The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-03-11
A ROMANTIC STORY.


One 0u4 afternoon In the month OF
September last year, Abraham, hand
some young Jew, presented himself at
our office, and stated that he was about
to sail that evening for America, where
he had previously resided for some time,
thereby becoming an American citizen.
The object of his visit was to solicit our
assistance in drawing up q power of at
torney in favor of friend, also an
American citizen, in whose hands he
desired to leave his interests at home
during his absence. The document was
duly signed and witnessed, and the
youth that same afternoon left his ma
tive shore to seek his fortune in the far
off land of his adoption.
After the lapse of few months the
friend who held the power of attorney
called to ask our advice under the fol-
lowing circumstances: Abraham, before
he LEFT, had fallen in love with a pretty
Jewess maid named Leah, and pro-
posed to make her his wife; but as she
was the daughter of a poor widow with
other children, and as Abraham had to
seek his fortune in a foreign land, it
was agreed that they should become be-
trothed and wait until Abraham earned
the means of providing home. Leah
and her mother thought that when she
was out Of sight Abraham might change
his mind. or that some fair stranger
might steal away her lovers heart: It
was therefore deemed advisable that she
should bind him to his engagement in y
bond of $500 and when the matter was
proposed to him he said he had no OBJ
lection, provided the bond was made
equally binding on either side, which
was accordingly done, and each was
duly bound in penalty of 800 to be
true and faithful to the other. Sureties
were found on either side, the surety of
Leah being one Moses, who made light
Of his suretyship.
Scarcely, however. had Abraham
reached his destination when rich Jew
from Algiers visited our city, and went
to the Jewish schools, in which Leah
was employed as teacher. He was
much struck by her modest demeanor,
as well as by the ability which she dis
played in the discharge of her duties.
He inquired who she was and soon af-
terward called upon her mother and
proposed to marry her. The widow told
him of Leah's engagement and bond,
but the ardor of his love was only in
famed the more by these difficulties in
the way of his desires. He reasoned that
Abraham would soon forget her, that he
might die or fail in his attempts to &C.
quire fortune, and that she had better
secure home and a fortune when she
had the chance. In short, he generous
" offered to provide for the whole fami-
" and pay the penalty of 900 besides.
Leah at last yielded to the tempting Of
fer, and the pair presented themselves to
Rabbi Mordecai Ben Geo for the purpose
of making the necessary ARRANGEMENTS
for the marriage. The rabbi objected,
on the ground that, to his certain knowl-
edge, Leah was betrothed to Abraham.
The new lover was not to be thus
baked, and lost no time in securing
passages in the French steamer for Oran
for him and Leah. together with the
whole family, and few days later they
steamed away to the east, after, it is
stated, having deposited $500 in the
hands of the rabbi. Abraham's father
appealed to the rabbi, who said that
nothing could be done until he received
a power of attorney from his son, and
then the father called upon Abraham's
friend to ask advice, and, to his JOY
found that he held the very document
he required. With this they both re-
paired to the house of the rabbi, who
looked at it, and to their dismay pro-
nounced it useless because it was written
in the English language.
The United States consul and consul
general were appealed to, but said that,
as it was matter of Jewish law, the
question must be left to the discretion
Of the rabbi. Negotiations were then
entered into with Moses, who compro-
missed the matter by the payment of half
the bond-viz., 5000, We have not yet
heard what effect has been produced up
on the mind of Abraham, but they say
that candle is never so easily lighted
as when it has just been put out, and
perhaps in a mail or two we may hear
that Abraham is on his way home to
choose another of the fair maidens of
Tangier.-Morocco Times.