Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1885-12-27

to b satisfied By q mara crust OF ufSad
seasoned with garlic. and Xsndsls Off:
! thought 1t was lucky that Rebscca was no
, there TO control his rstiona Ths wini
which swep: across the country, snappin,
of rotten twigs and blowing away Last year
dead leaves, seemed likewise to b blowing
all sorts o: dust and cobwebs out Of his
brain, leaving his head clearer than it hal
ever been before His eyssight too, which
had weakened SO mcca OF late In the stufHy
atmosphere OF the grooer's shop, now ua-
derwent a similar improvement, and long
long before Meniele bod reached tho gate,
OF the Holy City he had put his spsctacles
in his pocket. Another man would proba-
bly, have chucked his Eyeglasses into tbs
nearest river. in tbs excess Of his Joy a
finding a lost sense suddenly restored e
him; but Msndele was Jew-and no Jew,
even when standing on the edge Of ths
grave. ever throws anything away.
As he approached mis- journeys end, Mem
dele Bluhdorn saw many things which bore
familiar names, but whoss appearance was
strange t. him. In the stately trees, laden
with swelling fruit. beneath which be some
times paused to rest. how could be rsco9nizs
the tasteless figs which be had only seem dry
4 "
in musty fsstoons from the raftsrs of his lit
tie shopi Nor had be known before that the
olive oil which he used to soil at home, iu-
dicious,y aduiterated by equal quantities OF
linsesd. found its origin In the sd, gray
tinted groves which decked the hills near
the gates Of Jerusalem <zo
| Mendele had no difficulty in finding out
an appropriate lodging in the city Of
Solomon; for Hebrews were numerous in
the place, end bed and board were often
| inquired for by Jews who, like himself,
| had come hither to await the Angel Of
Death. The old man engaged . sleeping
closet by tie week; for, with one foot in the
grave, it would have been folly to bind
himself down for a longer period in advances.
His food was also contracted for by the
week, for the same reason-though be was
told that it would have come considorab bly,
cheaper to mako arrangements by the
month.
Mendele felt as if he were playing . game
of skill with the MALACHI Hamoves and he
was determined not to let that pale spectre
gain any unnecessary advantage over HIM.
Death. however. did not como as quickly a.
he had been led to anticipate: and, when
six weeks had gone by without his having
remarked any unmistakable signs Of his
began to think that after all it might be Q
better bargain in the end to contract for
board and lodging by the month.
Soon after his arrival he had dispatched
the following letter to his wife at home:
REBECcA. My DEAREST SouL-The God
Of Israel has been pleased to guide my steps
in peace and safety as FAY as tho gates Of
the Holy City. He brought me up out Of
the miry clay. and established my goings
Like Moses on the hanks OF the Red sea, He
caused the waters TO open bsfore me. /
crossed the Bosphorus by a cheap oppor-
tunity, AMI, though my heart felt sick ex-
ceeiingly as the bark s.ayet to and fro
knew should not perish, for the Lord Wis
watching over me. hs rendered my enc
mics powerless against me; only once did
and iniliel hound Of > Turk pick my pocket
of pastres as siep. in the shade Of
pomegranste tree. Nay Jehovah curse
ta .a s s Sns AID 1 n and
pray the Col o: Abraham daily to watch
over my dearest R,5ecca, AMI to guard over
the interests of thu lonely widow How goss
the trade ut homs, AMI does the young maa
still continue TO give satisfaction! Havs
YOU raissi the price OF Cuba coffee as ad
viaei.
The MALACHI Hamoves is slow in coming.
but hops for a speedy release from my
earthly trammels. for it makes my heart
bleed to think OF the money it costs to nour-
ish my wretchei body in this hallowed city.
Provisions OF all kinds are ruinously dear in
tho city OF Solomon. ana as for the butter,
dare not name You the prics! This is my
that of the just. and am at peace with all
man.
Farewell till we meet again in Abraham's
bosom Your loving husband till death.
MEyDELE BLUHDoRN
~.
Summer had come round again; for 1t
was now more than a year since Mendele
Bluhdorn had left his native town. All this
time Rsbecca had received no decisive in
telli,ence to assure her that she was a
widow. Yet she had every reason to sup
pose that her husbands decease was already
an accomplished fact for the last few
months had brought her no word Of tiiings
from him
The two or three notes no had sent her
during the first months OF his arrival at
Jerusalem had been followed by unbroken
silence, SO she very naturally concluded that
her husband was no longer in the land of
the living. But Rebecca was anxious to
have her widowhood openly and publicly
proclaimed, for not until she had gone
through the recognized forms Of mourning
could shs proceed to the accomplishment
mach at heart Before taking another
s.lous, she must have reliable evidence
Of her first husbands decease. and this was
the subject she was discussing with much |
interest on this July evening as she paced |
the country road outside the town.
Her companion was Goldo Safran, the |
young man with the fresh color and the |
fiery ringletS 1t WAS the Sabbath Gay, SO |
.he shop was OF course closed, and Rebecca |
mad put on her second-best dress and had |
,oIns out to take the air along with her |
youthful swain
Walking was not much in this laly's line |
Is rule. for she had not grown any lighter
'lnce our story opened: but on this particu-
ar occasion the two parties intere ted wers
anxious to get out OF earshot Of the town
folk
Yes Rsbecca was saving. rehectively,
it is now more than seven m puths since his
ast lotter came. There can be no manner
II doubt about thu matter. II no news
ZONES by the next mail, 1 must write my
elf TO tho magistrates over there and ask
hem to send me the certifcats Of his death.
can not think what Mendele can have
'een about shs went on, in an aggrievsd
manner, mot to have made arrangements
o have his death reported Immediately
lie might have guessed at the inconven-
ence this uncertainty would causs me-
at is cruel in him to have delayed my
happiness So long" nurmured Code ten.
'erly, pressing tho fat widows arm within
lis own
1T puts q woman in such an awkward
continued Rsbecca. looking down
t her green silk gown, "not to know when
o begin to wear her weeds My black
lress ha. been lying ready these six months
nd more, and / had thought 10 have well
Ugh worn it out by this time
And bad hoped to see the new sign
'osrd put up ere this said tie lover ar
emily. Il went 10 look ut it yesterday; the
'aint is quite dry. You have no idea how
eautiful it looks, lay Rebecca! Yellow
etters upon a blue ground. Code AMI Re-
coca Safran, Spirit Dealers, Grocers and
)rapers. How sweet our names look thus
oinei togethsri'
"Hushi' said the ma.ron. coyly. DO not
peak so loud: some one might overhear it
But there was no one TO overhear save
he frogs that were croakins in the marsh
long side or the storks that were fiying
TO roost The dusty road lay
cserted before them but for one solitary
gure approaching down the hill toward
he toll-bar. Bat neither OF the lovers took
ny notice OF this figure As they turned to
% home. TIE summer twilight hal set in.
nj it was rapidly growing dark. som
he first star that appeared in the ky
would inform them esat the Slbbath day
vas at an end. All that they were at liberty
o resume their trade. The engrossing sub
ect which they had been discussing. agree
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