The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1886-02-17
A ROMANTIC STORY.
An Episode In Which Morocco and Chls
Country Take u Hand.

One dull afternoon in the month of
September last year, Abraham, u hand
some young Jew, presented himself ut
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 power of at
torncy 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.
Alter the lapse of Il 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 Il pretty
Jcwess maid named Leah, and pro
posed to make her his wife; but as She
was the daughter of Il poor widow with
other children, and as Abraham had TO
seek his fortune in a foreign land. ii
was agreed that they should become be-
trothcd and wait until Abraham earned
the means of providing Il home Leah
and her mother thought that when she
was out of sight Abraham might change
ms mind, or that some fair stranger
might steal away her lovers heart: 1t
was therefore deemed advisable that she
should bind him to his engagement in IL
bond of $4O0 and when the matter was
proposed to him he said he had no OBJ
lection, provided the bond was made
1Ny ind o,t 4
was accordingly done, and each was
duly bound in penalty of $4OO to be
true and faithful to the othor. Surcties
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 a rich jew
from Algiers visited our CITY, and went
to the Jewish schools, in which Leah
was employed as a teacher. He was
much struck by her modest dcmcanor.
as well rs by the ability which she dis
played in the discharge of her duties.
lie inquired who she was and soon af-
tcrward 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 ac
quirc fortune, and that She had better
secure home and fortune when She
had the chance. In short, he generous
ly offered to provide for the whole fami-
ly and pay the penalty of $4OO 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 lnowl-
edge, Leah was bctrothed 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 $400 in the
hands of the rabbi. Abraham's father
appealed to the rabbi, who said that
nothing could be done until he received
power of attorney from his son. and
then the father called upon Abraham's
friend to ask advice, and, to his iov
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 dismav pro-
nounced it useless because il was written
in the English language
The United States consul and consul
general were appealed to, but said that.
as il was a matter of Jewish law, the
question must be left to the discretion
of the rabbi. Negotiations were then
entered into with Moses, who conpro-
missed the matter by the payment of half
the bond-viz., 5000, We have not vet
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 n mail or two we may hear
that Abraham is on his way home to
choose another of the fair maidens of
Tangicr.-Morocco Times.