The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-12-27

What could be more pleasant Doe:
this please your"
The fole rose as he spoke and stood
with his back to the CRATE. He knew
Aaron's good heart well-indeed had
| proved It's generosity many times when
ne was IN need. He had no doubt of
the result of this appeal. He waited
Tor a moment, then turned with second
how does this please you2"
| linen he saw that Aaron's fists were
clehched on the arm of his chair, and
that his brow was knitted in a scowl. A
flash shot through his mind.
Oh, ask your pardon, ask pardon. !"
Without motion, or even a change of
eye, the pawnbroker said:
You are Christian; / am a Jew.
do not give Christmas gifts"
Paul bit his lip. He fel. himself
turning red to the top of his skull. He
had never been quite so awkward before.
There was nothing for him to say that
would help matters. So the two kept
sllence-the young man staring into the
darkness Of the further corner, and
cursing his stupid tongue; the old man
browning at the Goals, and turning many
things over in his purturbed MUD. So
they kept silence until the cracked bell
twaDged eight, and the curfew bells over
the great city began to toll out their
mighty warnings of honest peoples bed
time. The sound aroused Aaron. He
held out his hand to Paul, saying:
My friend, you have not meant to
wound me. With any other man in a
hundred of my race, you might say what
you did without care. | have been diff
ferent. | have been called strict Jew
"a Jew according to the spirit and the
letter of the law. l have been this %
myself, even more than to my fellows.
| have carried all the sorrows Of my
people upon my back. They have not
bowed down my head, nor broken my
spirit, but they have made my heart
sensitive. 1t is because | am a student
of my races history, and realize what
the name you revere has wrought in it,
that | WINGED at your words. ! am not
angry. was wrong to forget for sec.
Ond your friendship"
Paul seized his hand. The curfew
bells rang on, but they had a gladder
sound. There was no scowl on Aaron's
brow. "Come," said he, cheerily,
"drink another glass of the good Sau-
terne, and let Us take a walk. 1t is early
yet" The two went out.
The night was still warm, although
great coats were needed. The big flakes
had conquered the wet salt air by force
of mild persistence, and now lay hand
thick upon the streets, a noiseless velvet
carpet. As they neared the Row, and
saw the lights faring outupo the snowy
purity of the square, over which the
passing crowds threw grotesque and gil
gantic shadows, Paul stole a glance at
his companions face. 1t was glowing
with internal warmth. As the two pass
ed, many a person turned to see again
the strange couple-the tall, straight
youth with the long hair and the foreign
features, and the short, dumpy Aaron
Ashermayer, whose broad face mad been
TRANSPORTED by something.
" Where is this dress you spoke OFF"
asked Aaron. Laboski led the way up
fremont and down a side street to an
unpretentiOus store, the front of which
be had haunted many times of late.
They entered, and Paul, with conscious
pride, bought the dress, paid for it, and
had it wrapped up in bundle. Then
it was Aaron's turn. The old bachelor
blushed as he asked, Let me see some
good wooden stockings for girls" He
turned and winked to Paul when the
price was announced for ten pairs of me-
rino hose; but none the less he bought
them. a whispered consultation with
the girl in waiting resulted IN the rolling
up of very large package of flannel
and white linen. Then the pawn broker
purchased toilet soap, work box, a
silver thimble, velvet rabbit with q
solid head into which needles might be
thrust and secured, rufHes, delicately
pins, high carved comb, belt with a
gorgeous gilt clasp, an embroidery pat
tern pOrtraying a spaniePs chasing a
very funny auckland everything else
in the store which his bachelor imagina-
ton coupled with the female desires.
There were many other stores visited,
among them the milliner's, the shoe
dealers, the book store (where we pur-
chased o sumptuous edition of "SWiss
Family Robinson" which Aaron re-
called with the liveliest pleasure, but
which, shall l confess it, Josephine never
really liked, and lastly, the confection
er's, where some wonderful packets
were put up. Then the two turned their
steps toward home, or the tenement in
which what there was Of home for them
was placed.
They walked silently along through
the throng which still jostled in the
shop-streets. AS they crossed, and
turned into still, marrow residence
thoroughfare, Aaron stopped suddenly.
Paul followed the direction OF his eyes
and shared the sight which engaged his
attention. On the opposite side, from g
broad, hall-curtained window, streamed
a food of light broken regularly by the
swift shadow of children dancing. The
two men standing in the quiet night,
could hear shouts Of gay laughter above
the ripping melody of the violin. a
nurse passed the window, bearing an
infant high in her arms. The tiny crea-
ture crowed and clapped It's baby hands
to the music. Back of it all could De
seen a wonderful Christmas tree, glow
ing with prismatic tints and tapers that
cleaned like stars. They twinkled
merrily as the little Tnadcaps raced around
them. owe have forgotten something"
said Aaron. So they crossed the com
mon again, and went to the great mar
ket where eyergreens were on sale.
1t was after midnight when the weary
policeman, pacing his rounds, noticed
the light shining from Josephine's room
in the attic. " | must speak to some
one at the bower" ne said to himself
That young one will Kill herself work
inc 20 late.n And this mt nleasant