Daily Yellowstone journal., 1886-12-19
A DAUGHTER OF JACOB.

THE curse is upon us. Oh, woe is me
and mine! They look upon me as an
outcast. Father. why do you stand
there wrapped in apathy9 Why do you
not 60 forth and lash their tender flesh?
How I could stand and smile upon
them as they writhed under the whist
ling, cutting lash. They hate, despise
and heap ignominy upon me. IL
whom you call daughter of Jacob.
Father, are you dumb? Do you hear
me?"
She was a grand, beautiful creature.
There was the fierce beauty of the tiger
cat about her now as she stood there in
the faint, crimson light Of the money.
changers office. Her face was aglow
with rage; every limb and muscle of her
superb person quivered with passion.
The old man, over three score and
ten, with beard as white as the snow
drifts outside falling upon his hollow
chest, raised his trembling hand. COM
manding the girl to he silent while he
spoke:
"Rebecca, our race is long.sufering
one. We await the lapse Of years often
before we strike; hut when the blow
falls the victim quivers in agony. We
never forget a wrong; we never forgive
an injury. You, my child. are adangh-
ter of Jacob. In your veins courses tn"
blood of kings. The poor, petted. fee
BILE, pale lilies-daughters of the Chris
tians-should be but as faint rays Of
moonlight, lights to hide away and van
ish when you, the glowing, scintillating
suns ray, sweep athwart them. The
lion of the desert is strong, and when he
roars the sons of man tremble. Dc. then,
mot the queen, the fierce purring iigress.
but the deadly cobra, for in the sting Of
the smoothly gliding serpent is the bane
and poison of fatality"
As the aged Jew spoke the girl
crouched lower and lower. Tn" faint
rustling of her dress and the deep
breathed words of her father were the
only sounds that broke the ominous,
painful silence of the office.
The crimson bars of light from the
colored globes fell upon the cronching
girls face, adding warmth, fire. In the
surge of hate that swept over those
beauteous features. The thin nostrils
quivered and the yelled brows ihrobbcd
as she pressed her hands convulsivcly TO
her heaving bosom and listened, hun
grily, greedily drinking in each word
that fell from her fathers lips.
"And the cobra stings to the death?"
tLa Iaath arar alx.-avofw
And the lion?"
"Not always kills"
But mangles. Yes, manglrs the vie.
tim. Deprives him of his beauty, causes
him to hate. despise and loathe himself
as he sees in the glass the ruin worked.
l will be the lion."
The girl arose with composed features
and emotions in subjection. She had
made up her mind what she should do.
She would mangle her victim. She
! would not be the cobra. The fatal sting
would smart for an instant and then all
would be over. No: she will not be the
cobra. She will play the paIt OF the
lion. Her victim shall be mangled. He
shall see his possessions pass from him.
He shall hate the day he was ever horn
as he writhes under the sharp. white,
cruel teeth of the lion.
Love blinds you. Rebecca."
"Love lifts the scales from my eyes,
father. do love him. That You know.
/ love him as woman never before
loved"
Ssh, my poor child. it is in the blood.
The maidens Of our race love all or
naught in naught. There is not the
gentle breath of consideration to cool
the lava stream of passion. II is a part
of the curse. A part of the curse!"
The old man turned away. took a
small lamp from the side bracket and
left the room.
II was now late. Rebecca covered
the fire in the CRATE, fastened the door
and windows, lighted wax candle, put
out the lamp light and went up to her
chamber. No sleep greeted the beauti-
full creatures eyes, She chose her des-
tiny from the clear sky above her as she
sat there with her arms crossed upon
the window sill reading the stars.
sand you would borrow $5O,0002"
The words fell in clear-cut tones Of
irony from the old Jews white bearded
lips.
"Yes; no less, no more. Can you let
me have the sum-"
And the security?"
my estate. Is that sufficient
1T would be if"
swell, If what:- interrupted the
young man as an angry lush
passed over his face. His very soul re-
volted at this task. He hated. despised
all Jews. 1t sickened him to stand here
at this mans mercy and answer dis
agreeable questions.
My dear young man. II is large
sum. can not let you have il unless
you give me better security than Your
estate"
| Explain your meaning, old man.
! did not come here out of mere hu
NOR. Business is my task. Will you or
will you not give me the sum-"
"No."
@Then I will go further. Old Isaac
will give me what require"
isaac is posted; oh, excuse me. ] did
not intend to cause you worry"
1What does Isaac knowf" asked the