of tlle
word, blf "a tilc original meaning Of
liOly day, and the entire IOpnlaee MAS
in nie stref.ts, Gnst - celebrate in
church and znerEand Ia Hcasting,
dancing afd earOusiug. A. tine peO-
pie were entering n5e cathedral they
heard the sound Of n WOrkmanis ham
mef opposite, and rushed into the
JeR's shop 10 find Lin breaking one
Of their least days by saeriligiOus
work. They seized both Lazarus and
Rachel, and. with cries Of vengeance,
were about 10 drag them 10 instant
condemnation and punishment, when
they were met By Cardinal BrOgni, in
fall robes, and entering the church for
service. He recognized Lazarus at
once.
81 have seen you before" said the
cardinal "what does this mean %
ayes, you once banished me from
Rome" replied the Jew, bitterly, "and
now l suppose you will Danish me
from here. But when knew you last
you did not wear sacredOtal rObes.-
You had a wife and a childn-
"Hush, hush I" whispered the card
inal. Respect husband, a fathers
grief, and will save you"
Cardinal BrOgni. was as good as his
word, dispersed the pOpulace, aDdcom-
manded that the Jew and his daughter
should be let alone. Rachel, in her
youthful confidence, took this to be
permanent protection, but her father
knew the nature of his prosecutors too
well TO believe in it. His suspicious
were right, for it was not an hour af-
ter that they were set upon again by
the people, this time for daring 10
tread upon church steps.
Follow the example of Him who
first expelled the usurers q cried one
"Cast out the vile race ~ cried an
other.
Throw them into the lake J" cried a
third, and this was taken lay the crowd
and would probably have been pat
into execution, had not a young man
rushed upon the scene, into whose
arms Rachel threw herself with all
the confidence Of love.
"Back stand back, say ~ shouted
the newcomer, as he drew his sword
menRcingly.
Rachel was terrified at her lovers
temerity, but her terror gave way to
surprise when the crowd and soldiers
really fell back, taking OF their hats,
and whispering among themselves as
though they recognized some one of
authority in the young man who came
upon the scene so Opportunely. At all
events, she and her father were saved,
and, in company with their preserver,
they Withdrew into their house,
their to meet number of their
race, and discuss the exciting events
of the day
&. II.
Rachel seemed TO combine all the
personal beauties Of her race, and add
ed to these the gentleness and trust
that are rather the characteristics of
Christian wOmanhoOd. It was not
strange that she should haveattracted
love, nor that she had given her heart
and life TO the handsome young man
whom she knew as Samuel, whom
she believed to be of her own race,
and who was known among the small
circle Of Jews as an artist of great
talent and greater promise But the
singular effect Of his presence, and ev-
dent authority among the people who
had threatened her life and her faith
er's, troubled her exceedingly. Yet
she found no immediate opportunity
OF demanding an explanation, as the
guests in the house took their places
around the humble board to partake
of the unleavencd bread which Laza-
rus gave to them, with q prayer, call
ing down blessings upon the faithful,
and curses upon the traitor who shoHld
abandon the religion of his father.
Rachel was troubled more than ever
when she noticed that Samuel, instead
of eating the bread as the Others did,
threw il surreptitiously under the Ia
ble. But all explanation was inter
rIptel 3gain by a loud knocking at
the door, and demand for admission
in the emperor's name Lazarus told
a L.. -.
but requested Samuel to remain, add
ing:
aYOur strong arm nay lie neesled
again to help me. A visit at this
hour can be made for no good paF
pOse.p
The door was opened and a woman
appeared on the threshold. Samuel
could scarcely retain an outcry of sur
prise aud dismay as he saw her, but
his embarrassment was unObserved.n y
''What is your wish?" asked Laza-
rus.
al will tell you presently" answer
the strange lady, "but, first, who is
this man2'
Samnel WAS careful TO keep his face
turned from the newcomer, ana LaZ-
arns answered for him:
''He is apainter Of great repute, and
friend who has given me many
proofs of his love. Bat he shall with
draw if yOu with it.n
mo, it is not necessary. My visit
Is no secret. am EudOssia, the en-
perOr's nieee.n
''Oh, heavens Are YOU indeed the
princess ?'' exclaimed Lazarus, as he
fell upon his knee.